Category: The Murder Pen Society

The first episode of Elsbeth premiered on CBS/Paramount+. It’s a tv show spin-off from The Good Wife and The Good Fight where she played Elsbeth Tascioni, a rather different kind of attorney. And while she was only in a few episodes on both shows I was really excited to see that they were going to be giving this particular character her own series. So, without needing to know much (much wasn’t given in the trailer or commercials to go by) I was sold. I am a bit biased towards CBS as the majority of my favorite television shows come from this network.

I was pleasantly surprised when the show opened in a rather familiar way. Now, I must preface this by saying, if you have never seen an episode of Columbo, you may be lost as to what I’m going to discuss next. But if you have and enjoy the concept of Columbo, and you’re on the fence about this show, let me tell you, this one pays homage in such a great way.

As most shows that are either based on a law firm, or police procedural, there is a crime but we (the viewers) don’t usually come in until the lawyers and cops arrive. We get to see the victim and maybe we’ll be shown how they came to die. But we are just as much in the dark as the lawyers and detectives on the case when it comes to solving for who did it.

That’s where a great show like Columbo comes into play. What made this show different than all the rest is that it starts from the POV of the killer. That’s right. We get to see how they commit the crime and sometimes even a bit of why, though the why is often the thing we get to see revealed over time. What’s so great about this process is the case becomes less about who did it, cause we know, and more about how Lt. Columbo goes about discovering who did it. Now, one thing that can become abundantly clear about the Columbo series is that 10/10 he knows who the killer is right away. They insert themselves into the investigation, you see, or they try to keep their distance. All the while, Columbo has sussed them out within the first few minutes. So, what makes it so intriguing then if we know who the killer is and Columbo knows who the killer is?

CHARACTER, CHARACTER, CHARACTER

Columbo is a rare breed of personality. He wears the same raincoat, button up shirt and brownish/pinkish/purplish suit, with shoes that look like he’s had them for decades. He smokes his cigars, drives a car that looks like it can’t make it up a hill, and is satisfied with a bowl of chili from a dive diner for his meals. He plays up the “I’m as dumb as I look” routine and sometimes the killer falls for it. But the times when they don’t, the times when it becomes a bit of a cat and mouse game between Columbo and the killer, those make for great television.

So, why am I telling you all this? Well, because seeing the murder from the killers POV is exactly how Elsbeth starts. When I saw this I was gobsmacked. I haven’t seen a show like this since the days of Columbo so I sat back and prepared to see just how a female Columbo would square up against a formidable opponent. A killer who thought he could never be caught.

I must say, as annoying investigators go, Elsbeth is right up there. She has all the key indicators and makings of a great detective. Just like Columbo she is unassuming. She pretends to be less than “on it” when it comes to how the letter of the law is done and when she’s stepped out of bounds.

However, her personality, some might say, is the complete opposite of Columbo. He’s quiet and keeps his cards close to the vest. Does he know who the killer is? Of course. Does he enjoy getting under their skin till they crack? Certainly. But he doesn’t go out of his way to seem less than knowledgeable. There have been occasion where he will not mince words and say, “I know you did it.” And it’s up to him to find irrefutable evidence to support his theory.

Now, with Elsbeth, I have only seen the one episode. So it is possible my entire theory on the premise of this show is incorrect. That it was just for this first episode that they started by showing us the killer and how they committed their crime. But for their sake I hope I am wrong and they do this every week. It will be just what this show needs to hopefully appeal to an audience that will appreciate this kind of cat and mouse game. But she will have to prove to us, the viewers, that she’s more than just a one trick pony. I’ll need to see much more and until I do, I reserve my judgement on whether this show is a winner. Or will CBS make that decision for me…

I can list a couple reason why I’m reviewing this series that I only just started watching on BritBox a few weeks ago:

1. I created this Substack for reviewing these kinds of shows.

2. I had been rewatching Midsomer Murders and needed a break from it but couldn’t figure out why until now.

3. Series 6 Episode 1 Dark Road truly gutted me to bits.

Okay, let me jump back to the second reason. I love Midsomer Murders. I must since I’ve rewatched seasons 1 to 13 over again. Tom Barnaby is my Barnaby. No offense to his cousin, John. Anyway, there was something about watching all those episodes back-to-back that made me need a bit of a break so I decided now was as good a time as any to try one of these other British mysteries that I’ve had on my radar but just wasn’t sure about devoting any real time towards watching.

Vera was one of those shows and it did not disappoint. Which leads me back to what the reason was for this break I needed; murders. Why on earth does Midsomer have to have like four or more dead bodies per episode? It’s a lot. And I didn’t realize just how much until I watched Series 6 Episode 3 The Moth Catcher of Vera. I’ll get to the earlier episode in a second.

The Moth Catcher is significant because it’s solving a double murder. Until that point, and I’ll have to confirm this on my rewatch, but I’m almost positive that each episode just has one murder to solve. That’s it. 90 minutes to solve one murder. That might seem like a slow burn but it actually works. And I love it.

