“He was watching. He passed judgment on me. He condemned me to some sort of hell. I sensed that, walking by. I’ve never felt so . . . so unclean, as just then!” Her name was Julia Clara Catherine Maria Dolores Robins Norton Birk Olsen Hitchens. She was born in Texas on Christmas Day, 1907, … Continue reading THIS CONSCIENCE INCARNATE: The Watcher
Author: Brad
RANKING MARPLE #5: A Murder Is Announced
Toward the end of Agatha Christie: A Mysterious Life, biographer Laura Thompson writes: “It is a paradox, although, perhaps, not a surprise, but Agatha’s popularity should have increased as her powers declined. After 1950 she wrote a handful of brilliant and unusual books – Destination Unknown, Ordeal by Innocence, The Pale Horse, Endless Night, and Passenger to Frankfurt – but she produced her … Continue reading RANKING MARPLE #5: A Murder Is Announced
A CRIMINAL GAME FOR CHRISTIE FANS
Perhaps you have had a chance to see the trailer for Kenneth Branagh’s third (and possibly final?) Hercule Poirot film, A Haunting in Venice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVrKNPMG6Dk Perhaps it . . . confused you in a way that his previous films, Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile did not. For despite the fact that Branagh’s Poirot sports a … Continue reading A CRIMINAL GAME FOR CHRISTIE FANS
“The most unkindest cut of all”: On Re-editing Christie
Fasten your seat belts: let’s talk about censorship. In March, the Guardian reported that Agatha Christie’s publisher, Harper Collins, would be scrubbing some of the more problematic language out of her books in future reissues: “The updates follow edits made to books by Roald Dahl and Ian Fleming to remove offensive references to gender and race in … Continue reading “The most unkindest cut of all”: On Re-editing Christie
KRIMES FOR KIDS: A Comparison for the Ages
With everything so dicey these days pertaining to public education in the post-pandemic era, it was nice to hear some good news for a change: at a recent dinner party, my friend Maggie, who works as a librarian in a local middle school, told me that her students love mysteries! Turns out kids do sometimes … Continue reading KRIMES FOR KIDS: A Comparison for the Ages
KIDS, DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME! The Mini-Mega Hitchcock Draft, Home Edition
Screen Drafts is a podcast that helped me survive the pandemic and, along the way, captured my heart through the sense of camaraderie that permeated each conversation. Since I first wrote about it nearly seven months ago, I have caught up with all the publicly posted episodes, and I have joined the Patreon group and dabbled … Continue reading KIDS, DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME! The Mini-Mega Hitchcock Draft, Home Edition
RANKING MARPLE #4: Sleeping Murder
“’Miss Marple and Dr. Kennedy both said, “Leave it alone.” Why don’t we, Giles? What makes us go on? Is it her?’ “’Her?’ “’Helen. Is that why I remember? Is my childish memory the only link she’s got with life – with truth? Is it Helen who’s using me – and you - so that the truth will … Continue reading RANKING MARPLE #4: Sleeping Murder
THE PLAY’S . . . SORTA THE THING: Opening The Mousetrap
Today marks opening night for the production of The Mousetrap that I directed at the high school where I spent twenty-eight years teaching drama. I woke up all too early and checked my e-mail, only to find this missive, sent to the cast and crew from our play’s stage manager, a remarkable young woman named Kelania: "Hello, … Continue reading THE PLAY’S . . . SORTA THE THING: Opening The Mousetrap
BOOK CLUB DOES THREE-ACT TRAGEDY: A One-Act Comedy
The Members of Book Club (in order of appearance) Miss Dresden Mrs. Russet-Tate Arthur Mimms Gracie Mimms Mr. Panagotacos Oswald Ginch (Scene: Miss Dresden’s parlor. A small fire plays merrily in the grate. There is a comfortable settee, draped over with a lovely antimacassar, and three oddly assorted armchairs, on each of which rests a … Continue reading BOOK CLUB DOES THREE-ACT TRAGEDY: A One-Act Comedy
THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT: My Tea with Agatha
My experiences meeting famous people have been few and far between – and they never turned out as I might have expected. I’m not an autograph (or, in these days, selfie) hound. I don’t want to bother someone who has just performed for me or who is on vacation in order, just so I can … Continue reading THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT: My Tea with Agatha
Ah Sweet Mystery! 