I have just finished reading a review of Carter Dickson’s Death in Five Boxes, written by my pal, the Puzzle Doctor, and I must say – I am confused. Make that doubly confused. My puzzlement first stems from Book Club, of which PD and I are both members. Last month, you might have heard the collective groaning over the Zoom … Continue reading ACDC PART NINE/BOOK CLUB ’38: Death in Five Boxes
CORPUS DELECTABLE: Giving Agatha Christie’s Victims Their Due
Neither S.S. Van Dine’s Twenty Rules nor Ronald Knox’s Ten Commandments of Detective Fiction were manifestos so much as commentaries on what constitutes a good crime novel. Written in 1928 and 1929 respectively, halfway through the Golden Age, these documents reflected with some mirth the “authority” bestowed upon two authors who were at the height … Continue reading CORPUS DELECTABLE: Giving Agatha Christie’s Victims Their Due
THE EENSY WEENSY SPIDER MURDER MYSTERY: Penelope’s Web
It’s always a cause for excitement when Locked Room International’s very own John Pugmire translates another Paul Halter novel. What sort of impossible crime or locked room will the French heir to John Dickson Carr give us this time? Will he take us to the Golden Age world of his Gideon Fell stand-in, Dr. Alan … Continue reading THE EENSY WEENSY SPIDER MURDER MYSTERY: Penelope’s Web
BOOK REPORT #7: The Wychford PoiZZZZZZZZ——-
In 1929, Anthony Berkeley published The Poisoned Chocolates Case, the fifth of his ten mystery novels featuring dilettante sleuth Roger Sheringham. In that book, a group of friends gather together to play armchair detective, each proposing a different solution to a current murder case. We never actually meet the main players in that case; instead, the members … Continue reading BOOK REPORT #7: The Wychford PoiZZZZZZZZ——-
THE PROBLEM OF 1926: When Authors Become Characters
"I coulda been a contender . . . " How many times have you asked yourself, “Why did Brad choose not to be famous?” Don’t worry – I get this all the time, but the answer is simple: had I chosen a life of celebrity, it wouldn’t have been long before the books and movies … Continue reading THE PROBLEM OF 1926: When Authors Become Characters
UN VOYAGE DANS LES TENEBRES – Le Bonus
Like a second-place contestant on Jeopardy, my fellow students and I weren’t allowed to leave our class on 1940’s film noir without a parting gift: our instructor Elliot Lavine sent us links to seven further films that he claims he could have added to our pile of twenty-four had their only been time. Not all of them are … Continue reading UN VOYAGE DANS LES TENEBRES – Le Bonus
POST #400: Christie Community Service
This is my 400th post. I wasn’t sure I’d make it over the past year (which has seemed like 400 years). The question is: what do I write about? For a brief instant, I thought I would wax reflective about my current life, but you really don’t want to hear about it. (No, really. You don’t.) … Continue reading POST #400: Christie Community Service
UN VOYAGE DANS LES TENEBRES: Week 10 – Worshipping at the Alton of Noir
Ten weeks ago, I decided to share with you my journey through a world of 40’s film noir that I watched as part of my course “Primacy of the Visual,” taught by Elliot Lavine through Stanford University. Twenty-four films later, I am so grateful to Elliot for allowing me to visit a few favorites, for introducing me … Continue reading UN VOYAGE DANS LES TENEBRES: Week 10 – Worshipping at the Alton of Noir
KRIMES FOR KIDS: The Curse of the Middle Child
Earlier this spring, I read the first book in not one but two series of mystery novels for kids, thanks to the diligence of my buddy JJ who spends a significant amount of time over at The Invisible Event digging up juvenile gold in the mystery genre. You can catch up to my initial thoughts … Continue reading KRIMES FOR KIDS: The Curse of the Middle Child
UN VOYAGE DANS LES TENEBRES: Week 9 – The Great Schism
Well, it was bound to happen. After nine weeks of forty people gathering in a tiny Zoom room to marvel over all the 1940’s films noir that our instructor Elliot Lavine has shared with us, he finally presented a double bill of films that were, each in their way, so extreme that they managed to divide us. … Continue reading UN VOYAGE DANS LES TENEBRES: Week 9 – The Great Schism
Ah Sweet Mystery! 