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
FOUR LITTLE WOMEN (AND ONE LITTLE MAN) AGAINST THE WORLD
Yesterday, the New York Times offered commentary on an article by Vanity Fair about Greta Gerwig’s new adaptation of Little Women. The article, “Little Women Has a Little Man Problem,” by Anthony Breznican, discussed the concerns by producer Amy Pascal that the film was faring poorly in early awards nominations because, in essence, men were … Continue reading FOUR LITTLE WOMEN (AND ONE LITTLE MAN) AGAINST THE WORLD
COMME SI, COMME CA: Loreth Anne White’s In the Dark
Two damaged souls meet cute while on the job in a two-bit village in the remotest part of British Columbia. Mason Deniaud is a homicide cop, a city boy who has arrived in disgrace - and with a tragic secret – to take over the tiny RCMP force in the town of Kluhane. Callie Sutton … Continue reading COMME SI, COMME CA: Loreth Anne White’s In the Dark
A HOLIDAY BLESSING, or Why I’m Not Going to See CATS
The holidays have oddly aligned this year. Today it’s Hanukkah, tomorrow is Christmas Eve/Mom’s Birthday, Wednesday it’s Christmas, and we (pun intended) wrap it all up on Thursday with Boxing Day/Kwanzaa. And let’s not forget that Saturday was the winter solstice, containing the longest night of the year, followed yesterday by a festival marking the … Continue reading A HOLIDAY BLESSING, or Why I’m Not Going to See CATS
THE REPRINT THAT JJ WILL LOVE: The Honjin Murders
Right now, we are in the throes of Kate’s Second Annual Best Reprint of the Year poll, and Kate has roped some of her fellow bloggers to post one or two selections from which all readers can select a winner. If, for some uncanny reason, you have decided not to vote for my first selection, … Continue reading THE REPRINT THAT JJ WILL LOVE: The Honjin Murders
IT’S BAAAAAAACK! My First Nominee for “Reprint of the Year”
In this perilous age of political craziness, where most of us are shaking our heads and muttering that invaluable Latin phrase, “What the fuuuuuu - ?” (translation: “I am stymied, Marcus Aurelius”), it behooves us to be grateful for small matters. For instance, it’s turning out to be a great time to be alive if … Continue reading IT’S BAAAAAAACK! My First Nominee for “Reprint of the Year”
“I’VE GOT A LITTLE LIST”
Inspiration strikes a blogger in all sorts of ways. You read or watch or hear something, and it makes you want to take pen to paper and . . . oh, hell! Does anyone take pen to paper anymore? Nowadays inspiration makes your fingers itch to strike the keyboard and let the insight pour forth! … Continue reading “I’VE GOT A LITTLE LIST”
KNIVES OUT: A Mystery Maven’s Perspective
I do have a few friends who care what I have to say about movies. And yet, while I stated right at the startthat I would talk about films in this space, usually when I want to offer an opinion about something I’ve seen, I dash off a paragraph on Facebook. It seems that Ah Sweet … Continue reading KNIVES OUT: A Mystery Maven’s Perspective
AN ACDC INTERLUDE: Introducing Colonel March, Looking Pretty Good in a Pair of Shorts
Those of you who are good enough to follow my adventures through the treasure trove that makes up A Carter Dickson Celebration will know that we last left off in 1938 with The Judas Window. The next novel, Death in Five Boxes – a first timer for me – will follow in due course. Both … Continue reading AN ACDC INTERLUDE: Introducing Colonel March, Looking Pretty Good in a Pair of Shorts
ON THE CLEVERNESS OF CONSTANCE CULMINGTON: Eighty Years of And Then There Were None
This is an analysis/reflection of a classic piece of mystery literature. Be warned that the identity of the murderer and other details salient to the plot will be revealed and discussed. Do not read this post if you have not already read the book. I wonder. I wonder if Collins Crime Club sensed when it … Continue reading ON THE CLEVERNESS OF CONSTANCE CULMINGTON: Eighty Years of And Then There Were None