Diane Plumley I was thinking about recent criticism I received from an individual about my negative view of some booksellers I worked for and with. And although it’s all true, unfortunately, it doesn’t address how I felt about the job. Even within the most trying of atmospheres, it wasn’t as though I stood around whining or complaining … Read more
Panama—Eric Zenecy—1995–in print When first published, this literary thriller was given rave reviews, and so, I just had to read it. And the critics were correct. The atmosphere is palpable, you almost feel the Seine, wafting towards you, the anxiety over a missing woman, the thrill of a new discovery, identifying fingerprints. Imagine what that … Read more
Mystery Fanfare, a fantastic blog by long time crime fiction expert Janet Rudolph announced the nominees yesterday. The award will be presented at the annual Bouchercon mystery fan convention later this year. Macavity is named for T. S. Eliot’s cat in Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. Here’s the link and list–check it out. http://mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com/2011/06/macavity-award-nominations.html
“I won’t think about it now, I’ll think about it at Tara, after all, tomorrow is another day!” Famous words from Scarlett O’Hara at the end of the movie, Gone With The Wind. What a hyped film that turned out to be, more so for its time–1939–parties and extravaganzas in Atlanta for the opening, the … Read more
An interesting subject I know zilch about–playing cards. I don’t understand poker, bridge, whatever other games are played with those interesting things full of hearts, spades, diamonds, and clovers. But I must be in the minority, because there are apparently loads of books with a playing card theme or motif–with various authors either expounding on … Read more
Jan Burke, one of the rare women who have succeeded in the usually male world of hardboiled suspense novels, has a new title out–a sequel to her Edgar Award winning novel, Bones, and the tenth in the Irene Kelly series. I was first aware of Ms. Burke back in the 90s when then President Bill … Read more
I have to say, that reporting on these banned books stories is discouraging. Especially when I thought this particular problem was put to bed, as it were. But no. A school board decided to not allow the use of “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” in ANY grade level. The original contention was … Read more
Each year the premier fan club for Rex Stout and his mystery series starring Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin, The Wolfe Pack, have a banquet honoring those who have written a crime novel most in the style and spirit as a Nero Wolfe title. The lucky winner receives the Wolfe Award. Here are this year’s … Read more
