Reviews 
Whether it be a book, movie, or something else, here’s a critique.
The Third Man
Graham Greene’s The Third Man has the aura of familiarity about it. It’s one of those works that’s part of the collective consciousness, much like Romeo and Juliet, Gone with the Wind, The Maltese Falcon, and several Greek myths, that—whether or not one has seen or read them—we have a sense of their basic story… Read More ›
Joseph Conrad’s The Secret Agent
Radicals, extremists, anarchists, terrorists… they’ve been around in some form since the dawn of civilization. Adolf Verloc would seem an unlikely agent of terror. Ostensibly he was a shopkeeper. “The shop was small, and so was the house. It was one of those grimy brick houses which existed in large quantities before the era of… Read More ›
Top 10 Fantasy Novels of 2018?
Following a look at last year’s top mysteries, it’s time to check out the fantasy novels that were the most popular in 2018. Based on circulation figures at my local library, these were the most checked out fantasy titles in 2018. Some surprising entries ranked high on this year’s list… *** 10. The Invisible Library… Read More ›
Top 10 Mysteries of 2018?
With the advent of a new year, it’s time to take one last look at 2018 and the most popular mysteries that readers picked up. Based on circulation figures at the library where I work, these were the most checked out mysteries in 2018. Not surprisingly women authors ranked supreme taking all top ten slots!… Read More ›
John Polidori’s The Vampyre
Before the arrival of Bram Stoker’s Dracula on the literary scene in 1897, there was Lord Ruthven, “a nobleman, more remarkable for his singularities, than his rank.” Lord Ruthven’s origins and the story in which he appears germinated one infamous night in June 1816 at the same gathering that birthed the idea for Frankenstein. John… Read More ›
Peril & Prayer: a Sister Lou Mystery
“Sister Louise LaSalle, two murders in Briar Coast in three months—and you’re on site for both of them.” So pronounces deputy sheriff Ted Tate upon arriving at the scene of the crime in this second mystery by author Olivia Matthews. Welcome to Briar Coast, a not-so-sleepy town in Upstate New York. The sisters of the… Read More ›
By Its Cover: Footsteps in the Dark
It’s a throwback to what was once considered cool and sophisticated. A man and a woman light up there cigarettes on this cover of Georgette Heyer’s 1932 novel. Though perhaps better known as a writer of Georgian and Regency romances, Footsteps in the Dark was Heyer’s first of several detective novels. Perusing through a selection… Read More ›
Lethal in Old Lace
Will the lawyer and the shop girl get married? The latest entry in the Consignment Shop Mystery series begins with a proposal as Walker Boone proposes to Reagan Summerside. It’s been about two weeks since the last book, Demise in Denim, ended with Walker being cleared as a suspect in a murder case that began… Read More ›
Top 10 Fantasy Novels of 2017?
Following a look at last year’s top mysteries, it’s time to check out which fantasy novels were the most popular in 2017. Based on circulation figures at my local library, these were the most checked out fantasy titles in 2017. It’s an unusually surprising list… *** 10. Staked by Kevin Hearne — In the 8th… Read More ›
Top 10 Mysteries of 2017?
As 2017 comes to a close, let’s take a moment to look back at the year’s most popular mysteries. Based on circulation figures at the library where I work, these were the most checked out mysteries in 2017. Considering last year’s list, it’s surprising that this year’s list was more varied. *** Once again there’s a… Read More ›
The Poisoned Martini 