“It is my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin that does the smiling and beautiful countryside.” (p. 17)

In essence, Arthur Conan Doyle “invented” the Manor Mystery genre with those words.

I’ve been a fan of Martin Edwards’s British Library Crime Classics anthologies for years. Murder at the Manor (2016) presents a number of murders that take place in the traditional English country house where house parties become crime scenes. Martin Edwards chooses mysteries from a 65-year span so there’s something here for almost every reader’s taste.

I reread Doyle’s “The Copper Beeches”–where the above quote can be found–and enjoyed the exposure of crime in a lush British Manor. I also enjoyed Michael Gilbert’s cunning “Weekend at Wapentake” with its brutal ending.

Martin Edwards’s Introductions to each story are informative and precise. If you’re looking for an anthology of classical mystery stories, Murder at the Manor includes 16 good ones. GRADE: B+

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction Martin Edwards — 1
The Copper Beeches Arthur Conan Doyle — 5
The Problem of Dead Wood Hall Dick Donovan — 36
Gentlemen and Players E. W. Hornung — 76
The Well W. W. Jacobs — 98
The White Pillars Murder G. K. Chesterton — 114
The Secret of Dunstan’s Tower Ernest Bramah — 131

The Manor House Mystery J. S. Fletcher — 161
The Message on the Sun-Dial J. J. Bell — 187
The Horror at Staveley Grange Sapper — 204
The Mystery of Horne’s Copse Anthony Berkeley — 238
The Perfect Plan James Hilton — 285
The Same to Us Margery Allingham, — 306
The Murder at the Towers E. V. Knox — 314
An Unlocked Window Ethel Lina White — 324
The Long Shot Nicholas Blake — 345
Weekend at Wapentake Michael Gilbert — 362

Tom Hardy plays Harry Da Souza, a “fixer” for the Harrigan crime family in London. The Harrigans are ruled by ruthless Conrad (Pierce Brosnan) and his cunning wife, Maeve (Helen Mirren). Their Irish clan, who dominates the London drugs and guns scene, are prone to excess and violence which requires Harry to constantly fix.

I’m not a big fan of mob movies or series. My chief complaint is the organized crime dramas blend menace and treachery to such a point that there really is nobody to root for. MOBLAND has Harry Da Souza–the glue that’s keeping the criminal enterprise together–but with each episode, more and more dysfunction occurs to the point that Harry can’t fix all the problems.

This 10 episode series has a great cast and an intense plot that will keep me watching until the end. Are you a fan of mob movies? GRADE: Incomplete but trending towards a B+

“The late Harvard political scientist Samuel Huntington explained that what made America great was less its ideals than its institutions, including the separation of powers between executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and between the federal, state, and local authorities.” (p. 17)

We are seeing Trump and his minions grabbing power and reducing the legislative branch to its puppet. The judicial branch is learning it has little leverage to get the executive branch to act…if Trump doesn’t want to.

Robert D. Kaplan explores the threats to the United States and the world in the next decade. Climate change, migration/immigration, political upheaval, and dangerous technologies are just a few of the crises that we will have to confront as conditions worsen. “…a war between China and the United States could embroil the world economy in a society-called doom loop. And for the maxillary aspect of such a war, do not expect the Chineses to be as incompetent in their strategy and war machine as the Russians initially were. The Chinese are great students of war. They studied obsessively the American-led intervention in the Balkans in the 1990s, as well as the two Gulf wars…. If they ever do decide to invade Taiwan, they will be better equipped to so so precisely because of lessons learned from observing Ukraine.” (p. 41-42)

Yes, Waste Land is a gloomy book. But Kaplan’s predictions about the next decade are supported by up-to-date data, true facts, and historical trends. Expect war, upheaval, epidemics, natural disasters, mass shootings, rogue asteroids, and chaos. GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1. Weimar goes global — 3
2. The great powers in decline — 69
3. Crowds in chaos — 129

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS — 187

NOTES — 189

INDEX — 197

Anne Byrn (aka, “The Cake Doctor”) wrote this massive cookbook and history of Southern food to celebrate the incredible culinary traditions. Byrn’s meticulous research into the origins of these recipes and her wonderful narratives about the impact of these wonderful desserts make for immersive reading!

This book contains 200 recipes from 14 Southern states, from Maryland to Texas, and nearly as many mouthwatering photos, that will send you scurrying into the kitchen to whip up some tasty confections. Baking in the American South is worth it alone just for the cornbread recipes!. From there you can dive into the biscuits and rolls, cakes, and cookies!

