3.14159...

I'm a math enthusiast and love any chance to write an article dedicated to the subject. And stoked even more because March 14 is Pi Day. So here's five films where math is fused with the mystery/thriller and sci-fi genres.

“The Unquiet Dead” and More

I'm a Doctor Who fan from a long way back and was stoked that Macmillan's Criminal Element accepted my pitch for a Whovian piece. Hope you enjoy.

Beauty and Robots

As you can see I've been busy this summer writing reviews beside the usual BEAT to a PULP work. Here's two more that I will thank you in advance for reading. I had the pleasure to get an advance copy of THE BRANSON BEAUTY by Claire Booth which is a refreshing first in a series featuring Sheriff Hank Worth. Also reviewed is Isaac Asimov THE ROBOTS OF DAWN.

Twain’s Other Steamboat Adventure

It was always nuts for Tom Sawyer—a mystery was. If you'd lay out a mystery and a pie before me and him, you wouldn't have to say take your choice; it was a thing that would regulate itself. Because in my nature I have always run to pie, whilst in his nature he has always run to mystery. People are made different. And it is the best way. —Huckleberry Finn

I'm at Criminal Element with Tom Sawyer, Detective: Twain’s Other Steamboat Adventure. Speaking of Twain, he had so many quotable quotes, right? Here's one of my favorites: "When we remember we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained." Or this one: "But who prays for Satan? Who, in eighteen centuries, has had the common humanity to pray for the one sinner that needed it most?"

Free eBooks!

Two Jack Laramie, The Drifter Detective, novellas are free for the Kindle over the next several days: The Girls of Bunker Pines by Garnett Elliott and Wide Spot in the Road by Wayne D. Dundee.

Free eBook! Dinero Del Mar by Garnett Elliott

Jack Laramie finds himself in the middle of a rural beauty contest that’s as crooked as a busted fiddle. Things get worse from there, and a chance encounter in the Corpus Christi drunk-tank leads to a new case—on Texas’s dazzling Padre Island. A big, old mansion full of scheming rich folks, lawyers, and psychics is just the beginning. Jack survives the ‘trip’ of his life, but is his craftiness a match for the privileged upper crust?

Dinero Del Mar runs about 24k words, the longest Drifter to date, and features an ending that will forever change the series. Don’t miss it!

*****

Dinero Del Mar is the fifth novella in The Drifter Detective series, following on the heels of Wayne D. Dunde’s Wide Spot in the Road, and Garnett Elliott’s The Girls of Bunker Pines, Hell Up in Houston, and the eponymous debut, The Drifter Detective.

Ashes to Ashes

Longmire: 3.10 Season Finale “Ashes to Ashes” reviewed by Edward A. Grainger.

Population 25

Vic in some serious trouble in “Population 25." My review at Criminal Element.

Wanted Man

“If you do the job right, Walt, by the time you put down your sheriff’s badge, you’re a wanted man.” —Lucian Connally.

Longmire: 3.05 review by Edward A. Grainger.

A Strange Letter from a New Orleans Serial Killer

Ninety-five years ago a killer was striking fear in New Orleans. His spree claimed at least twelve known victims though that number could be a great deal higher. "The Axeman" was never identified and like London's Ripper before him, endless theories abound as to his identity. His most famous and very odd letter follows:

Hell, March 13, 1919

Esteemed Mortal:

They have never caught me and they never will. They have never seen me, for I am invisible, even as the ether that surrounds your earth. I am not a human being, but a spirit and a demon from the hottest hell. I am what you Orleanians and your foolish police call the Axeman.

When I see fit, I shall come and claim other victims. I alone know whom they shall be. I shall leave no clue except my bloody axe, besmeared with blood and brains of he whom I have sent below to keep me company.

