Lucy Lawless (aka, Xena: Warrior Princess) plays a former detective, now a Private Investigator, Alexa Crowe. She assists DI Kieran Hussey (Season 1) and Detective Harry Henare (Season 2—) in solving a variety of complex homicides with the help of tech-savvy assistant Madison, convicted felon brother Will, and café owner and friend Reuben Wulf.

My Life Is Murder is an Australian–New Zealand murder mystery crime comedy-drama television series. The ten part series premiered inJuly 2019. In the United States, the series began streaming on Acorn TV in August 2019. Now PBS is running the series. I caught it by accident the other day and I just wanted to give you a heads up.

My Life Is Murder would qualify as “Summer viewing” since so many of the series we watch won’t return until the Fall. My Life Is Murder is nothing special, but I’m a Lucy Lawless fan so I’ll watch anything with her in it. GRADE: B

I’m a huge Jack Vance fan. And, I very much like the pastiches Matthew Hughes has written to emulate Vance. But back in 1974, DAW books published Michael Shea’s pastiche of Vance’s classic, Dying Earth.

In the early 70s, Michael Shea found a copy of Jack Vance’s Dying Earth novel The Eyes of the Overworld in the lobby of a hotel in Juneau, Alaska. Shea wrote to Jack Vance, asking if he could write a sequel…and shockingly, Vance gave Shea permission to write a novel.

A Quest for Simbilis is an early work of Michael Shea. He produced better fiction over the years. But Shea did capture the essence of Vance’s Dying Earth in this book. The Sun is about to fail. The Earth is a mish-mash of cultures featuring demons, aliens, and a variety of humans living on a planet in decline. Shea takes one of Vance’s most famous characters, Cugel the Clever, and sends him on a quest to find an arch-wizard missing for long, long time. Mumber Sull, the exiled Thane of Icthyll, makes Cugel his partner in the journey to find Simbilis.

Rumors allege that Simbilis is locked in battle with the hordes of the subwords league. Sull and Cugel travel the wastelands to reach Simbilis and gain his favor.

While A Quest for Simbilis is not equal to Jack Vance’s Dying Earth stories, it manages to foreshadow Michael Shea’s superior works like Nifft the Lean while still providing entertaining adventures. GRADE: B

Here’s a 2-CD set of hit songs with plenty of Big Names. I’ve always liked James Taylor’s version of “Handy Man.” “Don’t Know Much” is a Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville classic. And who can resist Natalie Cole’s “Miss You Like Crazy”!

Brook Benton’s “Rainy Night in Georgia” is seldom played on our local Oldies station, but it’s great! I’m a big fan of Brenda Russell’s “Piano in the Dark.” And TOP GUN was improved by Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away.”

Do you remember these songs? Any favorites here? GRADE: B+

TRACKLIST:

