Thanks to a sale on Kindle, I snatched up about a half dozen titles by Helen McCloy and have been enjoying them like literary bonbons ever since. I previously reviewed two of her titles, Through a Glass, Darkly and Mr. Splitfoot, here. Both of these novels feature her sleuth, Dr. Basil Willing, a psychologist, allowing … Continue reading THE DARKER REACHES: Helen McCloy’s The Slayer and the Slain
Author: Brad
CHRISTIE VS. QUEEN: MALICE DOMESTIC TAKES ON THE GOD COMPLEX
Given the number of singular surprise endings for which they were responsible, it’s safe to say that Agatha Christie and Ellery Queen were both masters of misdirection. One or the other probably invented nearly every variation on “the least likely suspect” motif. They shared a goal of fooling the reader, using “fair play” methods that, … Continue reading CHRISTIE VS. QUEEN: MALICE DOMESTIC TAKES ON THE GOD COMPLEX
TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE: SHOULD A WOULD-BE MYSTERY WRITER COZY UP?
A recent Buzzfeed post offered that, simply by typing in your name, you will be provided with a word that will define your coming year. The whole thing appeared random, but I thought, Why not give it a try? Some of my friends got “love”, while others got “wisdom”. For no special reason that I can see, … Continue reading TO BEE OR NOT TO BEE: SHOULD A WOULD-BE MYSTERY WRITER COZY UP?
A MIX TAPE FOR WHEN YOU DIDN’T GET CAST
I have been directing theatre for around thirty-seven years, and you know one thing that has really changed for me? I used to love casting. When I directed theatre in the community, I loved auditions: seeing who came in, admiring the effort and preparation actors brought to their work, being dazzled by new surprises. Then … Continue reading A MIX TAPE FOR WHEN YOU DIDN’T GET CAST
THE QUEENS OF CRIME: Comparing EQ to AC
When you Google “the Queen of Crime,” guess who comes up? That’s right – Agatha Christie! But we members of the Tuesday Club Bloggers have put Christie aside for the moment and are plunging forward with a year’s worth of other authors to ponder and peruse, a list compiled by my learned colleague, Noah Stewart, … Continue reading THE QUEENS OF CRIME: Comparing EQ to AC
THE DOCUMENTS IN THE CASE: Christie and Clues
All good things must come to an end, as the Tuesday Night Bloggers bid a fond adieu (for now) to Agatha Christie. I know she will grace my own blog many more times. One of these days, I might follow in the footsteps of my friend, Matt Christenson, who wrote about every Christie book in his … Continue reading THE DOCUMENTS IN THE CASE: Christie and Clues
A TOUCH OF THE CREEPS: Two by Helen McCloy
We can have a political discussion about Amazon.com at another time. Right now, I feel grateful to the mega-company because, unlike most major publishers, Amazon has found value in providing access for readers to the work of past mystery authors. When I walk into a bookstore – and these days, that is getting harder and … Continue reading A TOUCH OF THE CREEPS: Two by Helen McCloy
AGATHA CHRISTIE AND ME: Confessions of a Fan
Yikes! I got a little confused this week, probably due to tech'ing and opening a musical over the weekend. I thought it was the end of the month and The Tuesday Night Bloggers last week to tackle Agatha Christie. So I wrote a rather personal summation of my relationship with the author and then woke up … Continue reading AGATHA CHRISTIE AND ME: Confessions of a Fan
THE EL NINO SCREENING ROOM PART II: More Comfort Films To Get You Through the Storm
Yesterday, I shared three films deserving of a viewing on a wet winter's night, with a steaming mug of cocoa in your hand. Today, I offer you three more. Two of the movies conjure up warm feelings of romance, while the third is a cult film that deserves more attention than it has gotten. All three films … Continue reading THE EL NINO SCREENING ROOM PART II: More Comfort Films To Get You Through the Storm
THE EL NINO SCREENING ROOM – PART ONE: Comfort Films for the Approaching Storm
My non-West Coast friends may not be aware that, for the past several years, the Golden State has been stricken by drought. This has meant day after day of beach weather, shorts and sandals, rising air toxicity, dead lawns, and alarming produce prices at the market. But now, we Californians are taking heart (with some … Continue reading THE EL NINO SCREENING ROOM – PART ONE: Comfort Films for the Approaching Storm
Ah Sweet Mystery! 