Saturday, February 29, 2020
Friday, February 28, 2020
CHASING THE CAROUSELS OF PARIS: Guest Post by Kaye Wilkinson Barley
CHASING THE CAROUSELS OF PARIS
“Kaye and Donald Barley’s photographs of Parisian carousels capture the whimsy, wit, and charm of the raucous merry-go-rounds that pepper the cobblestone streets and manicured parks of the City of Light. So grab a copy of Carousels of Paris and let your imagination wander back to a world full of colored lights and painted horses, quaint carriages and playful tigers, fantastical griffins and endangered dodos.”
—Juliet Blackwell, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Carousel of Provence and Letters from Paris
“Simply enchanting! The carousels are delightful and the photographers manage to bring them to life. I half expected them to leap off the pages. I absolutely adored this book!”
—Jenn McKinlay, New York Times bestselling author and author of soon to be released Paris is Always a Good Idea
To say I’m pleased with these kind words from two authors I admire is an understatement, at the very least.
Researching, photographing and writing Carousels of Paris has been pure fun, hearing nice things being said about it is a bonus of enormous portions.
I’ve been in love with carousels for as long as I can remember, and it started with Trimper’s carousel on the Ocean City, MD Boardwalk. It was purchased in 1912 from the Herschell-Spillman Company in North Tonawanda, NY and is still in use today.I rode it when I was a little girl, and still ride it whenever we get back to Ocean City.
That was the beginning of a love affair which was reignited while planning my first trip to Paris.
Falling in love with Paris included falling in love with their carousels.
I knew there was a carousel at the base of the Eiffel Tower, having seen lots of pictures of it over the years.
I did not know that there are approximately 20.
They’re in the gardens – both large and small tucked away hidden gardens, and occasionally plopped down in the street near a Metro Station.
I say there are approximately 20 because some of them are there for awhile, then not. Such is the case with the carousel in front of the Hotel de Ville. We’ve missed it both times we’ve been to Paris. But we know it shows back up, so we just have to go back, I guess, and look again.
We have tried our best to capture and photograph all of them, but like I mentioned, when we get to the location specified we are no longer surprised to find that it’s gone – possibly moved to another location temporarily.
Or, truth be told, it’s very easy to get sidetracked by something else while on a carousel hunt in Paris. And one would be silly to pass by a small café set back under the trees in Luxembourg Gardens for a brief respite with a pastry and a café crème.
And maybe, just maybe, we’ll get back to Paris one day and finish looking for the rest of those magical carousels.To photograph.
And to ride.
***
Kaye Wilkinson Barley lives with her husband of almost 34 years, Don, in the North Carolina mountains along with one little princess of a pup—Annabelle, who is a fluffy Welsh Corgi. They’re both retired and spending time doing things together they both enjoy—photography and traveling. And saving their “Pennies for Paris” to try to photograph the rest of the carousels of Paris for their next book.
Thursday, February 27, 2020
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
WALTER SATTERTHWAIT: R.I.P.
On January 9 Walter wrote: My new (and last) short story is now available on Amazon. DOWN AND OUT THE MAGAZINE. If you'd like a signed copy, then send the thing to me (with return postage, unfortunately, and an envelope) and I'll sign it and shoot it back to you.
Thank you all again for all the help you've given me. May you be well, may you be safe, may you be happy, may you be enlightened.
You can read it, but sadly Walter won't be around to sign it for you.
I know I'll be reading and re-reading many of his books now.
***
From his friends:
Walter Satterthwait was as wickedly clever, smoothly charming, and dashingly adventurous as his unforgettable characters.
Satterthwait authored fifteen novels, including the Joshua Croft series featuring a Santa Fe P.I., the first of which garnered a Shamus Award for Best First Novel of 1989. He also wrote mysteries starring historical figures, including two featuring Lizzie Borden; Wilde West, in which Oscar Wilde play detective on tour of the American West ; and three Pinkerton mysteries set in the first half of the 20th century featuring detectives Phil Beaumont and Jane Turner and such real-life historical figures as Harry Houdini, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and even Hitler. Escapade, the first in the Pinkerton series earned Satterthwait a nomination for an Agatha Award for best novel of 1995, and a Prix du Roman d’Aventures in France.
Also a master of the short story, his work was included in a variety of anthologies as well as two collections. His most recent short story was published in Down and Out Magazine in 2019.
A complete bibliography can be found at http://stopyourekillingme.com/S_Authors/Satterthwait_Walter.html.
Walter was born in Pennsylvania, but lived in and traveled to New York, Santa Fe, Greece, Africa, Thailand, and Europe, developing warm friendships around the world. A Buddhist, a raconteur, and a bon vivant, Satterthwait knew how to both seize the moment and let it go. We wish we could have held on to Walter for longer, but his words, in books and our conversations, live on.
***
Books and Short Stories
Joshua Croft (P.I. in Santa Fe, NM)
1. Wall of Glass (1988)
2. At Ease With the Dead (1990)
3. A Flower in the Desert (1992)
4. The Hanged Man (1993)
5. Accustomed to the Dark (1996)
Miss Lizzie (Lizzie Borden)
1. Miss Lizzie (1989)
2. New York Nocturne (2016)
Escapade (Pinkerston Agents Phil Beaumont & Jane Turner)
1. Escapade (1995)
2. Masquerade (1998)
3. Cavalcade (2005)
Non Series
Cocaine Blues (1979)
The Aegean Affair (1982)
Wilde West (1991)
Perfection (2006)
Dead Horse (2007)
Collections
The Gold of Mayani (1995)
The Mankiller of Poojegai and Other Stories (2007)
The Sunken Sailor (2004) (with Simon Brett, Jan Burke, Dorothy Cannell, Margaret Coel, Deborah Crombie, Eileen Dreyer, Carolyn Hart, Edward Marston, Francine Mathews, Sharan Newman, Alexandra Ripley, Sarah Smith and Carolyn Wheat)
Anthologies (Editor)
Tis the Season for Murder (1998) (with Fred Hunter and Barbara Burnett Smith)
Non fiction
Sleight of Hand (1993) (with Ernie Bulow)
CLIVE CUSSLER: R.I.P.
