Back in the late 1950s and 1960s, my parents would watch Perry Mason on CBS and I joined them. Half the time I was confused by the plots–I was 10 years old–but I quickly grasped that Perry Mason never lost a case–and he would figure out whodunit. Later, as a teenager, I entertained the notion of becoming a lawyer. But I changed my mind when I took a college class in Constitutional Law–yawn!

Over the years, I’ve read a number of mysteries featuring lawyers. I like John Grisham’s books. I enjoyed Michael Connelly’s early Lincoln Lawyer mysteries. William Bernhardt’s Legal Briefs (1998) presents 11 short stories featuring lawyers.

My favorite story in Legal Briefs is William Bernhardt’s “What We’re Here For.” Bernhardt’s lawyer is in the midst of a trial where he’s losing. His client, a former model, has been in an automobile accident and sustained life-changing injuries to her face. She can’t go back to being a model with her face so messed up. At the same time, the couple in the car that struck his client seem to be hiding something. That Something swings the case in a surprising direction.

I was also moved by John Grisham’s “The Birthday” with its short but moving message.

If you like legal mysteries, here’s an anthology full of courtroom dramatics and clever lawyers. GRADE: B

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction / William Bernhardt — vii

The divorce / Grif Stockley — 1

Poetic justice / Steve Martini — 47

Stairwell justice / Jay Brandon — 75

The client / Richard North Patterson — 95

What we’re here for / William Bernhardt — 115

Cook County redemption / Michael A. Kahn — 147

The Jailhouse lawyer / Phillip M. Margolin — 179

Voir dire / Jeremiah Healy — 195

The birthday / John Grisham — 231

Roads / Philip Friedman — 237

Carrying concealed / Lisa Scottoline — 257

About the Authors — 285

Acknowledgements — 291

Diane and I first saw Wicked: The Musical while we attended the 2005 BOUCHERCON in Chicago. We enjoyed the music and spectacle. Wicked: The Musical has toured to Buffalo several times. Diane and I saw it again a few years ago. And, we just saw it this week because Diane wanted a “refresher” before we go to AMC to see Wicked: Part 2 on Friday.

The Wicked: The Musical touring company doesn’t have the Star Power of a Broadway version, but the singing, dancing, and flying monkeys are the same. Have you seen Wicked? GRADE: B+

All songs are written by Stephen Schwartz.

No.	Title		Length
1.	“Overture / No One Mourns the Wicked”		6:40
2.	“Dear Old Shiz”		1:26
3.	“The Wizard and I“		5:09
4.	“What Is This Feeling?”		3:32
5.	“Something Bad”		1:39
6.	“Dancing Through Life”		7:37
7.	“Popular“		3:44
8.	“I’m Not That Girl”		2:58
9.	“One Short Day”		3:03
10.	“A Sentimental Man”		1:15
11.	“Defying Gravity“		5:53
12.	“No One Mourns the Wicked (Reprise) / Thank Goodness”		6:22
13.	“Wonderful”		4:57
14.	“I’m Not That Girl (Reprise)”		0:49
15.	“As Long as You’re Mine“		3:45
16.	“No Good Deed“		3:31
17.	“March of the Witch Hunters”		1:30
18.	“For Good“		5:06
19.	“Finale: For Good (Reprise)”		1:41

“Ilana Kurshan explores the closeness forged when family life unfolds against a backdrop of reading together. Kurshan, a mother of five living in Jerusalem, at first struggles to balance her passion for literature with her responsibilities as a parent. Gradually she learns how to relate to reading not as a solitary pursuit and an escape from the messiness of life, but rather as a way of teaching independence and forging connection. Introducing her children to sacred and secular literature-including the beloved classics of her childhood-helps her become both a better mother and a better reader.”

Children of the Book is a blend of the love of reading and the importance of getting children interested in reading at an early age. Ilana Kushan describes her approach to getting her children to look at books while she’s reading to them.

I started reading to Patrick and Katie in Children’s Hospital the day after they were born. Our house always had dozens of books for them to look at…and in later years, read. And, of course, I set a Good Example by reading a lot in their presence and helping with their Homework. Patrick could read when he was 3 years old. Katie could read when she was 4 years old. Both of my kids went Kindergarten knowing how to read, knowing their colors, knowing their address, and being able to count to 100. Big advantage!