Which brings to mind some other mystery shows I’ve watched that have their own distinct differences depending on what kind of mystery you’re looking to solve. Perhaps I’ll do an essay discussing just what they are and you can decide which you’d like to watch. I’ll say on a scale of no murder to bloody mess, Midsomer is definitely a bloody mess, while Vera is closer to the no murder side of the scale.

Anywho, what also made this episode vastly different, and which I appreciated, was that the two murders had already taken place not ten minutes after it started. It’s not like some other shows where there’s a murder every night till it’s solved and the bodies are piling up and the killer is actively killing. No, usually, and what I believe to make sure sense is that the killer is only looking to kill one person for a reason and that’s it. Very rarely is a killer out there to murder a whole host of people, though Midsomer would have you think differently.

Now, back to Series 6 Episode 1 Dark Road. I won’t give any spoilers, or at least I will try not to, but there is a character in the episode who we see, briefly in an earlier series. I assumed she was written out of the show cause she was there for like one episode and that was that. So I was pleasantly surprised when she was back several series later. Yay! Cause I liked her.

In truth, the series starts with another female character of color who is sort of like a mentee to Vera. I was sad when she left the show. But then it happened again where she’s there one day, gone the next, then back and I hope it’s for good.

And there was this point where Vera turns to this girl, who by the way is pissed cause she was trying to transfer out to the major crimes division but is passed over for someone else, and says to her “one day this will all be yours; the mack, the hat, the boots.” Then Vera gets in her jeep and drives away. I don’t know. There was something about the way she said it and then smiled.

You have to see it to know what I mean cause what happens next just gutted me to pieces. It’s rare for an episode of a show to do that to me. I can count on one hand the episodes from various series that have gutted me and I can honestly say I’ve added another to the list.

On my scale of 1 to 10 for recommending? If you like any British mystery series and you’re looking for something you haven’t tried yet, do yourself a favor and give Vera a try. She’s a total hard ass, passionate, and just the kind of character who truly wears the scars she has all over her. I give the actress who portrays her, Brenda Blethyn, a lot of credit for this role.

I look forward to watching the next 6 series so I can catch up with everyone else.

What British mystery series do you love? Let me know in the comments or by hitting reply to this email and if you are going to give Vera a try for the first time let me know what you think.

Premise

Rufus Coteworth finds himself on a luxury cruise liner when a locked-room murder takes place.

My Review (so far…)

Let’s move on from the elephant or should I say Montoya in the room…

Or perhaps you prefer the Gideon in the room?

Yes, the main character from this Mystery Drama is one in the same. His fame comes from Broadway, to the big screen and the small television screens. There are other shows I’ve seen him on but I wanted to mention these two specifically because they are vastly different and vastly the same characters.

Mandy Patinkin is an exceptional actor and playing the role of Rufus Coteworth in this Hulu Original is no different.

The writers pay homage to Agatha Christie and her Hercule Poirot series while also injecting a bit of Sherlock Holmes and his genius. Rufus is all this and more in the series.

But every great detective needs a sidekick. And what I like about Imogene Scott is that she’s no Watson or Captain Hastings. On the contrary, she may have already surpassed the teacher just by growing up.

Okay, so the mystery starts with some flashbacks to Imogene as a child. She witnessed her mother being murdered in her car that exploded in front of her. Coteworth is called in to solve the case. By this time he’s pretty world renowned as the best detective ever. And Imogene’s mom happened to be friends with a pretty wealthy family who take in this little girl and pay this detective to solve the crime.

Unfortunately, he leaves the little girl shattered with no answers. This of course leads us down many rabbit holes and layers to peel back of the onion. This all happens on this massive yacht that makes the titanic seem like a child’s tugboat toy in a bath.

Imogene is like a daughter to this wealthy family and the patriarch is about to announce his retirement where he’ll pass on the reigns to his lesbian daughter. The daughter has her wife on board the yacht with her. Please excuse me at this point because I’m going to list off a bunch of people who are all on this yacht and all suspects even though I haven’t gotten to the murder victim yet.

The wife was in a terrible accident that left her a few marbles short of a full set. She’s all paranoid that someone (everyone?) is following her and bugging her room. She’s so paranoid she doesn’t allow any tech devices anywhere near her and practically stays in their cabin on the yacht the entire time. Well, except when she may or may not have killed someone.

There’s the rich family, husband and wife. Their son is there too. He’s a complete failure so the multi-billion dollar business is obviously going to the levelheaded daughter. He, on the other hand, is attempting to woo investors on his latest money making scheme. One of those investors is this loud mouth guy who gets under everyone’s skin and nerves. Ring any bells who this character might be?

If you answered, “the murder victim,” then you’d be correct! He ends up dead with a harpoon in his guy, standing upright in this room. Pretty strange way to go if you ask me.

