Book Review: The Man on the Balcony

Book Review: The Man on the Balcony by Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo It is June 2, 1967 in Stockholm, Sweden. A man stands on his balcony, smoking and watching the street as the sun rises. It’s going to be a scorcher today. A peaceful enough scene, but the calm of the city is going… Continue reading Book Review: The Man on the Balcony

Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine June 1952

This cover does not depict any of the stories within. Make up your own mystery!

Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine June 1952 edited by Ellery Queen This is the last issue of EQMM I have to hand, but someday I hope to get out to garage sales again…. “Homecoming” by Veronica Parker Johns was inspired, so the introduction says, by the Kefauver hearings and the author getting a much… Continue reading Magazine Review: Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine June 1952

Book Review: Case File: FBI

Book Review: Case File: FBI by Mildred & Gordon Gordon, as “The Gordons” When FBI agent Zack Stewart is murdered, it’s a sure bet that it’s connected to one of the cases he was working. So it’s up to his old partner John “Rip” Ripley to take over the cases and figure out which one… Continue reading Book Review: Case File: FBI

Movie Review: Death Wish (1974)

Kersey's heart grows cold.

Movie Review: Death Wish (1974) directed by Michael Winner Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) has a pretty good life. He’s a respected architect at a large firm, he’s married to a beautiful woman (Hope Lange), has a pretty daughter (Kathleen Tolan) and a respectful son-in-law (Steven Keats). Kersey is well-off enough to afford a winter vacation in… Continue reading Movie Review: Death Wish (1974)

Movie Review: The Breed (2001)

Computer graphics of the future!

The Breed (2001) dir. Michael Oblowitz It is the “near future” and the United States of America has become an openly authoritarian state with a vaguely East European vibe. Despite this, there are still more or less regular cops. When a young woman is kidnapped, police detective Steven Grant (Bokeem Woodbine) and his partner track down… Continue reading Movie Review: The Breed (2001)

TV Review: Lupin: Dans l’Ombre d’Arsene Part 1

Assane receives some words of encouragement.

TV Review: Lupin: Dans l’Ombre d’Arsene Part 1 Twenty-five years ago, Babakar Diop (Fargass Assande), Senegalese immigrant and chauffeur to the wealthy Pellegrini family, was convicted of stealing the fabulous “Queen’s Necklace”, a crime he almost certainly did not commit. In prison, he allegedly hanged himself. Now the jewel has reappeared, once more in the… Continue reading TV Review: Lupin: Dans l’Ombre d’Arsene Part 1

Magazine Review: High Adventure #47: The Case of the Black Lotus

Magazine Review: High Adventure #47: The Case of the Black Lotus edited by John P. Gunnison The success of Sax Rohmer’s classic villain Fu Manchu led to other writers trying to create their own Yellow Peril master villains. A couple of them even got their own short-lived pulp magazines. This magazine reprints the stories from… Continue reading Magazine Review: High Adventure #47: The Case of the Black Lotus

Comic Book Review: Essential Luke Cage, Power Man Vol. 2

Comic Book Review: Essential Luke Cage, Power Man Vol. 2 by various creators. Carl Lucas, a juvenile delinquent, straightened himself out and was trying to become a respectable citizen when he was framed for heroin possession. An unruly prisoner, he eventually ended up at Seagate Prison, where he volunteered for medical experiments conducted by Dr.… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Essential Luke Cage, Power Man Vol. 2

Book Review: The Windsor Knot

Book Review: The Windsor Knot by S.J. Bennett Disclaimer: I received an advance reader’s edition through a Goodreads giveaway for the purpose of writing this review. No other compensation was offered or requested. Some small changes may be present in the final edition. It is April 2016, and Queen Elizabeth II is in residence at… Continue reading Book Review: The Windsor Knot

Manga Review: Case Closed, Volumes 74, 75 & 76

Manga Review: Case Closed, Volumes 74, 75 & 76 by Gosho Aoyama Time for three more volumes of our favorite manga about a teen genius detective stuck in the body of a little boy! Volume 74 begins with the conclusion of the hostage situation in Kogoro Mouri (Richard Moore in the American version)’s office. After… Continue reading Manga Review: Case Closed, Volumes 74, 75 & 76