Clive Cussler, the best-selling author behind the popular adventure novels about the heroic Dirk Pitt, has died. He was 88.
From the Daily News:
Cussler died Monday, his wife wrote in a statement on the author’s official Twitter page Wednesday.
“It
has been a privilege to share in his life. I want to thank you his fans
& friends for all the support,” the post from Janet Horvath reads.
“He was the kindest most gentle man I ever met.I know, his adventures
will continue.”
Cussler, who kicked off his writing career in 1965, published dozens of books that spanned numerous genres and included both fictional and non-fiction subject matter.
He introduced the multi-talented Pitt to the world during the mid-1970s with “The Mediterranean Caper” and went on to feature the quick-thinking protagonist in 25 books over the years.
Beyond his writing career, Cussler was the founder of the nonprofit National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA), which strives to discover and conserve the findings of shipwrecks. The NUMA team has come across more than 60 wreck sites.
Cussler’s first non-fiction release, The Sea Hunters, came out in 1996 and chronicles his experiences looking for shipwrecks.
A TV series, also called “The Sea Hunters,” was inspired by the book and premiered on National Geographic in 2002.
Dirk, co-authored his father’s final three books.
Cussler, who kicked off his writing career in 1965, published dozens of books that spanned numerous genres and included both fictional and non-fiction subject matter.
He introduced the multi-talented Pitt to the world during the mid-1970s with “The Mediterranean Caper” and went on to feature the quick-thinking protagonist in 25 books over the years.
The fictional book series included the popular “Raise the Titanic!” and “Sahara,” both of which were adapted into movies.
The Raise the Titanic film came out in 1980 and starred Richard Jordan
as Pitt, while Matthew McConaughey played the character in the 2005′s
film version of Sahara.
Cussler’s most recent book in that series, Celtic Empire, was published in 2019.
Beyond his writing career, Cussler was the founder of the nonprofit National Underwater and Marine Agency (NUMA), which strives to discover and conserve the findings of shipwrecks. The NUMA team has come across more than 60 wreck sites.
Cussler’s first non-fiction release, The Sea Hunters, came out in 1996 and chronicles his experiences looking for shipwrecks.
The
author was granted a doctorate in 1997 from the SUNY Maritime College’s
board of governors in recognition of his findings in “The Sea Hunters,”
with the book serving in place of a thesis.
A TV series, also called “The Sea Hunters,” was inspired by the book and premiered on National Geographic in 2002.
Cussler
was born in Aurora, Ill., and grew up in Alhambra, Calif. He and his
first wife, Barbara Knight, were parents to three children: Teri, Dirk
and Dayna. Years after Barbara died in 2003, Cussler married Horvath.
Dirk, co-authored his father’s final three books.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Monday, February 24, 2020
MARTIN EDWARDS awarded 2020 CWA DIAMOND DAGGER
Martin Edwards was awarded the 2020 CWA Diamond Dagger. Congratulations, Martin!
The author awarded the highest honour in British crime writing, the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Diamond Dagger, has been announced.
Martin Edwards joins icons of the genre who have been recognised with the accolade, including Ruth Rendell, Lee Child, Ann Cleeves, Ian Rankin, PD James, Colin Dexter, Reginald Hill, Lindsey Davies, Peter Lovesey, and John Le Carré.
From CWA:
Alongside his career as a prolific novelist, Martin is a renowned editor, reviewer, columnist and versatile writer of non-fiction, and is a leading authority on crime fiction. He has also enjoyed a separate career as a solicitor, and is recognized for his expertise in employment and equal opportunities law.
The Diamond Dagger award recognizes authors whose crime writing careers have been marked by sustained excellence, and who have made a significant contribution to the genre.
Andrew Taylor At Lydmouth, chair of the Diamond Dagger sub-committee and winner of the award in 2009, said: “I’m delighted that the CWA Committee has decided to honour Martin with this year’s Diamond Dagger. Given the range and quality of his work, together with his enormous contribution to the genre as a whole, he is the perfect recipient.”
Linda Stratmann,
CWA Chair, said: “Martin Edwards has been honoured not only as an
award-winning author and editor, but also as a tireless promoter of
crime writing. He researches and preserves the history of the genre, and
has introduced the modern reader to classics of the past that might
otherwise have been forgotten.”Martin’s first novel, All the Lonely People, was shortlisted for the CWA John Creasey Memorial Dagger in 1991. Since then his crime writing has won multiple awards in the UK and US. In 2018 he received the CWA Dagger in the Lihe Library, awarded by British librarians. He has won the CWA Short Story Dagger, the H.R.F. Keating award, and in 2014 the inaugural CWA Margery Allingham Prize. His novels have been shortlisted for the Theakston Crime Prize and the Lakeland Book Award, while in 2017 his non-fiction book The Golden Age of Murder was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger. In the US he has received the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Allan Poe award, an Agatha award, and two Macavity awards [via Janet Rudolph] from Mystery Readers International. In 2017 he received the Poirot award for his outstanding contribution to the genre.
Martin Edwards said: “The Diamond Dagger is special because it’s conferred by my fellow authors and because the previous winners are so illustrious. To be part of the warm and welcoming community of crime writers for the past thirty years has been a joy. I fell in love with crime fiction when as a young boy I first discovered Agatha Christie. From then on, my only ambition was to write a detective novel that people might enjoy reading. But I never imagined receiving an accolade like this. I’m truly honoured.”
Originally known for his Harry Devlin and the Lake District Mysteries series, Martin is now making waves with his 1930s-set thrillers. His latest novel Gallows Court revived the Golden Age of crime fiction with a unique twist, featuring the character Rachel Savernake, and was last year nominated for the CWA Historical Dagger and shortlisted for the eDunnit award. The sequel, Mortmain Hall, is published in April by Head of Zeus.
In 2015, Martin followed in the footsteps of Agatha Christie, G.K. Chesterton and Dorothy L. Sayers by being elected President of the Detection Club, the world’s oldest social network of crime writers. The Club will celebrate its 90th birthday this year by publishing Howdunit (HarperCollins), edited by Martin; a masterclass of crime writing by leading exponents of the genre. He is consultant to the British Library’s bestselling Crime Classics series, and wrote the award-winning companion volume, The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books. He is also archivist of the Detection Club and the CWA and a former Chair of the CWA. Author of over sixty short stories, since 1996 he has been the editor of the CWA’s annual anthology.