In this time of cell phone addiction, reading is suffering. I can’t imagine trying to read a book on a cell phone. I occasionally read an ebook on my iPad, but I prefer a Real Book. How about you? Do you remember when you first learned to read? What were your reading preferences? GRADE: B

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction: Paradise lost. Genesis: Sunset at the dawn of time. Trailing clouds of glory

By the light of the moon

Far from the tree

Going, going, gone

Serious silliness

Babel builders and beyond

Tell me a Yitzvi

Running away

The set table

Wild about books

Exodus: The journey to reedom. Signs and wonders

The top ten commandments

Left to their own devices

The unicorn and the scroll

A series of their own

Bare ruined choirs

Leviticus: The shrine of the book. Pilgrimage to the library

The bad mother

The Menorah tattoo

The tent of meeting

Happily ever after

Sacrificing the Little Prince’s sheep

The miniature shrine

Numbers: Beezus and Corona. Panic, plunder, pandemic

Revealing the end

Quimby crock-pot and the Egyptian meat pots

The unreliable narrator

Sit here for the present

Deuteronomy: Moses’s memoir. An incandescent mind

The bus driver who wanted to be God

The kind family

The sense of an ending

Weaning my children all over again

Conclusion: The promised land

Acknowledgments

Reading recommendations

Notes

After last week’s 30-13 drubbing in Miami, the Buffalo Bills return home to face the dangerous Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With the New England Patriots two games ahead of the Bills in the AFC East, the Bills can’t afford to lose this game…it could cost them a Playoff berth. Although Vegas has the Bills as a 5 1/2 point favorite, I’m not that confident.

How will your favor NFL team do today?

Paul McCartney showed up in Buffalo to perform at a sold out concert. Fans were overjoyed!

Here’s the concert Set List:

The End(The Beatles song)

Can’t Buy Me Love(The Beatles song)Play Video

Junior’s Farm(Wings song)Play Video

Letting Go(Wings song)Play Video

Drive My Car(The Beatles song)Play Video

Got to Get You Into My Life(The Beatles song)Play Video

Come On to MePlay Video

Let Me Roll It(Wings song)Play Video

Getting Better(The Beatles song)Play Video

Let ‘Em In(Wings song)Play Video

My ValentinePlay Video

Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five(Wings song)Play Video

Maybe I’m AmazedPlay Video

I’ve Just Seen a Face(The Beatles song)Play Video

In Spite of All the Danger(The Quarrymen song)Play Video

Love Me Do(The Beatles song)Play Video

Dance TonightPlay Video

Blackbird(The Beatles song)Play Video

Here TodayPlay Video

Now and Then(The Beatles song)Play Video

NewPlay Video

Lady Madonna(The Beatles song)Play Video

Jet(Wings song)Play Video

Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!(The Beatles song)Play Video

Something(The Beatles song)Play Video

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da(The Beatles song)Play Video

Band on the Run(Wings song)Play Video

Get Back(The Beatles song)Play Video

Let It Be(The Beatles song)Play Video

Live and Let Die(Wings song)Play Video

Hey Jude(The Beatles song)Play Video

Encore:

I’ve Got a Feeling(The Beatles song)Play Video

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)(The Beatles song)Play Video

Birthday(The Beatles song)Play Video

Helter Skelter(The Beatles song)Play Video

Golden Slumbers(The Beatles song)Play Video

Carry That Weight(The Beatles song)Play Video

I loved the paperback covers of the 1970s. And I loved the artwork of Frank Frazetta, Vincent Di Fate, Chris Foss, Richard Powers, Kelly Freas, Jack Gaughan, and Virgil Finlay, too!

Worlds Beyond Time is a browser’s delight! There are dozens of great paperback covers from the 1970s. Adam Rowe has some of the artwork organized by themes. Looking at these wonderful covers is a walk down Memory Lane!

