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Shedunnit

Crime at Christmas

Shedunnit

Caroline Crampton

Arts, Books

4.9 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 19 December 2018

⏱️ 20 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Reading crime fiction from the early twentieth century is a really popular activity at Christmas. It's nice to curl up with a good whodunnit by the fire, but if we stop and think about it, reading about complicated ways for people to die is not exactly the most festive thing to do. So why is it that we love crime at Christmas? Contributors: —Cecily Gayford, senior commissioning editor at Profile —Anna Leszkiewicz, deputy culture editor at the New Statesman. Read her article about cosy murder mysteries here. Books and stories mentioned in order of appearance: —The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers —Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie —Murder in the Snow: a Cotswold Christmas Mystery by Gladys Mitchell —The Santa Klaus Murder by Mavis Doriel Hay —Portrait of a Murderer: A Christmas Crime Story by Anne Meredith —A Very Murderous Christmas edited by Cecily Gayford —The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding and a Selection of Entrées by Agatha Christie —Hangman's Holiday by Dorothy L. Sayers (includes 'The Necklace of Pearls') Find a full transcript of this episode at shedunnitshow.com/crimeatchristmastranscript NB: Links to Blackwell’s are affiliate links, meaning that the podcast receives a small commission when you purchase a book there (the price remains the same for you). Blackwell’s is a UK independent bookselling chain that ships internationally at no extra charge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

This episode is brought to you by Delive a Rule, because anything goes this Christmas.

0:06.0

Yes, even sprouts on a pizza or gravy on sushi.

0:10.0

The rules are, there are no rules. Have a Cantonese on Christmas Eve or a

0:15.2

Balty on Boxing Day and when you're so over the leftovers bring on the ramen

0:20.2

From big brands to local favorites this Christmas it's all on your doorstep with

0:25.0

deliver room. Geographical restrictions, Ties and C service and delivery fees apply. The classic Christmas traditions are all about comfort.

0:39.0

Lazing fires, mold drinks, vast quantities of food.

0:44.0

It's all intended to make the darkest time of the year

0:47.0

that little bit brighter.

0:50.0

Much of the entertainment we enjoy over the festive period tries to do the same thing.

0:58.0

The books, films and TV series themed around this time overflow with heartwarming adventures and happy endings.

1:05.6

But there's one tradition that bucks this trend, The Christmas Murder Mystery.

1:12.9

The depths of December inspired authors like Gladys Mitchell, Dorothy L. Sayers, Agatha Christie,

1:19.1

Marjorie Allingham and more.

1:21.1

Their Christmas novels and stories have vicious murders and ingenious thefts committed and investigated

1:27.1

against the backdrop of cozy festive fun.

1:30.0

Reading crime fiction from the early 20th century and watching television adaptations of these books is a really popular activity at Christmas.

1:41.0

It's nice to curl up with a good who-done it by the fire, but if we stop

1:45.8

and think about it for a second, reading about complicated ways for people to die is not exactly

1:52.0

the most appropriate festive activity.

1:54.0

So why is it that we love crime at Christmas?

2:00.0

Welcome to She Doneit. I'm Caroline Crampton. One of my absolute favorite murder mystery novels is the Nine Tailors by Dorothy L Seers. It was published in 1934 and sees her sleuth Lord Peter Wimsie investigating a theft and a murder in the Fens in East Anglia.

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