Detective of Love

Frankie and the Fashions sing "Detective of Love." Can you remember all the detectives they name?

Another Review from a While Back

� A 1001 MIDNIGHTS review: PETER RABE - Dig My Grave Deep.

A Review from a While Back

� A 1001 MIDNIGHTS review: PETER RABE - Kill the Boss Good-By.

The Youngest Templar: Trail of Fate -- Michale P. Spradlin

This book takes up immediately after the ending of Keeper of the Grail, which is a good thing since that one ended with a real cliffhanger. It's probably no surprise that Tristan, who has the grail in his keeping, survives the shipwreck that closed the earlier novel. He washes up on the shore of France, where he encounters a group of alleged heretics, the Cathars, who are being hunted by the High Counsel. They're also led by a very attractive young woman named Celia, who awakens feelings in Tristan that he's never before experienced.

Robard Horde and Maryam are along, too, and they recognize the feelings for what they are. They also know that Tristan's desire to help Celia stems from those feelings, but they go along with him. This leads to battles, escapes, sieges, and more, with action and color on just about every page. It also leads to another humdinger of a cliffhanger ending.

Tristan, Robin, Maryam, and Celia are great characters and fun to be with. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next installment in this series.

Writer as Delivery Boy

Hand delivering signed copies of One Too Many Blows To The Head on Vimeo: "The brief adventures of a small press author and his attempts to add the personal touch. Making lemonade out of lemons after a shipping error. With thanks to the Mystery bookstore."

Once Again, Texas Leads the Way

Don't let the headline fool you. Bush Intercontiental is the best of the airports covered. Not to spoil the surprise, but Newark is the worst.

Airports From Hell - Page 1 - The Daily Beast: "#1, George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)—Houston
Image: RNewsFoto / Houston Airport System
On-time departures 2009: 86.19%
On-time arrivals 2009: 84.73%
On-time holiday departures: 90% (ranked first)
On-time holiday arrivals: 86%
Average security wait time: 6.1 minutes
Tarmac nightmares: 22nd out 27
Safety: 5th out of 27
Amenities: 8th out of 27"

Captain Midnight

Captain Midnight - Free OTR Shows - Listen Now!: "Captain Midnight was a U.S. radio serial show from 1938 to 1949. Created by radio scripters Wilfred G. Moore and Robert M. Burtt, the program was developed at WGN in Chicago. Sponsored by the Skelly Oil Company, it began as a syndicated show in the fall of 1938, airing on a few midwest stations through the spring of 1940. In the fall of 1940, Ovaltine took over sponsorship, and the series was then heard nationally on the Mutual Radio Network where it remained until December, 1949."

Another intro I loved as a kid. The way the announcer says "Captain" is great. Fifty-six episodes at the link.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a great day. Don't eat too much, and give thanks for all that's right with the world.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

New Stories at A Twist Of Noir

A Twist Of Noir

Alligators in the Sewers!

The Book Behind the Sewer-Alligator Legend - City Room Blog - NYTimes.com: "There was Teddy May, the colorful former superintendent of city sewers, working a mouthful of tobacco with what teeth he had left while spinning his implausible story.

And there with him was Robert Daley, the young writer, asking the questions that would give new life — and credibility — to one of the great legends of New York City."

Great photo at the link, which comes via Boing-Boing. And check out Cryptomundo if you have time.

Gator Update (Life-Changing Edition)

PHOTOS The gator handling grandma and the hillbilly alligator man� Naples Daily News: "Joan Sturgill and Charlie the alligator battled for about two months before they made their peace.

Charlie permanently damaged her knee with his jaws, nearly broke her leg with his tail and put his teeth through her hand. But ask her if it was worth it and Joan, 52, will say yes.

Working with alligators has changed Joan’s life."

13 photos at the link.

Here's Adventure! Here's Romance!

"The Cisco Kid came to radio October 2, 1942, with Jackson Beck in the title role and Louis Sorin as Pancho. With Vicki Vola and Bryna Raeburn in supporting roles and Michael Rye announcing, this series continued on Mutual until 1945. It was followed by another Mutual series in 1946, starring Jack Mather and Harry Lang, who continued to head the cast in the syndicated radio series of more than 600 episodes from 1947 to 1956."

An irresistible intro, and an irresistible show, one of my favorites from my long-lost childhood. The radio version, not the TV version, which also wasn't bad. Two hundred episodes to choose from at the link. Give one a try.

Here's the Plot of Your Next Noir Novel

Man Called "Face of Evil' Gets Death for Murdering Two Girlfriends - KTLA: "A man convicted of murdering his girlfriend because she refused to dispose of his previous girlfriend's body has been sentenced to death."

Blood on the Moon

The Story with No Name Continues!

OPEN RANGE

New Story at A Twist Of Noir

A Twist Of Noir

I Couldn't Resist This One

The Other Coast.

Link via Rhonda Eudaly's blog.

Christmas is Coming

Original King Kong Model For Sale – Neatorama

Mike Hammer Update

Mike Hammer Under Cover � Friends/Family/Fans of Max Allan Collins

Cue the Dueling Banjos

Hunting party from Houston becomes hunted in Mexico | Outdoors | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "Like generations of Texans, nine Houston hunters traveled each autumn into northeastern Mexico's wildlife-rich ranchlands for a few uninterrupted days of shooting game, far removed from the workday world.

But that ended abruptly last month after the men were rounded up, robbed and terrorized by well-armed marauders."

I Didn't Take Them

18 baby crocodiles disappear in Khulna: "Some 18 baby crocodiles disappeared from Karamjal Crocodile Breeding Centre in Dakop upazila of Khulna on Monday.
[. . . .]
Local environmentalist Advocate Firoz Ahmed said missing of 18 crocodiles at a time is mysterious."

Vampires Are Indeed Taking over the Earth

Phoenix Takes Flight With Lost Boys Sequel: "South African pin-up Tanit Phoenix will lead the cast of the upcoming second Lost Boys sequel after signing on to play a romance novelist who hires Corey Feldman's character, Edgar Frog, to track down a missing family."

Which One Did You Have for Breakfast Today?

Ten Worst Breakfast Cereals: "According to Cereal FACTS (Food Advertising to Children and Teens Score), which was developed based on the best available science, in consultation with a steering committee of experts in nutrition, marketing, and public health, the 10 worst breakfast cereals based on nutrition score are:

1. Kellogg - Corn Pops (or Pops) - Chocolate Peanut Butter
2. Quaker - Cap'n Crunch - w/ Crunchberries
3. Kellogg - Special K - Chocolatey Delight
4. Kellogg - Special K - Blueberry
5. General Mills - Reese's Puffs
6. General Mills - Fiber One - Caramel Delight
7. Kellogg - Cocoa Krispies - Choconilla
8. General Mills - Golden Grahams
9. General Mills - Cinnamon Toast Crunch
10. Kellogg - Corn Pops"

Across the Pacific