Margot Kinberg taught me to seek inspiration in the words of my fellow bloggers, and that is what happened to me yesterday. My buddy Kate over at Cross Examining Crime re-read and reviewed Dead Man’s Folly. I figure that few Christie fans start a conversation with, “Oh, yes, and my favorite book of hers is … Continue reading GAME, SET AND (UN) MATCHED: A Discussion of Mirrors and Follies
Author: Brad
IN WHICH FRANCIS BEEDING EMBRACES HIS INNER TONTINE: Murdered, One by One
As I stated last time, I had the great good fortune to discover that one of the books I picked up during my latest haunting at the used bookstore was also on the shortlist of my friend Bev Hankin’s TBR pile. We decided to read Francis Beeding’s Murdered: One by One at the same time … Continue reading IN WHICH FRANCIS BEEDING EMBRACES HIS INNER TONTINE: Murdered, One by One
OF BRADLEY, BOOKSTORES, BEV, AND AN ANNOUNCEMENT
Amazon.com has drastically altered my life. For better andfor worse. From early childhood, I adored bookstores. Like most of you, I’ll bet, I could while away many an hour curled up in a chair (if they had any) or simply mosey back and forth along the aisles, picking up this and that, reading back covers … Continue reading OF BRADLEY, BOOKSTORES, BEV, AND AN ANNOUNCEMENT
ACDC, PART FOUR: “Don’t Wanna Be in the Room Where It Happened” in The Red Widow Murders
Before I conceived of this chronological Carter Dickson celebration, my experiences with Sir Henry Merrivale were more piecemeal. Even when I spotted and grabbed a lot of Carter Dickson novels on eBay and placed them carefully on my shelf in order of publication, I grabbed down She Died a Lady first because . . . well, … Continue reading ACDC, PART FOUR: “Don’t Wanna Be in the Room Where It Happened” in The Red Widow Murders
FOR THIRTEEN PAGES, THE GAUNTLET IS THROWN
“I know there are lots of talented bloggers in this group. I have a suggestion for a future post: A proper rebuke to Raymond Chandler's essay, The Simple Art of Murder. For those of you who haven't read it, it's 13 pages and free online as a pdf. It is a scathing indictment of everything this … Continue reading FOR THIRTEEN PAGES, THE GAUNTLET IS THROWN
ACDC, PART THREE: Footprints and Fade-Outs in The White Priory Murders
“The first thing is to determine the murderer’s motive. I don’t mean his motive for murder, but for creating an impossible situation. That’s very important, son, because it’s the best kind of clue tothe motive for murder. Why’d he do it? Nobody but a loony is goin’ to indulge in a lot of unreasonable hocus-pocus … Continue reading ACDC, PART THREE: Footprints and Fade-Outs in The White Priory Murders
THOSE ELEVEN DAYS
Personal tragedy or publicity stunt? This is the question that has run circles around Agatha Christie’s fans since December 3, 1926, when Christie disappeared from her home after a fight with her husband, Archie. He had informed her that he wanted a divorce in order to marry his mistress, Nancy Neele, and when Agatha refused, … Continue reading THOSE ELEVEN DAYS
EVIL AGATHA: BREAKER OF RULES!
If I was a Londoner, I’d spend my evenings with my mates Daniel (The Reader Is Warned) and JJ (The Invisible Event), study-hopping between each other’s flats or spending an evening in the pub over Scotch eggs, bangers and mash, backed bubble and squeak, (do you people eat anythingnormal?), having a rigorous back and forth … Continue reading EVIL AGATHA: BREAKER OF RULES!
GAD = GORY AND DARK: Sarah Phelps Takes On the Establishment
The latest BBC rendition of an Agatha Christie classic , 1936’s The ABC Murders, has just dropped onto Amazon Prime. Now we forward-thinking Americans can add our two cents to the European reaction over Sarah Phelps’ treatment of the Mistress of Mystery. (I believe the words “Burn the witch and her laptop!” have been uttered in … Continue reading GAD = GORY AND DARK: Sarah Phelps Takes On the Establishment
“THESE PRECIOUS ILLUSIONS IN MY HEAD DID NOT LET ME DOWN . . . “
Author and blogger Margot Kinberg, who comes up with something thought-provoking every . . . single . . . day . . . recently offered up a tantalizing article about illusion. Her focus was on characters in mysteries whose lives, built to varying degrees around an illusory view of the world around them, form the … Continue reading “THESE PRECIOUS ILLUSIONS IN MY HEAD DID NOT LET ME DOWN . . . “
Ah Sweet Mystery! 