Martin was born in Knutsford, Cheshire, and now lives in Lymm. After graduating with a first class honours degree in law from Balliol College, Oxford, he became a solicitor, acting for many high profile clients. He was head of employment law at Mace & Jones, and subsequently a partner with Weightmans LLP, with whom he remains as a consultant. Author of four editions of Equal Opportunities Handbook, he says, “The appeal of fiction is not so very different from the appeal of employment law. Both concern conflicts in human behaviour – and how best to resolve them.”
The CWA Diamond Dagger is selected from nominations provided by CWA members. Nominees have to meet two essential criteria: first, their careers must be marked by sustained excellence, and second, they must have made a significant contribution to crime writing published in the English language.
Sunday, February 23, 2020
MARDI GRAS and CARNIVALE CRIME FICTION // MARDI GRAS MYSTERIES
So in honor of the Day, here's my updated list of Mardi Gras Mysteries, mostly set in New Orleans, but skip to the bottom for other countries and cities (Carnival - Carnevale). As always, I welcome additional titles, additions and omissions.
MARDI GRAS CRIME FICTION
Mardi Gras Murder, edited by Sarah Glenn
The Mardi Gras Mystery by Henry Bedford-Jones
Death Visits Mardi Gras by J.J. Boortz
Cake on a Hot Tin Roof, A Sheetcake Named Desire by Jacklyn Brady
Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite
Fat Tuesday, Sunny Chandler's Return by Sandra Brown
Thrill Kill by Don Bruns
Purple Cane Road, Dixie City Jam, The Tin Roof Blowdown, Creole Belle by James Lee Burke
Mardi Gras Murder: A Cajun Country Mystery by Ellen Byron
Krewe of Souls by Elaine Calloway
Gumbo Justice, Jambalaya Justice by Holli Castillo
The Secret of the Other Mother by Laura Cayouette
Murder Comes to Mardi Gras, Death Swatch, Keepsake Crimes, Death by Design by Laura Childs
Fat Tuesday Fricassee by J.J. Cook (Children)
Havana Storm by Clive Cussler
Mardi Gras Murders by Nicole Daines and Robert Daines
The Mardi Gras Murders by Ricardo S. Dubois
No Mardi Gras for the Dead by D.J. Donaldson
Shelter from the Storm; Crooked Man by Tony Dunbar
Fat Tuesday by Earl Emerson
The Big Uneasy-Terror Strikes Mardi Gras by Murray C. Fincher
The Unknown Terrorist by Richard Flanagan
Carnaval Capers by Jody Ford
Carnival by Charlotte Foryan
Venetian Mask by Mickey Friedman
Jass, Rampart Street by David Fulmer
Mardi Gras Murder, edited by Sarah Glenn
Mardi Gras Madness by Alison Golden with Honey Broussard
Claire DeWitt and the City of the Dead by Sara Gran
Mardi Grad Madness: Stories of Murder and Mayhem in New Orleans, edited by Martin Harry Greenberg
The Mardi Gras Murder by Jackie Griffey
A Free Man of Color, Fever Season, Sold Down the River by Barbara Hambly
Mardi Gras Mambo; The Orion Mask by Greg Herren
A Thin Dark Line by Tami Hoag
Murder at the Mardi Gras by V. Hurst
The Assassin's Gift by Ian C.P. Irvine
Mind Games by Polly Iyer
The Mardi Gras Mystery; The Mardi Gras Masquerade by Carolyn Keene
Storm Damage by Ed Kovacs
Murder at the Mardi Gras by Linda Kozar
Krewe by Jayson Livingston
The Devil's Muse by Bill Loehfelm
A Masquerade of Saints by Nicole Loughan
The Mardi Gras Murders by Gwen Bristow & Bruce Manning
Mardi Gras Madness by Ken Mask
Mardi Gras Gris Gris by A.C. Mason
The Gay Mardi Gras Murders by Sylvia Massara
Mardi Gras Eyes by Phyllis Morris
The Chef by James Patterson with Max DiLallo
Krewe by Seth Pevey
Masques by Bill Pronzini
Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins
Midnight Bayou by Nora Roberts
The Long-Legged Fly by James Sallis
Mardi Gras Murders by Phillip Scott
Now Let's Talk of Graves by Sarah Shankman
Murder at the Mardi Gras by Elisabet M. Stone
A Hall of Mirrors by Robert Stone
New Orleans Mourning by Julie Smith
New Orleans Noir, edited by Julie Smith
The Mysterious Masks of Mardi Gras by Connie Trapp
The Mardi Gras Two-Step by Barry M. Vass
A Diamond Before You Die by Chris Wiltz
Carnivale in Brazil:
The Lost Manuscript: Vast Emotions and Imperfect Thoughts by Rubem Fonseca
Carnevale in Venice: (Sadly just cancelled in Venice due to the spread of the Corona Virus)
Carnival for the Dead by David Hewson
Venice Noir, edited by Maxim Jakubowski
The Venetian Masquerade by Philip Gwynne Jones
The Mascherari by Laura Rahme
Venice Black by Gregory C. Randall
Scerzo by Jim Williams
To celebrate Fat Tuesday, you might want to have some Chocolate Chip Pancakes or Chocolate Pecan Pie or Chocolate "Cupped" Cakes with Coffee & Chicory or Chocolate Beignets or King Cake! If you're celebrating Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama, or along the Gulf Coast, have a Moon Pie. Read more here. They're a favorite 'throw' in Mobile.
Saturday, February 22, 2020
Friday, February 21, 2020
Thursday, February 20, 2020
BOUCHERCON 2021: Blood on the Bayou, New Orleans, August 25-29, 2021
Bouchercon: The World Mystery Convention
Blood on the Bayou
New Orleans
August 25-29, 2021
Join the mystery community — from authors, fans, and publishers to reviewers, booksellers, and editors — for 5 days of panels, parties, and pure mystery fun. Registration is now live!!! Go for it and get that $175 price!