Anywho, back to the story. So, Imogene is older now, fast forward like 15 years or so and low and behold, the detective who let her down by no solving the mystery of her mother’s murder is on the yacht. Turns out a wealthy Asian family was invited on board for a rather hush-hush business merger and Coteworth is their bodyguard of sorts?

When he sees that Imogene is on the yacht he realizes that none of this is coincidence. They were brought together intentionally by the person who killed her mother. Why? Well, there’s only been two episodes so far and eight more to go. Every Tuesday.

Are you watching the series on Hulu? If so, tell me your thoughts so far?

I’m hooked. I like the fact that the ship is intentionally set in the 50’s and the architect, who is also on board, also a suspect, and very much going to be a future hook-up with Imogene, mentions how difficult it was for him to find every single piece of the boat that would make it look and feel like it came out of the 50’s. Even down to the clothing they are all wearing. I feel like I’m in an Agatha Christie, Hercule Poirot, novel but it’s this century. I’ll be back when the series has ended with a rating on the show as a whole. It wouldn’t be fare of me to rate it now when I haven’t been given the opportunity to solve for who the murderer is.

HISTORY OF THE BOOK

The Mysterious Affair at Styles is the first detective novel by British writer Agatha Christie, introducing her fictional detective Hercule Poirot. It was written in the middle of the First World War, in 1916, and first published by John Lane in the United States in October 1920 and in the United Kingdom by The Bodley Head (John Lane’s UK company) on 21 January 1921.

Agatha Christie’s first novel was believed to be the result of a dare from her sister, Madge, who challenged her to write a story. The story begins when Hastings is sent back to England from the First World War due to injury and is invited to spend his sick leave at the beautiful Styles Court by his old friend John Cavendish. Here, Hastings meets John’s step-mother, Mrs Inglethorp, and her new husband, Alfred. Despite the tranquil surroundings Hastings begins to realise that all is not right. When Mrs Inglethorp is found poisoned, suspicion falls on the family, and another old friend, Hercule Poirot, is invited to investigate.

The novel received its first true publication as an eighteen-part serialisation in The Times newspaper’s Weekly Edition (aka The Times Weekly Edition) from 27 February (Issue 2252) to 25 June 1920 (Issue 2269). This version of the novel mirrored the published version with no textual differences and included the maps and illustrations of handwriting examples used in the novel. At the end of the serialisation an advertisement appeared in the newspaper, which announced, “This is a brilliant mystery novel, which has had the unique distinction for a first novel of being serialised in The Times Weekly Edition.

DAME AGATHA WRITES

Christie started writing the novel while she was volunteering in Torquay hospital dispensary during World War I. Her knowledge of medicines from this role resulted in poison naturally becoming the murder method used in her debut novel. After being rejected by six publishers, the manuscript for The Mysterious Affair at Styles was finally accepted by John Lane and The Bodley Head four years after its completion.

The story was first adapted for television in 1990 and transmitted on ITV in the UK as a special episode to celebrate Agatha Christie’s centenary year. David Suchet starred as Hercule Poirot and Hugh Fraser as Hastings as part of the series Agatha Christie’s Poirot. In 2005 the novel was adapted as a five-part serial for BBC Radio 4 in the UK with John Moffatt playing the role of Hercule Poirot.

The dust jacket of the facsimile book edition references the legend of how Christie started writing: ‘This novel was originally written as the result of a bet, that the author, who had previously never written a book could not compose a detective novel in which the reader would not be able to ‘spot’ the murderer, though having access to the same clues as the detective.’

MY REVIEW

When I think of “first novels” for some writers, they can either be great or it’ll be suggested to start with their later work because their earlier stuff isn’t as good. In the case of Agatha Christie, starting with The Mysterious Affair at Styles won’t set you back. In fact, it truly can be the stepping stone to her work that truly does get better. It’s a timeless classic. Written over 100 years ago but it had easily stood the test of time for writers of mysteries on how it’s done. The essential how-to manual for crafting suspects, sprinkling herrings (red or otherwise), and the best character to solve the crime with his little grey cells.

I’m a huge Hercule Poirot fan and by extension a fan of Agatha Christie and her other works. So, why did I pick this novel when I couldn’t picked any of her other more famous Poirot stories? One word; poison.

I could think of no better book to read and analyze than a story that involves a popular weapon of choice by Agatha Christie. Strychnine poisoning is such a terrible way to go but it can lead to stereotypes, which can lead to misdirection. All of these things come together wonderfully to give us a mystery worth Poirot’s interest.

His long time friend, Hastings, is invited to stay at Styles (I love how the large estates have such lavish names) while he’s recovering from a war wound. While staying at Styles the matriarch is poisoned in a house full of suspects. There’s her new (and younger) husband, her two stepsons, a wife of one of the stepson’s, a daughter of a family friend, and the matriarch’s companion. Most rich elderly women during this time period would have someone who waited on them hand and foot in their declining years. Not unusual.

With a houseful of possible killers, each of them with motives, most of them related to money, Poirot and his little grey cells are up for the challenge. One thing I loved about this novel is the addition of maps and other clues as part of the story. It’s an aspect of storytelling I hope to incorporate with my own mystery series some day.