1-1	Atlantic Starr–	Always Written-By – Lewis*, Lewis*, Lewis*	3:59
1-2	James Taylor (2)–	Handy Man Written-By – Otis Blackwell	3:16
1-3	Kenny G (2)–	Songbird Written-By – Kenny G (2)	3:41
1-4	Christopher Cross–	Sailing Written-By – Christopher Cross	4:16
1-5	Smokey Robinson–	Being With You Written-By – William Robinson Jr.*	4:00
1-6	Linda Ronstadt And Aaron Neville–	Don’t Know Much Written-By – Mann*, Weil*, Snow*	3:35
1-7	Frankie Valli–	My Eyes Adored You Written-By – Crewe*, Nolan*	3:33
1-8	Anne Murray–	Danny’s Song Written-By – Kenny Loggins	3:06
1-9	Orleans–	Dance With Me Written-By – Hall-Hall*	2:59
1-10	Genesis–	In Too Deep Written-By – Rutherford*, Collins*, Banks*	4:57
1-11	The Doobie Brothers–	Real Love Written-By – McDonald*, Henderson*	4:20
1-12	Natalie Cole–	Miss You Like Crazy Written-By – Goffin*, Masser*, Glass*	3:49
1-13	The Hollies–	The Air That I Breathe Written-By – Hammond-Hazlewood	4:11
1-14	Gordon Lightfoot–	If You Could Read My Mind Written-By – Gordon Lightfoot	3:48
1-15	Carly Simon–	You Belong To Me Written-By – Simon*, McDonald*	3:51
1-16	Air Supply–	The One That You Love Written-By – Graham Russell (2)	4:17
1-17	The Temptations–	Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) Written-By – Whitfield-Strong	3:51
1-18	England Dan And John Ford Coley*–	I’d Really Love To See You Tonight Written-By – Parker McGee	2:39
1-19	Rita Coolidge–	We’re All Alone Written-By – Boz Scaggs	3:36
1-20	The Commodores*–	Still Written-By – Lionel Richie, Jr.*	3:40
2-1	Mike & The Mechanics–	The Living Years Written-By – Robertson*, Rutherford*	5:30
2-2	Jim Croce–	Time In A Bottle Written-By – Jim Croce	2:24
2-3	Roberta Flack–	First Time Ever I Saw Your Face Written-By – Ewan MacColl	4:16
2-4	Brook Benton–	Rainy Night In Georgia Written-By – Tony Joe White	3:49
2-5	Dan Hill–	Can’t We Try Written-By – Hill*, Hill*	4:02
2-6	Taylor Dayne–	I’ll Always Love You Written-By – Jimmy George	4:18
2-7	Chi-Lites*–	Oh Girl Written-By – Eugene Record	3:28
2-8	Randy Vanwarmer–	Just When I Needed You MostWritten-By – Randy Vanwarmer	3:59
2-9	Crystal Gayle–	Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue Written-By – Rick Leigh*	2:32
2-10	Neil Sedaka–	Laughter In The Rain Written-By – Sedaka-Cody*	2:51
2-11	Brenda Russell (2)–	Piano In The Dark Written-By – Russell*, Hull*, Cutler*	4:22
2-12	Michael Johnson (5)–	Bluer Than Blue Written-By – Rich Goodrum*	2:54
2-13	James Taylor (2)–	Shower The People Written-By – James Taylor (2)	4:00
2-14	The Spinners*–	Could It Be I’m Falling In Love Written-By – Steals-Steals*	4:10
2-15	Dolly Parton–	Here You Come Again Written-By – Mann-Weil*	2:57
2-16	Bread–	Baby I’m A Want YouWritten-By – David Gates	2:28
2-17	Charlie Rich–	The Most Beautiful Girl Written-By – Sherril*, Wilson*, Bourke*	2:42
2-18	Laura Branigan–	How Am I Supposed To Live Without You Written-By – James*, Bolton*	4:29
2-19	Elton John–	Daniel Written-By – John-Taupin*	3:52
2-20	Berlin–	Take My Breath Away (Love Theme From “Top Gun”) Written-By – Moroder*, Whitlock*	4:12

I bought and read all 15 Edward D. Hoch collections published by Crippen & Landru. Their new collection, The Case of the Flying Graveyard and Other Stories, brings all of Hoch’s Sebastian Blue and Laura Charmes–two investigators for Interpol–together in one satisfying volume. Sebastian Blue is a former Scotland Yard detective who joins Interpol after his wife divorces him. Blue is paired with a young woman skilled in martial arts and languages, Laura Charmes. Together they crack some baffling cases.

I enjoyed all the stories in The Case of the Flying Graveyard and Other Stories but a few really stand out. “The Case of the Musical Bullet” features a murder on an airliner. A government official is shot and killed in his seat in First Class. No one heard the shot, no one saw a gun. And, how could a gun make it past the high Airport Security? Blue figures it out.

Another clever mystery is “The Case of the November Club” where a number of people die while skydiving–more than normal. The resolution is both logical and scary!

The Introduction by Martin Edwards is special because Edwards writes about how he first met Edward D. Hoch after years of admiring his stories. Edwards and Hoch become friends and eventually work together. If you’re looking for a collection of wonderful mystery stories, I recommend The Case of the Flying Graveyard and Other Stories. GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction: By Martin Edwards — 2

The Case of the Third Apostle — 13
The Case of the November Club –29
The Case of the Modern Medusa — 46
The Case of the Musical Bullet — 63
The Case of the Lapitated Man — 83
The Case of the Broken Wings — 99

The Case of the Terrorists — 114

The Case of the Flying Graveyard — 132

The Case of the Devil’s Triangle — 149

The Case of the Battered Wives — 172

The Case of the Five Coffins — 186

The Case of the Chloroformed Clerics — 203

The Case of the Straw Serpent — 220

The Case of the Drowned Coroner — 236

Sources — 251

I enjoyed Season 1 of Patience (you can read my review here) and started watching Season 2. Patience is a British–Belgian detective drama television series starring Ella Maisy Purvis as autistic police archivist Patience Evans. Set in York, England, Patience was adapted from the critically acclaimed French television series, Astrid.

