It’s a tale as old as time: the young girl who loses her father at an early age and retreats into make-believe and roleplay; who, after seeing a great performance onstage dreams of performing herself. I write a lot about Agatha Christie, and this describes her to a t – except she never became the … Continue reading Angela Lansbury
Author: Brad
GENDER REVEAL PARTY: Mrs. McGinty’s Dead
(Note: while the killer is never mentioned by name, I would urge you to read or have read Mrs. McGinty’s Dead before tackling this post. You have been warned!) In her biography about Agatha Christie, Laura Thompson writes, “It is a paradox, although perhaps not a surprise, that Agatha’s popularity should have increased as her powers declined. … Continue reading GENDER REVEAL PARTY: Mrs. McGinty’s Dead
A “LOVE LETTER BUT…” TO THE SCREEN DRAFTS PODCAST
It should not come as a shock to you that I hail from the Boomer generation. Just look at the way the blurbs under my photos don’t center. Come watch me have a meltdown the next time my phone or laptop “updates” and everything I had finally mastered on my technology becomes moot. It should … Continue reading A “LOVE LETTER BUT…” TO THE SCREEN DRAFTS PODCAST
MARPLE
With much fanfare and no little trepidation on the part of Agatha Christie purists, a collection of brand-new stories featuring Miss Jane Marple, the world-famous octogenarian sleuth, has arrived at many doorsteps this week. The book is called Marple. That’s it – Marple. Not Miss Marple or The New Adventures of Miss Marple . . . just Marple. Seems a bit cheeky … Continue reading MARPLE
THE MOVIE THEY MADE FOR ME! See How They Run
I imagine that in these frustrating times, when film studios have made 15-year-old boys their target audience, that those of you who love a good movie have had a similar experience to mine. You know, the one where you are so desperate to see anything in a movie theatre that you find yourself surrounded by the aforementioned … Continue reading THE MOVIE THEY MADE FOR ME! See How They Run
KIDDIE KRIMES: Murder Meets Marketing in The Agathas
On behalf of the thousands of teenagers that I taught for thirty-one years, all of whom deserve to have wonderful stories created for them, I would like to demand that the following cliches be retired from books, films, and television aimed at kids: Can we stop setting stories in tony California towns where the rich … Continue reading KIDDIE KRIMES: Murder Meets Marketing in The Agathas
ROOTING FOR WATSON: The Twist of a Knife
How fortunate are we that, somewhere along the line in his 43-yearlong writing career, Anthony Horowitz turned to the mystery genre and became one of the best purveyors of the modern mystery in the classic style. He has managed to do this for readers, for television viewers, and especially for kids. He can craft an … Continue reading ROOTING FOR WATSON: The Twist of a Knife
A MURDER (ON THE NILE) IS ANNOUNCED
The text came over a year ago: Coastal Repertory Theatre Company in Half Moon Bay, California was planning its next season - a return to live theatre! – and they wanted to know if I was interested in directing one of their plays. See, they had heard from a mutual friend that I was really into the … Continue reading A MURDER (ON THE NILE) IS ANNOUNCED
SO LONG, SHERLOCK: Elementary, Season 7
Early last spring, at one of our Zoom-togethers with my pals Jim and Sergio, we talked TV as we often do, and Sergio said, not for the first time, “You guys really should watch Elementary.” Now I like Sherlock Holmes as much as the next nerd, the show was available to binge on Hulu, and it’s … Continue reading SO LONG, SHERLOCK: Elementary, Season 7
LETTERS TO BOOK CLUB: The Documents in the Case
Fans of the GAD blogosphere, you are about to be inundated with Dorothy L. Sayers. Now, Sayers has her fans, of which I am not one. But even I will not make the mistake of underestimating her importance to the genre. Despite only writing a dozen mysteries, Sayers had a profound influence on the evolution … Continue reading LETTERS TO BOOK CLUB: The Documents in the Case
Ah Sweet Mystery! 