“Peril at End House was another of my books which left so little impression on my mind that I cannot even remember writing it.” (Agatha Christie, An Autobiography) Christie might not remember writing 1932’s Peril at End House because it was relatively easy to write. After the emotional drain of the late 20’s, Christie had put the “sorrow, despair … Continue reading THE POIROT PROJECT #15: Peril at End House
Author: Brad
THE 2025 REPRINT OF THE YEAR: Brad’s 2nd Nomination
Every year, when Kate Jackson presents us with the list of republished classic mysteries and tells us to “pick our pair” for the annual Reprint of the Year contest over at Cross-Examining Crime, some of us play jump ball with the “big noise” titles in the hopes of coming up with the year’s winner. By “big noise,” I mean … Continue reading THE 2025 REPRINT OF THE YEAR: Brad’s 2nd Nomination
WHAT’S PAST, AT PRESENT, IS PAST: Death at Morning House
YA mystery author Maureen Johnson is obsessed with the past. At least, that is my impression after reading a number of her books. The Truly Devious trilogy tells the story of wannabe forensic scientist Stevie Bell, who grapples with murders and other horrific events at a gifted school in Vermont, which was also the site of multiple … Continue reading WHAT’S PAST, AT PRESENT, IS PAST: Death at Morning House
“WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD . . . ?” The Case of the Waylaid Wolf
Can I just say how much this animal lover has enjoyed our year-long excursion through the Perry Mason Menagerie! Heck, any chance to hang out with Perry, Della, Paul, Lieutenant Tragg, and even D.A. Hamilton Burger are just the cure for what ails you in these troubling times. Are the Mason books formulaic? You bet they are … Continue reading “WHO’S AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD . . . ?” The Case of the Waylaid Wolf
WAKE UP, DEAD MAN: A Knives Out Mystery
Here’s a mystery for you: why is Netflix trying to murder the filmgoing experience as we know it? Don’t worry, you don’t need to provide me with any clues. The solution, as in so many classic mysteries, comes down to greed. Produce a film and then control the distribution – that’s the business model for … Continue reading WAKE UP, DEAD MAN: A Knives Out Mystery
THE 2025 REPRINT OF THE YEAR – Brad’s 1st Nominee
Around the middle of this year, my Book Club compatriots staged an intervention meant to curb my out-of-control habit of . . . buying books?!? Yes, folks, I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, and for me the term “gummy” refers to store-bought tapioca. But I do feel a deep yearning every time a new title … Continue reading THE 2025 REPRINT OF THE YEAR – Brad’s 1st Nominee
THE POIROT PROJECT #14: Death on the Nile
“He was her man and he did her wrong . . .” Death on the Nile is my favorite Hercule Poirot novel. I ranked Five Little Pigs higher on my Top Ten Christies list, and it deserves its place there. But it is a different sort of book than Nile, and I enjoy Christie’s 1937 tale more. Pigs is one of … Continue reading THE POIROT PROJECT #14: Death on the Nile
“Double, double, Doyle and trouble” – The Case of the Baker Street Irregulars
“In a way the orange seeds helped. They were the final touch of unreality. No one could feel the actual tragedy of death in a world where people drew dancing men for murder threats and sent dried orange seeds by special messenger.” The closest Agatha Christie came to writing a Hollywood mystery was 1962’s The Mirror … Continue reading “Double, double, Doyle and trouble” – The Case of the Baker Street Irregulars
MASON IN THE MONKEY HOUSE, PART II: The Case of the Mythical Monkeys
Our penultimate visit to the Mason Menagerie also completes our extended stay in the Monkey House. Except here we’ll find no gorillas, grinning or otherwise; this time, the monkeys are purely metaphorical. However, if you are craving some real-life apes, then have I got a true story for you! It’s even a Thanksgiving tale, as … Continue reading MASON IN THE MONKEY HOUSE, PART II: The Case of the Mythical Monkeys
MAYHEM IN MINIATURE: Murder at the Black Cat Cafe
Ten years ago, English-speaking fans of the classic Japanese mystery fiction known as honkaku and shin honkaku would have been lucky to find one newly translated novel a year to enjoy. Nowadays, there’s practically a glut of them, thanks largely to publishing house Pushkin Vertigo and the talent and non-stop effort of translators like Louise Heal Kawai, Ho-Ling Wong, … Continue reading MAYHEM IN MINIATURE: Murder at the Black Cat Cafe
Ah Sweet Mystery! 