The witching hour is fast approaching, and as scary as some of the male guest stars on Perry Mason had it in some of their more horror-filled exploits, the four women we’re about to discuss had it even worse! For although one of the ladies in question became a monster herself, the other three became … Continue reading “It was beauty killed the beast . . .” Perry Mason and the Monster Makers, Part Two
PERRY MASON DOES THE MONSTER MASH(-UP): Part One
"It's the most frightening tiiiiime of the year . . . " Halloween is just around the corner, and while it’s a holiday I pretty much got over after I turned twelve, this seems like a good time to turn our spotlight on a few monster makers who, when they weren’t cackling and concocting, made … Continue reading PERRY MASON DOES THE MONSTER MASH(-UP): Part One
GAM JAM: The Case of the Long-Legged Models
“It’s my contention, Della, that an attorney doesn’t have to sit back and wait until a witness gets on the stand and then test his recollection simply by asking him questions. If facts can be shuffled in such a way that it will confuse a witness who isn’t absolutely certain of his story, and if … Continue reading GAM JAM: The Case of the Long-Legged Models
AGATHA CHRISTIE: A World of Mystery
“Agatha Christie changed my life. I discovered her at the age of eight, when I had the good fortune to attend the world film premiere of Murder Most Foul (1964), which (weirdly enough) was held in a tent during a summer fete in Cheshire . . . I went home that evening in a happy daze and … Continue reading AGATHA CHRISTIE: A World of Mystery
COCKTAILS FOR TWO: Beginning a New Series on Couples in Detective Fiction
In my recent post about the problematic new series, Agatha Christie’s Tommy and Tuppence, I asked a simple question: why can’t TV producers leave Tommy and Tuppence alone? There are plenty of other romantic couples filling the GAD landscape! Why not give us a series based on the exploits of Craig Rice’s Helene and Jake Justice? Or Delano Ames’ … Continue reading COCKTAILS FOR TWO: Beginning a New Series on Couples in Detective Fiction
CARRY ON, BARRISTER! Perry Mason and the British Connection
If Perry Mason had practiced law in England, would he have been considered a barrister or a solicitor? According to AI (which untied and fed me in order to allow me to write this article), Mason would have been considered a barrister. “Barristers specialize in speaking in court and trying lawsuits in front of a … Continue reading CARRY ON, BARRISTER! Perry Mason and the British Connection
THEY’RE BAAAAAACK!! Agatha Christie’s Tommy and Tuppence
“There must be no love interest in the story. To introduce amour is to clutter up a purely intellectual experience with irrelevant sentiment. The business in hand is to bring a criminal to the bar of justice, not to bring a lovelorn couple to the hymeneal altar.” (S. S. Van Dine, “The Third Rule for … Continue reading THEY’RE BAAAAAACK!! Agatha Christie’s Tommy and Tuppence
SHE’S BAAAAAAACCKK! The New “Miss Marple” Mystery
For a moment in 1935, it looked like there could have been, not twelve, but thirteen Miss Marple novels. If you pull out your volume of Agatha Christie’s Secret Notebooks and turn to the section on Death on the Nile, you will find that, as she was planning, Christie made a list of potential characters, and at the … Continue reading SHE’S BAAAAAAACCKK! The New “Miss Marple” Mystery
I’M BAAAAAAACCKK! My Sojourn to the 2026 Agatha Christie Festival
Two years ago, as the 2024 Agatha Christie Festival came to a close, a trio of California lads who had bonded over their passion for the Queen of Crime vowed then and there that they would meet up again in two years on the same promenade in Torquay. Jeff, Chris and I made a pact … Continue reading I’M BAAAAAAACCKK! My Sojourn to the 2026 Agatha Christie Festival
RISING TEMP-ERATURES! The Case of the Terrified Typist
“‘The typist is here, Mr. Mason.’ Mason nodded and stretched back in his chair. Della started to pick up his brief, but hesitated as Gertie came in and carefully closed the door behind her.“‘What’s the trouble, Gertie?’“‘What did you say to frighten her, Mr. Mason!’“Mason glanced at Della Street. “‘Heavens,’ Della said, ‘I didn’t talk with her … Continue reading RISING TEMP-ERATURES! The Case of the Terrified Typist