If you wish you may tell the police to be careful not to rile me. Of course, I am a reasonable spirit. I take no offense at the way they have conducted their investigations in the past. In fact, they have been so utterly stupid as to not only amuse me, but His Satanic Majesty, Francis Josef, etc. But tell them to beware. Let them not try to discover what I am, for it were better that they were never born than to incur the wrath of the Axeman. I don‘t think there is any need of such a warning, for I feel sure the police will always dodge me, as they have in the past. They are wise and know how to keep away from all harm.

Undoubtedly, you Orleanians think of me as a most horrible murderer, which I am, but I could be much worse if I wanted to. If I wished, I could pay a visit to your city every night. At will I could slay thousands of your best citizens, for I am in close relationship with the Angel of Death.

Now, to be exact, at 12:15 (earthly time) on next Tuesday night, I am going to pass over New Orleans. In my infinite mercy, I am going to make a little proposition to you people. Here it is:

I am very fond of jazz music, and I swear by all the devils in the nether regions that every person shall be spared in whose home a jazz band is in full swing at the time I have just mentioned. If everyone has a jazz band going, well, then, so much the better for you people. One thing is certain and that is that some of your people who do not jazz it on Tuesday night (if there be any) will get the axe.

Well, as I am cold and crave the warmth of my native Tartarus, and it is about time I leave your earthly home, I will cease my discourse. Hoping that thou wilt publish this, that it may go well with thee, I have been, am and will be the worst spirit that ever existed either in fact or realm of fancy.

The Axeman

A few New Orleans residents were not intimidated and one brave soul, in particular, even said he would leave a window ajar, giving instructions for a showdown. And local tune writer Joseph John Davilla wrote,"The Mysterious Axman's Jazz (Don't Scare Me Papa)". The cover depicted a family playing music with frightened looks on their faces.

Somehow all this colorful history was lost to me until Heath Lowrance sent THE AXEMAN OF STORYVILLE my way that weaves the serial killer's history with my fictional hero Gideon Miles. Now it's 1921, a new world for former U.S. Marshal Gideon Miles, retired and running one of the most popular jazz clubs in the city. But when a deranged axe murderer strikes at the prostitutes of Storyville, and the Black Hand takes up arms, Miles is drawn back into the world he knows so well--the world of evil men, buried secrets, and violent death. Just like old times.

Eric Beetner @ the Sunset Blvd Cyber Bar

I met Eric Beetner at the Sunset Blvd cyber bar—a close quarters, noirish dive that was appropriately sparse for 4:00 in the afternoon. Just us and the Linda Fiorentino brunette who was glued to a TV talk show in between serving our drinks. I ordered a Sam Adams and Eric had a water. I raised an eyebrow and he smiled, saying, “I know. A disgrace to crime novelists everywhere.”

I laughed and said, “Hey, sorry I didn’t make it to Bouchercon, man. It sounds like I missed all the fun. What was the highlight?” I slugged back half of my beer.

"Bcon was fun. About as much fun as you can have in Albany. I really enjoyed the two panels I was on, the one I moderated about Film Noir was great and the one I spoke on about hardboiled writing was fun too. I'd say the highlight though was the mini Noir at the Bar-esque reading I held in the Authors Choice room. I had no idea if anyone would show up and once I started asking writers to come read I was overwhelmed by the response. I ended up having 25 readers, I think. It meant we did it speed dating style and everyone had about 60 seconds to read a snippet from a book and then everyone generously donated a book for a giveaway.

"The best moment was when it came time to head to the room and see if anyone would show up. I rounded the corner and the hallway was jammed with people like The Rolling Stones were performing inside. It was standing room only! Of course, the flyers I made that offered FREE BOOKS probably made all the difference, but I hope people found a few new writers to add to their list."

I shook my head with a smile. "How do you do it! Does it come naturally to get out there publically and read and sell books?"

"I really don't mind public speaking and interacting with people. I'm fairly antisocial in the larger scale - I don't care for parties and stuff like that - but with the right crowd of like-minded people I don't get shy or lack for things to say. I will say I have a hard time selling myself. I'm sure I've sold way more of other peoples books in talking to readers because I'm so much more likely to go on a rant about how great Jake Hinkson is or how much I loved Angel Baby by Richard Lange or Owen Laukkanen's books. I don't like to suggest my own books to anyone, but that could be my deeply ingrained Iowan humility.