I’ve watched all of the David Suchet as Poirot series, which helps me to read any of the novels because I can easily see him and hear him in my head as well. His soft spoken manner and attention to the little details his dear friend, Hastings, never seems to notice.

If you’ve never read a Poirot novel, you can’t go wrong with this one and what’s great about it is that it’s in the Public Domain, which means reading it for free just got easier.

RATING

8/10 Skulls

DISCOVER MORE

READ

Gutenberg ebook download.

Buy the book on Amazon US here or from the UK (Waterstones) here.

WATCH

IMDb page for Agatha Christie’s Poirot

Britbox Subscription Required (S3 E1)

There are some really great mystery and suspense stories out there in the wild. The best of the best can be found through the works of Agatha Christie, Ian Fleming, Shirley Jackson, Arthur Conan Doyle, Rex Stout, to mention but a few.

Here at the Poison Pen we specialize in murder. Whether you aim to solve for the killer or commit the crime yourself is entirely up to you. This is a judgement free zone, of course. But we do want a great story. At the heart of every good killer and crime solver is a compelling story. Can you craft such a tale?

Every calendar year will feature three opportunities for you to spin a tale that will captivate a ready and willing audience. Each contest allows for one entry per person that must be easily identifiable as either a mystery or a suspense story. Any underlying genre (ex. sci-fi, fantasy, romance, etc.) is entirely up to you. It can take place any time and anywhere so long as it contains the basic tenets of mystery and suspense. Every story, no matter the genre, should contain a great mystery. Something the reader wants to find out and the writer is all too willing to be a guide towards the answers. The keys to how can be found in the following ten areas. Use them as guides, but not as hard and fast rules or you may find yourself stuck. To break the rules you must first know what some of them are:

1. A strong hook: A great mystery should invite the reader to try to solve the crime, and a great opening is critical to piquing their interest. A mystery should start with just enough information about the crime to build intrigue from the first line. This is the defining moment when a reader chooses whether or not they want to continue.

2. An atmospheric setting: Stories in this genre should create an ominous, uneasy mood through setting to support the anxiety of an unknown antagonist lurking in the shadows.

3. A crime: A crime is the event that fuels the plot in a mystery (or suspense) story.

4. A sleuth: At the heart of every mystery is a main character determined to solve the crime. Mysteries can center around an amateur investigator—an average citizen who solves the case. The character development of the sleuth is important; they need a backstory that connects them to the crime or the killer, and a motive that explains why solving this crime is important to them.

5. A villain: A mystery is often called a whodunit because the culprit is unknown until they’re caught at the end. The story follows their movements, which propel the story forward. The main character and the reader discover the criminal’s identity as the plot reaches its climax.

6. Narrative momentum: A mystery plot is in constant motion thanks to a cat-and-mouse narrative thread. The pacing will quicken the closer the plot moves towards the climax and the closer the main character gets to solving the crime.

7. A trail of clues: Clues are the literary element that allows mystery stories to engage readers on a deeper level than other types of fiction. The reader becomes an amateur sleuth, following the trail of clues to try to discover the identity of the culprit.

8. Foreshadowing: Mysteries often drop hints of things that will happen in the future. This is known as foreshadowing. A writer can hint at a future event with a small clue or through character dialogue.

9. Red herrings: A good mystery throws the reader off track. These false clues build tension by creating other suspects and distracting the detective—and the reader—and leading them away from the real culprit.

10. A satisfying ending: At the end of great mystery novels there is the big reveal—the sleuth discovers the identity of the culprit.

These ten points come from the following article on the MasterClass website. I recommend reading it as they expand on it further with additional reading as well.

So, let’s take a peek at 2024 and when you can start submitting your stories of murder:

February 1st – Submission Post opens for 2 weeks.

February 15th – Submission Post closes.

March 1st – Voting Post opens for 7 days.

June 1st – Submission Post opens for 2 weeks.

June 15th – Submission Post closes.

July 1st – Voting Post opens for 7 days.

October 1st – Submission Post opens for 2 weeks.

October 15th – Submission Post closes.

November 1st – Voting Post opens for 7 days.

Your story doesn’t have to be written during the two weeks that the submission post is open. But it does have to be written in the same calendar year. That means only stories posted publicly in 2024.

I look forward to reading your stories and hope to get many entries as well as even more readers and voters! I’ll share more on the annual award later but for now there will be a few essays and reviews to come as we venture forth on this journey of murder together.

Happy killing!

Old, current, and definitely worth the watch!

