Last week I reviewed The Necronomicon of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1 (you can read my review here). I enjoyed it so much I immediately ordered The Necronomicon of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 2 from AMAZON and it arrived the next day. I read it and liked it as much as Volume 1!

My favorite story is “THE ADVENTURE OF THE SINISTER SISTERS” by David Marcum. Twin sisters learn forbidden spells from The Necronomicon and use their powers to convince wealthy men to make them beneficiaries…and the men suddenly die. A third sister joins Holmes and Watson in an effort to stop the sinister sisters.

I also enjoyed a couple of stories that involved Erich Zann’s deadly violin. That deadly violin also plays a key role in Charles Stross’s “Laundry” series.

The weirdest story in both The Necronomicon of Sherlock Holmes volumes is Wendy S. Tulodo’s eerie tale, “The Thirtieth Bell of St. Judith’s” which successfully creates one of the scary dimensions Lovecraft refers to in his work.

If you’re a Sherlock Holmes fan you’ll enjoy these stories. If you’re a Lovecraft fan, too, these stories will be even more fun for you! GRADE: B+

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

“INTRODUCTION: Doyle, Lovecraft, and the Great Detective” by Derrick Belanger, BSI — 1

“INTRODUCTION: Valleys of Fear” by Brian Belanger — 7

THE ADVENTURE FROM BEYOND – Stephen Herczeg — 11
THE ABOMINABLE FATE OF THE FORREST FAMILY – Derrick Belanger, BSI — 33
THE ADVENTURE OF THE CRAWLING CHAOS – Bob Johnston — 53
THE ADVENTURE OF THE SUNKEN TEMPLE – Tim Newton Anderson — 73
THE ADVENTURE OF THE CLAY TABLET – R. C. Capasso — 101
THE CASE OF THE VIOL PLAYER – Steve Lockley — 117
THE ADDLESTON FARMSTEAD ANOMALY – Brendan S. Mycroft — 143
THE THIRTEENTH BELL OF ST. JUDITH’S – Fendy S. Tulodo — 165
FREAK SHOW OF THE DEEP – Paul Hiscock — 186
BLACK FIRE – DJ Tyrer –209
THE ADVENTURE OF THE BEDLAM PHARAOH – Liam Zemlicka — 229
THE CASE OF THE DEAD MAN’S SCREAM – Karen Ovér — 257
THE ADVENTURE OF THE SINISTER SISTERS – David Marcum — 273

Acknowledgements — 321

I first read The Hunter by “Richard Stark” in the early 1970s. It was a story of vengeance that really gripped me. as I read more about the professional thief, Parker, that “Richard Stark” created, I eventually learned that “Richard Stark” was actually Donald E. Westlake, the guy who wrote all those funny caper novels back in the 1960s. I would go on to read all the Parker novels Westlake wrote. And, back in 1990s, I met Donald E. Westlake when he gave a speech at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library.

After the speech, Westlake agreed to sign books and I joined the line waiting my turn. When I approached Westlake with the books I brought, he shook his head in disbelief. I presented him CAMPUS DOLL–one of Westlake’s erotic novels from the 1960s–and COMFORT STATION, a rare paperback. As Westlake kindly signed the books, I asked him why he stopping writing Parker books. The last Parker book, Butcher’s Moon (1974), was 20 years in the past at the point I asked my question. Westlake answered sadly, “I just couldn’t write Parker novels anymore.”

But, surprisingly, Comeback (1997) brought Parker back to life for eight more books. I’d like to think my questioning the absence of Parker books might have stirred some creative juices in Westlake.

That brings us to the new CRITERION COLLECTION Blu-ray of Point Blank (1967), a movie based on The Hunter. While Point Blank has all the revenge energy of The Hunter, it does not follow Westlake’s novel. Lee Marvin–now called “Walker” instead of “Parker”–is double-crossed by his partner and wife after a heist. The rest of the movie is Walker’s quest to avenge his betrayal and to get his money back.

