strange and random happenstance

Dashiell Hammett is known for some of the greatest and most memorable detectives though he only wrote five novels. There's Nick and Nora Charles, and of course, Sam Spade. Though perhaps these characters are now known more for their big screen presence. William Powell and Myrna Loy were so popular they made six films from one book, one short story, and an idea by Hammett, although he refused to work on the final three films. And one can't think of Sam Spade without thinking of Humphrey Bogart. Which is exactly what this production wants. This is Clive Owen humbling stepping into the shoes of his hero. Because if there's one thing you need to know about Clive Owen, he is a Humphrey Bogart acolyte. And I don't think this show would be so successful without that devotion, without that love, that reverence, of the character and the man. As he stated in an interview with Stephen Colbert, he'd listen to Humphrey Bogart deliver his dialogue on a loop. Continually studying his delivery. Which he poured into the role of a lifetime. Even if Lauren Bacall might disagree because she loved him in Croupier. Yet one amazing performance doesn't necessarily equal a wonderful television show. To do that you need to not just have the right actor, but the right vision behind that camera, as well as the right story. Because without the right story, well, it's just characters wandering aimlessly around. And here we have Sam Spade arriving in France with a package that needs to be delivered. That package is a young girl. Instead of successfully completing the job he finds a life for himself. Over the next ten years he is married and widowed. He keeps an eye on the girl who lives at a convent because Teresa's purported father Philippe is a bad man. France is trying to find it's way in the world after World War II and the wounds left by Nazis collaborators. What's more the Algerian War is barely over and that could change based on the appearance of one young boy. This young boy is a lightning road, bringing the religious, the avaricious, and several countries into conflict in the small town of Bozouls. Fun fact, the late great actor Richard Belzer lived there in real life and seeing as this show was created by Tom Fontana of Homicide: Life of the Street fame, I don't think that's a coincidence. Back to Sam Spade.... All he wants is his life to return to normal and he'll do whatever that takes, in his laconic way. His wry observations and outlook on life coupled with his friendship with Teresa give the show a Paper Moon vibe with a strong stylistic helping from Lolita. This is French New Wave Noir, something I didn't realize I needed in my life until now. Now that I have it, I want more. Seriously, can we get another season? I mean, I think we deserve as much Sam Spade as we got of Nick and Nora Charles. And while the ending here might have seemed a tad rushed and confusing with Alfre Woodard subbing in for Hercule Poirot, it was better than anything Nick and Nora Charles ever got involved in. So six seasons and a movie. OK?

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Algeria, And the Emmy Goes To, Clive Owen, Croupier, Dashiell Hammett, France, Homicide, Humphrey Bogart, Lolita, Monsieur Spade, Nick and Nora Charles, Paper Moon, Richard Belzer, Sam Spade, Tom Fontana, War

Stranger Things Holiday Specials by Michael Moreci, Chris Roberson, Keith Champagne, and Todor Hristov
Published by: Dark Horse Books
Publication Date: December 20th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 112 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Get all three Stranger Things holiday specials in one package!

In the Halloween Special, Will, Mike, Lucas, and Dustin gather in Castle Byers to eat candy and scare each other with a spooky story, revealing the quaint town’s darkest secret: the Child-Eater of Hawkins.

In the Winter Special, Eleven and the kids of Hawkins are getting into the full spirit of the season. As they recall their favorite stories from their childhoods to teach Eleven about Christmas, tensions run high as Dustin swears he saw something spooky lurking in the forest outside.

In the Summer Special, Officers Powell and Callahan patrol the "mean" streets of Hawkins, Indiana with the enthusiasm of two hefty dachshunds pretending to be bloodhounds. Typically they don’t have to chase down more than the occasional petty theft and teenagers smoking refer but lately, the town has been getting weirder, and while they might not get to the bottom of it they just might be lucky enough to survive.

Featuring writing by Michael Moreci, Chris Roberson, and Keith Champagne, and art by Todor Hristov, ABEL, and Caio Filipe. Colors by Chris O'Halloran, DJ Chavis and Dan Jackson, with lettering by Nate Piekos."

Because obviously I had to feature something Christmassy this week.

Lair of the Crystal Fang by S.A. Sidor
Published by: Aconyte
Publication Date: December 20th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 368 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"When a mysterious killer haunts Arkham, three struggling investigators must confront the eldritch horrors of their past in this action-packed pulp adventure from the world of Arkham Horror.

In the swirling sewers beneath Arkham, excavators uncover a crystalline formation that hints at dark events from the city's past. As the discovery makes headlines, so too does a series of bizarre murders. With no leads, the Arkham police are always one step behind. Acting on a hunch, down-on-his luck former journalist Andy Van Nortwick reunites with adventurer Jake Williams and struggling filmmaker Maude Brion to unearth the truth. The trio know of the supernatural horrors that lurk beyond this world, and the reality haunts them. But time is running out and between them they must face their nightmares before the city of Arkham is lost to blood and chaos."

