I don’t know if L’Amour was trying to be mysterious, but if he was, he certainly missed by a mile. Any western story that mentions anything specific I don’t know if L’Amour was trying to be mysterious, but if he was, he certainly missed by a mile. Any western story that mentions anything specific about brands in the first page or two has already tipped their hand in the direction of rustlers. Once you get that figured out, there is no mystery. It just becomes the story of an incredibly obtuse, stunningly fast gunman. You do get a little suspense toward the end as you try to guess how the hero will get himself out of the crazy mess he’s in this time. I like L’Amour’s stories usually. They tend to be clean. The good guy always wins, the girl always drops the villain for the hero, and the cowardly town always comes along cheering gratefully at the end. This one was really no different and so quite enjoyable. I would recommend it. ...more
That was an interesting experience. Maybe I should just walk you through my thoughts on the stories. I still don’t know what to think about that firstThat was an interesting experience. Maybe I should just walk you through my thoughts on the stories. I still don’t know what to think about that first story. Was it sci-fi or paranormal? It was weird, but that’s about as much as I can tell. It certainly set a strange mood for the rest of the collection. I was never quite sure what to expect. “Hercule Poirot, Insurance Investigator” by Agatha Christie was a decent little story, but not really all that mysterious. Fletcher Flora’s “How? When? Who?” was rather forgettable. It also had quite a bit of swearing in it. I heartily disliked “The Saint Takes a Dare” by Leslie Charteris. I disliked the Saint. I disliked the approval the author gives to philandering and thievery in general. Wouldn’t recommend that one at all. “Ellery in a Country Churchyard” was only a tiny poem, but it was actually pretty clever. Robert Somerlott’s contribution, “Fox in the Night”, was really pretty good. He transports you into a dry dusty village and paints a picture of rivalries, jealousies, greed, and trust. It was short but really good, if a bit superstitious. “Nine-Finger Jack” by Anthony Boucher not really any mystery about this one. It’s straight up sci-fi. “Something Queer About Mirrors” by Dorothy L. Sayers was okay. It wasn’t really that mysterious. Maybe because I’m just as cynical as Lord Peter about the 4th dimension. It was well enough written, but pretty obvious from the first. Jane Speed’s contribution was gross. The opening couple of pages, of this short story, were not much more than lewd allusions. I didn’t like Vaughan Greene’s “So That He Could Die” as told from the murderer’s perspective. As Polly Podolsky’s story was from the same perspective, I didn’t like that one either. Catching criminals is more to my liking than their thoughts leading up to the crime. Finally, the last story in the magazine. It’s a novelette really. “Stay of Execution” by Michael Gilbert was different. There was a mystery in this one, but once he started letting clues slip it wasn’t that hard to figure out. It was well written. I was intrigued all the way through. But I didn’t like any of the characters. The ‘hero’ was despicable. The victim was despicable. The wide assortment of side characters were bent on abolishing capital punishment no matter what. So they freely lie, obstruct justice, suborn perjury, and generally subvert justice. The argument over capital punishment aside, I found that it gave the ending of the story a very unsettled feeling. So it was fun to read, but not really worth it in hindsight. Oh, and the best little gem of the lot… “Sancho Panza, Detective” by Miguel de Cervantes. How could it not be the best? I wouldn’t really recommend it, but there were a couple little gems hidden in it. Two or three of the stories have quite a bit of ‘mild’ swearing in them. Mostly though they are a clean collection except as noted above....more
The only downside to rereading Sherlock Holmes stories is that it robs them of the surprise they have for the new reader. I'm afraid that I would haveThe only downside to rereading Sherlock Holmes stories is that it robs them of the surprise they have for the new reader. I'm afraid that I would have been one of those pestering Doyle to keep writing. I always want more of these stories. These aren't my favorite Holmes stories, but they are really good maybe not 10 out of 10, but rather 8 out of 10. Perhaps it's just my mood, but the great man seems a little more human in these stories. So just sit back and enjoy the guilty getting caught, the innocent being cleared, and always justice being done....more
This collection surprised me. It wasn’t just the previously unpublished story or the new to me authors that surprised me. It was the fun variation in This collection surprised me. It wasn’t just the previously unpublished story or the new to me authors that surprised me. It was the fun variation in each mystery. There might be a murder or there might not. There might be a fabulous con or a rather minor fraud. The culprit might or might not get caught. After that first story through me for a loop, I didn’t know what to expect from each story. Then they varied, pleasantly, in length as well. All they have in common is their rural or, at least, village setting, and, obviously a detective. But beware, he just might be wrong. I would definitely recommend this collection. I think that you will enjoy it. There were a few curse words. Everything else was described neither too gruesomely or lewdly. ...more