While Season 1 of Patience had six episodes, Season 2 has eight. The big change is that Patience’s mentor, Laura Fraser as DI Bea Metcalf, has left the series and her replacement is the surly Jessica Hynes as DI Frankie Monroe. DI Monroe does not welcome Patience’s insights–even when those insights solve the murder case.

A third season has been given the Green Light so we’ll have more of crime solving by a brilliant young woman to look forward to. GRADE: Incomplete but treading towards a B+

NEW 2026 SUBARU CROSSTREK SUV

Diane saw Suffs: The Musical on Broadway and was happy when it showed up as part of our Shea’s Performing Arts Center Musicals package for 2026. Suffs chronicles the final, arduous, frustrating years of the women’s suffrage movement in the United States.

The musical written and composed by Shaina Taub and won Tonys for for Best Book and Best Score.

The musical begins in 1913 when  Alice Paul, exhausted by NAWSA’s slow progress, proposes a march on Washington, D.C. on the day of President Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration, to pressure Wilson to support a federal amendment for suffrage. Throughout the musical, Woodrow Wilson is cynical about women’s suffrage. Even when he “supports” efforts for a Constitutional Amendment, Wilson says it will never happen.

Suffs is a tribute to the women. who fought for the right to vote. It’s an inspiring story of persistence and bravery in the face of abuse and cruelty. If it shows up in your neighborhood, go see what it took for women to win the right to vote! GRADE: B+

Songs:

Act I

• “Let Mother Vote” – Carrie, Ensemble
• “Finish the Fight” – Alice
• “Find a Way” – Alice, Lucy, Inez, Ruza, Doris, Major Sylvester, Ida, Ensemble
• “Wait My Turn” – Ida
• “Terrell’s Theme” – Phyllis, Ida, Mary
• “The March (We Demand Equality)” – Inez, Ida, Ensemble
• “Great American Bitch” – Ruza, Inez, Lucy, Alice, Doris
• “Ladies” – Woodrow Wilson
• “A Meeting with President Wilson” – Ruza, Lucy, Dudley, Inez, Doris, Woodrow Wilson, Alice
• “Worth It” – Alice, Lucy, Carrie, Inez, Ida, Mary
• “If We Were Married” – Dudley, Doris
• “The Convention Part 1” – Carrie, Ida, Mary, Alice, Mollie, Ensemble
• “This Girl” – Carrie
• “The Convention Part 2” – Carrie, Ida, Mary, Alice, Ensemble
• “Alva Belmont” – Alva, Ruza, Lucy, Inez, Doris, Alice
• “Show Them Who You Are” – Alice, Inez
• “The Campaign” – Inez, Ruza, Lucy, Doris, Alice
• “How Long?” – Alice, Lucy, Doris, Carrie, Mary, Ida, Ensemble

Act II

“Keep Marching” – Alice, Ensemble

“The Young Are at the Gates” – Doris, Lucy, Ruza, Alice, Phyllis, Alva, Ensemble

“Respectfully Yours, Dudley Malone” – Dudley

“Hold It Together” – Mary, Mrs. Herndon, Alice, Ruza, Lucy, Doris, Dudley, Carrie, Mollie, Ida

“Wait My Turn (reprise)” – Ida, Mary

“The Report” – Woodrow Wilson, Doris, Dudley, Ruza, Lucy, Alice

“Show Them Who You Are (reprise)” – Inez

“Insane” – Alice

“Fire & Tea” – Mrs. Herndon, Carrie, Doris, Woodrow Wilson, Alice, Ruza, Mollie, Ensemble

“Let Mother Vote (reprise)” – Woodrow Wilson

“She and I” – Carrie, Alice

“Down at the State House” – Harry T. Burn, Ensemble

“A Letter from Harry’s Mother” – Phoebe, Harry T. Burn, Alice

“I Was Here” – Ida, Mary, Phyllis, ensemble

“If We Were Married (reprise)” – Dudley, Doris, Carrie, Mollie

“August 26th, 1920” – Ruza, Lucy, Doris, Alice

“Lucy’s Song” – Lucy

“Finish the Fight (reprise)” – Robin, Alice

Back in April, when I learned Diane, Katie, and Patrick were going to see Noel Coward’s Fallen Angels during Diane’s trip to New York City for Mother’s Day, I grabbed a collection of Noel Coward plays and read Fallen Angels. Last week I watched the play on BroadwayHD.com for $19.95–much less than a Broadway ticket and just as good!

