Per, thanks for the note. You have no idea how much I needed to hear that. I'm delighted that you have been a reader of my blog for so long. I promise to be back. The trouble is - as is often the case - that both of the computers I use to make Classic Mysteries decided to die at the same moment a couple of weeks back. As those computers were both very old - 7 and 10 years respectively - I have had to re-equip myself. This includes not only buying the computers (done) but also learning to use a batch of new programs. That's where I am so far. I will finish (I hope within another week or two) and be back publishing as soon as possible - I already have several reviews written and ready to go, once I know that clicking the "publish" button won't make things disappear. In any case, please do be patient. And again let me say, you have no idea what a boost your email provided. Best, Les Blatt

Thanks, Jon, and I'm glad you are enjoying the blog. Crispin has long been one of my favorites - I've reviewed ten of his eleven books (counting the two collections of short stories). The only one I've missed so far is "The Glimpses of the Moon," his last novel. My favorite is "Swan Song," but they're all excellent. Glad you enjoy him as well!

Thanks, Jason. Please let me know when you publish your review and I'll add a link from here.

Im going to have to dig that one up - I dont think Ive ever read it. Good by Stealth would be a horror story if the central character wasnt so totally out of touch with reality. Its VERY dark humor, but its still quite funny!

Thanks, Bill, and thanks for the link to your site. We've met and talked, I know - I think at Deadly Ink. Lindbergh's historic flight was in 1927, which was the year after "Clouds of Witness" was first published, but she might well have known of the earlier attempts. They were certainly risky!

I think it does show what Christie was able to accomplish at the height of her abilities, Colin. And thanks for the good wishes - I wish you and yours all the best!

Steve Barge, who has written the introduction for Dean Street Press for this book and other Brian Flynn titles, blogs as "Puzzle Doctor" at the In Search of the Classic Mystery blog, which you'll find in my blogroll on the lower right hand column on this page. If you don't already read PD on a regular basis - well, you should, that's all. https://classicmystery.blog/ . I recommend him very highly!

Constant Suicides and Crooked Hinge were both published in the US by the Rue Morgue Press, now sadly out of business. Most of the really good ones still are awaiting their turn. I've always assumed it was a rights problem. I certainly hope it gets cleared up!

I keep hearing rumblings about more of Carr's work (as both Carr and Dickson) being due for re-publication, Colin. I certainly hope that's true. Too many of the best titles have been completely unavailable for a long while. Let's hope it happens soon.

I agree, Colin, the Maigret books can indeed be more than a little dour. I like him best when he shows some basic feelings, as he does in this one, even if he doesn't always understand the source of those feelings.

I agree, Colin. The problem, I think, is that Christie really was trying to merge two dissimilar stories. I don't think she succeeded very well.

I think it's definitely worth rereading, Colin!

I would have to agree that the theatrical part of the mystery was more fun than the "scientific" investigations of Manson. But I thought there was enough balance there to make it worth reading, and I probably will try another of their books.

She certainly had a real talent for misdirection, didn't she, Colin? I do think it's one of her best.

It's been a few years since I read and reviewed "No Wind of Blame," but I did enjoy the book. It may be the funniest of Heyer's books. If you're still looking at some of her other titles, you might consider "Envious Casca" - again, as I recall, I liked that one a lot; it may be her best.

I'm glad you did enjoy it, Colin. I understand your feeling a bit let down by the ending - I felt an awful lot got thrown at us in the last few pages - but I did think the Wainwrights were an interesting lot of people.

Agreed, Colin. As a general rule, the novellas are written more tightly, there's no need to be padding out the story with extra deaths for example. But the real selling point for all the Nero Wolfe books is the whole 35th street group of characters. We keep going back to visit the brownstone and to catch up on the people who live or work there. I find re-reading these books to be as enjoyable as reading them for the first time.

Thank you for the catch, Jon. I can't believe I did that. It's a useful lesson to me about NOT trying to write and type on the morning after a too-large holiday weekend dinner the night before. In my own defense, at least I DID get the name right on the podcast version. And, yes, she is available on Kindle - that's the version I read as well. Again, thanks - I think I've corrected it now.

Oh, Gladys Mitchell is an acquired taste - no argument - but it's a taste I have found I can enjoy. My favorite (should you want to try her again) would be "A Hearse on May-Day," where the sharp contrasts between Mitchell's bizarre humor and some fairly horrifying scenes really do play well together.

I think you'd enjoy this one, Colin. I've read others of Blake's books and would recommend him as an author of unusually good plots in well-written books - probably not a surprise coming from a man who became the Poet Laureate of Britain. I haven't been to the Greek islands, but this book makes me realize some of what I missed. Have you read Gladys Mitchell's "Come Away Death" by the way? Mrs. Bradley meets the Mysteries at Eleusis...

Colin, I'm delighted to see Moyes's books coming back and made available to new readers. It's been a while since I read "Third Dog," but I remember it as being very well written, with good twists and a vaguely-recalled ending which left me cheering for the dog. I'll be reading more of hers, as the series re-appears.

I've heard a lot of people say they prefer Woman in White, Colin. It's been so long since I last read it, I'm not qualified to comment - looks like I should put that back on the To Be Read pile. Thanks.

As it happens, mystery historian Curtis Evans posted an interesting and quite relevant entry about Sgt. Beef (and Sgt. Cribb and others) on his blog, The Passing Tramp (at http://thepassingtramp.blogspot.com/2018/04/some-time-for-sergeants-consideration.html ). As always with his posts, it is well worth your reading time.

"The Murder of my Aunt" is due out in the States in September, and I'm looking forward to it - it seems to follow the same general pattern you mention. That's what I like best about Hull's books, and you're right - it's a great way to reveal a character's character, so to speak.

For more info day-of (such as, maybe, when will this be over) you can go to http://status.typepad.com