Bouchercon 2021 Guests of Honor
Steve Berry: Thriller Guest of Honor
Craig Johnson: American Guest of Honor
Charles and Caroline Todd: Historical Mystery Guests of Honor
Jo Nesbo: International Guest of Honor
Alafair Burke: Toastmistress
Ali Karim: Fan Guest of Honor
Jonathan Maberry: Kid's Bouchercon Guest of Honor
CONVENTION RATE:
First 200 Registrations $175 After Initial 200 Registrations rate is $195
Register Here.
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
LA TIMES BOOK PRIZES 2020
The LA Times Book Prizes recognize outstanding literary achievements in 12 categories, including the new Ray Bradbury Prize for Science Fiction, with winners to be announced April 17.
Walter Mosley will be honored with the Robert Kirsch Award
The annual ceremony recognizing outstanding literary achievements will take place on Friday, April 17, 2020. The ceremony kicks off the weekend literary and cultural gathering, Festival of Books, Stories and Ideas, taking place April 18-19 at USC.
Crime-fiction writer Walter Mosley will receive the 2019 Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement, which recognizes a writer whose work focuses on the American West. “We are pleased to celebrate Walter Mosley’s 30-year writing life, which spans mysteries, short stories, science fiction, nonfiction, plays, and works for television and film,” said Times Books Editor Boris Kachka. “Whether through a detective story set in the streets of 1950s Los Angeles or essays about contemporary politics, Mosley reaches a wide range of readers, bringing about a deeper understanding of the world and the people who live in it.”
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Mosley eventually settled in New York City. As Columnist Patt Morrison said in a profile for The Times, “You can take Walter Mosley out of Los Angeles … but you can’t take L.A. out of Walter Mosley.” The author of more than 43 books crossing various genres, he is best known for his 14-volume mystery series featuring detective Easy Rawlins, a Black private detective living in South Central Los Angeles.
A Grand Master of the Mystery Writers of America, Mosley has received numerous awards, including the Edgar Award for best novel, the Anisfield-Wolf Award, a Grammy, a PEN America’s Lifetime Achievement Award and several NAACP Image awards.
Other categories and books of special interest to readers of this blog:
Mystery/Thriller
Steph Cha Your House Will Pay (Ecco)
Michael Connelly The Night Fire (Little, Brown and Company)
Jane Harper The Lost Man (Flatiron Books)
Laura Lippman Lady in the Lake (William Morrow)
Attica Locke Heaven, My Home (Mulholland Books)
And in Young Adult:
Malla Nunn When the Ground is Hard
The complete list of finalists and further information, including past winners, is available at latimes.com/Book. Tickets for the ceremony will be available for purchase on March 12. The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is presented in association with USC. Festival news and updates are available on the event website, Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram (#bookfest).
What's New on AcornTV: February-April 2020
I find it difficult to keep track of what I'm watching and on what streaming service. I sometimes forget the name of the show and that makes it all that much more difficult. I'm thinking of using an App to keep track. Any suggestions?
In the meantime, here's what's coming up at AcornTV. I love British shows, and Acorn has lots..as well as full length movies and foreign language TV shows. Britain and Beyond. I especially love the news that AcornTV will stream Season 2 of Balthazar in April. Yay!!!
BLOOD, a gritty Irish psychological thriller returns with a second series and stars Adrian Dunbar, who plays Lt. Hastings in UK’s #1 2019 drama, Line of Duty.
MISS FISHER AND THE CRYPT OF TEARS, Acorn TV’s first feature film continues the intriguing story of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, one of the most popular Australian series worldwide starring Essie Davis. This is the series’ first installment since the third season wrapped in 2015
MURDOCH MYSTERIES unrolls new episodes on Mondays with more whodunnit intrigue and its trademark engaging stories (through April 13, 2020).
THE SCHOUWENDAM 12, the spellbinding sequel series to Acorn TV’s Dutch drama The Oldenheim 12, focuses on an investigation into mysterious disappearances of two teens in a village 25 years ago. (w/English subtitles) A
THE RETURN, a made-for-TV ITV film starring Julie Walters and Neil Dudgeon in a drama of murder and betrayal,
LOVEJOY, BBC’s hit series starring Ian McShane as the irresistible rogue with a keen eye for antiques. Co-starring Chris Jury, Dudley Sutton and Phyllis Logan. (Series 3 and 4 binge premieres)
LIVERPOOL 1, a gritty ensemble British police drama starring Samantha Womack, Mark Womack and Paul Usher (Series 1 and 2 binge premiere)
And in April:
April 6: DEADWATER FELL, UK thriller starring David Tennant ( and Cush Jumbo (The Good about a Scottish village ruptured after the murder of a seemingly perfect and happy family
April 20: BALTHAZAR, Series 2 –the hit French crime drama starring Tomer Sisley as a brilliant forensic pathologist who can make the dead speak like no one else to help solve Paris’ most baffling crimes. With English subtitles.
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Sunday, February 16, 2020
Saturday, February 15, 2020
PRESIDENTIAL CRIME FICTION: President's Day!
A big thriller on the list this year is The President is Missing by former President Bill Clinton with James Patterson. And, I really enjoy Hope Never Dies: An Obama Biden Mystery and Hope Rides Again by Andrew Shaffer. There's a sequel out.