Last week I shared with you my favorite sleuths in literature. Today, I thought I’d share who I love to watch on television! I love a great mystery series. It’s filled with so many ideas and opportunities to “steal like an artist” and I thoroughly enjoy the characters in each and every single one. Now, instead of forcing myself to just pick 5 or expand to 10, this is my honest to goodness list of favorites. Also, because it’s impossible to rank them, they are in alphabetical order by Sleuth name:

FATHER BROWN

A budinsky from the point-of-view of the inspector but an asset to the family of the victim or the falsely accused as he manages to unravel the mystery. I’ve seen all ten seasons and have no issue rewatching them. He has a cast of characters either in the first seven seasons who are my favorite but only because I’ve spent more time with Mrs. McCarthy and her award winning strawberry scones than I have his new fellow sleuths.

As for the actual murders themselves? I will say it feels a bit like another sleuth who will come later in my list. How are there any people left in the village of Kembleford with all the murders. And his parish must be HUGE considering how many of the people he knows personally. But, we’re not watching a show like Father Brown for fact, more for the outrageous fiction.

EPISODE WORTH THE WATCH

If you have an BritBox subscription then you have access to all 10 seasons. I will always recommend starting at the very beginning, but if you only have time for one to help you make the decision to stick around for more:

S.3 E.5 | The Last Man

I don’t typically go for the sappy story but in this case I think it highlights Father Brown best, being a man of the cloth and all. I won’t spoil it, except to say, get some tissues ready for this one. It’s got all the elements necessary for a great Father Brown episode. The first chief inspector (who makes several reappearances and full on return to cast in Season 10!) of the series, Lady Felicia (my favorite character next to the main man), and the never ending question of ones faith pitted against the lost soul grasping at atheism till their last breath. It also leaves us all with hope that friendships can be found, made, and sustained in the most unlikeliest of places. All this from one episode of mystery and murder!

COLUMBO

Known by reputation as being a rather insufferable detective who always “gets his man” (or woman…) there’s just nothing not to like about the man! Of all the sleuths I’d seen growing up, Columbo (and another meddlesome sleuth we’ll meet later) was my first introduction into the world of mystery on television. I remember watching the television movie with my mom. There was something about the timber in his voice that stays with me to this day. And like Hercule Poirot, when he gets angry, I mean really angry, you can feel it in every fiber of your being. The anger reverberates from his vocal cords, through the screen and gets you right in the guts. The man is good and as a writer I take away the lesson of pacing when it comes to this show.

We see the murder happen, from point A to Z, from the POV of the killer. The point isn’t to solve the murder but to see how Columbo catches the killer off guard. That is the brilliance of the man. He knows, I would argue, from the moment he first meets the one we know to be the killer who they are and from that point forward he’s all, “oh, just one more thing” fumbling and bumbling around like the absent minded professor when really he is the consummate genius. I could go on and on about Lieutenant Colombo. Instead, let’s take a look at one of his best episodes and probably my all time favorite.

EPISODE WORTH THE WATCH

You can watch episodes on TUBI for free or if you have a Peacock subscription. I happen to own the entire series on DVD because I want to always make sure I can watch it regardless of a streaming platform.

TV SPECIAL | Columbo Cries Wolf

When Dian Hunter, the publisher of the men’s magazine “Bachelor’s World”, wants to sell her stock to a media tycoon, her adulterous partner Sean Brantley objects. Soon afterwards, Miss Hunter apparently disappears on a London-bound flight.

True confession. I love this episode because of Diedre Hall. If you don’t know who that is then you’ve clearly never watched Days of Our Lives. Anyway, this episode is brilliant if only for the very end on how he catches the killer. I can’t say more than that because it would give so much away. There are countless stars in each episode of Columbo that I could draw from because back in the 70’s and 80’s it wasn’t unusual to see all the movie stars on television dramas such as this as their “launch pad” to movies. It’s also where a lot of the stars from the 50’s and 60’s went to flourish (though some might say otherwise). You honestly can’t go wrong with any episode of Columbo you choose to watch. Though I will suggest to start with his much earlier episodes for peak Columbo.

Oh, and one more thing…I would be remiss if I said nothing about his raincoat! It’s his calling card. Without it he quite literally can’t be himself or use his amazing power of deduction and reasoning. The fact that there is an entire episode centered around this after his wife (Mrs. Columbo) buys him a new coat that he hates and tries to be rid of, says it all.

MURDER, SHE WROTE

J.B. Fletcher is who any author wants to be, with a dash of Agatha Christie for good measure. I’d love to wake up every morning in a quaint little town where someone is murdered every day and it’s up to me to help the sheriff catch the killer! Oh, and on the odd occasion where death takes a holiday, I will sit down at my fabulous typewriter to recount my previous adventures. All quite magical and fantastical and unbelievable as my brother likes to point out to me.

1. How is it possible there is anyone left in Cabot Cove with the number of murders that happen there regularly?

2. How is it possible that wherever J.B. Fletcher goes a body manages to turn up dead?

I’m more interested in the many men who worship at the feet of this widowed woman of many years! She sure does have her fair share of men who all seem to want to sweep her off her feet. And yet, she may tease from time to time, she never goes much further than that. Forever devoted to the only love of her life, her deceased husband. Also, how does she find the time to solve so many murders and write as many tomes as the kind she has. And all bestsellers, of course.