Do you have a favorite 1970s paperback cover artist? GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Foreword / Vincent Di Fate — 6
• Introduction — 9
• The Abstract, Surreal, and Otherworldly — 10
• Richard M. Powers, Surrealist Prankster — 19
• The Unsettling Don Ivan Punchatz — 20
• Chess in Sci-fi — 22
• Paul Kirchner’s Dope Rider — 24
• Douglas Chaffee — 26
• The Swift Rise and Swifter Fall of Galileo Magazine — 28
• Gary Viskupic — 30
• Gary Viskupic’s TV Guide Art — 32
• Leo and Diane Dillon and the “Third Artist” — 34
• Spaceships, Vehicles, and Megastructures — 36
• Chris Foss: The Biggest Brand in Retro Sci-fi Covers — 42
• Stewart Cowley’s Terran Trade Authority Series — 44
• Syd Mead: Visual Futurist — 48
• Ringworld — 50
• Rendezvous With Rama — 52
• Bob Eggleton — 54
• UFOs — 56
• John Berkey — 62
• Space Elevators — 64
• John Harris’s Meditations — 66
• Spaceships and Planets — 68
• Vincent Di Fate — 70
• Sci-fi Cities and Landscapes — 72
• Canals on Mars: The Trope Born of a Misunderstanding — 76
• Underwater Sci-fi — 79
• John Schoenherr’s Compositions — 80
• Skull Planets — 82
• Asimov’s Foundation Series — 84
• Dean Ellis: The Ideal Paperback Artist — 86
• Angus McKie — 88
• Planets, Explorers, and Space Travel — 90
• David A. Hardy — 96
• Robert McCall — 98
• NASA’s Space Colonies — 102
• Explorers and the Unknown — 104
• Jeffrey Catherine Jones — 106
• Cryosleep — 108
• Skeletons in Spacesuits — 110
• Gunfights in Space — 114
• Space Helmet Reflections — 116
• Life in the Future(s) — 118
• Domed Cities — 122
• Paul Lehr — 124
• Peter Elson — 126
• Robots — 129
• Mike Hinge — 130
• Queen and Frank Kelly Freas — 132
• Postapocalypse — 134
• Robert Tinney’s Byte Magazine Covers — 138
• Chris Moore — 140
• Plants, Animals, and Alien Life — 142
• Space Cats — 146
• Wayne Barlowe: Unnatural History Artist — 150
• Giant Worms — 152
• Dinosaurs of the Retro-past — 156
• Birds — 160
• The Eyes Have It — 162
• Close Encounters — 164
• The War of the Worlds — 166
• A Single Flower on An Alien Planet — 168
• Mushrooms — 170
• Forests and Trees — 172
• Fantasy Realms — 174
• Fran Frazetta — 178
• Boris Vallejo — 180
• Rodney Matthews — 182
• Wizards — 184
• Michael Whelan’s Hidden Messages — 184
• Richard Hescox — 188
• Sailing Ships in Space — 190
• Don Maitz — 192
• Star Wars Before Star Wars — 194
• Clyde Caldwell — 196
• Cryptozoology and the Paranormal — 198
• America’s 1970s Bigfoot Obsession — 202
• Monsters — 204
• Ancient Astronaut “theory” — 208
• Creepy and Eerie — 210
• Zombies — 212
• Ghosts — 214
• Bruce Pennington — 216
• Alien Ceremonies — 218
• Cloaked Figures — 220
• Epilogue — 222
• INDEX — 224
• Acknowledgements — 224

I’ve been into duets the past few weeks. This album from 1997 features plenty of Name Artists and Groups…and a few I’ve never heard of.

My favorite duet is B.B. King and Van Morrison on “If You Love Me.” Tracy Chapman is wonderful on B. B. King’s signature song, “The Thrill is Gone.” B. B. King and Eric Clapton did an album together–Riding With the King (2000–and this song may have inspired it.

The Rolling Stones don’t do many mashups with other artists, but they showed up for “Paying the Cost to Be the Boss.” Joe Cocker energizes “Dangerous Mood.” And Willie Nelson–who knows something about Night Life–sings about it to round out the album.

If you’re a B. B. King fan, you probably are already familiar with Deuces Wild. If you’re a fan of the Blues, you’ll like this mix, too. GRADE: B+

TRACK LIST:

1	B.B. King With Van Morrison–	If You Love Me Arranged By [Strings], Conductor [Strings] – Phil Marshall (2)Bass – Pino PalladinoCello – Dane Little, Larry Colbert, Marston SmithDrums – Andy NewmarkGuitar – Neil HubbardKeyboards, Electric Organ [Hammond B3] – Paul CarrackPiano – Jools HollandViola – Robert BeckerViolin – Andrea Byers, Armen Garabedian, Berj Garabedian, Bruce Dukov, Kenneth Yerke, Norman Hughes, Tamara HatwanViolin, Concertmaster – Sid PageWritten-By – Van Morrison	5:47
2	B.B. King With Tracy Chapman–	The Thrill Is Gone Arranged By [Strings], Arranged By [Horns], Trumpet – Darrell LeonardBass – Reggie McBrideCello – Martin Tillman, Miles TackettDrums, Percussion – Tony BraunagelElectric Organ [Hammond B3] – Paul CarrackElectric Piano [Wurlitzer] – Tommy EyreFrench Horn – Daniel Kelley*, Kurt Snyder, Yvonne Moriarty*Guitar – Johnny Lee Schell, Neil HubbardPercussion – Lenny CastroTenor Saxophone – Joe SublettWritten-By – Rick Darnell, Ray Hawkins*	5:01
3	B.B. King With Eric Clapton–	Rock Me Baby Bass – Pino PalladinoElectric Organ [Hammond B3] – Paul CarrackGuitar – Eric ClaptonPercussion – Paulinho Da CostaProgrammed By – Paul Waller, Simon ClimieWritten-By – B. B. King*, Joe Josea	6:37
4	B.B. King With Mick Hucknall–	Please Send Me Someone To Love Arranged By [Strings], Conductor [Strings] – Phil Marshall (2)Bass – Pino PalladinoCello – Dane Little, Larry Colbert, Marston SmithDrums – Andy NewmarkElectric Organ [Hammond B3] – Paul CarrackGuitar – Neil HubbardKeyboards, Piano – Chris StaintonViola – Robert BeckerViolin – Andrea Byers, Armen Garabedian, Berj Garabedian, Bruce Dukov, Kenneth Yerke, Norman Hughes, Tamara HatwanViolin, Concertmaster – Sid PageWritten-By – Percy Mayfield	4:15
5	B.B. King With Bonnie Raitt–	Baby I Love You Backing Vocals – Sir Harry Bowens*, Terence Forsythe*, Vincent BonhamBass – Pino PalladinoDrums – Steve JordanGuitar – Bonnie Raitt, Hugh McCrackenOrgan – Leon PendarvisPiano – John Cleary*Written-By – Ronnie Shannon	4:01
6	B.B. King With D’Angelo–	Ain’t Nobody Home Arranged By [Horns], Conductor [Horns] – Wardell QuezergueBaritone Saxophone – Carl BlouinBass – Pino PalladinoDrums – Steve JordanElectric Piano [Wurlitzer] – John Cleary*Guitar – Hugh McCrackenKeyboards – D’AngeloOrgan – Leon PendarvisPercussion – Lenny CastroTenor Saxophone – Joseph Saulsbury, Jr.*Trumpet – Brian Murray, Jamil SharifWritten-By – Jerry Ragovoy	4:59
7	B.B. King With Dr. John–	There Must Be A Better World Somewhere Arranged By [Horns], Conductor [Horns] – Wardell QuezergueBaritone Saxophone – Carl BlouinBass – James “Hutch” HutchinsonDrums – Jim KeltnerGuitar – Randy JacobsKeyboards – Billy Payne*, Tommy EyrePercussion – Lenny CastroTenor Saxophone – Joseph Saulsbury, Jr.*Trumpet – Brian Murray, Jamil SharifWritten-By – Pomus*, Rebennack*	4:28
8	B.B. King With Marty Stuart–	Confessin’ The Blues Bass – James “Hutch” HutchinsonDrums – Jim KeltnerElectric Organ [Hammond B3] – Tommy EyreGuitar – Marty StuartKeyboards – Billy Payne*Written-By – Jay McShann, Walter Brown	4:21
9	B.B. King With The Rolling Stones–	Paying The Cost To Be The Boss Bass – Darryll Jones*Drums – Charlie WattsGuitar – Keith Richards, Ron WoodHarmonica – Mick JaggerKeyboards – Tommy EyreTenor Saxophone – Joe SublettTrumpet – Darrell LeonardVocals – Mick JaggerWritten-By – B. B. King*	3:33
10	B.B. King With Joe Cocker–	Dangerous Mood Bass – James “Hutch” HutchinsonDrums – Kenny Aranoff*Electric Organ [Hammond B3] – C. J. Vanston*, Tommy EyreGuitar – Dean Parks, Michael LandauPiano – Chris StaintonWritten-By – Candy Parton, Kevin Moore (4)	4:53
11	B.B. King With Heavy D–	Keep It Coming Bass – Pino PalladinoDrums – Steve JordanGuitar – Hugh McCrackenOrgan – Leon PendarvisPercussion – Lenny CastroPiano – John Cleary*Written-By – B. B. King*, Heavy D	3:55
12	B.B. King With David Gilmour & Paul Carrack–	Cryin’ Won’t Help You Babe Backing Vocals – Sir Harry Bowens*, Terrence Forsythe, Vincent BonhamBass – Pino PalladinoDrums – Andy NewmarkGuitar – David Gilmour, Neil HubbardKeyboards, Organ – Paul CarrackPiano – Chris StaintonVocals – Paul CarrackWritten-By – B. B. King*, Sam Ling	3:54
13	B.B. King With Willie Nelson–	Night Life Bass – James “Hutch” HutchinsonDrums – Jim KeltnerElectric Organ [Hammond B3] – Tommy EyreGuitar – Randy JacobsHarmonica – Mickey Rafael*Keyboards – Billy Payne*Written-By – Paul Buskirk, Walter Breeland, Willie Nelson

I’ve been a fan of Theodora Goss for some time. Loved her The Collected Enchantments (you can read my review here) and her mashup novel, The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter (you can read my review here).