Political Election and Thrillers
Rubicon by Lawrence Alexander
Saving Faith by David Baldacci
Political Suicide and Touched by the Dead by Robert Barnard
Capitol Conspiracy by William Bernhardt
Collateral Damage by Michael Bowen
Three Shirt Deal by Stephen J. Cannell
Executive Orders by Tom Clancy
Impaired Judgement by David Compton
Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon
Term Limits; Protect and Defend by Vince Flynn
The Scandal Plan by Bill Folman
The Power Broker by Stephen W. Frey
Spook Country by William Gibson
Fast Track, Sleeping Dogs by Ed Gorman
The Fourth Perimeter by Tim Green
The People's Choice by Jeff Greenfield
Hazardous Duty by W.E.B. Griffin
The Pelican Brief by John Grisham
The Second Revolution by Gary Hansen
The President's Daughter and The White House Connection by Jack Higgins
The Enemy Within by Noel Hynd
First Daughter by Eric Lustbader
Drone Threat by Mike Maden
Executive Privilege by Philip Margolin
Presidents' Day by Seth Margolis
The Race, Protect and Defend, Balance of Power by Richard North Patterson
Politics Noir: Gary Phillips, Editor
Missing Member by Jo-Ann Power
Dark Horse by Ralph Reed
Dead Heat, The Last Jihad by Joel C. Rosenberg
Dead Watch by John Sandford
State of the Union by Brad Thor
Capital Crimes by Stuart Woods
Assassination Attempts
American Quartet by Warren Adler
Shall We Tell the President? by Jeffrey Archer
Sherlock Holmes in Dallas by Edmund Aubrey
The 14th Colony by Steve Berry
All American Girl by Meg Cabot (YA)
The President is Missing by Bill Clinton/James Patterson
Primary Target by Max Allan Collins
Campaign Train (Murder Rides the Campaign Train) by The Gordons
Glass Tiger by Joe Gores
The President's Assassin by Brian Haig
Potus by Greg Holden
Marine One by James W. Huston
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Murder at Monticello by Jane Langton
The Surrogate Assassin by Christopher Leppek
Gideon's March by J.J. Marric
The Kidnapping of the President by Charles Templeton
Pursuit by James Stewart Thayer
Primary Target by Marilyn Wallace
Watchdogs by John Weisman
Kidnappings
We are Holding the President Hostage by Warren Adler
The Camel Club, First Family by David Baldacci
Line of Succession by Brian Garfield
Madam President by Anne Holt
Oath of Office by Steven J. Kirsch
Presidential Deal by Les Standiford
The Kidnapping of the President by Charles Templeton
The Lions of Lucerne by Brad Thor
Presidential Disappearances
The President Vanishes by Anonymous (1934)
Missing! by Michael Avallone
The President is Missing by Bill Clinton & James Patterson
Mrs. Roosevelt's Confidante by Susan Elia MacNeal
The President's Plan is Missing by Robert J. Serling
The President Vanishes by Rex Stout
Fixing the Election
The Manchurian Candidate by Richard Condon
The 13th Directorate by Barry Chubin
Atropos by William DeAndrea
The Red President by Martin Gross
The Ceiling of Hell by Warren Murphy
The Trojan Hearse by Richard S. Prather
President Fu Manch by Sax Rohmer
The Big Fix by Roger L. Simon
Presidential Crisis
Seven Days in May by Fletcher Knebel and Charles W. Bailey II
Vanished; Night of Camp David by Fletcher Knebel
A Fine and Dangerous Season by Keith Raffel
The President as Detective
Speak Softly by Lawrence Alexander
Lincoln for the Defense by Warren Bull
Mr President, Private Eye, edited by Martin Greenberg & Francis M. Nevins
Bully by Mark Schorr
Hope Never Dies: An Obama Biden Mystery; Hope Rides Again by Andrew Shaffer
The JFK Plot
Too many to list, but...
Mongoose, RIP by William F. Buckley
Executive Action by Mark Lane, Donald Freed and Stephen Jaffe
The Tears of Autumn by Charles McCarry
Presidential Families
Loving Eleanor by Susan Wittig Albert
Deadly Aims by Ron L. Gerard
The First Lady by E.J. Gorman
The President's Daughter by Jack Higgins
The Devil's Bed by William Kent Krueger
Mrs. Roosevelt's Confidante by Susan Elia MacNeal
The First Lady Murders, edited by Nancy Pickard
Murder and the First Lady; Murder at the President's Door (and other novels) By Elliot Roosevelt
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
Murder in the White House (and other novels) by Margaret Truman
They've Shot the President's Daughter by Edward Stewart
Other
The Big Stick by Lawrence Alexander
The President's Mind, The 20th Day of January by Ted Allbeury
Absolute Power by David Baldacci
Father's Day by John Calvin Batchelor
Warriors by Ted Bell
The Kennedy Connection by Dick Belsky
Enslaved by Ron Burns
The Plan by Stephen J. Cannell
Killing Time by Caleb Carr
The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln by Stephen L. Carter
First Strike by Ben Coes
Ex Officio by Timothy Culver (Donald Westlake)
The Whole Truth by John Ehrlichman
The President's Vampire, Blood Bath by Christopher Farnsworth
FDR's Treasure, Lincoln's Hand by Joel Fox
The President's Henchman, The Next President by Joseph Flynn
Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold
By Order of the President by W.E.B. Griffin
Julie Hyzy's White House Chef series
Spin Doctor by M.C. Lewis
Die Like a Hero by Clyde Linsley
Jack 1939 by Francine Matthews
The Better Angels by Charles McCarry
The Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer
The First Patient by Michael Palmer
Treason at Hanford by Scott Parker
No Safe Place by Richard North Patterson
Keeping House by Tucker and Richard Phillips
The Only Thing to Fear by David Poyer
Acts of Mercy by Bill Pronzini and Barry Malzberg
Love, Lust, and Loyalty by Greg Sandora
The President's Daugther by Mariah Stewart
Ghosts of War by Brad Taylor
Jailbird by Kurt Vonnegut
Put a Lid on It by Donald Westlake
President Lincoln's Spy by Steven Wilson
An Anthology
Mr President, Private Eye, edited by Martin H. Greenberg. Different historical presidents in the role of sleuth
Abraham Lincoln Mysteries
Abraham Lincoln: Detective by Allen Appel
A Night of Horrors: A Historical Thriller about the 24 Hours of Lincoln's Assassination by John C. Berry
The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln by Stephen L. Carter
Lincoln's Hand by Joel Fox
The Lincoln Letter by Gretchen Elassani and Phillip Grizzell
Lincoln's Diary by DL Fowler
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith
The Assassin's Accomplice by Kate Clifford Larson
The Lincoln Letter by William Martin
The Lincoln Secret by John A. McKinsey
The First Assassin by John J. Miller
The Lincoln Conspiracy by Timothy L. O'Brien
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
The Murder of Willie Lincoln by Brad Solomon
The Cosgrove Report: Being the Private Inquiry of a Pinkerton Detective into the Death of President Lincoln by G.J.A. O'Toole
President Lincoln's Secret, President Lincoln's Spy by Steven Wilson
Want to know what the Presidents read? or in the case of the present President (nothing!), read Camille LeBlanc's areticle: American Presidents Can't Stop Reading Thrillers, Just Like Us: A Century of Crime Fiction Readers in the White House that appeared on CrimeReads last February.