"I co-host the L.A. chapter of Noir at the Bar (with brilliant writer Stephen Blackmoore) so I've seen a lot of readers come through and some really struggle with reading in public, let alone speaking extemporaneously, but I rather enjoy it. People have said I'm good at moderating panels and such."

I raised my beer and nodded my head. "That Blackmoore can spin a yarn. I’m still reeling from City of the Lost. Speaking of sharp plots, where did you come up with the idea for 'The Year I Died Seven Times'?"

"It's not my normal way of working, but as I recall that one started with the title. I keep a lot of ideas and random thoughts around and that one stuck. I just had to write a book around it. I ended up on the story of this guy, Ridley, who goes off on a search for his missing girlfriend who he realizes he knows very little about, and ends up getting into mess after mess that literally kills him at every turn.

"The hardest part was finding different ways of killing him off that he could come back from. It's not a zombie novel. He just ends up legally dead for a few moments each time. But those options are limited, which is why it's not the year I died twenty times.

"It was a challenge trying to keep up the tension while the reader knows he is going to die at the end of each adventure, or in this case the end of each installment of the book. Hopefully the trouble he gets up to in between is fun and suspenseful enough to bring the readers along. And I'd bet there are a few deaths that would surprise people. In a way, there's a fun little bit of reader participation that works in the same way as a traditional mystery where a reader enjoys guessing the who in a who-done-it, only this way you have to guess how Ridley is going to die each time. Readers should absolutely feel free to play along at home, maybe make some bets with loved ones."

My phone beeped and buzzed. I picked it up without looking at it, saying, "It’s a great idea … it’s like an interactive story in a pocket size book! Well, thanks for dropping the book at BEAT to a PULP’s door, amigo. It zips right along and offers us a chance to do something different with seven installments released over the next year." I checked my cell. A text from my Charmer came in asking me to stop for milk on the way home. Made me think. "I gotta ask, how do you find the time to write with two kids and a full-time job?"

"The short answer is I don't sleep enough. Really I think it's that old adage, 'A writer writes.' It's just something I do because I like doing it. I feel like I'm too slow. When I get on a run and get focused on a book I do a good job of writing almost every night. When I'm not working on something I have no problem with taking time off. I don't think you need to write every night all the time. It leads to burnout.

"Last year I felt like I was moving slow all year but when I looked back I wrote (and published) two novellas, a complete novel (now under submission) wrote half a novel and then scrapped it, wrote about half of another novel with my co-author (we're almost done!) half a dozen short stories for anthologies and I think there was a novel I finished in January that I'd started late 2012. For me, that's slacking. Man, I have issues. No matter what we will all be lapped by Stephen Graham Jones.

"But I will give credit to my wife and my kids for giving me the time to write. They all go to bed by 9:00 or 9:30 every night so I'm free to both watch what I want on TV and then go write until about 1 or 2 am. And they let me sleep in until about 8. So, yeah, I'm gonna die young. But y'know, I'll have all those books as my legacy.

".... Oh dear, I've made a huge mistake ...."

We finished our drinks, tipped handsomely—our hostess still lost in a custody battle show—and headed for the exit when a barfly waddled in. I stepped back as Eric held the door. On the street waiting for our respective taxis, my mind wandered to one last thought, "Would you still write if you could look into a crystal ball and see that you weren’t going be that big-time author, you know, like on the NY Times Best Seller list?"

"What the hell else am I doing now if not that? I know for sure I'll never be that guy. I'm fine with it. I'm lucky enough that I don't rely on writing to support my family and I like my day job. I have already had more success than I expected in fiction writing. I already spent a decade grinding it out writing screenplays, taking meetings, making deals, getting paid now and then and I came away having nothing to show for it on screen, but 17 feature length screenplays and a few TV scripts finished. I don't consider it wasted time. I was writing and finishing stories. I got better (I hope) and I learned from my mistakes. If novel writing never gets me to a higher level than where I am now I'll be okay. Obviously we all have aspirations, and I'm no different, but it isn't about money, though that would be nice. To be included in the conversation among writers I admire and can consider peers has always been my goal.

