- John Hansen
- September 13, 2022
Even Hank Searls can’t save ‘Jaws: The Revenge’ (1987)
Hank Searls’ “Jaws 2” (1978) is a prime example of the riches to be found in the novelization form, as it adapts an early draft
Even Hank Searls can’t save ‘Jaws: The Revenge’ (1987)
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- John Hansen
- September 11, 2022
‘Death on the Nile’ (1937) a romantic puzzler on river
Hercule Poirot desires order and method in all aspects of life – not only when solving crimes but also when playing matchmaker. Fans sometimes giggle over
- John Hansen
- September 4, 2022
Christie makes plotting seem as easy as ‘A.B.C. (Murders)’ (1936)
Poirot and Hastings started off as equivalents of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Holmes and Watson, but Agatha Christie wasn’t interested in giving Poirot a Moriarty equivalent.
- John Hansen
- August 28, 2022
‘Murder on the Orient Express’ (1934) a stone-cold classic
If Hercule Poirot could design his own mystery to solve, it would be “Murder on the Orient Express” (1934). Because the train is stuck in
- John Hansen
- August 21, 2022
‘Third Girl’ (1966) an old-fashioned take on modern times
In “Third Girl” (1966) we really see Agatha Christie moving into the Sixties and musing about being out of touch with changing times. She had
- John Hansen
- August 15, 2022
Lincoln Child’s ‘Chrysalis’ peers into virtual future
Lincoln Child dreams big but keeps things in the bounds of plausibility. “Chrysalis” (July, hardcover) might be his wildest vision of the future, but one
- John Hansen
- August 14, 2022
Murder follows Marple across pond in ‘Caribbean Mystery’ (1964)
Try not to think too much about the murders that might be committed in St. Mary Mead while she’s gone, but Miss Marple vacations on
- John Hansen
- August 9, 2022
‘Jaws 2’ novelization (1978) reveals film’s early draft
As I noted in my review of Peter Benchley’s “Jaws” novel (1974), Steven Spielberg’s film streamlined the plot and eliminated all the subplots. In the
- John Hansen
- August 7, 2022
‘Pale Horse’ (1961) adds supernatural spin to mystery
Drawing on the notion that the supernatural is things science hasn’t explained yet, Agatha Christie holds a spooky vibe for most of the page count
- John Hansen
- July 31, 2022
Christie schools us in ‘Cat Among the Pigeons’ (1959)
A school is a great place for a moody mystery. I’ve been drawn to this combination through the years, from “Buffy” and “Veronica Mars” episodes