The Rules of Detective Fiction
In retrospect, the earliest days of mystery fiction feel much like the Wild West — anything is fair game. Victorian-era authors relied on unbelievable coincidences, absurd jumps in logic, and outright chicanery to wrap up their stories. Some 30 years later, a sheriff brought order this lawless land. Anglican priest and prolific author Ronald Knox […]
A Surfeit of Poirots, Part Two
Last month we took a look at many of the famed actors who have portrayed Hercule Poirot on our television favorites. These ranged from the obscure (Martin Gabel) to the legendary (David Suchet). Today, the little Belgian detective makes the jump to the big screen. Many readers, even those not familiar with Christie’s other works, […]
A Surfeit of Poirots, Part One
Most readers of Agatha Christie already have a clear mental image of Hercule Poirot. In canon, the Belgian detective measures only 5’4”. Green eyes highlight a bald, egg-shaped head. His wardrobe reflects his clean, clinical mind and his precise, tidy nature. His famous mustache warrants another paragraph or two all on its own. In broadcast […]
The Mystery of the Free Christies
In 2020, mystery readers around the globe celebrated the 100th anniversary of Agatha Christie’s first published work, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. In 1916, Christie’s sister and fellow author, Margaret Frary (Madge) Miller dared her to write a mystery. Inspired by the Belgian refugees of the Great War who had settled near her in Torquay, […]
New Travel Guide: Georgia Backroads
The first title in the Haunts & Hollows library launches today on Amazon. Every volume takes you on a guided tour of the hidden and unexpected: paranormal sites, forgotten family graves, abandoned burial grounds, true crime scenes, and historic anomalies. Each stop includes scannable GPS coordinates, histories, and more. It will be available on Amazon, […]
A Clever Game of Murder
Driving to Nashville last week, a friend asked me, “Why a mystery? Why choose to start your writing career with a cozy?” Simple. There’s something viscerally satisfying about a mystery novel. We encounter murder, intrigue and misdirection. As in life, we face problems that seem to have no answers. Unlike in life, each death or […]