Friday, February 14, 2020
Thursday, February 13, 2020
SHETLAND TO RETURN FOR TWO MORE SEASONS!
Based on the novels of Ann Cleeves, series six and seven will be filmed in 2020 and 2021, for six hour-long episodes in each.
Shetland - starring Douglas Henshall as Jimmy Perez - debuted on BBC One back in 2013.
Gaynor Holmes, commissioning editor for BBC Drama in Scotland, said: "We are really proud of Shetland."
Since the series first aired, thousands of tourists - many from cruise ships - have headed to Shetland, inspired by the drama.
VisitScotland in Shetland last year said the Shetland TV series and books had been an "amazing success" for the islands.
Congrats to Ann Cleeves and the BBC! Looking forward to the new shows!
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
RETRO MYSTERY AND BOOK-RELATED VALENTINE'S DAY CARDS
Remember those Valentine's Day cards you punched out and gave to all the people in your class? Even if you don't, here are a few that are perfect for readers. I love these Retro Mystery and Book-Related Valentine's Day Cards. Be sure and view them all. Happy Valentine's Day!
And then there are the Bookish Valentines...
And my Favorite
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Cartoon of the Day: Westminster Dog Show
Be sure and check out Westminster Dog Show Mysteries and Valentine's Day Dog Treats
Cartoon: HT: Laurien Berenson
Cartoon: HT: Laurien Berenson
WESTMINSTER DOG SHOW: Dog Show Mysteries, Canine Treats & Valentine's Day
And, to keep this post to a mystery theme, here's a link to the Mystery Readers Journal Animals in Mysteries issue. Available as a PDF or hardcopy. Here's a link to an article by Spencer Quinn, author of the Chet the Dog series.
And here are a few mysteries set at Westminster and other Dog Shows. As always, let me know if I should include any others.
MYSTERIES SET AT DOG SHOWS
Game of Dog Bones by Laurien Berenson
The Boxcar Children: The Mystery at the Dog Show by Gertrude Chandler
Fashion Goes to the Dogs by Peggy Gaffney
Final Entry and others (Murder at the Dog Show series) by Karen Harbert
Death and the Dog Show by Susan Harper
Death by Dog Show by Arlene Kay
Nancy Drew Diaries by Carolyn Keene
***
Valentine's Day is all about chocolate. If you want Chocolate People treats, here's a link to Walker's Shortbread Scottie Dogs with Muddy Boots. This is a HUMANS ONLY RECIPE. Be sure and keep the chocolate away from Champ. I posted an article at Halloween about Dogs, Chocolate and Halloween Treats: A Dangerous Combination, and the same warnings are in effect for Valentine's Day.
Finally a Valentine's Day Dog Treat Recipe for your four footed faithful friend.
Cupid’s Canine Cookies
From the Home Alone Website, recipe by Ariel Waters (my comments are in italics)
Warning: Don't overfeed
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 25 to 35 minutes
Yield: 2 pounds of heart-shaped dog treats
Ingredients
5 cups whole-wheat flour
1 cup milk
1/2 cup beef broth (choose one with no or low salt or make your own)
1/2 cup corn oil
2 eggs
+ heart-shaped cookie cutter (of course I've got plenty of these)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheet using 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.
Combine remaining ingredients and mix well.
With clean hands, roll dough out to 1/4 to 1/2-inch thickness and use heart-shaped cookie cutter in honor of the holiday. If you have a larger dog (or a piggy dog like Topper) use a larger heart-shaped cookie cutter, Perforate the cookies with a fork down the middle to break apart easily after baking. Instead of a cookie cutter, you can always roll the dough into 1/2 to 2-inch balls and place them one inch apart on the greased cookie sheet.
Bake for 25 - 35 minutes until they turn golden brown. Baking times will vary based on size of treats, altitude, and your oven.
Cool cookies on wire racks, as far away from your dog as possible.
After treating your dog, store the rest in the refrigerator or freeze until the next visit from Cupid.
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| Reign |
Happy Valentine's Day!