EPISODE WORTH THE WATCH

Seasons 1 – 6 are “Free with Ads” on Amazon Prime. Or, if you have a Peacock subscription you can watch all 12 seasons ad free (depending on the tier you’re paying for). Like Columbo, this is another series where I own it on DVD as well. I relied on Netflix to watch Murder, She Wrote, then they decided to remove the best library of classic television shows ever in favor of original content. Ever since then I made it my mission to buy the series of all my favorite shows so I never had to deal with streaming services telling me what I can and can’t watch.

Now, there are 264 episodes that span 12 years! To select just ONE would be insanity to do. So, I’m just going to suggest this one but it by no means is the best of the best or the rest. You literally have hundreds to choose from!

S.3 E.12 | The Corpse Flew First Class

As was the norm for these kinds of shows, a whole host of stars either just starting out or well known. Among them is Kate Mulgrew. Yes, she portrayed Mrs. Columbo for a season and yes the production studio of Columbo did their best to separate Peter Falk’s character from it as it was not the success they hoped it would be. But that’s a story for another day. On this episode, Kate does not play Mrs. Columbo, instead she is a wealthy woman traveling with her chauffeur who winds up dead and jewelry missing. Did I mention this is all happening on a plane headed for London. Long flight trapped with a murderer. Sounds like a job for J.B. Fletcher!

SHERLOCK HOLMES

There are many actors who’ve tried to be Sherlock Holmes, but none hold a candle to Jeremy Brett. And I am ashamed to say I did not put two and two together to realize that he also played Freddie Eynsford-Hill in the movie My Fair Lady! That man could sing! Both of his songs being my favorite. Those two roles could not be more different from each other and yet he is magnificent in both. They just don’t make actors like Jeremy Brett anymore.

Not unlike another sleuth I’ll mention shortly, he fully embodies the role of Sherlock Holmes, a man plagued by drugs if he doesn’t have what he truly desires, a case that stretches and bends his deductive mind to the limits. Boredom is not something he can stand and the sooner he is able to flex (and flaunt) what he does best with Watson at his side to tell of his exploits, the better.

EPISODE WORTH THE WATCH

It appears to be free to watch on Sling and Crackle, two streaming services I’ve never used so proceed with caution. I watch it with my BritBox subscription which I recommend because there is so much more to watch besides the best Sherlock Holmes in existence. I will admit that Benedict Cumberbatch wasn’t half bad, same for Jonny Lee Miller (from Elementary), but in different and more youthful ways.

S.1 E.1. | A Scandal in Bohemia (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)

Of course I love the machinations of the Red-Headed League and I almost chose that one, if not for The Woman, Irene Adler. What is it with these broody men who choose to live a life alone, save for the companionship of a gentleman only slightly less intelligent than themselves? I’m sure you know who else I speak of, but for Sherlock, he often will speak fondly of Irene. She stole his heart when she managed to outwit him at his own game. That is the kind of woman for him. Alas, she is far too good for him and also the reason for this case to begin with. I love every episode and you would not go wrong to watch any of them because Jeremy Brett is brilliant. But start with the one that is as infamous as The Hounds of the Baskerville and far superior.

THE CLOSER

A good southern girl who moves to Los Angeles to work in the major crimes division. It’s one of the more police procedural shows I love, apart from Criminal Minds (which is not on my list). I almost didn’t include Brenda Lee but I felt she was important to my love of sleuthing. She’ll stop at nothing to single-handedly find the killer. It’s one of the things that’s great and insufferable about her and a change of pace when the spin-off from the show, Major Crimes, was created. In that series the main character takes a vastly different approach. More by the book and team involvement than Brenda Lee.

EPISODE WORTH THE WATCH

To understand better just how great Brenda Lee Johnson is at her job we must look no further than the Shootin’ Newton Murders. A notorious crime of the past that must be brought forward when an army soldier is killed at a nightclub. See, he is mistaken for his brother who is a current gang member. I’m not spoiling much by telling you all of this except to say it’s quite an episode and the reason why I will watch the entire series once a year just so I can get to this pivotal moment in her career.

S.6 E.8 | War Zone

This story crops up beyond just this episode as it culminates in the reason why The Closer ends and makes way for Major Crimes two seasons later. All-in-all it makes for some tremendous television. You will permit me to bring up one more episode that I think is worth the watch as well and doesn’t require watching an entire series to understand.

S.5 E.12 | Waivers of Extradition

In the great state of Texas, executing killers is still alive and well! But Brenda Lee isn’t about to let this killer she just apprehended go, or will she, just because of his crimes. This one will have you squirming in your seat, as many of them do, but it sticks with me. Something about death row and execution that I tend to remember with any series. Anyway, a truck driver is caught and although it may not seem like it at first, he’s far more sinister and hard to take after a while. The ending is also rather shocking, though not if you start to see the pattern of behavior exhibited by Brenda Lee Johnson with regard to this and other similarly vile cases.

