Poor Ernest Cunningham! Saddled with a dysfunctional family, each of whom have been responsible for somebody else’s death, the “how-to-write-a-mystery” author risks arrest and death at the reunion from hell in a snowbound Australian ski resort when the Cunningham clan is targeted by an insane serial killer! Oh, but lucky Ernest! He survives, unmasks the … Continue reading THE TRACKS OF MY TERRORS: Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect
Modern Crime Novels
BOOK CLUB STICKS TO PROCEDUR-AL: Exit Lines by Reginald Hill
When it comes to procedural mysteries, I’d rather watch ‘em than read ‘em, although there was a time when I read quite a few of them. I had a good long run with Ed McBain more years ago than I can remember, and I think that around the same time I read one or two of … Continue reading BOOK CLUB STICKS TO PROCEDUR-AL: Exit Lines by Reginald Hill
CHRISTIE ADJACENT: The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan
It is a truth universally acknowledged that an Agatha Christie uber-fan who decides to write his own mystery will be influenced by the Queen of Crime. Kemper Donovan, host of the Christie-centered podcast All About Agatha, has himself acknowledged this regarding The Busy Body, his second novel but first full-fledged whodunnit. Indeed, I could share some of … Continue reading CHRISTIE ADJACENT: The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan
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
DATELINE MEETS “THE OMEN”: The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels
The laudatory editorial comments that appear on the front and back covers and fill four pages of Janice Hallett’s latest novel do her no favors. “Agatha Christie has found her heir . . . “ “The Queen of tricksy crime . . . “ “Agatha Christie for the 21st century . . . “ “A new Agatha Christie … Continue reading DATELINE MEETS “THE OMEN”: The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels
AIM (NOT SO) STRAIGHT AND TRUE: My Resolutions for 2023
A few weeks ago, my pal (and Book Club Arch Nemesis!) the Puzzle Doctor reached his 2000th post on In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel. Not bad for a man who’s only been blogging since 1954. I hit my 500th post last August (it was a dreary review of a dreary book, Dorothy L. Sayers’ The Documents in … Continue reading AIM (NOT SO) STRAIGHT AND TRUE: My Resolutions for 2023
FINAL READ OF THE YEAR!
“’So you’re a lawyer now?’ “’I guess so.’ “’Don’t you have, like, ten steps for solving crime or whatever? Just do – ‘ she wriggled her hands in the air like she was performing a magic trick - ‘a bit of all that.’ “’They’re rules, not steps. And they’re not mine.’” Monseignor Ronald Knox, circa 1930 … Continue reading FINAL READ OF THE YEAR!
PAT ON THE BACK: Meeting (Some of) My 2022 Goals
“There is no Frigate like a Book to take us Lands away . . . “ These words by Emily Dickenson were emblazoned on the bookplates my grandparents gave me when, at an early age, I declared my love for reading. I pasted them into every volume I owned and used up my stock long ago. … Continue reading PAT ON THE BACK: Meeting (Some of) My 2022 Goals
TO BE CONTINUED: Adapting the Modern Mystery
Here’s a quiz: Write down the name of the first Agatha Christie mystery novel you read. Now turn to the person on your left and compare answers. (The chances are about 1 in 66 that they will match.) Next, write down the name of the first Louise Penny novel you read. Now turn to the … Continue reading TO BE CONTINUED: Adapting the Modern Mystery
KIDDIE KRIMES: Murder Meets Marketing in The Agathas
On behalf of the thousands of teenagers that I taught for thirty-one years, all of whom deserve to have wonderful stories created for them, I would like to demand that the following cliches be retired from books, films, and television aimed at kids: Can we stop setting stories in tony California towns where the rich … Continue reading KIDDIE KRIMES: Murder Meets Marketing in The Agathas
Ah Sweet Mystery! 