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| Stephen Huneck, Dog Mountain |
Monday, February 10, 2020
SWEETHEART SLEUTHS: Valentine's Day
SWEETHEART SLEUTHS
Ace, Cathy: Cait Morgan and Bud Anderson
Alexander, Tasha: Lady Emily and Colin Hargreaves
Allen, Conrad: Genevieve Masefield and George Dillman Porter
Allingham, Margery: Albert Campion and Amanda Fitton
Arnold, Margot: Tobias Glendower and Penelope Spring
Bell, Albert: Michael Harrington and Corie Foster
Billheimer, John: Owen Allison and ex-wife Judith
Borthwick, J. S.: Sarah Dean and Alex McKenzie
Bowen, Michael: Rep and Melissa Pennyworth
Bowen, Rhys: Molly Murphy and Daniel Sullivan; Lady Georgie and Darcy O'Mara
Burke, Jan: Irene Kelly and Frank Harriman
Carlson, P. M.: Maggie and Nick Ryan
Carner, John: John Fowler and Jessica Hammerstein
Casey, Donis: Alafair and Shaw Tucker
Chappell, Helen: Holly and Sam Westcott
Elaine Raco Chase: Roman Cantrell & Nikki Holden
Charles, Kate: Lucy Kingsley and David Middleton-Brown
Christie, Agatha: Tommy and Tuppence Beresford
Clark, Carol Higgins: Regan and Jack Reilly
Cleeland, Annie: Chief Inspector Michael Sinclair/Lord Acton and Detective Sergeant Kathleen Doyle
Cockey, Tim: Hitchcock Sewell and ex-wife Julia Finney
Craig, Alisa Dittany Henbit and Osbert Monk, Madoc and Jane Rhys
Crane, Frances: Pat and Jean Abbot
Crombie, Deborah: Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James
Curzon, Claire: Mike Yeadings and Rosemary Zyczynski
Cussler, Clive: Sam and Remi Fargo
Davis, Krista: Sophie Winston, domestic diva, and Detective Wolf
Dodge, David: Whit and Kitty Whitney
Evanovich, Janet: Stephanie Plum and Joe Morelli—or Ranger—or Diesel—or not
Finch, Charles: Charles Lennox and Lady Jane Grey
George, Elizabeth: Inspector Lynley and Sergeant Havers
Gordon, Alan: Jester Feste and wife Viola, late of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”
Greenwood, Kerry: Corinna Chapman and Daniel Cohen
Granger, Ann: Alan Markby and Meredith Mitchell
Haddam, Jane: Gregor Demarkian and Bennis Hannaford (this one’s a stretch)
Ham, Lorie: Alexandra Waters and Stephen Carlucci
Hammett, Dashiell: Nick and Nora Charles
Handler, David: Mitch Berger and state policewoman Desiree Mitry
Harrington, Jonathan: C. J. and Bridge
Hart, Carolyn: Max and Annie Darling
Haywood, Gar: Joe and Dottie Loudermilk
Kay, Arlene: Eja Kane and Deming Swann
Iakovou, Takis: and Judy Nick and Julia Lambro
Jarvis, Nancy Lynn: Regan McHenry and Tom Kiley
Kellerman, Faye: Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus
Kelly, Susan B.: Alison Hope and Nick Trevelyan
Kelner, Toni L. P.: Laurie Ann and Richard Fleming
Kenney, Susan: Roz Howard and Alan Stewart
Kincheloe, Jennifer: Police Matron Anna Blanc and Detective Joe Singer
King, Laurie R.: Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes
Levinson, R. S.: Neil Gulliver and Stevie Marriner
Lindquist, N. J.: Paul Manziuk and Jacqueline Ryan
Liskow, Steve: "Woody" Guthrie & Megan Traine; Zach Barnes & Beth Shepard
Lockridge, Frances and Richard: Pam and Jerry North
Lupoff, Richard: Hobart Lindsay and Marvia Plum
MacLeod, Charlotte: Max and Sarah Kelling Bittersohn, Peter and Helen Shandy
McBride, Susan: Maggie Ryan and John Phillips
McCafferty, Barbara Taylor & Herald, Beverly: Bert & Nan Tatum
McDermid, Val: Tony Hill and Carol Jordan
McGown, Jill: Chief Inspector Danny Lloyd and Inspector Judy Hill
Maron, Margaret: Deborah Knott and Dwight Bryant
Marsh, Ngaio: Roderick Alleyn and Agatha Troy
Matthews, Alex: Cassidy McCabe, Zack
Maxwell, A. & E.: Fiora and Fiddler
Moyes, Patricia: Emmie and Henry Tibbetts
Newman, Sharan: Catherine Levendeur and husband Edgar
Paige, Robin: Charles and Kate Sheridan
Palmer, Stuart: Hildegarde Withers and Inspector Piper
Parker, Robert: Spencer and Susan
Pears, Iain: Flavia Di Stefano and Jonathan Argyle
Perry, Anne: Thomas and Charlotte Pitt
Peters, Elizabeth: Amelia Peabody and Radcliffe Emerson, Ramses and Nefret,Vicky Bliss and John Smith
Pickard, Nancy: Jenny Cain and Geoffrey Bushfield
Pomidor, Bill: Drs. Calista and Plato Marley
Raybourn, Deanna: Nichloas Brisbane and Lady Julia Grey
Robb, J.D.: Eve Dallas and Roark
Roos, Kelley: Jeff and Haila Troy
Rozan, S. J.: Bill Smith and Lydia Chin
Rubino, Jane: Cat Austen and Victor Cardenas
Sale, Medora: John Sanders and Harriet Jeffries
Saulnier, Beth: Alex Bernier and Brian Cody
Sayers, Dorothy L.: Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane
Schumacher, Aileen: Tory Peters and David Alvarez
Smith, Charles Merrill: Reverend Con Randollph and Samantha Stack
Spencer-Fleming, Julia: Claire Ferguson and Russ Van Alstyne
Sten, Viveca: Thomas Andreasson and Nora Linde
Thompson, Victoria: Sarah Brandt and Detective Frank Molloy
Whitney, Polly: Ike and Abby
Wilhelm, Kate: Charlie Meiklejohn and Constance Leidl
Wright, L. R.: Karl Alberg, RCMP, and Cassandra Mitchell
Sunday, February 9, 2020
Academy Award Crime Movies: A Night at the Oscars with Winners & Nominees
Rebecca (Alfred Hitchcock). 1940. Best Picture. Based on the book by Daphne du Maurier
On the Waterfront. 1954 Best Picture
In the Heat of the Night. 1967 Racial tensions in the South as an African-American detective is sent into Mississippi to solve a murder. Based on the novel by John Ball. The movie earned seven Oscar nominations.
Academy Award wins
Academy Award for Best Picture
Academy Award for Best Actor: Rod Steiger
Academy Award for Film Editing: Hal Ashby
Academy Award for Best Sound: Samuel Goldwyn Studios
Academy Award for Writing Adapted Screenplay: Stirling Silliphant
Academy Award nominations
Academy Award for Directing - Norman Jewison
Academy Award for Sound Editing - James Richard
Bonnie and Clyde.1967.
Academy Award wins:
Best Supporting Actress: Estelle Parsons
Best Cinematography: Burnett Guffey
Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Director: Arthur Penn
Best Writing, Story and Screenplay - Written Directly for the Screen: David Newman and Robert Benton
Best Actor in a Leading Role - Warren Beatty
Best Actress in a Leading Role - Faye Dunaway
Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Michael J. Pollard
Best Actor in a Supporting Role - Gene Hackman
Best Costume Design - Theadora Van Runkle
The French Connection. 1971. Based on the book by Robin Moore. This was the first R-rated movie to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.
Academy Award wins
Best Actor: Gene Hackman
Best Director
Best Film Editing
Best Adapted Screenplay: Ernest Tidyman
Nominations:
Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Roy Scheider
Best Cinematography and Best Sound
The Godfather. 1972. Based on the novel by Mario Puzo.