There is something about patterns with all of these sleuths that cannot be denied.

HERCULE POIROT

No self-respecting list of the best sleuths on television would be complete without Hercule Poirot portrayed by David Suchet. Yes, yes, I understand there are still many present day actors who are lining up to put their own spin on the legendary character but there can be only one Poirot for me and that is David Suchet. And to date, he is the only actor who has played the role for every novel and (I believe) every short story story that features Poirot in it and was written by Agatha Christie. He is splendid in every episode. There are many that are my favorite episodes. Whether they feature Hastings, Chief Inspector Japp, or even his secretary (in the early years) Miss. Lemon, they are all some of his best work and her best storytelling.

EPISODE WORTH THE WATCH

If you wish to watch David Suchet’s Poirot you will need a BritBox subscription, or be like me and just buy the series on DVD. It’s an invaluable collection.

S.12 E.3 | Murder on the Orient Express

Harkening back to shows of the 70’s, this episode (like so many other remakes before and since) features some big name actors in the most memorable of roles. And at the risk of seeming a bit lax in selecting a rather well known and respected episode as one to watch, my reasoning is simple; this is Hercule Poirot at his most angriest. The crime is unbelievable, and not because it’s on a moving train that gets trapped in the snow with a killer on board. The suspects are all equally capable of committing the crime. And then there is Poirot who is put in a position he never thought he’d be put in. This episode, in my estimation, is the one that solidifies for me why he is the only man worthy and capable of portraying Hercule Poirot. Every other actor before and since have acted in Murder on the Orient Express so if you have the time to watch all of the versions I wish you’d tell me I am wrong. That ending still gives me chills just thinking about it.

NERO WOLFE

A character created by Rex Stout and truly one of my favorites. When I think of a great mystery I only wish I have the intelligence and skill to write one that seemingly takes place, most, if not all of the time, in one location. From the hiring of Nero Wolfe in his office to the solving of the murder also in his office, it makes for fun and excitement from beginning to end. Similar to Sherlock Holmes, Nero Wolfe has his own companion who lives with him, Archie Goodwin. Each episode is narrated by him in much the same way. Archie is Nero’s legs, quite literally, as Wolfe doesn’t ever leave his home. He manages to solve the case from the sturdiness of his chair behind his desk. He’s a rather large man who loves his one kind of beer and has impeccable taste in his food (prepared by his live-in chef) and his orchids (which he keeps a greenhouse on the upper floor of his townhouse). I love the music, the bright colors of the costumes, the overacting of the cast! Oh, and speaking of the cast, I love the way this series was designed. It’s the exact same cast for each episode with the exception of Wolfe, Goodwin, the inspector and the chef retaining their roles, everyone else takes on a new role as suspects (or victims) per episode.

EPISODE WORTH THE WATCH

This appears to be the only show, at present, that I cannot find on any streaming platform. I have been able to find certain ones on YouTube but I wouldn’t trust it one day to the next. I made sure to get the entire series on DVD straight away when I realized it would be the only way I could watch episodes at my leisure.

S1. E.9 | Christmas Party

Tis the season to be jolly, except for Wolfe who believes that Goodwin is engaged and likely going to cease working for him. This will not do. What Wolfe is willing to go through to keep Archie right where he is can seem hard to believe but Wolfe can be, in his own right, a man of many talents. No spoilers here but I will say it’s nestled in as one of the best among the rest that I could easily name. I mention this one specifically because it is that time of year and just in case you fancy spending some time watching a Christmas themed mystery, you can’t go wrong with this one.

What TV Sleuths, either from television or the big screen are you a fan of?

As I worked my way through these I realized all (but one that I’ll leave you to guess which) has a “helper” of sorts as they bumble their way through solving the mystery. Perhaps another one similar to this is in order but taking a closer look at the men (and women) behind the great detectives…

Let me know in the comments (or via email) if you’d be interested in learning more about these “B” characters?

The next two Editorial Wednesday emails will be the last. They will mostly center around schedules for a serial read-along of the first Charles Dickens novel and the release of my own serial starting in January.

Old, current, and worth the read!

I’ve had mystery & thriller on my mind a lot lately. Mostly because I’m in the middle of writing a mystery/thriller serial that will be releasing to paid subscribers starting January 1st, 2024. There will be some teaser things coming for you on Mondays this month but all this got me thinking about my favorite literary mystery/thriller series that I’ve read or I’m in the middle of continuing to read. These series heavily influence the writing I’m doing today. If you have heard of these, then perhaps my serial will be up your alley. And if you haven’t, maybe they sound interesting enough to make you want to give them a try.

THE KOPP SISTERS SERIES by

[Historical Mystery]

I have to admit, I’m putting this first because the writer of these books is actually on Substack and I think that’s amazing! Okay, so, just to make sure I don’t absolutely butcher what this fantastic series is about, here is what Amy, herself, has to say about the series from her website:

Several years ago, I stumbled across a newspaper article about a forgotten woman in law enforcement: Constance Kopp. I was immediately enchanted by her story, and that of her two sisters. For well over a decade, their exploits as crime-fighters and detectives made newspapers nationwide–but they’d been entirely forgotten. I knew immediately that I had to tell their story.

