Goodbyes are always difficult, even when you’ve been missing in action as long as I have. One of the great pleasures of my writing career has been the friendships I’ve formed along the way, and the Good Girls — past and present — are some of the friendships I hold dearest.
I’ll never forget that […]

Finally, FINALLY I’ve discovered the possible source of this quotation. Or at least finally heard someone use it seriously. Fog Island, a 1945 riff on And Then There Were None. It stars George Zucco, Lionel Atwill and a cast of largely unknowns. Or at least unknown to me.
Just the kind of goofy thing I love. […]

Is it just me, or does anyone else see Twitter as ominous a sign of things to come as frogs raining from the sky?
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m sure Twitter is a right old giggle. I’m sure there is nothing more entertaining than being kept up to date on every stray thought that […]

I was reading an article the other day about the possibility that the mystery of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance may finally be solved – thanks in part to DNA evidence.
Earhart was always one of my grade school heroes. Many a school report I did on her back in the day — and I was pleased […]

I collect books. Not in a grand way. I’m first and foremost a reader, so everything I collect is something I think I will want to read one of these days. I collect vintage mysteries by favorite writers — naturally — but I’ll also collect Dell Mapbacks if they sound fun (or I love the […]

Well, actually I know what it is, and there’s no need to go into that. What I meant was, how fascinating it is to be the iconic best at something. Even taking into account that iconic best isn’t something everyone would agree on. In this case, it’s Hickson’s brilliant portrayal of the quintessential spinster sleuth, […]

I did a little post last week for the Pattinase blog on one of my favorite out of print mystery novels, Black is the Colour of My True Love’s Heart by Ellis Peters.
It’s a lovely little novel about murder at a folk festival back in the days when folk music had some street cred. […]

That’s it. Just wanted to wish you a great weekend — and to offer a sincere thanks to all those in military service. We don’t say it enough, but we do appreciate it. Thank you — and Happy Memorial Day.

Do you know who won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction this year? Elizabeth Strout for Olive Kitteridge.
It’s not a crime novel or I would surely be familiar with it. Or not. But anyway, congratulations to Ms. Strout.
Pulitzers, as you may or may not be aware, are awarded to Americans (U.S. citizens, that is) to […]

I’m very happy to announce that the fourth Poetic Death mystery has finally, finally been released. Docketful of Poesy is the book that I thought would never be. For those of you following my adventures (good luck with that) and the adventures of Grace Hollister, you’ll remember that the series was dropped by Pocket Books […]