Mystery 
Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood XI
Rosa has fled from John Jasper who revealed his villainous designs on her in their private conversation in the garden of the Nuns’ House. Others’ concern about Rosa’s sudden flight brings the Reverend Crisparkle to London. ” ‘I have told Mr. Crisparkle,’ said Mr. Grewgious, ‘all that you told me last night, my dear. Of course… Read More ›
By Its Cover: Good Neighbors
Illuminated windows at night. Three witnesses peering outside. What do they see? This cover has a sort of Rear Window-vibe, but it also reminded me of an infamous incident in the 1960s. Kitty Genovese, returning home from work, is senselessly killed while her neighbors apparently ignored her cries for help in Queens, New York. Two… Read More ›
Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood X
On a summer’s day, John Jasper has come to call on Rosa Bud much to her horror. “If he had chosen his time for finding her at a disadvantage, he could have done no better. Perhaps he has chosen it.” Rosa was utterly alone. Reluctantly, she resolves to meet him in the garden. There by… Read More ›
Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood IX
Edwin Drood has vanished. And with the beginning of Chapter Seventeen, a “full half a year had come and gone.” The Rev. Crisparkle has gone up to London and converses with Mr. Honeythunder about “the sanctity of human life” and murder. It is clear they view Drood as having been “swept off the face of… Read More ›
Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood VIII
What has happened to Edwin Drood? “He is not to be found.” Chapter Fifteen begins with a seemingly blissfully unaware Neville Landless–having set off on a journey–stopping at The Tilted Wagon tavern to refresh himself. Resuming his travels, he encounters four men. “Their manner was very curious.” They accost Neville. A reader’s first thought might… Read More ›
By Its Cover: The Cocktail Waitress
Hard Case Crime has been issuing–or should I say, reissuing–novels with a retro pulp fiction look. This particular book, released in 2012, is touted as a lost final novel by James M. Cain, author of The Postman Always Rings Twice, Double Indemnity, and Mildred Pierce. Cain’s name should be well-known to mystery fans and film… Read More ›
Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood VII
“WHEN SHALL THESE THREE MEET AGAIN?” The title of Chapter Fourteen asks a curious question. To which three characters is it referring? Christmas Eve has come to Cloisterham. “Lavish profusion is in the shops” and elsewhere, as Dickens describes the Yuletide scene in Cloisterham before turning to the matter at hand. “Three are to meet… Read More ›
By Its Cover: Wait For Signs
An owl perched in front of a full moon was the very first thing that caught my eye. Then I say the author’s name: Craig Johnson, and that this was part of the Longmire series. From the inside jacket description: “Sheriff Walt Lonmire, first knocked readers dead in the Hillerman award-winning short story “Old Indian… Read More ›
Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood VI
Chapters Twelve and Thirteen bring us an evening with Durdles and a meeting with Rosa Bud. “When Mr. Sapsea has nothing better to do … He likes to pass the churchyard with a swelling air of proprietorship, and to encourage in his breast a sort of benignant-landlord feeling, in that he has been bountiful towards… Read More ›
Demise in Denim
The novel begins with Reagan Summerside in a little trouble. “It was a perfect spring night except that my palms were seating, my heart was rocketing around in my chest, I shook so bad it was hard to keep the car on the road, and there were one, two, make that four police cars on… Read More ›
The Poisoned Martini 