How could a simple artistic little moral given as a gift be responsible for such chaos? Well, it was given to William. Starting out Christmas morning How could a simple artistic little moral given as a gift be responsible for such chaos? Well, it was given to William. Starting out Christmas morning and ending Christmas Eve, it packs a year’s worth of disaster chaos and heartwarming moments in between. Some of them were straight-up hilarious. Usually, those included some of his more energetic attempts at assisting someone. Some were more aggravating than amusing. Those really made you sympathize with the parents of such a terror. There was also a couple that fell rather flat. The heartwarming moments so sparsely scattered throughout are rather of a hallmark style. There was one chapter that was thoroughly disheartening. It starts out in a Sunday School with William worked up into emotional excitement over conversion. But there are so many things, that he thoroughly knows are wrong, that he still wants to do. So, he decides to put off conversion. It quickly becomes obvious that his and perhaps the author’s understanding of conversion is simply a change of behavior, a cleaning up of one’s act. It is presented as exchanging the pleasures of sin for a dull life of mild drudgery and deadening routine. Is it a small wonder that our active hero chooses his life of sin over that other? I do say sin because while many if not most of his adventures are brought on by thoughtlessness and innocence, some of them are brought on by deliberate disobedience, meanness, and mischief. The author never addresses the difference. The Biblical teaching of sin, even the sin of disobedience, being an offense against God punishable by eternal death is completely absent. So true conversion as completed by faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice for those sins is also completely missing. It was heartbreaking to read. If you are looking, you can see throughout the book the mild mocking of religious activities. I would recommend some of the individual stories, but I would be loath to recommend all of them. ...more
These are some of the most endearing spinsters in all fiction as far as I know. I just love how energetically oblivious Tish is, how patiently pathet These are some of the most endearing spinsters in all fiction as far as I know. I just love how energetically oblivious Tish is, how patiently pathetic Agnes is, and how eternally frustrated Lizzy is. My! That sounded sentimental, and I don’t know about you, but I didn’t find the least little thing about these stories sentimental. I mean really, how can you be sentimental when they are so busy floating dinner to imprisoned spies, wrestling with gigantic fish, and kidnapping lady loves. And the way Rinehart sets it up you could almost believe that it could happen. Well maybe not the shoot out, but all the rest just might… I also love the illustrations that accompany each of these stories. In general, the style used in this period is my favorite, but these are true gems. They capture our heroines’ sense of adventure and absurdity in a wonderfully sweet way. That last one though leaves them looking almost piratical, but I wouldn’t put that past them in some future adventure either so maybe it’s a hint. So be sure to find a copy with pictures. ...more
You’ve heard of Sherlock Holmes the incomparable private consulting detective, but have you heard of his equally astute colleagues, the blind Max Car You’ve heard of Sherlock Holmes the incomparable private consulting detective, but have you heard of his equally astute colleagues, the blind Max Carrados, the priest Father Brown, the Protestant Uncle Abner, the scientific Dr. Thorndyke, or the aristocratic Lady Molly? Those heroes and many others from the golden age detective fiction are showcased in this wonderful collection. The variety in these stories makes it a very enjoyable read. Each story has its own unique flavor and hero. There are stories written from the first and third-person perspectives and even a crooks perspective. There are proud infallible detectives, humble lucky detectives, and even a few unlucky ones. Both men and women get a crack at solving some truly baffling mysteries. They must solve thefts, cons, disappearances, frames, and open murder. That gives us stories that range in feel from almost amusing to the rather gruesome. Overall, it is a wonderful collection of mysteries that I highly enjoyed and would recommend to any mystery lover. There were a few curse words but otherwise is a wonderfully clean book. I received this as a free ARC through NetGalley and Dover Publications. No favorable review was required, and it was my pleasure to provide my honest opinion.