Tachyon Press just published Letters From An Imaginary Country which collects both new and older stories. In her informative and celebratory Introduction, Jo Walton asserts: “Theodora Goss is a significant writer, who is doing something different from everyone else, writing things only she can write, and things that are absolutely the lifeblood of the the fantasy genre.” (p. i)

Take “The Mad Scientist’s Daughter” for example. Here are the characters in this unusual story:

Miss Justine Frankenstein

Miss Catherine Moreau

Miss Beatrice Rappaccini

Miss Mary Jekyll

Miss Diana Hyde

Mrs. Arthur Meyrinck (nee Helen Raymond of Arthur Machen’s The Great God Pan)

Theodora Goss crafts a tale of an exclusive club for unique women and gives her characters a chance to deal with their history, identity, and circumstances. “The Mad Scientist’s Daughter” will stay with you for a long time.

Whether it’s “A Letter to Merlin” or “Lost Girls of Oz” you’ll find some marvelous stories in this collection. Don’t miss it! GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction by Jo Walton — i
“The Mad Scientist’s Daughter” — 1
“Dora/Dóra: An Autobiography” (original to this collection) — 25
“Cimmeria: From the Journal of Imaginary Anthropology” — 62
“England Under the White Witch” — 82
“Frankenstein’s Daughter” — 95
“Come See the Living Dryad” — 112
“Beautiful Boys” — 140
“Pug” — 148
“A Letter to Merlin” — 165
“Estella Saves the Village” — 181
“Pellargonia: A Letter to the Journal of Imaginary Anthropology” — 198
“Lost Girls of Oz” — 220
“To Budapest, With Love” — 242
“Child-Empress of Mars” — 254
“Letters From an Imaginary Country” (original to this collection) — 265
“The Secret Diary of Mina Harker” (original to this collection) — 286

Story Notes — 327

Donna Leon is best known for her series of crime novels set in Venice, Italy, featuring the fictional hero Commissario Guido Brunetti. In Backstage (2025) Donna Leon discusses her writing life and the authors and books that affected it.

While writing about “Redentore” Leon declares that one of her favorite mysteries (p. 69) is Ruth Rendell’s A Judgement in Stone (1977). In fact, Ruth Rendell is one of Leon’s favorite mystery writers.

In “Great Expectations” Leon confesses: “One book that I keep returning to is Dickens’s Great Expectations, which I fell in love with the I was fifteen.” ( p. 85) Leon falls in love with several books. “First things first: let’s dismiss any idea of impartiality or measured, neutral judgement in this review. Toss the the window even-handedness, restraint, objective. I do not like Patrick O’Brian, I adore him.” (p. 109). I like Patrick O’Brian and, like Donna Leon, I’ve read all of O’Brian’s Aubrey–Maturin series is a sequence of nautical historical novels—20 completed and one unfinished—by English author Patrick O’Brian, set during the Napoleonic Wars and centring on the friendship between Captain Jack Aubrey of the Royal Navy and his ship’s surgeon Stephen Maturin, a physician, natural philosopher, and intelligence agent.

In “With a Little Help from Lew Archer,” (p. 132) Leon admits she learned a lot from Ross Macdonald’s private detective from reading all his mysteries.

I’m always interested in the influences that affect writers and their writing process. Donna Leon shares a lot of her secrets in Backstage and I enjoyed them immensely! GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Early in Life  

Cedric — 3 

Tell ‘Em Anything — 12 

Jack and Jill –21 

Heroes  

Getting Zapped — 29 

Detectives and Villains — 35 

Orlando’s a Nutcase — 38 

String-Pulling in Venice  

The Diamond Man — 45 

Venice 1729 — 54 

With a View of San Marco — 61 

Redentore — 65 

Mortal Danger  

Getting Out — 75 

Great Expectations — 85 

Regina — 88 

Trips  

San Gennaro — 101 

Master and Commander — 109 

The Beauty of the Unknown — 116 

Behind the Scene  

A New Case for Brunetti — 123 

On the Move — 127 

With a Little Help from Lew Archer — 132 

Amorality  

Dirt — 137 

Janus-Faced Deity — 144 

A Complex Character –155 

Love  

Dear Guido — 161 

Gardening — 163 

A Book of a Lifetime — 167 

Moment of Truth  

The Death of Ivan Itych — 171 

The Big Bow Wow — 175 

Show, Don’t Tell — 180 

Ends  

The Big Sleep — 191 

Loneliness — 196 

Addio –201 

In Memoriam — 205