This CRITERION COLLECTION Blu-ray includes bonus material:

DIRECTOR-APPROVED BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• New 4K digital restoration, supervised and approved by director John Boorman, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
• Audio commentary featuring Boorman and filmmaker Steven Soderbergh
• Interview with Boorman conducted by author Geoff Dyer
• New interview with critic Mark Harris
• New reflections on Point Blank by filmmaker Jim Jarmusch
• New program on the midcentury Los Angeles architecture featured in the film, with historian Alison Martino
• The Rock (1967), a short documentary on Alcatraz and the making of the film
• Interview with Marvin from a 1970 episode of The Dick Cavett Show
• Trailer
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by Dyer

Point Blank is a great film and this new release with bonus material offers plenty of entertainment! What do you think of Point Blank? GRADE: A

“The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.” — Linus Pauling (2-time Nobel Prize Winner)

George Newman, a professor at the University of Toronto, argues that “creativity” is over estimated in the generation of new ideas. Newman’s research shows that Great Ideas are more likely to come from people who search for Great Ideas while studying failed experiments. He quotes the legendary story of Thomas Edison failing a hundred times before he succeeded with his light bulb.

Newman is also a big believer in persistence. People who specialize and learn more and more about their topic are more likely to discover Great Ideas. The process of searching for Great Ideas is more like archeology than being struck by lightning.

In reading How Great Ideas Happen (2026), I was impressed with the many stories Newman provides of people passionate about finding a Great Idea in medicine, education, and technology. If you’re interested in how Great Ideas are found, this is the book to answer your questions. The Great Idea I’m hoping someone will find is how to prevent cancer. GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Introduction: Dig for Fire –1
• PART 1: SURVEYING WHERE TO SEARCH FOR IDEAS
• 1. Burn the Cabin Down — 13
• 2. Originality Ostriches — 35
• 3. Bottoms Up! — 53
• PART 2: GRIDDIGNS: ORGANIZING YOU SEARCH
• 4. The Guiding Question — 77
• 5. Think Inside the Box — 95
• 6. Transplanting — 115
• PART 3: DIGGING: UNEARTING PROMISING IDEAS
• 7. More Is More — 137
• 8. Search Far and Wide — 155
• 9. The Spark — 171
• PART 4: SIFTINGS: CHOOSING WHICH IDEAS TO PURSUE
• 10. Create by Subtracting — 193
• 11. How Ideas Feel — 211
• 12. The Learning Curve — 223

Conclusion: Getting Unstuck — 243

Appendix: Deeper Questions About Creativity — 249

Acknowledgements — 265

Notes — 267

Index — 279

 “Every time I read Pride and Prejudice I want to dig her up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone”. — Mark Twain

Some people–like Devoney Looser–love Jane Austen, other people can’t stand her–like Twain. I’m more in the Love Austen camp. I’ve read all her books. I’ve read a couple biographies of Austen. And, of course, in the process of taking courses in a doctoral program to earn my Ph.D., I read a lot of literary criticism of Jane Austen.

If you’re wild for Austen, you’ll enjoy Devoney Looser’s Wild for Austen. Looser’s book is a fan’s take on her favorite writer. Explorations of family life, romance, and women’s limited freedom all get a good airing in these enthusiastic pages.

Looser takes a chronological approach to Jane Austen’s works and devotes entire chapters to her major works. But there’s plenty of Austen background information and a useful insights in how our regard for Jane Austen has changed over the centuries. If you’re a big fan of Jane Austen, this book is for you! GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

