Topics

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Welcome and General Discussion / Jokes, Quotes and Anecdotes

« on: June 13, 2019, 08:30:10 am »

Here's my favorite Sherlock Holmes joke. What have you got? Post 'em here!

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip. As they lay down for the night, Holmes said: "Watson, look up into the sky and tell me what you see."

Watson said, "I see millions and millions of stars."

“And what does that tell you?" Holmes asked.

"Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Theologically, it tells me that God is great and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it tells me that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow... What does it tell you?"

"Somebody stole our tent, " said Holmes.

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FAQ and Forum rules / Common Abbreviations & Acronyms

« on: June 09, 2019, 01:52:10 pm »

Here's a list of common abbreviations & acronyms that might stump a first time visitor to this site.

AHMM - Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine
EQMM - Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
MS - Mystery Scene
PW - Publishers Weekly

MWA - Mystery Writers of America
SINC - Sisters in Crime
PWA - Private Eye Writers of America
CWC - Crime Writers of Canada
CWA - Crime Writers' Association (UK)
ITW - International Thriller Writers

TCOT - The Case of the

NYPD - New York Police Department. Similar: LAPD (Los Angeles)
ATF - U.S. Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

AG - Attorney General

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Welcome and General Discussion / POLL: Favorite Kid Detective

« on: June 06, 2019, 06:22:32 pm »

Here's a poll asking for your favorite young detective.

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Mystery Scene Magazine Issues / Summer 2019 - Lori Roy #160

« on: June 06, 2019, 04:48:03 pm »

In this issue we cover a lot of ground, including Oline Cogdill's interview with Lori Roy about her new book that delves into the topic of white supremacy.

Dennis Lehane gives tips in "A Writer's Toolbox," and SJ Rozan discuss her first Lydia Chin / Bill Smith novel in eight long years. Ben Boulden looks at mysteries set in the circus or carnival and Nancy Bilyeau surveys the Bernie Gunther mysteries from the late Philip Kerr.

Probably the prettiest cover art in the whole issue belongs to the Mignon G. Eberhart appreciation by Michael Mallory. John B. Valeri chats with cozy writer G.A. McKevett and Craig Sisterson gives us a tour of crime fiction from Australia and New Zealand. Susan Van Kirk discusses her latest novel, "A Death at Tippit Pond." Whew!

Plus there's all the varied reviews of novels, short stories, reference works, audiobooks, and more.

What did you think of the issue?

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Mystery Scene Magazine Issues / Spring 2019 - Steve Berry #159

« on: June 06, 2019, 04:42:20 pm »

Hi everyone,

One of the things I try do with every issue is to have a nice... balance.

Here at Mystery Scene we try to cover the whole field of mystery: Traditional, Thriller, P.I., Cozy, Puzzle, Legal, Historical, and more!. So I try to include something for everyone in each issue.

There are other things to balance. I want a balance of men/women represented, a mix of old and new mysteries, something from film or TV as well as books, and stories and writers from around the world. It's a fun (and sometimes difficult) job.

This issue we have legal thrller writer Steve Berry, traditional writer Lucy Burdette, a feature on a little known noir film, a roundup of canine sleuths, and J.P. Pomare from New Zealand with his literary psychological thriller Call Me Evie. Plus our usual reviews in all categories, including audiobooks, great first lines, and a crossoword!

Something for everyone, I hope! How'd I do?   

Kate

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Mystery Scene Magazine Issues / Winter 2019 - Laura Benedict #158

« on: June 06, 2019, 04:41:10 pm »

Hello all!

The Winter issue is always one of my favorites because it has our Fave Raves feature: some of our contributors naming the best things they read in the previous year. Is your to-be-read pile getting too small? Here's the solution!

Fond of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier? Find out about this icon's short stories courtesy of Nancy Bilyeau.

Peter Lovesey has been a star in the mystery field for over 40 years now. Get the inside scoop from him on how he wrote his new book.

We've got three other writers letting us in on how they wrote their latest mysteries, a super cover story on up-and-comer Laura Benedict, overviews of Liz Mugavero and David Swinson, a look at Noir's forgotten father, and all the usual suspects writing reviews!

Now it's time for a short break before the next issue. Brian and I will be at the Malice Domestic conference in Bethesda in May--I hope we see some of you there!

Kate

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Welcome and General Discussion / Stuart Palmer - Help an editor out!

« on: June 06, 2019, 02:12:52 pm »

Does anyone have a decent photo of the author Stuart Palmer? He wrote the Hildegarde Withers books, including THE PENGUIN POOL MURDER.

I need a good photo for an upcoming article.

There's a photo of him dressed as a clown that won't work so never mind that one.  Any help much appreciated!

My email is katestine [at] mysteryscenemag.com

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Welcome and General Discussion / Collecting? Watcha got?

« on: May 29, 2019, 05:31:43 pm »

I don't qualify as a real collector although I have a few nice first editions tucked away. (L.A. Confidential complete with a signed pornographic shark drawing by James Ellroy, for one. Why, who knows?) But what I really like to collect are oddball bits and pieces associated with writers. I have a brick from the Edgar Allan Poe House in Greenwich Village, New York, a drawing of Peter Falk as Columbo by the actor himself, and bookends with ESG engraved on them that once belonged to Erle Stanley Gardner. (They're holding up a nice selection of Perry Mason hardcovers in our living room.) What does everyone else collect? What are your biggest treasures?