Seriously, Lovecraft and pulp go together so well, but don't take my word for it.

Sleeper Omnibus by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
Published by: DC Comics
Publication Date: December 20th, 2022
Format: Hardcover, 736 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Sleeper is the critically acclaimed graphic novel series written by Eisner Award-winner Ed Brubaker (Criminal, Deadenders, Captain America) and stylishly rendered by legendary artist Sean Phillips (Marvel Zombies, Criminal, Incognito).

Agent Holden Carver is forced to live one day at a time in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse he plays with the leader of the secret criminal organization he has infiltrated while trying to elude detection."

I'm just saying, if there's a chance you forgot to buy me a Christmas present, well, look what came out this week...

Death of a Minor Character by E.X. Ferrars
Published by: Felony and Mayhem
Publication Date: December 20th, 2022
Format: Paperback, 206 Pages
To Buy

The official patter:
"Virginia Freer has had it with her sort-of-ex-husband's taste for drama. Yes, Marcus Avery was a dear old duffer who lived in Virginia's town. Yes, Lillian Pace, Felix Freer's neighbor in London, was a sweet old bird. Yes, it's terrible they were murdered, but we live in a naughty world. But look at the coincidences! - Felix insists. That unpleasant silversmith. That awful couple seeking revenge. These were not two separate murders, I tell you: There is Something going on.

Virginia raises an eyebrow and sighs deeply: The world lost a second Olivier, she thinks, when Felix opted for gambling, mooching, and petty theft rather than the stage. But eventually even her relentless pragmatism gets worn down, and thank goodness, because there is, indeed, Something going on. And Felix and Virginia are just the duo to sort it out, chalk and cheese though they may be."

Why have I never heard of this series until now? It's like a snarkier Nick and Nora!

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Arkham Horror, Chris Roberson, E.X. Ferrars, Ed Brubaker, H.P. Lovecraft, Nick and Nora Charles, S.A. Sidor, Sean Phillips, Sleeper, Stranger Things, Stranger Things Holiday Specials, Virginia Freer

Murder is Easy by Agatha Christie
Published by: HarperCollins Publishers
Publication Date: June 5th, 1939
Format: Hardcover, 223 Pages
Rating: ★★★
To Buy (different edition than one reviewed)

Luke Fitzwilliam has returned to England from police duty in the Mayang Straits. He's been away from England for years and his return is a mixed bag. He won a packet on the Derby but his train left without him when he was checking the results. Catching the next train up to London he meets Lavinia Pinkerton, an elderly lady who reminds him of his Aunt. Luke humors her and listens to her reasons about going up to London. She believes there is a serial killer in her small town who now has their sights set on the nice Dr. Humbleby and she is determined to tell Scotland Yard all about it because the other deaths were nasty people but Dr. Humbleby is a different kettle of fish. Luke thinks she's an old dear who's a little batty, but when he later reads of her sudden death as well as the death of Dr. Humbleby he remembers her talking about how murder is really quite easy and there's a look in the eyes of the killer. He decides it's only right to investigate. With the help of his friend who happens to have a cousin down in Wychwood under Ashe Luke poses as a writer researching a book on witchcraft and superstitious beliefs that still survive in small communities. Luke hopes this will let him talk about the recent deaths in the town, totaling six when he arrives in the village. But will there be more deaths? And is Luke putting himself in danger by investigating in the first place?

I started this year by reading a murder mystery by one of Christie's contemporaries oddly enough published in the same year as Murder is Easy. Going from No Wind of Blame by Georgette Heyer to Murder is Easy by Agatha Christie the shift is so dramatic it's patently obvious why Christie is the bestselling author of all time and the "Queen of Crime." Instead of waiting hundreds of pages for a crime to actually be committed, Christie starts with a high body count right out of the gate. She builds the suspense while building her characters, instead of focusing on one or the other and therefore sacrificing quality. Heyer spun things out to excruciating lengths and in the end created a book that was unsatisfying more than anything else. If you're going to do a murder mystery, you kind of need both of those elements. My most favorite mysteries are the ones that follow in the vein of Christie; high body counts with quirky characters and a fun enough journey with plenty of red herrings that the narrative is a cohesive whole. Perhaps that's why I love Midsomer Murders so much, if any show followed Christie on body count alone, it would be Midsomer Murders. Also, this isn't to say Christie is infallible... she does trip up and get stuck in her own devices sometimes, Endless Night anyone? But Murder is Easy is thankfully a classic Christie.