Academy Awards:
Best Picture
Best Writing (adapted screenplay) for Francis Coppola and Mario Puzo
Best Actor in a Leading Role for Marlon Brando
Serpico. 1973. Directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Al Pacino. Movie based on the true story of Serpico written by Peter Maas.
Academy Awards nominations:
Best Actor in a Leading Role: Al Pacino
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.
The Godfather, Part II. 1974.
All the President’s Men. 1976. Based on the novel by Woodward and Bernstein.
Academy Awards
Best Picture
Best Art Direction: George Jenkins & George Gaines
Best Adapted Screenplay: William Goldman
Best Sound: Arthur Piantadosi, James E. Webb, Les Fresholtz, Dick Alexander
Nominated:
Best Director, Alan J. Pakula
Best Editing: Robert L. Wolfe,
Best Picture: Walter Coblenz
Best Supporting Actor: Jason Robards
Best Supporting Actress: Jane Alexander
The Sting. 1973. Robert Redford and Paul Newman-- caper movie. Two men play con artists who are inspired by the real-life con-game portrayed in the novel The Big Con: The Story of the Confidence Men by David Maurer.
Academy Awards:
Best Picture
Directing: George Roy Hill
Writing Original Screenplay: David S. Ward
Best Art Direction: Henry Bumstead and James W. Payne
Best Costume Design: Edith Head
Best Music, Scoring Original Song Score and/or Adaptation: Marvin HamlischNominations
Best Actor: Robert Redford
Best Cinematography: Robert Surtees
Sound: Ronald Pierce & Robert R. Bertrand
Chinatown. 1974. Roman Polanski directs. Jack Nicholson stars as a Los Angeles private detective who investigates a man accused of adultery. What he uncovers is based on the real-life water disputes in L.A. during the 1920s. Nominated for 11 Academy Awards.
Wins
Best Original Screenplay – Robert Towne
Nominations
Best Picture – Robert Evans
Best Director – Roman Polanski
Best Actor – Jack Nicholson
Best Actress – Faye Dunaway
Best Film Editing – Sam O'Steen
Best Art Direction – Richard Sylbert, W. Stewart Campbell, Ruby Levitt
Best Costume Design – Anthea Sylbert
Best Cinematography – John A. Alonzo
Best Sound Mixing – Bud Grenzbach, Larry Jost
Best Music Score – Jerry Goldsmith
The Silence of the Lambs. Based on the book by Thomas Harris.
1991 Best Picture
Fargo. 1996
The film earned seven Academy Award nominations
Academy Award for Best Actress – Frances McDormand
Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay – Joel and Ethan Coen
The Departed. 2006
And more..
Best Picture-nominated crime films include The Racket (1928), Dead End (1937), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Midnight Express (1978), Atlantic City (1981), Prizzi's Honor (1985), The Godfather: Part III (1990), GoodFellas (1990), Bugsy (1991), The Crying Game (1992), and Pulp Fiction (1994), Chicago (one of my favorites)
More Mysteries and film noir nominated for Best Picture: The Thin Man (1934), Citizen Kane (1941), The Maltese Falcon (1941), Double Indemnity (1944), Witness for the Prosecution (1957), Anatomy of a Murder (1959), Z (1969), Chinatown (1974), JFK (1991), The Fugitive (1993), L.A. Confidential (1997), Traffic (2000), Gosford Park (2001), Mystic River (2003)
And a few other favorites: Suspicion (1941), Gaslight (1944), Spellbound (1945). Mysteries and film noir often tend to do exceedingly well in the artistic performance categories (acting, writing, and directing) despite not earning Best Picture nominations. Examples: Laura (1944), Rear Window (1954), and Murder on the Orient Express (1974).
Oscar Nominated or Winners Based on True Crime:
The French Connection (1971)
Inspired by the taking of an international heroin smuggling ring by real-life NYPD detectives Eddie Egan and Sonny Grosso, The French Connection stars Gene Hackman as Ed “Popeye Doyle” and Roy Scheider as Buddy “Cloudy” Russo, relentless cops who hunt down Fernando Rey as France-based narcotics kingpin Alain Charnier (inspired by real smuggler Jean Jehan).
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
On the hot morning of August 22, 1972, John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturale attempted to rob a bank in Brooklyn to finance gender-reassignment surgery for Wojtowicz’s lover. Absolutely nothing went according to plan.
Midnight Express (1978)
October 7, 1970, is the date that forever transformed the life of American student — and would-be hashish smuggler — Billy Hayes. It was then, just as he boarding a flight from Istanbul to the U.S. with two bricks of the drug strapped to his chest, that Turkish authorities arrested Billy and set off the living nightmare he would write about in his memoir, Midnight Express.
Goodfellas (1990)
Goodfellas recounts the life-and-crimes of actual gangster Henry Hill throughout the years leading up to a local New York crew’s record-setting 1978 heist of Lufthansa Airlines — and its deadly aftermath.
Dead Man Walking (1995)
American crime drama starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn, co-produced and directed by Tim Robbins, who adapted the screenplay from the non-fiction book of the same name. Based on real-life murderers Elmo Patrick Sonnier and Robert Lee Willie – a prisoner on death row in Louisiana, acting as his spiritual adviser after carrying on correspondence with him.
Boys Don't Cry (1999)
Brandon Teena was an American trans man who was raped and murdered in Humboldt, Nebraska. His life and death were the subject of the Academy Award-
Monster (2003)
Aileen Wuornos is America’s most famous female serial killer, a fact due, in no small part, to Charlize Theron’s Oscar-winning performance as the executed murderess in Monster.
MILK (2008)
In one of the craziest moments in U.S. politics, on November 27, 1978, former San Francisco Supervisor Dan White assassinated the city’s mayor, George Moscone, and the current supervisor, Harvey Milk. Afterward, White’s attorneys blamed the homicidal outburst on their client’s excess sugar intake, a gambit mockingly nicknamed “the Twinkie defense.” What a sad time in San Francisco history!
Which are your favorites? I'm sure I missed a few.