Thomasville Cheese Biscuits and Ouita Michel’s Sweet Potato Streusel Muffins and Blueberry Loaf are delicious! It will take Diane and me over a year to work our way through this incredible cookbook recipe by recipe! Do you love Southern food as much as we do? Do you have a favorite? GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction vi 

How to Bake This Book xiii 

My Southern Baking Pantry xvii 

Sizzling Cornbread 1 

Hot Biscuits 57 

Quick Loaves, Griddle Cakes, Waffles, and Fritters 105 

Rolls, Breads, and Yeast-Raised Cakes 147 

Comforting Puddings 199 

Pies Plain and Fancy 233 

Bake Me a Cake 315 

Cookies and Bars by the Dozen 393 

Frostings and Flourishes 439 

Acknowledgments 460 

Bibliography 464 

Index 473 

Credits 482 

About the Author 485 

I enjoyed Hellboy (2004) and Hellboy: The Golden Army (2008) with Ron Perlman. “The series details the adventures of Hellboy, a Cambion (or half-Demon) B.P.R.D. agent whose true name is Anung Un Rama. The franchise has grossed a total of $325.2 million, on a combined budget of $212.5–$221 million.” (Wikipedia)

The reviews of Hellboy (2019) were so bad, I didn’t see it. David Harbour starred. The movie cost $50 million to make and its Box Office was $55.1 million.

Like a fool, I decided to watch Hellboy: The Crooked Man (2024) when it showed up on HULU. Terrible! Jack Kesy played Hellboy fighting a toxic spider and enduring some clumsy CGI. Don’t waste your time like I did… GRADE: D (for dreadful)

Joe Hill (aka, Stephen King’s son) kicks off this graphic novel series by working his father’s side of the horror street. A family is dealing with the murder of their father and retreats to a strange New England mansion with doors that when opened with the right key leads to fabulous adventures.

Gabriel Rodriguez’s artwork is stunning and the plot promises much more amazement and suspense ahead in the next volumes:

• Welcome to Lovecraft. February–July 2008.
• Head Games. January–June 2009.
• Crown of Shadows. November 2009 – April 2010.
• Keys to the Kingdom. August 2010 – March 2011.
• Clockworks. June 2011 – April 2012.
• Omega. November 2012 – June 2013.
• Alpha. September–December 2013

If you’re interested in a compelling horror series, Locke & Key fits the bill. There was also a TV series based on these books:  “It premiered on Netflix on February 7, 2020. The series stars Darby Stanchfield, Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones, Jackson Robert Scott, Laysla De Oliveira, Petrice Jones, and Griffin Gluck. In December 2020, ahead of the second season premiere on October 22, 2021, the series was renewed for a third season which premiered on August 10, 2022.  In April 2022, it was announced that the third season would be its last, as originally planned by the show’s creators.” (Wikipedia)

Are you a Stephen King or Joe Hill fan? GRADE: B+

Diane and I watched Tony and GRAMMY-winning actor Jonathan Groff–star of the new Bobby Darin musical Just in Time–talk about going deep into a rabbit hole of Bobby Darin videos on YouTube with Stephen Colbert. Groff mentioned his astonishment of listening to Darin at the Copa (1960). So, of course, I had to buy a copy and listen to it.

“Darin started his career as a songwriter for Connie Francis. In 1958, Darin co-wrote and recorded his first million-selling single, “Splish Splash“, which was followed by Darin’s own song “Dream Lover“, then his covers of “Mack the Knife” and “Beyond the Sea“, which brought him worldwide fame. In 1962, Darin won a Golden Globe Award for his first film, Come September, co-starring his first wife, actress Sandra Dee. In 1959, Darin became inaugural winner of the Best New Artist category and also won a Record of the Year for “Mack the Knife” at 2nd Annual Grammy Awards.” (Wikipedia) Darin died in 1973 at the age of 37 in a hospital recovery room after having open heart surgery in Los Angeles.

Darin at the Copa presents a performance that parallels live CDs I have of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin from that era. Darin chats with the audience, plays the vibraphone, sings his hits: “Mack the Knife” and “Dream Lover” (my favorite). I listened to Bobby Darin’s music in the late 1950s and early 1960s when his songs played on the radio regularly. But Darin slipped out of sight around the time The Beatles arrived in the USA. I can see why Groff was interested in Darin at the Copa with his preparation to play Darin in Just in Time. GRADE: B

I’ve always been a fan of Evelyn “Champagne” King’s “Shame”–one of the true disco classics. I bought her first album, Smooth Talk, in 1977. “Shame“, which is Evelyn “Champagne” King’s only top-ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 9; the song also reached No. 7 Soul and No. 8 on the dance chart. “Shame” was eventually certified gold. Although I have a couple of Best of CDs of King’s songs, Evelyn “Champagne” King Greatest Hits (2001) has the best sound and the longer, extended versions of the her songs. Are you a fan of Evelyn “Champagne” King? GRADE: A

