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
locked room mysteries
“IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR . . . ” It’s About Impossible Crime by James Scott Burnside
Since 2018, when James Scott Byrnside’s Goodnight Irene debuted in all its self-published glory, I’ve had an image of the author sitting in his bathtub in the luxury penthouse he owns atop one of Las Vegas’ swanky off-the-Strip hotels – maybe around City Center? – with classic Sinatra piped in through the sound system. His typewriter on … Continue reading “IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR . . . ” It’s About Impossible Crime by James Scott Burnside
POOH AND PIGLET ON THE CASE: The Red House Mystery
Like most classic mystery fans, I have long been aware that in 1922, three years before he created that immortalis ursi Winnie-the-Pooh, A. A. Milne wrote a single crime novel called The Red House Mystery. The book was a great success! Even Raymond Chandler, Public Enemy #1 when it comes to country house mysteries and locked room puzzles, … Continue reading POOH AND PIGLET ON THE CASE: The Red House Mystery
“I’ve got a little list . . . ” Part II: Ten Favorite Mysteries of the 1930’s
Back in May, my buddies Sergio and Nick and I pooled our heads together and came up with our own three lists of the best mysteries from the Golden Age of Detection. Our method of selection was very structured: we came up with thirteen general categories (i.e., “Best wartime” “best locked room” and “best twist ending”) and … Continue reading “I’ve got a little list . . . ” Part II: Ten Favorite Mysteries of the 1930’s
BOOK CLUB TACKLES ITS INNER DEMONS: The Noh Mask Murder
The ever-increasing availability of Japanese honkaku and shin honkaku mystery stories translated into English is one of the greatest perks of the classic mystery revival. I used to talk about each review as “this year’s book,” but now I can’t keep up with the new titles. I’ve got books on my shelf that I haven’t read yet, another Kosuke … Continue reading BOOK CLUB TACKLES ITS INNER DEMONS: The Noh Mask Murder
WHERE’S THE BEEF? Book Club Tackles Leo Bruce
“Crime? Can’t we talk about anything else? Don’t we get enough of it in books and films? I’m sick to death of this crime, crime, crime, wherever you turn.” If this sounds like an odd complaint coming from a member of a Classic Crime Book Club– well, you’re right. While we have tended to have … Continue reading WHERE’S THE BEEF? Book Club Tackles Leo Bruce
NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF . . . Monkey See, Monkey Murder
Writing, like old age and rugby, is not for sissies. This especially holds true for the writing of James Scott Byrnside, that sardonic writer of impossible crime novels, whose fifth book, Monkey See, Monkey Murder is clever and funny and definitely not for the squeamish. Byrnside is one of those rare modern authors who trades in the devices and … Continue reading NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF . . . Monkey See, Monkey Murder
WAR IS HELL: The Devil’s Flute Murders
I’ll start by giving away my surprise ending: In May of next year, The Little Sparrow Murders will be the sixth Seishi Yokomizo mystery to be released in English by Pushkin Vertigo. If the publisher continues in this vein with all seventy-eight of Yokomizo’s books, the chances of my being around long enough to read titles like Pimple … Continue reading WAR IS HELL: The Devil’s Flute Murders
TROP DE CHOSES: The Siren’s Call
I don’t think any mystery writer drives me half so crazy as Paul Halter! If you do a search on this blog of the author’s name, you’ll come up with a series of reviews where the reactions range from delight to sheer exasperation. Every other year or so when Santosh Ayer, who is kind enough … Continue reading TROP DE CHOSES: The Siren’s Call
THE MASTER OF MANIPULATION: Tom Mead’s The Murder Wheel
“There’s far too much strangeness in the everyday to bother with making things up. Take the Ferris wheel for instance. If I sound dubious about it, it’s because it was a very literal-minded crime. That means one weapon, one victim, and one suspect. And the crime scene is what you might describe as ‘hermetically sealed.’ … Continue reading THE MASTER OF MANIPULATION: Tom Mead’s The Murder Wheel
Ah Sweet Mystery! 