“It’s one thing reading about detectives, quite another trying to be one.” This brand new novel by Anthony Horowitz is making the rounds amongst the mystery blogging community. Already my buddies Kate at Cross Examining Crime and JJ at The Invisible Event have written about it. It hasn’t even hit America yet, so thank you, … Continue reading MAGPIE MURDERS: The Silver Age and the Modern Era Collide
Tuesday Night Bloggers
COMING HOME: Two Examples From Agatha Christie’s Post-War England
Critics of classic mysteries complain that these tales lack any grounding in reality. People die horrible deaths - sometimes a great many people during the same country weekend - but nobody seems particularly put out, unless you count the irritation one feels about having to put off one’s golf game in order to be interrogated … Continue reading COMING HOME: Two Examples From Agatha Christie’s Post-War England
HISTORY CROSSES PATHS: The Picture From the Past
This month, the Tuesday Night Bloggers tackle a sprawling subject: the relationship between mystery and history. It’s a topic one can examine from many different angles. So far, members of the group have shared insights about mysteries set in specific historical eras, or examined how historical context plays into, or is revealed, in Golden Age … Continue reading HISTORY CROSSES PATHS: The Picture From the Past
A BIENTOT, POIROT: Agatha Christie’s Curtain
Every month, Rich Westwood at Past Offenses gathers mystery fans from all over the stratosphere to celebrate the mystery literature and films of a specific year, and for November he has chosen . . . 1975?!?!? After October’s foray into 1907, I thought Rich might take pity on us and choose a nice juicy year from … Continue reading A BIENTOT, POIROT: Agatha Christie’s Curtain
MYSTERY AND HISTORY: The First Classic Murder Case
It’s a new month, so the Tuesday Night Bloggers are changing the subject! Throughout November we will be discussing mysteries that have some connection to history. I would like to modestly boast that this was my idea, and I sold it as a topic broad enough to encompass a variety of perspectives. Yet, while my … Continue reading MYSTERY AND HISTORY: The First Classic Murder Case
THE CAPE AND THE COWL: The Ultimate Costumed Detective
Murder at Mystery Castle has everything you could desire in a Golden Age detective story. Take one exotic setting: an ancient medieval castle that has been taken apart and reassembled, brick by brick, on island cliffs overlooking a modern American city. Add a powerful victim, one James Barham, munitions manufacturer, who has invited four guests … Continue reading THE CAPE AND THE COWL: The Ultimate Costumed Detective
COSTUME IN CRIME: The Cinema Version
As the Tuesday Night Bloggers devote the month of October to the subject of Costume in Crime, it would be remiss of me not to discuss some of the great costumed characters in the world of cinematic mysteries, many of them based on literary heroes and villains. I mentioned last week how unbelievable it might … Continue reading COSTUME IN CRIME: The Cinema Version
DEVIL IN DISGUISE – Christie’s Costumed Criminals . . . AND a Quiz!
When the Tuesday Night Bloggers selected October’s topic – Costume in Crime – I made straight for Agatha Christie, as is my wont. It only took me a moment to cover an entire page with titles that concern criminals in disguise. Christie’s use of this trick is frequent enough and varied enough that I’m sure … Continue reading DEVIL IN DISGUISE – Christie’s Costumed Criminals . . . AND a Quiz!
ALL MY DEADLY DAUGHTERS: Christie’s Children in Fact and Fiction
“I know all mothers rave about their babies, but I must say that, though I personally consider newborn babies definitely hideous, Rosalind actually was a nice-looking baby. She had a lot of dark hair, and she looked rather like a Red Indian; she had not that pink, bald look that is so depressing in babies, … Continue reading ALL MY DEADLY DAUGHTERS: Christie’s Children in Fact and Fiction
THE CASE OF THE VANISHING VOLUMES: The Solution!
This month, the Tuesday Club Bloggers are talking about Children in Crime. Just in case you didn’t get a chance to read this newly discovered adventure starring my childhood detective heroes, The Hardy Boys and Encyclopedia Brown, here’s the link. I was going to wait till Friday to post the solution, but WE HAVE A WINNER!!! … Continue reading THE CASE OF THE VANISHING VOLUMES: The Solution!
Ah Sweet Mystery! 