PART 1: WILD WRITINGS

1. Introduction: Austen gone wild — 3
2. Fierce, wild, and ruthless : Austen’s juvenilia — 16
3. The controversial case of Sophia Sentiment — 25
4. Running wild : the winning immorality of Lady Susan — 35
5. Wildest : Sense and Sensibility (1811) — 46
6. Almost wild : Pride and Prejudice (1813) — 58
7. Bewildering Mansfield Park (1814) — 65
8. Wild speculation : Emma (1816) — 77
9. Wild to know : Northanger Abbey (1818)
10. The young people were all wild : Persuasion (1818) — 100
11. Wild-goose chase : unfinished Sanditon — 111
12. Oh, subjects rebellious : The Watsons and Last words — 122
13. Jane, the wild beast, and the progressive Burdetts — 127
14. Cousin Eliza’s statesman, singer, and spy — 148
15. The Leighs as learned literary ladies — 161
16. The sensational shoplifting trial of Aunt Jane Leigh Perrot –173
17. Three Austen brothers and the abolition of slavery — 189
18. The Austen family legacy, suffrage, and anti-suffrage — 201
19. Seeing Jane Austen’s ghost — 215
20. Sense and Sensibility goes to court — 225
21. Jane’s imaginary lover in Switzerland — 233
22. Almost Pride and Prejudice : the wild films that never were — 241
23. Wild and wanton : the rise of Austen erotica — 254
24. Loving (and hating) Jane Austen — 262
25. Coda: Austen after 250 — 274

Acknowledgments –279

Notes –281

My friend Johanna gave me a bag of Lindt Lindor Carrot Cake candy. “I know you love Carrot Cake so I’m sure you’ll love these.” And, she was right!

Lindt is highly praised for accurately capturing the flavor of carrot cake, featuring a white chocolate shell with a spiced, smooth, melt-in-the-mouth filling. These Carrot Cake candies are a popular seasonal Easter item, with distinct cinnamon and nutmeg notes similar to cream cheese frosting. 

I’m normally not a big candy guy (Snickers and Peanut M&Ms are my favorites) but these Lindt Lindor Carrot Cake candies are mighty tasty! What’s your favorite candy? GRADE: A

Key Nutrition Facts (3 Balls, 36g):

Fiber: 0g [1, 2]

Calories: 230

Total Fat: 18g (\(23\%\) DV)

Saturated Fat: 13g (\(65\%\) DV)

Sodium: 30mg (\(1\%\) DV)

Total Carbohydrate: 15g (\(5\%\) DV)

Total Sugars: 15g

Added Sugars: 12g (\(24\%\) DV)

Protein: 2g

Cholesterol: 5mg (\(2\%\) DV)

STARK HOUSE’S new line of “”Whipcrack Westerns” launches with a powerful Marvin H. Albert novel, Apache Rising. I’ve been a big Marvin H. Albert fan since I first read his work back in the 1960s. Albert is one of those rare writers who can write great fiction in more than one genre. Albert’s mysteries and crime fiction, especially his Stone Angel series, are top-notch…but so are his westerns.

In Apache Rising, Jess Remsberg is seeking vengeance on the man who raped, killed, and scalped his Indian wife. Meanwhile, Ellie Graff, once captive of the Apaches, is trying to steal back the son that was born to her while she was in captivity. These two storylines intersect. But wait, there’s more.

Lieutenant Scotty McAlister is trying to get a few wagons to Fort Duell and to defeat a band of Apaches under the leadership of a war chief named Chata. But the Apaches have different ideas. There’s plenty of tough, gritty action as the Apaches attack numerous times,

Apache Rising was published originally by Gold Medal in 1957 and later reprinted by Gold Medal under the title DUEL AT DIABLO, the title of the movie based on this novel. The story is action-packed and intense. Apache Rising brings suspense to the maximum in this harrowing tale of conflict and revenge. Don’t miss this one! GRADE: A

It’s hard to believe Long Long Road (2026) is Ringo Starr’s 22nd album. Paul McCartney has released 27 albums since the Beatles broke up–with Wings and his solo work.

Ringo Starr, with assistance from T Bone Burnett (as producer, player, and songwriter) on 2025’s Look Up album resulted in an unexpected critical and commercial hit for the ex-Beatle. Although Ringo had been recording well-received albums in a pop/rock genre for the decades, the success of Look Up practically guaranteed that a follow-up album was inevitable.

Long Long Road continues Ringo’s country-infused sound. T Bone Burnett brought along many of the same hand-picked backing players and guests (Molly Tuttle and Billy Strings) from his past albums. That explains why the sound of Starr’s Long Long Road is scintillating. The ten dynamic performances were mostly written or co-composed by Burnett (Ringo is co-credited with three).