Usually, I unreservedly like the British Library Crime Classics collections of short stories as edited by Martin Edwards. They always include tried a Usually, I unreservedly like the British Library Crime Classics collections of short stories as edited by Martin Edwards. They always include tried and true favorites by authors such as Doyle and Orczy and gems by little known or forgotten authors. The last are always my favorite part because they have introduced me to some really wonderful authors. I also appreciate Edwards’ editorial notes. They never spoil the mystery and give you information about other works by the authors if you would like to read more. This one was different though. I still liked most of the stories. They had delightful twists, clever crooks, and determined detectives. Several stories were written in the ’40s, ’50s, or even as late as the ’60s, and they just don’t have the same feel as the rest of the stories. Those also tend to have more foul language. The final story though was a deal-breaker for me. It was way to descriptive of the immoral lifestyle of the characters for me to count it as a cozy mystery. I received this as a free ARC through NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. No favorable review was required. It was my pleasure to provide my honest opinions. ...more
For a mystery-loving landlubber such as myself, these stories provide a fun glimpse into a new setting. It starts off with a tried and true pleaser, For a mystery-loving landlubber such as myself, these stories provide a fun glimpse into a new setting. It starts off with a tried and true pleaser, The Adventure of the ‘Gloria Scott’ by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Then it moves on to a fine assortment of stories all tied in some manner to water; whether it’s oceans, streams, or pools of it. Beyond that and the element of mystery, these stories vary widely. They feature police detectives, private eyes, amateur sleuths, or writers all caught up in theft, blackmail, fraud, or murder. Some of the stories have a supernatural element, such as L.T Meade’s The Eight-Mile Lock & Bullion! by William Hope Hodgson. One or two even have an element of sci-fi. Some of the stories are lighthearted and humorous; while others are dark and gruesome. I really enjoyed that variety. It was fun not knowing what the crime would be, who the detective would be, or even where it would be set. It also introduced me to several new authors most of whose writing I really enjoyed. There was one story that I really didn’t like, and that was The Swimming Pool by H. C. Bailey. His writing style was so unusual that I had a hard time understanding it. Especially in the dialogue, it was choppy in the extreme; with fragments seeming to be the preferred style. The plot was good, but I couldn’t get past the writing style. That one also had the majority of the curse words in the book. As side from the aforementioned story, this book is quite clean. There were only a couple of more curse words in the other stories. I received this book as a free ARC through NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press. No favorable review was required, and it was my pleasure to provide my honest opinions. ...more
Are you a fan of the infallible detective? Do you like the problems that are as impossible to the ordinary mind as they are improbable? I enjoyed th Are you a fan of the infallible detective? Do you like the problems that are as impossible to the ordinary mind as they are improbable? I enjoyed the variety in this collection. Some were set in the heart of the city, in remote country houses, on the ocean, in college laboratories, and in jails. The atmospheres were wonderfully varied also. Some were spooky, others tragic, humorous, or chilling. Even the crimes themselves are varied. There is suicide, murder, theft, kidnapping, smuggling, and impersonation. Yet, through them all marches the irascible, the practical, the logical, the wonderful “Thinking Machine”. Futrelle doesn’t let the reader in on the clues or the solution before the last possible moment, so you can sit back and enjoy being mystified along with the police and the sidekick. Some of the solutions were a complete surprise and wonderfully imaginative, but of course, they always trapped their man, except once or twice… I had read a couple of the stories in other collections and wasn’t really impressed, but I truly enjoyed them in this collection. I think it was because I understood the characters better. The first story is “The Problem of Cell 13”, and it’s a perfect choice for introducing the “Thinking Machine’. It explains his strengths and approach to problems. It also introduces his sidekick, Hutchinson Hatch, the indefatigable reporter. Once I had that understanding, the other stories were very fun. This book was perfectly clean. There was no cursing, swearing, or profanity. There was absolutely no sexual content. I received this as a free ARC through NetGalley and Dover Publications. No favorable review was required. It was my pleasure to provide my honest opinions. ...more
If you’re looking for Christmas cheer and warm friendly comradery, this isn’t the book you want. But if you are looking for some true puzzlers and fe If you’re looking for Christmas cheer and warm friendly comradery, this isn’t the book you want. But if you are looking for some true puzzlers and few spine-tinglers for the Christmas season, this the book you’ve been looking for. Edwards has compiled a fine collection of well-known and obscure short stories. A few of them, you might have read before, but some will be delightfully new. I liked several of them, but a couple that more suspense/chiller than mystery and I didn’t care for those. For their genre though, they seemed like fine short stories. There were a couple swear words, but aside from those, it was a clean read. ...more
