Jacques Futrelle « Result #1 on Nov 28, 2005, 7:49am »
Jacques Futrelle was a mystery author from the early part of the 20th Century. He wrote about 50 short stories featuring Prof. S. F. X. Van Deusen, The Thinking Machine as his detective.
I've read a couple of these short stories and they are quite good. All the stories are in the public domain and you can download them for free at Blackmask.
Re: Jill Churchill: Grace and Favor Series « Result #2 on Nov 6, 2005, 12:36pm »
I polished off anothe Grace and Favor book: Love for Sale, which I think is number 4 in the series.
A mysterious group of strangers rents out some rooms at the mansion for a secret weekend meeting. They are offering generous money and it is during the middle of the Great Depression so the rooms are rented. But then one of the guests ends up murdered!
This book is well written but I did not find it quite as good as the other books. My biggest complaint is that most of the real investigating is done by the local police chief Walker, and the Brewsters have more of a supporting role. I did not find that very satisfying. There was some good character development and some world building which was nice.
Mandarin Mystery (1934) « Result #3 on Nov 6, 2005, 12:26pm »
Mandarin Mystery is an Ellery Queen mystery which is why I bought this DVD. The movie is written in a light hearted humorus script reminicent of the Thin Man movies. The problem is it is not nearly as good. Definitely a Republic Pictiures "B" movie. Actor Eddie Quillan plays young Ellery Queen - he tries for humor but I ended up annoyed with his bad comedic timing and mannerisms. Worse the murder plot was very weak and convoluted and the ending seemed rushed to get everything into an hour long film. Charlotte Henry plays the female lead much better, she has some good timing but it is not enough to save the movie.
I like B movies from the 30's, but this one has a weak script, weak lead actor, weak mystery ... well you get the picture. Even though it is a bargain price DVD give it a skip.
Re: The Thin Man Movies « Result #4 on Nov 6, 2005, 12:16pm »
The 4th Thin Man Movie "Shadow of the Thin Man" was not one of the best. I think the highlight was seeing Donna Reed as a supporting role. Don't get me wrong the movie has a certain charm but it just was not as strong as 1 and 3.
Re: Jill Churchill: Grace and Favor Series « Result #5 on Nov 1, 2005, 7:31am »
I am reading these out of order, so I finished the third book, Someone to Watch Over Me, in the Grace and Favor mystery series. It is even better than the first book (above) as a mystery. The author manages to write a nice "cozy" without it being self-conciously overboard on the cozy stuff. I also have to say I like the 1930's time period which is the setting for the books.
Anyway I liked these well enough that I got on Amazon and bought the rest of the titles in the series that are out in paperback. I do wish that ebook editions were available but these look like print only.
Lora Roberts: Liz Sullivan Mysteries « Result #6 on Nov 1, 2005, 7:21am »
I have now read the first two of the Liz Sullivan series of mysteries. These are published as ebooks and the first book is entitled: Murder in a Nice Neighborhood. It's very offbeat since the detective is a hoeless woman who lives in her 1969 VW micro-bus who wakes up one morning to find the body of another homeless person half stuffed under her van.
I liked the book. The author does not let the romance elements overwhelm the mystery. I'm not a romance reader so I try to stear away from romance/mystery books. But this book keeps the mystery to the forefront. I also found that it was well written and that the characters were engaging, enough so that I have purchased the next two books in the series.
Re: The Thin Man Movies « Result #7 on Oct 31, 2005, 2:32pm »
I watched the thrid Thin Man movie, "Another Thin Man" and found it to be better than the second. Tighter plot and they did'nt over do Nick's criminal friends bit. Or maybe they were more artful about it.
Sheldon Leonard is in the supporting cast. And Shemp Howard from the Three Stooges has a bit part - but a talking one. This must have been when he was still on his own and before he replaced Curly.
The Thin Man Movies « Result #9 on Oct 29, 2005, 8:08am »
I have been watching the Thin Man movies starring William Powell and Myrna Loy and based on the characters by Daishell Hammett. So far I have watched the first two of six movies.
The mystery is not deep and is sort of incedental to the humor and the charm of the characters. Of the two I watched, The Thin Man and After the Thin Man, i would say the first was the tighter movie. But both were very pleasent and amusing to watch. The second movie has a very young Jimmy Stewart in a supporting role which he does very well. Some of the running gags in the second movie I thought were a bit over done - like Nick Charles' criminal friends poping up everywhere and the Asta-the-dog antics could have been just a tad shorter and I would not have objected.
Myrna Loy is a babe, and the snappy, good humored dialog between her charactor and William Powell's is great fun. Both these actors had excellent comic timing.
I think one of the things I like is seeing the buildings, cars, clothes, and peoples manners from the 1930's.
If you are looking for some good natured entertainment these first two Thin Man movies are worth checking out.
anyone here a fan of the show cheaters? its a reality show were detectives try to catch someone cheating on their lover, i just bought the new dvd set that they have out and its so good, a lot of drama but its really cool check it out,
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