I’ve read excellent books about the war in Iraq. Thomas Ricks’ Fiasco and Imperial Life In The Emerald City by Rajiv Chandrasekaran come to mind. But fiction about the Iraq war has been disappointing. I started Kevin Power’s The Yellow Birds with high hopes. After all, it was on the front page of the New York Times Book Review a couple weeks ago. But just a few pages into the book, I realized this was not the “classic” a blurb on the back of the book claimed it was. The story is simple: a young soldier promises to take care of a younger soldier. You can guess what happens next. Yes, Bad Things happen. The book jumps back and forth in time from the fighting in Iraq to the attempt to adjust to civilian life. As I was plodding through The Yellow Birds to the end, I was thinking: “This would be a much better book if Jack Higgins, Tom Clancy, or W.E.B. Griffin had written it.” GRADE: C

The Master is a quirky movie with several fine performances. Loosely based on Scientology, “The Master” played by Philip Seymour Hoffman conducts Q&A sessions with his followers while his wife, played ably by Amy Adams, tries to keep her moody husband under control. Into this mix falls Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix), an alcoholic deranged World War II veteran. Freddy and The Master have a contentious relationship. Each man has mental problems. Each man seems attracted to the other. Yet the lack of any sort of a plot weakens this film. The movie lurches back and forth in time. It’s hard to work up any sympathy for these very cultish, flawed characters despite the high level of the performances. GRADE: B

Once Kyra Sedgwick shut down The Closer, questions about the spin-off, Major Crimes, have been swirling around. TNT network put those questions to rest by renewing Major Crimes for 15 episodes in 2013. The ensemble cast attracts many viewers. Who can resist Provenza and Flynn? Mary McDonnell’s character was softened and became more appealing. I’m still not a fan of Rusty, the troubled teenager, but the writing for this series improved with each episode. I’ll be watching Major Crimes when it returns next year. The final episode of this first season will be broadcast tonight on TNT at 9 P.M. Check the time for your area.

After two dismal losses, 52-28 to the Patriots and last week’s 45-3 beat-down by the 49ers, the woeful Bills face another team who could make mincemeat out of them. A Vegas odds-maker has made Bills Head Coach Chan Gailey the favorite to be the first NFL coach to be fired this season. The Bills are only 4 1/2-point underdogs in this game. I would have put the spread at 14 1/2-points! How is your favorite NFL team going to fare today?

I’ve been a big William Blake fan since I read him in college. Blake was an artist, a writer, and a free-thinker. Now, 200 years after he wrote these poems, Martha Redbone has transformed them into haunting songs that capture her life in Appalachia. I’d nominate Garden of Love for Most Surprising Music CD of 2012. If you’re looking for a unique listening experience, give these moody songs a listen. GRADE: A
TRACK LIST:
1. The Garden of Love 4:12
2. Hear the Voice of the Bard 3:09
3. How Sweet I Roamed 2:50
4. On Anothers Sorrow 3:00
5. A Dream 2:36
6. I Heard an Angel Singing 2:46
7. I Rose Up At the Dawn of Day 3:08
8. A Poison Tree 2:55
9. The Ecchoing Green 1:33
10. The Fly 2:13
11. Why Should I Care for the Men of Thames 1:49
12. Sleep Sleep Beauty Bright 3:14

This brilliant short story collection was first published in 1932 in the UK by the Collins Crime Club under the title of The Thirteen Problems. Dodd, Mead published the collection in the U.S. in 1933 with the title The Tuesday Club Murders. The gimmick in these stories is that a group of people meet each Tuesday where one of the group tells the story of a murder they know about and the other members have to guess who committed the murder. Miss Marple is one of the group so you can guess who does the bulk of the problem-solving. Agatha Christie is an underrated short story writer. This stories in this volume are clever and play fair with the clues. If you haven’t read The Tuesday Club Murders you’re missing out on some of Christie’s finest writing.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
The Tuesday Night Club
The Idol House of Astarte
Ingots of Gold
The Blood-Stained Pavement
Motive v. Opportunity
The Thumb Mark of St. Peter
The Blue Geranium
The Companion
The Four Suspects
A Christmas Tragedy
The Herb of Death
The Affair at the Bungalow
Death by Drowning

I’ve watched two episodes of Elementary on CBS. Basically, the series sets Sherlock Holmes in the present. Sherlock (played to twitchy perfection by Jonny Lee Miller) is a recovering drug-addict. Sherlock’s wealthy father hires Dr. Watson (played by Lucy Liu) to be his caretaker. As you might expect, Sherlock and Watson don’t initially get along. But, while working on these two murder cases, each character learns to respect the other. I’m hoping the writers don’t inject a romantic element between them. I think that would be a Big Mistake. Purists are not going to embrace this mashup of the Holmes canon. I much prefer the updating of Sherlock Holmes broadcast on PBS. But, Elementary is mildly entertaining. GRADE: B

The Big Book at the BOUCHERCON in Cleveland was Books to Die For. Steve Stilwell must have sold a gazillion copies! Books to Die For features essays from 120 crime writers on the mysteries and thrillers that they most admire. For example, there’s Michael Connelly on The Little Sister, Kathy Reichs on The Silence of the Lambs, Mark Billingham on The Maltese Falcon, and Ian Rankin on I Was Dora Suarez. You get the idea. If you’re a fan of mystery fiction, you’ll want a copy of Books to Die For. GRADE: A

Homeland swept the Emmys and the recognition was well deserved. Homeland is about the best drama on TV and SHOWTIME should be celebrated for taking a chance on it. I consider Homeland a thinking person’s 24. Clare Danes plays a bi-polar CIA agent on the track of a double-agent. The acting is compelling. President Obama named Homeland as his favorite TV program. I’d say the same thing with Copper and Doctor Who tied for second place. This Blu-ray set is the best way to catch up on Homeland if you missed it on cable. GRADE: A

Diane and I had to leave BOUCHERCON a day early because Diane’s mother celebrated her 93rd Birthday this weekend. Katie flew in from Boston to join the celebration. We had a marvelous time at the Cleveland BOUCHERCON. Here’s my brief critique of our brief stay:

THE GOOD:
1. Art Scott, Steve Stilwell, Tina Karlson, Maggie Mason, Beth & Joe, Jeff & Ann Smith, the Teds, and all our mystery friends in attendance. Great seeing and talking with you guys!
2. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame! Loved the giant guitars!
3. The dinner at LOLA! Yummy!
4. Winning a $50 Gift Certificate for the Dealers’ Room.
5. Free books!

THE BAD:
1. No Abbotts, Criders, Lachmans, Meyersons, Moores, the Robinsons, or Todd Mason. Hope to see you all in Albany in 2013!
2. A pathetic Dealers’ Room. Maybe six booksellers showed up. And one woman selling jewelry. The room was half empty. Sad.

THE UGLY:
1. When I called the Front Desk about Internet access from my room, I was told it would cost $12.95 a day. I passed. When I went down to The Business Center, the charges were $6.95 for 15 MINUTES! Again, I passed. Then, outside the Hospitality Room there was a sign saying BOUCHERCON attendees could access the Internet for free using the password “bouchercon” on the hotel logon screen. I finally gained access to the Internet, but the WI-FI was sloooooooooooow!