TRACK LIST:

Medley	(2:21)
		Swing Low Sweet Chariot
		Lonesome Road
		Some Of These Days	2:43
		Mack The Knife	3:18
		Love For Sale	3:12
		Clementine	3:23
		You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To	2:19
		Dream Lover	2:34
		Bill Bailey	2:03
		I Have Dreamed	4:58
		I Can’t Give You Anything But Love	1:28
		Alright, O.K., You Win	4:19
		Medley	(3:34)
		By Myself
		When Your Lover Has Gone
		I Got A Woman	4:13
		That’s All	2:26

TRACK LIST:

		Shame (12″ Version)	6:35
		I Don’t Know If It’s Right (7″ Version)	3:40
		Music Box (7″ Version)	3:40
		Out There (7″ Version)	3:30
		Let’s Get Funky Tonight (7″ Version)	3:36
		I’m In Love (12″ Version)	5:53
		Don’t Hide Our Love (7″ Version)	4:09
		Spirit Of The Dancer (7″ Version)	3:28
		Love Come Down (12″ Version)	6:16
		Betcha She Don’t Love You (12″ Version)	5:04
		Action (7″ Version)	3:24
		Shake Down (7″ Version)	3:54
		Teenager (7″ Version)	3:58
		Just For The Night (12″ Version)	4:45
		Out Of Control (7″ Version)	3:37
		Till Midnight (7″ Version)	3:59
		Your Personal Touch (Dance Version)	4:48
		High Horse (7″ Version)	3:33

David G. Hartwell and Kathryn Cramer’s The Space Opera Renaissance (2006) is a 941 page tome so I’m reviewing it in parts. I’ve reviewed the first section last month (you can read my review here) and now I’m tackling the second section:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

II. Draftees (1960s)

• “The Game of Rat & Dragon” (1955) by Cordwainer Smith — 139
• “Empire Star” by Samuel R. Delany (1966) — 151
• “Zirn Left Unguarded, the Jenjik Palace in Flames, Jon Westerly Dead” (1972) by Robert Sheckley — 200

“Cordwainer Smith” was the pseudonym of Dr. Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger (1913-1955), a professor of Asiatic studies at Johns Hopkins University of Advanced International Studies. He was also working with the U. S. Intelligence community on propaganda techniques and psychological warfare. “The Game of Rat & Dragon” was just the beginning of Cordwainer Smith’s unique stories. Robert Silverberg considered “The Game of Rat & Dragon” “one of the classic stories of science fiction. For me it was a revelation. I read it over and over, astonished by its power.” (p. 139).

The “dragons” are mysterious aliens who attack human starships and drive the human crews insane. As a defense, cats guided by human telepaths are used to fight the “dragons”, because of their very quick reactions. The cats see the aliens as giant rats. GRADE: A

“Empire Star” by Samuel R. Delany is a novella (published as half of an ACE Double) about a youngster named Comet Jo. Comet Jo’s education of galactic society and his efforts to deliver an important message to Empire Star is an attempt to bring an end to slavery. GRADE: B

Robert Sheckley is best known for his comic SF so “Zirn Left Unguarded, the Jenjik Palace in Flames, Jon Westerly Dead”–a parody of classic pulp style stories–is right up his alley. GRADE: B+

Based on a true story, Michelle Williams plays terminally ill Molly Kochan whose cancer comes back as Stage IV, inoperable. This situation unleashes Molly’s longing for a satisfying sexual experience with an another person after years of an empty marriage.

“The shadow of death has set her free–likewise, the cancer drugs that are supposed to reduce libido but in Molly have the opposite effect.” That’s what John Anderson wrote in his fine review of Dying for Sex in the Wall Street Journal. Sex and Death are unlikely bed-fellows, but this 8-episode series takes a serious look at final choices. I admit, I was uncomfortable while watching the first episode…but maybe that was the point. GRADE: INCOMPLETE but trending towards a B+

I’ve read several books on Alfred Hitchcock over the years–and seen a couple dozen of his movies and TV shows. Alfred Hitchcock All the Films: The Story Behind Every Movie, Episode, and Short (2024) is at the top of the Best list for me. It covers all of Hitchcock’s films and provides useful information and analysis.

Organized chronologically and covering every short film, television episode, and classic film, Alfred Hitchcock All the Films explores Hitchcock’s relationships with costume designer, Edith Head, title designer Saul Bass, and composer Bernard Herrmann. I also was intrigued by the details of the creative processes that went into the making of films like Vertigo, The Birds, Psycho, Rear Window, North By Northwest, and To Catch a Thief.

This 648 page tome covers casting for each movie, episode, and short film. Details about screenplays, settings, and the nuts-and-bolts of movie-making are revealed.

