One result of reading mystery stories set in other countries is learning about the culture, customs, food and geography of lands different from our own. In this course we will explore mystery novels with faraway settings and note how setting functions integrally with the story. Several published authors, including instructor Sara E. Johnson, will describe how they do research for depicting accurately people and places in their stories. We will learn about some authors whose characters work in Scotland, England, and France. This class will feature guest presenters Sarah Stewart Taylor, writer of stories set in Ireland; M. A. Monnin, a novelist of works set in Greece; and David P. Wagner, who sets his stories in Italy. A reading list of mysteries set around the world will be provided and enhanced by suggestions from class members.

Recommended Reading: The Bone Track, Sara Johnson; The Drowning Sea, Sarah Stewart Taylor; Death in the Aegean, M.A. Monnin; Cold Tuscan Stone, David Wagner.

Also recommended: Raven Black or any of the Shetland series by Ann Cleeves; The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie; and Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe.

Registration deadline: Jan. 16