Though, for me, there is rarely a book that is flawless. I mean, there are people out there that actually think for something to be perfect there has to be one flaw for them to pick at. I'm not one of those people, though it might occasionally seem so to others. But Murder is Easy did have a big flaw in it's leading man. Yes, let's talk about Luke Fitzwilliam. Luke is... well Luke must not have been very good at his job out east. Or, if he was good at it, it was with a kind of straightforward bluster that can, occasionally, make a decent cop. Why I've come to this conclusion is that he has no natural ability for subterfuge. He's "supposed" to be in Wychwood under Ashe as an author researching a book... does he ever really commit to this cover? No. About five minutes in he's already telling his friend's cousin who is putting him up, Bridget Conway, the real reason he's there. Um, couldn't she be a suspect? Or is she just too pretty? All his questions to the townsfolk are obviously about the recent spat of deaths, he doesn't once really try to talk about superstition and witchcraft. Which is a shame. Because I was kind of looking forward to a witchy element to this book, especially as Christie set the stage with the town's history for supernatural activity, but then she never followed through. The murders took precedent over Luke's cover and, well, I just was annoyed.

But Luke's inability to dissemble isn't nearly as bad as the forced romance between him and Bridget Conway. Christie does seem to have a need to not only solve the crime but to match off a couple by the end of her books. Like catching the criminal isn't enough. For a true happy ending there must be a marriage to boot. It could be a product of her times, this was released in 1939, but still, think of all the romantic partnerships of crime solvers there are... in fact, could we trace this all back to Christie? OK, that's getting off course, but if she's the reason we have everyone from Nick and Nora to Caskett... I think I'll give her a slid. On most. Not on Luke and Bridget. Because seriously, there is NO chemistry between them. None. In a play or a movie you can understand a lack of chemistry, the leads just weren't able to connect. In a book, there's NO reason for this. The author controls everything and there's no moment where you look at Luke and Bridget and go, "yes, they were meant to be." Luke sees a pretty girl and just decides to fall for her. She, for no apparent reason, is willing to give up a comfortable life with a wealthy man just to what? Marry a poor man who is more in love with the idea of her than her? Seriously. They do not a couple make. But Christie needed the supposed connection for the reveal of the killer... so maybe if she had just worked backwards from that a little more convincingly?

Yet it's Christie's ability to throw so many red herrings at us that we feel as if we're at a fish market that makes her books transcend character issues. She is able to believable posit, through Luke's investigation, so many murder suspects that you're never quite sure. Yes, I am one of those people who try to solve the crime as I'm reading, but if it's a good enough ride I can be swept away and buy into the plausibility of any single person being the killer. What I particularly liked was Luke was continually making up lists with reasons why each person was guilty or innocent. Yet his lists often omitted things, or didn't quite convey what I felt was uncovered in interrogations that we got to be privy too. Therefore we are able to see beyond Luke's narrow mind and see that the suspect pool is far bigger. This allows for Christie to go wild with her red herrings. In fact, just simple turns of phrase, assumptions about how people talk, all these play into the eventual reveal. In fact, it wasn't until minutes before the reveal that I had the aha moment. Where I could fully see her intricate web and who was really at the center pulling all the threads. I used to have this wonderful t-shirt that was for Mystery! by Edward Gorey that had a tree with clues, suspects, and the red herrings being the only items in color. I loved that shirt and I think that shirt captures the feeling of reading Murder is Easy. It's all there, it's all perfect, you just have to wait for Christie to pull back the curtain. Because she really is the master at this game.

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Agatha Christie, Benediction, Caskett, Chemistry, Edward Gorey, Endless Night, Georgette Heyer, HEA, Midsomer Murders, Murder is Easy, Mystery, Nick and Nora Charles, No Wind of Blame, Red Herrings, Witchcraft

Samuel Dashiell Hammett was born in Maryland and grew up in Philadelphia and Baltimore. Despite being later known for his literary fetes, he left school at the young age of thirteen. During his early years his chief form of income was working for the Pinkerton Detective Agency, a job he would always fall back into from time to time. He served in WWI till illness had him invalided out. While recovering he met his future wife who was a nurse. Though his chronic illness of TB often kept the couple apart, though some would say it wasn't just the TB, he would always support his wife and daughters financially no matter where or with whom his affairs would take him.

After working for the Pinkertons, he took up a job in advertising, though he was far more likely to pick up a bottle. When Hammett started writing he used his experiences working for the Pinkertons as inspiration. The Pinkertons role in union strike-breaking disillusioned Hammett and he would soon become outspoken in politics. Although he wasn't as fervent in his Communist beliefs after WWII, he was still blacklisted by McCarthy and even served some time in jail. Life had worn him down, as did his alcoholism, TB, and time behind bars. During his decline he was too ill even to write. But he would leave behind a legacy as "the dean of the... 'hard-boiled' school of detective fiction." His characters of Nick and Nora Charles, and Sam Spade would be some of the most memorable characters in fiction ever to be written. While most would call him the king of noir amongst his other titles, there is no ambiguity that he was one of the Golden Age of Mystery's greatest writers. 

Posted by Miss Eliza at 12:00 AM 0 comments  

Labels: Communist, Dashiell Hammett, Golden Age of Detection, Golden Summer, Hardboiled, McCarthy, Nick and Nora Charles, Pinkertons, Sam Spade, TB, WWI, WWII