‘Mystery of the Blue Train’ (1928) stays on rails
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): OK, it’s not even Christie’s best work about a train. But count me as an apologist for this Poirot entry.
Books
‘Mystery of the Blue Train’ (1928) stays on rails
Lecter gets worldly in Harris’ ‘Hannibal’ (1999)
Hannibal at 40 (Book review): Thomas Harris increases the scope from “Red Dragon” and “Lambs,” but again spins a great Lecter yarn.
Preston takes on God in ‘Blasphemy’ (2008)
Preston & Child flashback (Book review): It’s not blasphemously bad. But if one were to rank Preston’s work, this would not be among his Good Books.
Christie’s ‘The Big Four’ (1927) is a big misfire
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Cobbled together from short stories, this would-be international crime thriller ranks among Christie’s weakest novels.
Lecter, Starling match wits in ‘Silence of the Lambs’ (1988)
Hannibal at 40 (Book review): Harris expands on one iconic character and launches another in the novel that would go on to become an acclaimed film.
‘Tyrannosaur Canyon’ (2005) a rip-roaring thriller
Preston & Child flashback (Book review): Unlike Crichton, Preston doesn’t resurrect dinosaurs. Yet the spirit of the great lizards permeates this tale.
‘Murder of Roger Ackroyd’ (1926) an early Christie gem
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): It’s armed with one of the most famous endings in mystery history, and Poirot is in vintage form.
Lebbon’s ‘Firefly: Generations’ teases Earth-That-Was
Book review: Unfortunately, it mostly remains a tease in this fourth “Firefly” novel, which also hints at the backstories of River and the Hands of Blue.
Lecter starts as supporting player in ‘Red Dragon’ (1981)
Hannibal at 40 (Book review): Thomas Harris’ epic begins in impressive hardboiled fashion, even if Lecter himself has only a small role.
Preston dreams up lost city in ‘The Codex’ (2003)
Preston & Child flashback (Book review): Before he would go there (in “The Lost City of the Monkey God”), Preston uses literature to imagine the White City.