‘Cards on the Table’ (1936) shows closed-room mystery mastery
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Agatha Christie’s closed-room mystery had me guessing till the end about which of the four suspects did it.
Mystery
‘Cards on the Table’ (1936) shows closed-room mystery mastery
Depressive ‘Solaris’ (1972) is the anti-‘2001’
Throwback Thursday (Movie review): This Russian sci-fi classic is even slower-paced than “2001.” But it offers more intellectual rewards.
‘Rising Sun’ (1992) makes trade pacts thrilling
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): Crichton mixes a hardboiled murder mystery with Japanese corporate intrigue. It’s outdated but engrossing.
Poirot all business in ‘Murder in Mesopotamia’ (1936)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): You could hand this Agatha Christie novel to a newbie and say “This is the template for a Poirot mystery.”
Poirot airs his theories in ‘Death in the Clouds’ (1935)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Agatha Christie tries a new riff on the closed-room mystery with a closed-cabin mystery.
‘Woman in the Window’ is too transparent
Movie review: Based on a 2018 A.J. Finn novel, “The Woman in the Window” never got under my skin the way I think director Joe Wright wanted it to.
‘Sphere’ (1998) takes its place among sci-fi mind-benders
Michael Crichton Monday (Movie review): I can see why “Sphere” is disliked by many, but I’m surprised it’s not loved by more SF enthusiasts.
Christie gets theatrical in ‘Murder in Three Acts’ (1935)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): This novel doesn’t have the strictest three-act structure, but it does tap into the notion of life as a performance.
Crichton opens a smart puzzle box in ‘Sphere’ (1987)
Michael Crichton Monday (Book review): Unlike most Crichton novels, “Sphere” is a puzzle box. On your first read, you don’t know what it’s about.
Christie expands sleuth roster with ‘Parker Pyne Investigates’ (1934)
Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Christie struggles to come up with the right word for Pyne’s job. He’s like a life coach, except you pay by the situation.