It’s hard to believe that at 85, Ringo sounds just like he did warbling “Don’t Pass Me By,” “This Boy,” “Octopus’s Garden” and a handful of other Beatle tunes a half-century ago. Ringo’s affable, easygoing, pleasant vocals are genial, upbeat, and fun to listen to.

My favorite tunes on Long Long Road are “It’s Been Too Long” and “Returning Without Tears”–a duet with Molly Tuttle. But all the songs are very listenable with great sound.

I’ve always considered Ringo Starr an underrated performer. Long Long Road shows that Ringo is better than you thought. Are you a Ringo fan? GRADE: B+

.

TRACK LIST:

Returning Without Tears
Baby Don’t Go
I Don’t See Me In Your Eyes Anymore
It’s Been Too Long
Why
You and I (Wave of Love)
My Baby Don’t Want Nothing
Choose Love
She’s Gone
Long Long Road

I have a weakness for Lovecraft pastiches. And I also have a weakness for Sherlock Holmes pastiches. Those two come together in The Necromonicon of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1 (2026). Brian and Derrick managed to edit an anthology full of fun stories that mix the Mythos with Holmes successfully.

My favorite story is Will Murray’s “The Doom of the Gordian Nightmare.” Holmes and Watson encounter a Lovecrafean threat from the Beyond. I also enjoyed “The Jermyn Inheritance” where Holmes and Watson confront a menacing mystery. I think this sentence opens the door to a sequel: “…he [Holmes] said simply, ‘It is my opinion that we have skimmed across deep waters, Watson, and barely dipped our toes in.'” Sounds like a promise of more Lovecraft horrors ahead!

If you’re in the mood for a mix of Lovecraft and Holmes, The Necromonicon of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 1 will supply several stories that will keep you up at night.

I was so satisfied with this volume, I ordered The Necromonicon of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 2! GRADE: B

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

“INTRODUCTION: Doyle, Lovecraft, and the Great Detective” by Derrick Belanger, BSI — 1

“INTRODUCTION: Valleys of Fear” by Brian Belanger — 7

THE DOOM OF THE GORDIAN NIGHTMARE – Will Murray — 11
THE FLOWERING HAND OF EZRA BOONE – Derrick Belanger, BSI — 43
THE ADVENTURE OF THE GOLDEN LOTUS – Sonya Kudei — 67
THE FAMILY – Brian Belanger — 95
THE JERMYN INHERITANCE – Josh Reynolds — 115
THE SHADOW OVER KENSINGTON – Kai R. Hastur — 133
THE NEW MOON OVER BATH – Gustavo Bondoni — 161
THE ADVENTURE OF THE FALSE IDOL – Naching T. Kassa — 189
THE CASE OF THE SILVER RING – J. Edward Tremlett — 209
THE BARON OF BERWICK – Paul Sheldon — 237
THE CHILDREN OF DARKNESS – Mike Adamson — 265

Acknowledgements — 323

Diane and I drove down to Kleinhan’s Music Hall to hear Imani Perry talk about the color Blue. Imani Perry, who won a National Book Award for South To America and is a Professor at Harvard University, brought her illuminating insights to Buffalo. In 2023, Imani Perry was named a MacArthur Fellow.

First off, Imani Perry is a gifted speaker. Her half-hour presentation was spell-binding. Most of it was based on her latest book, Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People (2025). Here’s a sample of the facts she shared with the 1000 people in attendance: “After the war, those Union uniforms were repurposed. Soon they attired police forces. It was the color of emancipation and became the color of law and order. (p. 99)

Imani Perry also idolizes George Washington Carver. Carver was a polymath who used his genius to help the people of the South. Because of misuse and greed, the land in the South which suffered from the pursuit of cotton wealth, was damaged. “And so Carve introduced the practice of crop rotation. That where his famous peanuts came in. He instructed the people to grow cotton one year, then peanuts the next. And so on. Carved believed that if you loved anything enough, it would tell you its secrets. He loved the Alabama soil and it was his teacher.” (p. 118)

In addition to Imani Perry’s brilliant presentation and Q&A, Barbara Cole of the Just Buffalo Literary Center also announced the 2026-2027 BABEL series. Check out the authors below. Of course, Diane and I will subscribe. GRADE: A