These stories are the first of the serialized Holmes stories. After once again rereading them, I can see why they were instant best sellers. They are These stories are the first of the serialized Holmes stories. After once again rereading them, I can see why they were instant best sellers. They are so good. Holmes is the perfect detecting machine, Watson the perfect narrator, and the crooks a wonderful mix of dastardly villains and bungling opportunists. Each story is so different. I think the most startling contrast was between ‘Blue Carbuncle’, a rather cozy Christmas mystery, and ‘The Speckled Band’, a thoroughly chilling double murder plot. Then I’ve always thought that the last was one of the most chilling stories he ever wrote. All together they make a marvelous collection of mysteries, and I enjoyed them immensely. ...more
There really isn’t anything Christmassy about this story. It’s by far more tragedy than anything else. It’s really a pretty straightforward mystery. There really isn’t anything Christmassy about this story. It’s by far more tragedy than anything else. It’s really a pretty straightforward mystery. The mean old father dies and the daughter’s beau is the main suspect. Lady Molly is there to save the innocent and capture the guilty. Really the basic plot is boringly stock. Orczy doesn’t leave it there though; she surprises us with interesting characters and a couple little twists. It’s also written in Orczy’s own overly melodramatic style. That’s not too bad in this story, but the hero worship of the narrator grated on me. ...more
I really like old sci-fi radio shows such as X minus 1 & Dimension X . My favorite by far though is X -1. More of its stories lean to the light-heart I really like old sci-fi radio shows such as X minus 1 & Dimension X . My favorite by far though is X -1. More of its stories lean to the light-hearted comedy side. A Gun for a Dinosaur, Star Bright, A Logic Named Joe, $1,000 Dollars a Plate, A Pail of Air, The Roads Must Roll, C-Chute, Skulking Permit, How To and The Girls from Earth, are some of my favorite Old Time Radio shows. That said you can understand why I was so excited when I found free online copies of the original Galaxy Science-Fiction Magazine articles. This was the first one I read. This one was both better and worse than the radio show. It has more details to the plot. The characters are more developed especially the narrator and Robert. Their motives and the ‘world’ are better developed as well. It’s ever as mind-bending, and they throw around and twist science to their own ends very well. But it doesn’t have quite the same flavor. Star isn’t quite as innocent, and the surprise isn’t quite as startlingly sudden as in the radio show. One more point, there are a couple of curse words in the printed version. I could have done without that. If you are looking for a fun short read, this is pretty good. ...more
A nice little Victorian horror story. The hero, the dashing Victorian gentleman, rescues his professor from the doom of wandering eternally amongst thA nice little Victorian horror story. The hero, the dashing Victorian gentleman, rescues his professor from the doom of wandering eternally amongst the mummies. On impulse, he brings back a memento pried from long-dead fingers. The heroine, young and thoughtless as befits a Victorian maiden, then tampers with an ancient curse. But surely there is nothing in it? This is where the sci-fi-ish part of the story starts. It’s really wild, but I’ll let you find out just how material or immaterial the horror really is. ...more
The AUNTS, old school chums, beastly animals, terrible children, and Wooster’s pickled brain all combine to give us some of the most hilarious short The AUNTS, old school chums, beastly animals, terrible children, and Wooster’s pickled brain all combine to give us some of the most hilarious short stories ever written. Their antics will keep you in stitches and confusion till the very end when the wise hand of Jeeves appears and makes all well again. This is one of Wodehouse’s earlier works (1930) so the language is fairly clean. ...more
Maybe it’s the setting, even more than the plot, that gives this book its creeping chill. It’s permeated by a horrible reasonless foreboding. At firstMaybe it’s the setting, even more than the plot, that gives this book its creeping chill. It’s permeated by a horrible reasonless foreboding. At first, I thought it was the remote crumbling castle and the silent vastness of the desert. Then there are the little things. They keep piling up in barely noticeable ways, till you’re absolutely certain that some unknown terrible thing has happened. Then ending is the perfect culmination for such a tale of terror. It makes you look back and makes all those little things actually grotesque. It was worth reading. ...more
This is a fun little adventure. It's also fairly stock. There are no great surprises. The 'hero' wanders off and discovers the secret of the pyramids;This is a fun little adventure. It's also fairly stock. There are no great surprises. The 'hero' wanders off and discovers the secret of the pyramids; oh and that spoken Egyptian is surprising like English. He meets the princess and love follows. That's where it starts getting fun. Allen starts giving fun little clues as to what's really going on, but in such a subtle way that I missed them completely. I only started catching on at the very end. For a short sci-fi, spook story it wasn't too bad. The hero was a jerk though, so just read it for the situation/world he created. ...more
Well, it was very exciting, not very Christmassy, but exciting. It was one of his earliest works so it’s a bit rough. The plot is also quite obvious. Well, it was very exciting, not very Christmassy, but exciting. It was one of his earliest works so it’s a bit rough. The plot is also quite obvious. I think the best way to describe the hero would be just to say he’s the complete opposite of Holmes. It was fun though. I found a free English copy on-line by just googling the title and author together. I had to read it online, but it was so short that wasn’t too hard....more
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