‘Maltese Falcon’ (1930) stands as definitive hardboiled mystery
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Dashiell Hammett only wrote five novels, but the influence outshines the output, especially with this Sam Spade starrer.
Mystery
‘Maltese Falcon’ (1930) stands as definitive hardboiled mystery
‘A Murder at the End of the World,’ ‘Fargo’ Season 5, ‘The Irrational,’ ‘The Spencer Sisters’
First episode impressions (TV reviews): “A Murder at the End of the World” goes to the head of the fall class of long-form mysteries, while “The Irrational” might intrigue procedural fans.
Intrigue disappears behind comedy in ‘The Lady Vanishes’ (1938)
On a Hitchcock kick (Movie review): This evocatively titled Hitchcock classic might surprise people by being a light comedy.
Wimsey shows how to catch ’em in Sayers’ ‘Strong Poison’ (1930)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Proving the innocence of the defendant is personal for Lord Peter Wimsey in his fifth novel.
‘Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel’ (2108) and ‘III: Lake of Fire’ (2019) are ambitious but cheap
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Despite the success of “Hell House LLC,” we still don’t get to learn what the director could do with a big budget.
Rowling masters another genre in ‘Cuckoo’s Calling’ (2013)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Writing as Robert Galbraith, J.K. Rowling shows her skill at mystery fiction in Cormoran Strike’s debut.
‘Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor’ improves on original
Movie review: In the saga’s fourth entry, writer-director Stephen Cognetti rediscovers his knack for terrifying “found footage” horror.
‘Hell House LLC’ (2015) has grown into a favorite ‘found footage’ gem
Frightening Friday (Movie review): Not just a one-and-done handheld novelty, Stephen Cognetti’s chilling film has staying power.
Poirot sifts through lies in ‘The Killings at Kingfisher Hill’ (2020)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): In her fourth Poirot novel, Sophie Hannah introduces a family almost as troubled as the one from “Crooked House.”
Green, Branagh tell their own Poirot tale in ‘Haunting in Venice’
Movie review: The writer and director move beyond Agatha Christie adaptations with an original horror story.