If you’re a Hitchcock fan, you really need to check Alfred Hitchcock All the Films out. Do you have a favorite Hitchcock movie? GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Alfred Hitchcock, a Life in the Making 9 

Hitchcock Before Hitchcock (1899-1925) 14 

1920S  

The Pleasure Garden 31 

The Mountain Eagle 41 

The Lodger 47 

Downhill 57 

Easy Virtue 61 

The Ring 65 

The Farmer’s Wife 75 

Champagne 79 

The Manxman 83 

Portrait: Alma Revilie, a Well-Guarded Secret 86 

Blackmail 89 

Juno and the Paycock 99 

An Elastic Affair 104 

1930S  

Elstree Calling106 

Murder! / Mary 109 

The Skin Game 121 

Rich and Strange 125 

Number Seventeen 135 

Waltzes from Vienna 139 

Portrait: Michael Balcon, the Man Who Knew a Lot 142 

The Man Who Knew Too Much 145 

Focus: The MacGuffin, a Very Ridiculous Secret 154 

The 39 Steps 157 

Secret Agent 169 

Sabotage 181 

Young and Innocent 193 

Portrait: Albert Whitlock, the Illusionist 202 

The Lady Vanishes 205 

Jamaica Inn 215 

Portrait: David 0. Selznick, or the Perfect Disharmony 222 

Rebecca 225 

1940S  

Foreign Correspondent 235 

Mr. & Mrs. Smith 245 

Suspicion 249 

Focus: Hitchcock at War 258 

Saboteur 261 

“Have You Heard?” A Photo-Story by Alfred Hitchcock 270 

Shadow of a Doubt 277 

Lifeboat 289 

Bon voyage 300 

Aventure malgache 302 

Focus: Psychoanalysis According to Hitchcock 304 

Spellbound 307 

Focus: Storyboards, Films on Paper 316 

Memory of the Camps / German Concentration Camps Factual Survey 321 

Notorious 329 

Focus: “Mother!” The Hitchcock Matriarchs 340 

The Paradine Case 343 

Rope 347 

Under Capricorn 357 

Portrait: Ingrid Bergman, the Cornerstone 366 

Stage Fright 369 

1950S  

Strangers on a Train 373 

Portrait: Robert Burks, the Man Who Could Do Anything 382 

I Confess 385 

Dial M for Murder 395 

Rear Window 405 

Portrait: Grace Kelly, the “Hitchcock Blonde” 414 

To Catch a Thief 417 

Portrait: Cary Grant, Haute Couture 426 

The Trouble with Harry 429 

Portrait: Bernard Herrmann, the Musical Subconscious 432 

The Man Who Knew Too Much 435 

Portrait: James Stewart, or the Shadow of War 444 

Landmark: Alfred Hitchcock and Television (1955-1965) 446 

“Revenge” (TV) 452 

“Breakdown” (TV) 454 

“The Case of Mr. Pelham” (TV) 456 

“Back for Christmas” (TV) 458 

The Wrong Man 461 

“Wet Saturday” (TV) 470 

“Mr. Blanchard’s Secret” (TV) 472 

“One More Mile to Go” (TV) 474 

“The Perfect Crime” (TV) 476 

“Four O’clock” (TV) 478 

Vertigo 481 

Portrait: Edith Head, Supreme Elegance 492 

“Lamb to the Slaughter” (TV) 494 

“Dip in the Pool” (TV) 496 

“Poison” (TV) 498 

North by Northwest 501 

Focus: Monuments, at the Summit of the Drama 512 

“Banqno’s Chair” (TV) 514 

Focus: Four Films with Alfred Hitchcock 516 

“Arthur” (TV) 518 

“The Crystal Trench” (TV) 520 

1960S  

Psycho 525 

Focus: 78 Shots and 45 Seconds that Changed the History of Cinema 534 

Portrait: Saul Bass, the Art of the Opening Sequence 540 

“Incident at a Corner” (TV) 544 

“Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat” (TV) 546 

“The Horse Player” (TV) 548 

“Bang! You’re Dead” (TV) 550 

Portrait: Lew Wasserman, the Great Strategist 552 

The Birds 555 

Focus: Alfred Hitchcock, a French Invention? 566 

“I Saw the Whole Thing” (TV )568 

Focus: A Genius for Publicity: Hitchcock at the Helm 570 

Marnie 573 

Focus: Blondes, Mirage-Image 584 

Torn Curtain 587 

Focus: Unrealized Projects 596 

Topaz 599 

1970S  

Frenzy 603 

Family Plot 615 

Landmark: Hitchcock After Hitchcock (Legacy) 620 

Glossary 625 

Notes 628 

Select Bibliography 633 

Index 636 

Acknowledgments 646 

Photo Credits 647 

About the Authors 648