The beginning of every year is extraordinarily busy for me because that’s when I gear up at school to present the big musical! (This year we produced Nice Work If You Can Get It, with music by George Gershwin, and it went very well, thank you.) Consequently, I have had neither the time nor the inclination toward reading, … Continue reading KATE MADE ME DO IT: A Workplace Quiz
Agatha Christie
POIROT ON THE TRAIL: Lord Edgware Dies (1933)
This post is part of the celebration of all mysterious books and movies in 1933 going on here at Rich’s blog, Past Offenses. Ironically, I thought I would take a look at this 1933 novel in context with Hercule Poirot novels form other years, including the one I most recently read:1963’s The Clocks. … Continue reading POIROT ON THE TRAIL: Lord Edgware Dies (1933)
CHRISTIE’S THE CLOCKS: The Ravaging Effects of Time
“In old days the public didn’t really mind much about accuracy, but nowadays readers take it upon themselves to write to authors on every possible occasion, pointing out flaws.” This sounds like an excerpt from an interview with Agatha Christie – or any other longtime successful author - but the line is actually spoken early … Continue reading CHRISTIE’S THE CLOCKS: The Ravaging Effects of Time
THE BBC’S AND THEN THERE WERE NONE GETS IT RIGHT
My relationship with Agatha Christie – now a half-century old – began with And Then There Were None. Why not start with the best: the best classic mystery writer, the best of her novels. Oh, I have other favorite Christies, too, culled for a list of Poirots and Marples. But ATTWN stands apart from … Continue reading THE BBC’S AND THEN THERE WERE NONE GETS IT RIGHT
THE MIRROR CRACK’D FROM SIDE TO SIDE
“What a terrible mistake I had made in starting with Hercule Poirot so old,” Agatha Christie states in her autobiography. (He is reputed to be around 62 at the start of The Mysterious Affair at Styles . . . in 1920.) “I ought to have abandoned him after the first three or four books, and … Continue reading THE MIRROR CRACK’D FROM SIDE TO SIDE
TWO VILLAGE MYSTERIES FROM 1950
Over at Past Offenses, Rich is gathering mystery fans from far and wide to honor the year 1950. It just so happens that during this year, two of my favorite authors published mysteries set in small villages. Agatha Christie, writing her fiftieth novel, created a masterpiece. Ellery Queen, however, wrote a lesser Wrightsville tale that, … Continue reading TWO VILLAGE MYSTERIES FROM 1950
AGATHA CHRISTIE’S THE PALE HORSE
“Of course I often have a master criminal in my stories – people like it – but really he gets harder and harder to do. So long as one doesn’t know who he is, I can keep him impressive. But when it all comes out, he seems, somehow, so inadequate. A kind of anticlimax. It’s … Continue reading AGATHA CHRISTIE’S THE PALE HORSE
THE TWELVE FAMILIES OF CHRISTIE-MAS – PART II
Continuing my investigation of the twelve family tales one finds scattered throughout Agatha Christie’s novels, today I examine the second half dozen: On the seventh day of Christie-mas my true love sent to me: Seven family members strapped for cash. 1948’s Taken at … Continue reading THE TWELVE FAMILIES OF CHRISTIE-MAS – PART II
THE TWELVE FAMILIES OF CHRISTIE-MAS – PART I
Ah, the holidays! A time when families come together to decorate the tree, light the candles, exchange gifts, and spike the eggnog with just enough cyanide to ensure the reading of the will by New Year’s Eve! Well, that’s the way it is if your clan is featured in an Agatha Christie novel. Actually, out … Continue reading THE TWELVE FAMILIES OF CHRISTIE-MAS – PART I
NGAIO MARSH: The Third Queen of Crime
The Tuesday Night Bloggers group was founded by Curtis Evans with the purpose of exploring a different Golden Age mystery writer each month. So far, I have had it easy! We started with Christie – and everyone knows something about her! Next came Ellery Queen. So far, so good: after Christie, I think I know … Continue reading NGAIO MARSH: The Third Queen of Crime
Ah Sweet Mystery! 