Happy New Year, everyone! As a new blogger, I have only just become aware of the tradition in this community for those who blog about books to reflect on the past year in reading. Yes, let’s focus on the reading because in most other respects, for me at least, 2016 was not a keeper! So … Continue reading MY READINGS (AND REVISITINGS) OF 2016
John Dickson Carr
GIVE ‘EM A RIGHT HOOK: Carr vs. Christie on Roping In the Readers
Only yesterday my buddy JJ, on his insightful blog site, InsultingAgathaChri-, oops, I mean, The Invisible Event, celebrated the 110th birthday of his favorite author, John Dickson Carr - an author, I might add, whom I also count among my favorites. Among his many moments of praise for the Locked Room Master, JJ asserted the … Continue reading GIVE ‘EM A RIGHT HOOK: Carr vs. Christie on Roping In the Readers
A CELEBRATORY HODGEPODGE HONORING JOHN DICKSON CARR
Happy 110th birthday, John Dickson Carr. Two months ago, JJ at The Invisible Event invited everybody to share a post on this day of days for his favorite author, the Master of the Locked Room Mystery. We could write anything we wanted: a review, a poem, a celebration of the author. I had great intentions, … Continue reading A CELEBRATORY HODGEPODGE HONORING JOHN DICKSON CARR
YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR FIRST CARR
When I saw that Rich Westwood was celebrating all things mysterious from 1930 all month at his blog, Past Offenses, I quickly checked out the literary scene at the time. Folks, this year was golden! Nearly every member of the Detection Club seemed to churn one out that year, and some of them created landmarks … Continue reading YOU ALWAYS REMEMBER YOUR FIRST CARR
PLOT VS. CHARACTER: Thoughts Inspired by a Fellow Blogger
“No plot is devoid entirely of character, and even the most character-rich study has to give them something to do – particularly in my given field of crime fiction. At a more atavistic level it’s really about writing over character or plot, but give me that choice and – 63 times out of 80 – … Continue reading PLOT VS. CHARACTER: Thoughts Inspired by a Fellow Blogger
THE FORGOTTEN GENIUS, or Where Did I Park My Carr?
This month, the Tuesday Night Bloggers are celebrating the career of that master of the impossible, John Dickson Carr. Rather than discuss his technique or analyze one of his novels, I offer this existential ramble for your dubious delight: You know, being a classic mystery lover was much easier when I was a kid. In … Continue reading THE FORGOTTEN GENIUS, or Where Did I Park My Carr?
THE QUINTESSENTIAL CARR: He Who Whispers
In a Facebook discussion about John Dickson Carr that was sparked by a posted review of his classic The Three Coffins (which I reviewed myself here last week), author and fellow blogger Curtis Evans from The Passing Tramp described his own experiences with the author. While he had thoroughly enjoyed reading Carr as a young … Continue reading THE QUINTESSENTIAL CARR: He Who Whispers
LOCKED ROOM TALES: John Dickson Carr, The Master
Forgive me if this post is uncomfortably long and rambling! I admit that I am trying to kill two birds with one stone (something I’m sure one of Carr’s murderers would accomplish in a suitably tricky way!) First, this begins a sporadic series about the locked-room murder, a sub-genre of mystery novel that is admittedly … Continue reading LOCKED ROOM TALES: John Dickson Carr, The Master
JJ MADE ME DO IT: The Impossible Crimes Project
The blogosphere is just like school at recess: you step into the yard and look fearfully around for people who you can play with and will like you for who you are. I’ve found so many wonderful, thoughtful writers in here who have expanded my understanding of what lies out there in the world of … Continue reading JJ MADE ME DO IT: The Impossible Crimes Project
Ah Sweet Mystery! 