Reviews 
Whether it be a book, movie, or something else, here’s a critique.
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 ›
Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood V
“It has been often enough remarked that women have a curious power of divining the characters of men, which would seem to be innate and instinctive…” So begins the tenth chapter of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Mrs. Crisparkle having learned of Neville’s transgression in quarreling with Drood at Jasper’s residence believes Neville “may come… Read More ›
Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood IV
“Glaces cut like blade through bone, With daggers drawn I glare at you, There at you who dare presume To stare at whom I’d make my wife And share my life– I’d see you dead Before sweet Rosa wed.” – Neville and Drood, singing in unison, “No Good Can Come from Bad” from the musical… Read More ›
Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood III
So far, nothing truly mysterious has occurred. However, John “Jack” Jasper, choirmaster in the Cathedral town of Cloisterham, has expressed a morbid curiosity in the stonemason Durdles’ craft. More particularly in the crypts beneath the Cathedral. Jasper’s behavior and addiction to opium make him suspect. But is this set up for what is to come or might… Read More ›
Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood II
The first two chapters of Charles Dickens’ last novel introduced a few key characters. Aside from the title character, the most important was Drood’s young uncle, John “Jack” Jasper, choirmaster in the Cathedral town of Cloisterham. In fact, that’s where Chapter Three begins. “For sufficient reasons which this narrative itself unfold as it advances, a… Read More ›
Live Read: That Thing at the Zoo
Today, The Poisoned Martini is reading James R. Tuck’s novella, That Thing at the Zoo. Monster slayer Deacon Chalk faces an unknown assailant or “whatever is leaving the Atlanta Zoo’s most dangerous predators bloodless, skinned, and hanging high in treetops.” Now with the zoo in lockdown, Deacon and a handful of zoo staffers must survive… Read More ›
By Its Cover: The Martini Shot
How do we choose what we read? Reviews? Word of mouth? Familiarity? Or by its cover? I’ll admit the first thing that caught my eye about this book was its title: The Martini Shot. Then I noticed it said “a novella and stories” and that it was by George Pelecanos. Now, working in a library,… Read More ›
18 Scandinavian Crime Novels
Recommended Reads: Scandinavian Crime The success of the Steig Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy shined a light on Scandinavian crime. Translations of existing titles and newly imported authors rose in popularity and continue to be read by American audiences today. Here are 18 of the most notable Scandinavian authors who’ve made an… Read More ›
The Poisoned Martini 