Fallen Angels was published in 1925 and was almost banned because of its licentious premise. Two friends, Julia (O’Hara) and Jane (Byrne), learn that that a handsome Frenchman whom both women had premarital affairs with is coming to town while their husbands are away golfing.

Both women have been married for seven years, but the prospect of an encounter with their former lover excites them. Of course, drinking is involved as the friends wait for the handsome Frenchman to arrive. And, the drinking sparks friction between the two friends. As both women get sloppy drunk, some of the play’s funniest moments occur including slow-motion tumbles down stairs, crawling over armchairs, and hilarious telephone cord tug-of-wars!

Although this play is a 100 years old, it’s still funny and entertaining. Rose Byrne and Kelli O’Hara bring plenty of feisty comedy to their roles. It doesn’t get much better than this! Are you a Noel Coward fan? GRADE: A

I bought this ACE Double back in 1965 and quickly read it. Monsters in Orbit is presented as a novel, but it is actually two novellas, both featuring the same protagonist. The novellas were published in Thrilling Wonder Stories in 1952, “Abercrombie Station” in the February issue, and “Cholwell’s Chickens” in the August issue.

According to Rich Horton of the excellent Strange at Ecbatan blog, the stories in The World Between and Other Stories are:

“The World Between” (10,600 words, from the May 1953 Future, wherein it was called “Ecological Onslaught”) — a team from the Blue Star, all names starting with “B”, finds a planet in between their home and the rival Kay system (yes, all names starting with “K”). They claim it and begin terraforming efforts, but the Kay people, including a beautiful spy, drop off pests to spoil all the terraforming. The “hero” (ambiguously so) finds a clever counter to this, and wins the love of the spy in the process. Minor but somewhat intriguing in its ecological themes.

“The Moon Moth” (13,900 words, from Galaxy, August 1961) — a classic story, about Edwer Thissell, newly come to Sirene, where everyone wears masks and abides by extremely fussy rules of manners. Edwer finally takes advantage of the rigidity of Sirenese society to gain extra status.

“Brain of the Galaxy” (9200 words, from Worlds Beyond, February 1951 — it has later been retitled “The New Prime”) — the “ruler” of the galaxy is chosen by a battle of virtual experiences in various environments. A pretty good story, actually — one of the best of Vance’s earliest pieces.

“The Devil on Salvation Bluff” (8300 words, from Fred Pohl’s pioneering original anthology series Star, #3, 1954) — colonists on a world with an eccentric orbit and multiple suns have a hard time adapting to the unpredictability.

“The Men Return” (3300 words, from the July 1957 Infinity) — far in the future reality is slippery and arbitrary. But with sufficient will and rationality … a neat, very different, story.

*Ballantine/Del Rey had put out a series of “Best Of” collections of authors such as Stanley Weinbaum, C. L. Moore, Lester Del Rey and many others, beginning in 1974. Pocket, apparently in response, started their own series, with entries from Vance and Poul Anderson among others.”

I consider “The Moon Moth” one of Jack Vance’s best stories. Rereading this ACE Double brought back a lot of fun memories. Are you a fan of ACE Doubles? GRADE: A

The great tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins died last week at the age of 95. And Peabo Bryson died last week from complications to stroke. Peabo was 75.

“Waiting On a Friend” by The Rolling Stones from Tattoo You is one of my favorite songs. Sonny Rollins plays the incredible sax solo, uncredited, but it’s him.

Love and Rapture: The Best of Peabo Bryson (2004) features Peabo’s biggest solo hits alongside his legendary duets like “A Whole New World” (with Regina Belle) and “Beauty and the Beast” (with Céline Dion). Peabo Bryson was a winner of two Grammy Awards, both attributed to his Disney duets.

I’m sad we’ve lost these two great artists. Are you a fan of Sonny Rollins or Peabo Bryson?

TRACK LIST:

Start Me Up	3:31
		Hang Fire	2:20
		Slave	6:34
		Little T & A	3:23
		Black Limousine	3:31
		Neighbours	3:30
		Worried About You	5:16
		Tops	3:45
		Heaven	4:21
		No Use In Crying	3:24
		Waiting On A Friend	4:34

TRACK LIST:

1		Love Will Take Care Of You
2		Shower You With Love
3		I Can’t Imagine Vocals – Regina Belle
4		If It’s Really Love
5		I Found Love
6		Why Goodbye
7		Through The Fire
8		Can You Stop The Rain
9		Never Saw A Miracle
10		You Can Have Me Anytime
11		Same Old Love
12		A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme) Vocals – Regina Belle
13		Beauty And The Beast Vocals – Céline Dion