"I write mostly for me. I have an idea and I want to read that book so I write it. Does that make it much more than a hobby? Maybe not. But reaching an audience has been a privilege and something I can build on. We all write to be read. I want readers and I want to entertain. But would I still write? Almost certainly. I'm also not one to sit on the sidelines. I want to make things happen and get work out there. I may end up someone who writes and no one reads, but I'll still be writing and finding suckers to put it out. Um, not that you're a sucker, of course...."

We eyed each other thoughtfully for a split second and then both had a good laugh.

“Pleasure to publish your work, Eric," I said, shaking his hand as we said our goodbyes. I caught the red eye back to New York, reminding myself to get milk.

And that, as they say, is that.

Ngaio Marsh Award Longlist

Janet Rudolph's Mystery Fanfare.

Julius Katz Mysteries

Dave Zeltserman’s Julius Katz mysteries are some of the most fun you will ever have reading detective short fiction. Elements of Nero Wolfe abound but Mr. Zeltserman adds a unique twist in the form of Katz’s assistant, Archie, who is a marvel of high tech wizardry.

'Julius Katz Mysteries' are now available for $0.99. You can’t beat that, folks.

I'm a Fool to Kill You

From Robert J. Randisi:

After 4 books with St. Martins Press the series has moved to Severn House. I'm very pleased with the move. Since Severn is a Britain-based house, the books will be published in both the U.K. and the U.S. For this reason there are two pub. dates. In the UK it will be a September book. In the US, a Jan. 2011 book. However, it will be available for preorder, and will carry a 2010 copyright date. As you can see, the book features the Rat Pack and Ava Gardner. And, or course, Eddie G. and Jerry.

#

I've enjoyed Mr. Randisi's Rat Pack mystery series and am especially looking forward to I'M A FOOL TO KILL YOU that features Ava. I'm a card carrying fan of the lady and will post some photos of my visit to her museum soon.

Murder in the Air

I've finished reading MURDER IN THE AIR. Publishers Weekly says, "Few will be able to resist Crider's brand of broad humor, eccentric characters, and murder." I wholeheartedly agree. Mr. Crider delivers another thoroughly entertaining mystery in the Sheriff Dan Rhodes series. Highlight for me was Rhodes stumbling ass-backwards into a rock pit that has been converted into a pond, discovers a clue, and then unintentionally becomes involved in a little episode known as noodling. Top fun and a fine read.

Radio Days

I’ve finished reading What Really Happened by Brett Halliday so Michael Shayne was on my mind when I spotted these radio collections at Walgreen’s. For only a buck how could you go wrong? I didn’t because the two episodes featured: “The Case of the Crooked Wheel” and “The Case of the Wandering Fingerprints” are entertaining mysteries that I’m enjoying during my morning commute. The Shayne series came to radio in 1944 starring Wally Maher. Rising film star, Jeff Chandler assumed the role in 1950. The other collection, Casey, Crime Photographer starred Staats Cottsworth as a “Morning Express” photographer who loved to play detective. Equally entertaining as the Shayne set but unfortunately this collection only contains two episodes also.

So I’ve started searching the web for more old time radio and came across Radio Lovers. This site contains Ellery Queen, Philip Marlowe, Adventures of, Richard Diamond Police Detective and Voyage of the Scarlet Queen to name a few of the more well-known in the mystery genre. There’s also a sci-fi superhero section that contains Batman and Buck Rogers. If you like old programming, swing by.

Btw, have you listened to Charles Gramlich’s "Thief of Eyes" over at Fear on Demand? If you haven’t then you’re missing an incredible marriage of words and voice. Glen Hallstrom does a masterful job of reading this poetic piece. I’m looking forward to the next offering from Sidney Williams.