The books have been translated into a dozen languages, and adopted by book clubs and Community-wide Read programs.

But all that matters to me is that I pay tribute to these extraordinary women and give you the chance to love them as much as I do.

There are 7 books in the series out right now, and if you’re in the mood for a story that is far better than fiction about some bad ass sisters who solve crime better than any man ever could, I recommend at least sinking your teeth into the first book, GIRL WAITS WITH GUN.

THE ALEX DELAWARE SERIES by Jonathan Kellerman

[Psychological Thriller]

There are 38 books in this series, with the 39th coming in February 2024. But don’t get overwhelmed by that number. What I love about this series is that you don’t have to read them in order. The first book was published in 1985! And ever since then he’s published at least one book per year in this series about a psychologist who’s friend is a private detective. The detective will lean on his friend, Alex, for help in solving some cases. There is, of course, a bit more to it than that. But I love that the main character solves cases well because of his knowledge in psychology. I came across this series and writer because of a stand alone book called Billy Straight. I was hooked. It was also at a time when being a behavioral analyst with the FBI was high on my career goals list. Suffice it to say, I’m not working for the FBI today (or am I…) but my love of this series still remains to this day.

You can find all 39 in the series here. I’d recommend any of them to start with but for good measure, try his most recent and if you enjoy it, then go back in time to see what thrillers were like when written in the mid-1980s.

HAWTHORNE & HOROWITZ by Anthony Horowitz

[Detective Mystery]

I feel as if this next man needs very little introduction. I’d be surprised if you didn’t already know who he was or his name. Especially if you love mystery television series as much as I do. He has a laundry list of accolades and accomplishments under his hat, but let me mention those which I only just recently discovered myself (after I loved this particular series, that is…).

• He’s written the telescripts for many episodes of my favorite television series: Poirot (David Suchet) and Midsomer Murders.

• Author to other notable series such as:

  • Sherlock Holmes

  • Alex Rider

  • James Bond

If you didn’t know, in order to write within the canon of Sherlock Holmes or James Bond, you would need to be asked (or ask yourself) by the estate that has ownership of the IP. Similar to how Sophie Hannah is currently continuing to write Hercule Poirot mystery books. It is an honor, to say the least, and they don’t ask just anyone to do it. He’s pretty dope and the Hawthorne and Horowitz series is even more dope.

The premise is that Anthony Horowitz is approached by Hawthorne, and semi-washed-up former detective. Strangely enough, Anthony Horowitz finds himself in a similar Watson-esque situation where he’s asked by Hawthorne to write a sort of autobiography. Detailing a case that Hawthorne intends to solve. This could be how he gets himself back in good graces with…well…everybody who’s ever written him off. This unlikely friendship blossoms where Horowitz tags along in order to write the story and Hawthorne solves the cases.

I think what I love more than the connection these two characters have, are the titles of the books. They are so clever. I’ve always wanted to not only write a mystery series that has heart and purpose like these books, but also is accompanied by pretty cool titles as well. I recommend starting with book one, The Word is Murder, and then working your way through them.

THURSDAY MURDER CLUB MYSTERIES by Richard Osman

[Detective Mystery]

I am heavily influenced by British television and literature. You’ll discover this about me fairly quickly. Richard Osman is someone I discovered from watching him on a season of Taskmaster. It’s a great variety show about some UK celebrities (not all comedians) who are given some pretty ridiculous tasks to complete, points are arbitrarily handed out by the host, and the winner at the end gets a useless trophy. My wife and I laugh till we are in tears watching this show. But I digress.

It turns out that many of the participants in this television show also are authors. Richard Osman among them. He’s written a pretty amazing series that is still active today. The 4th in the series has recently released in the states. I like to think of it as a cross between The Golden Girls and Murder, She Wrote.

FLAVIA DE LUCE MYSTERY SERIES by Alan Bradley

[Amateur Sleuth]

Alan Bradley Alan Bradley’s internationally bestselling series follows 11-year-old Flavia de Luce—a precocious amateur detective and aspiring chemist with a passion for poison—as she solves the never-ending mysteries of her small English village.

I love how well written this series is. It just works. You might think it couldn’t because it’s a child solving crimes but it’s no less believable than J.B. Fletcher or Father Brown inserting themselves into a murder to help the authorities bring the killer to justice.

I recommend reading the first book, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, and then going forward from there as they are stand-alone but do follow an order from her first case and so on. I’m not 100% sure the series will continue as Alan Bradley is getting on in age. I’m just glad for the books he has written for us to enjoy.

What, if any, mystery/thriller series have you read or are in the middle of reading?

Next week, I’ll be sharing some television series and episodes that I recommend mostly because they influenced me, in a positive way, to pursue writing my own mystery/thriller series in the future.