In a recent post at The Invisible Event, one of JJ’s readers ended his response, full of interesting observations, with this: “Finally, a point that’s been bugging me for years. Why does so much detective fiction, especially the novels, focus on murder? Detective short stories, at least, tend to be a bit more diverse and focus … Continue reading DONE IN? DONE GOOD: Why It Has to Be Murder
Life
FAST FORWARDING INTO ‘21
“Life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent.” (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Complete Adventures of Sherlock Holmes) Does anybody want to hear me vent about 2020? Because, you know, I can do it, and I will . . . that is, if anyone wants to listen. To be honest, however, … Continue reading FAST FORWARDING INTO ‘21
THE PROBLEM IN 3A(s)
Special day, special blog! It can all be summed up in three little words: Anniversary, Apology, and Announcement. Anniversary On my way to buying my first Christie! Exactly five years ago today, this little fellow began his adventures in blogging, and what a world it opened up for me. I literally found my people, and, … Continue reading THE PROBLEM IN 3A(s)
THE 2020 MYSTERY PROJECT . . . . SORT OF
First of all, I want to apologize! I'm over two weeks overdue with a new installment of "Murder at Dungarees." For the most part, I say that work has been the cause of the delay. The last two weeks have seen us reach the final moments of the craziest spring semester of my teaching career. … Continue reading THE 2020 MYSTERY PROJECT . . . . SORT OF
HOW ROBIN HOOD SET ME STRAIGHT ABOUT LIFE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
Hello. How are you? I am fine. Can you tell me what day of the week it is? Just drop it in the comments below. All I know is that today is Day 50 of my home lockdown as a result of the film I seem to have found myself in the middle of - George … Continue reading HOW ROBIN HOOD SET ME STRAIGHT ABOUT LIFE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED . . .
Is your social calendar a bit light this month? Are you craving the society of irascible people? Do you fancy a peek into a 1920’s country house party where anything can happen – and where you might have a say in what follows? To be honest, I don’t know what will follow, but here is … Continue reading YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED . . .
MAY I SUGGEST YOU READ A MURDER MYSTERY?
I have to admit I’ve been stressed for about . . . three and a half years. Bernie Sanders said recently that the current health crisis is “on the scale of major war,” but I’ve felt battle-scarred, mostly by tweet, for some time now. And now, thanks to COVID-19, I’m in exile: our schools have … Continue reading MAY I SUGGEST YOU READ A MURDER MYSTERY?
FRIEDMAN’S FACE-OFF WITH FAN FICTION
Say what you like about Jeff Bezos and his insidious plan to take over the free market – the guy knows what I like. All I do is buy a few things (a week), and my home page zings with spot-on recommendations. As you might imagine, a lot of them have to do with classic … Continue reading FRIEDMAN’S FACE-OFF WITH FAN FICTION
SICK IN BED WITH MY TBR
Ladies, has this ever happened to you? You are knee deep in the busiest, most frantic month of the year – oh, let’s call it January. You have mountains of responsibilities, from tending to the needs and emotional meltdowns of over a hundred people, most of them children, in pursuit of a finished goal (the … Continue reading SICK IN BED WITH MY TBR
LET’S FACE THE MUSIC AND RANK: My Top Ten Christies
WARNING: What you see before you is very long, closing in on 10,000 words. I toyed with making it a two-parter, but honestly I want to be done with it! Let it go out into the blogosphere and be read by three people. Consider it this blogger’s Hooded Gunman, my coffee table book of a … Continue reading LET’S FACE THE MUSIC AND RANK: My Top Ten Christies
Ah Sweet Mystery! 