Friday's Forgotten Books: A Treasury of Great Mysteries

I'm the type of person who will walk into an antiques store, shoot past all the furniture, china and other trinkets and head straight to the books. On a recent antiquing spree, tucked away in a little nook near the back, I found a near mint condition of the two volume set, A Treasury of Great Mysteries edited by Howard Haycraft and John Beecroft (1957). I got quite the bargain at $1 for each book. The first volume in the anthology is a staggering 576 pages of eleven short stories, novelettes and full length novels from Agatha Christie, Erle Stanley Gardner, Ellery Queen, and Eric Ambler to name a few.

The first mystery I read from the collection was Margery Allingham's The Case of the White Elephant. I became an instant fan. Detective stories at the time could be straightforward and simple, but her storytelling and character development had a level of maturity akin to Christie. Elephant was my first introduction to adventurer and amateur detective, Albert Campion, who was originally a supporting character in The Crime at Black Dudley (1929). In Elephant, Campion squares off with an international spy ring and although the plot is slightly dated, it’s nevertheless compelling because Campion is a wonderfully drawn character. I’m planning to search out more of Allingham’s Campion books. The Guardian posted a great article in 2006 about what makes Allingham such a pleasure to read.

John Dickson Carr is a master at the locked room mystery and his The Incautious Burglar (also known as A Guest in the House) was probably the best short story I read from this set. Carr’s ace detective, Dr. Fell, is investigating the murder of the wealthy Marcus Hunt, who is stabbed in his own house wearing a cat burglar outfit. Was Hunt planning to pilfer his own uninsured art collection and, if so, why? Of course, every guest in the house has a motive.

I was unfamiliar with author Edgar Wallace and I found his contribution, The Treasure, unfortunately, weak. The plot has the protagonist, Mr. J.G. Reeder, employing a recently paroled thief to catch a murderer. The thief believes that Reeder, like all detectives, has a hidden treasure trove of stolen goods and so he trails Reeder in search of the alleged riches. The thief and his accomplice are led to a lodge where Reeder supposes (with no real substantial evidence) a woman's body is buried. The thief quickly locates a misplaced stone where he assumes Reeder's wealth is stashed. I won't tell you what happened next, but it left me wondering why a master detective would need the assistance of a bumbling thief to solve a crime. I won't judge Wallace's career on one short story considering that more than 160 films have been adapted from his works.

Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window is an undeniable classic, yet I had never read the Cornell Woolrich short from which the film is adapted. The plot is basically the same but the story has fewer characters. Hal Jefferies is immobile for the most part and spends his days spying on neighbor, Lars Thorwald. Jefferies suspects Lars has murdered Mrs. Thorwald, and a police detective friend, Boyne, warily entertains Jefferies suspicions but eventually leaves him on his own. Jefferies recruits his day houseman, Sam, to help investigate. Sam is basically the roles of Grace Kelly and Thelma Ritter combined, which is where Hitchcock improved the story by adding more character depth and suspense. In the original, Sam has plenty of time to enter and leave Thorwald's residence whereas in the movie, we are on the edge of our seats as Grace Kelly's character nearly gets caught by Thorwald. Still a good story but the movie is better.

If you like golden oldies, it doesn't get much better than this collection. A Treasure of Great Mysteries is available used from Amazon.

The list of titles for A Treasury of Great Mysteries Vol. 1:
-- Murder In The Calais Coach, Agatha Christie
-- The Case Of The Crimson Kiss, Erle Stanley Gardner
-- The Treasure Hunt, Edgar Wallace
-- Maigret's Christmas, Georges Simenon
-- Puzzle For Poppy, Patrick Quentin
-- The Secret, Mary Roberts Rinehart
-- The Incautious Burglar, John Dickson Carr
-- The Lamp Of God, Ellery Queen
-- The Case Of The White Elephant, Margery Allingham
-- Rear Window, Cornell Woolrich
-- Journey Into Fear, Eric Ambler