Month: June 2011
An Expert in Murder
Using “real” people as the detective in fiction seems to be growing in popularity these days. Of course, this isn’t a new phenomenon. Eleanor Roosevelt solved political mysteries in a series by son Elliott Roosevelt. Benjamin Franklin finds adventure in the humor-filled pages of Robert Lee Hall’s books, and Jane Austen turns detective in Stephanie… Read More ›
The Little Blog of Murder
The newest addition to my blogroll is The Little Blog of Murder. Giving an Ohio perspective on the mystery genre, this blog features the voices of Ohio writers: Don Bruns, Casey Daniels, Amanda Flower, John and Toni , and Jeffrey Marks. Of particular interest, a recent post, Slush Pile, questions the potential eroding quality of e-self… Read More ›
Friday Cocktails
In keeping with the Chess theme, this week’s Friday Cocktail presents two tasty classics, the Black Russian and White Russian. The Black Russian dates back to 1949 Brussels, Belgium, where a barman, Gustave Tops, mixed up the drink for the then American Ambassador to Luxembourg, Perle Mesta. It is most likely that the White Russian was… Read More ›
The Eight
It has 64 squares in rows of black and white. Upon its surface, the rank and file of pawns are poised for the game to begin… Ever since I was a little kid when my dad taught me how to play, I have been a fan of Chess. When I stumbled across this book and… Read More ›
later, at the bar
“Inviting as a good shot of whiskey on a cold winter night,” later, at the bar is a look at small town life and the characters who inhabit it. This collection of interconnected short stories reads like a novel. The narrative flow and recurring characters form a cohesive whole. In fact, some of the stories… Read More ›
Writing is Murder
The latest addition to my blogroll is Mystery Writing is Murder. This award-winning website (Writer’s Digest’s 101 Best Websites for Writers) by author Elizabeth Spann Craig features daily posts, mainly on the topic of writing. Craig is a cozy mystery author who also writes under the pseudonym Riley Adams. Her posts on writing are sure… Read More ›
Friday Cocktail
Time for a taste of true elegance with this week’s Friday cocktail, the French Martini. Chambord is a black raspberry liqueur produced in France. It’s infused with fresh raspberries and blackberries and blended with French cognac, extracts of vanilla, and other herbs to create a silky smooth liqueur. Legend has it that King Louis XIV visited… Read More ›
The Poisoned Martini 