Hello fellow readers!

I know it ended weeks ago but I have to say, January was an odd little thing this year, wasn’t it? It felt as if the month was a train racing along one minute and stuck on the tracks the next (and, on a few days, completely off the rails). I’m beyond ready for warmer weather. Lately, all I’ve wanted to do is burrow under my weighted blankets and wait for the sunlight to return. I need those longer spring/summer days so I can stop disappearing into the darkness.

Also, side question, how much weight is too much to be sleeping under? I have two blankets right now that amount to about 35 pounds which creates a lovely cocoon for me to hide in, but I do worry sometimes that I’m slowly flattening my internal organs.

And now, your regularly scheduled links…

Shifts in Publishing and Reading

At Maybe I Overshared, Alex Brown breaks down recent insights on bookstore trends from the CEO of Books-A-Million and it sounds like today’s readers are speedily shifting to everywhere all at once. Old school ideas are no longer the norm. Shout out to Jane Friedman for the note about this article.

Via The New York Times, Elizabeth A. Harris provides an excellent history of the mass market paperback novel amid news that publishers will no longer be focusing on producing the handy little pocket novels. (Paywalled)

Meanwhile, Kelly Jensen of Book Riot reports that 40% of Americans did not read a single book in 2025 and Sam Spratford at Publisher’s Weekly reports Shein is expanding into book selling.

On Cosmopolitan, Annabel Iwegbue asks if “Bookstreaming” can save the literacy crisis.

From Impakter, Anastasiia Barmotina shares how publishers address the carbon footprint of books.

Let’s go to the library

PBS has created a documentary called The Librarians focusing on, well, librarians, politics, and the battle over book restrictions. In related news, Book Riot’s Kelly Jensen explains the impact of the recent Little v. Llano County court case.

Ariane Komyati at Straight Arrow News examines the hidden costs of ebooks, specifically in libraries.

At Mental Floss, Lorna Wallace shares a list of 6 unusual libraries that aren’t home to books.

Reading Fun

Unsure how or why to annotate your books? Cassandra Fushia at Bookstr has answers.

Thriller Thursday and Lauren Nossett roundup a list of what scares thriller writers the most in their writing.

Ever wondered what character you’d be in a traditional English murder mystery? Olivia Rutigliano at Crime Reads has the answer.

At Book Riot, Emily Martin provides a list of new and upcoming mystery books to try on audio.

Carmella Lowkis contemplates family curses in fiction on CrimeReads.

Kirsten Weiss has a great list of hygge mysteries (and an explanation of what hygge is) that are perfect for these cold, dying days of winter.

Reda Rountree is talking about the role of trains in mysteries at Only Murders in the Inbox.

And…the trailer for Spider Noir is out.

Valentine’s Day was last weekend. February’s flying by!

As I looked up links for this article, I did a short dive into weighted blankets and yes, 35 pounds is too much for several reasons. 5 - 12% ish of a person’s body weight is considered a safe amount. I shall have to retire one of my blankets to the bench at the end of the bed and give up my cocoon. How disheartening!

Ah well, I was going to have to put the blankets away soon I suppose. The days are warming up, although you can’t really tell by the amount of snowcrete left in my driveway from the storm at the end of January.

Thanks for reading!

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The links I provide are for reader convenience. Unless I specifically state I endorse a product, service, or opinion, these links should be viewed as being for informational purposes only. Clicking any of the links above will take the reader to an external site. A. Kate Willett and MysteryPlease! is not responsible for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links on the site. Any questions pertaining to an external site and its content should be directed to the administrator of the external site in question.

If any link is found to be broken or unsecure, please notify A. Kate Willett and it will be updated or removed immediately.

TLDR: At the time of publication, all links above are in working order and legitimate. But, considering the Internet is constantly tinkered with by good and bad actors, clicking any of the links above is at your own risk.

Hello fellow readers!

The holidays are here and I’m scrambling like crazy right now to get all of the THINGS done. My Clue Advent Calendar: Secrets Under Snowfall (I love Clue, I love advent calendars, and I love having them both in one fun package) is the only reason I can keep track of the days. In addition to our usual content, I’ve added a list of gift ideas in case you’re still searching for the perfect gift for your book lover. So, let’s just dive on in!

The Links

According to Brittney Melton at NPR, there’s a book vending machine in DC.

Maureen Lee Lenker explores Red herrings, skateboards, and Carrie Fisher: An oral history of mystery classic Clue over at Entertainment Weekly. Very interesting behind the scenes of the movie.

The Official Agatha Christie website offers both a decadent Yule Log recipe for the holidays and an interesting tidbit about the origins of Hercule Poirot’s Christmas (you’ll find it in the Did You Know…? section of the page).

Adam Thomas of Murder At The Manse reviews two holiday books with very different approaches to the season.

At It’ll Be Fun, They Said, Jess Pan regales us with her adventures in bookselling, the charm of New York, and the bittersweet sting of change.

I adore Cornell Woolrich’s writing and, at CrimeReads, Adrian McKinty has a great article on the claustrophobic atmosphere behind Woolrich’s short story, “It Had to be Murder”, which later became Hitchcock’s Rear Window.

At Mental Floss, Lorna Wallace lists seven authors who owned unexpected pets. My favorite is the backward walking chicken.

The MysteryPlease! 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

NOTE: The items listed below are not endorsed by me, they are simply cool things I’ve found online. Some I have used and can vouch for (I will note this next to the item) but otherwise please be prudent in your purchasing.

Out of Print

Eat, Read, and Be Merry cozy socks

Merry Bookmas mug

Have Your Shelf a Literary Christmas bookmark

The New York Public Library Shop

Recipes for Murder: 66 Dishes That Celebrate the Mysteries of Agatha Christie by Karen Pierce

A Tiny Diary for Tiny Thoughts

Tidy The Library: The Original Card Game for Book Lovers

Uncommon Goods

The Book Lover’s Oracle Deck (this one’s on my list this year)

No-Pressure Reading for Fun Journal (I have and love this reading journal!)

Future Bookworm Literary Building Blocks

Paper Source

Winter Velvet Book Pouch

TBR Book Stack Cozy Socks

This Is My Bookstore: 100 Postcards Of Beautiful Shops Around The World

The Reader’s Catalog

“WHERE IS THE LIBRARY?” Language Pencils

Card Catalog Notecards

Waterstones

Little Miss Marple: Muddle at the Vicarage - Mr Men Little Miss Agatha Christie Mysteries

Mr. Poirot: Mystery on the Nile - Mr Men Little Miss Agatha Christie Mysteries

Chronicle Books

Nouveau One Line a Day: A Five-Year Memory Book (I have a this and it’s a super convenient way to quickly record your day-to-day)

Theatrical Adventures of Edward Gorey

Rifle Paper Co

Embroidered Book Journal

Bookshelf fleece blanket

Barnes and Noble

Macbeth Weird Sisters Tote Bag

The Edgar Allan Poe Collection

The Agatha Christie Collection

The Sherlock Holmes Collection

Literary Charades

Other

CLUE: Peanuts Snoopy board game at Urban Outfitters

Fabulously Flat Paper Pens at Bas Bleu

“Easily Distracted by a Good Mystery” Book Plush at Punchkins (I have this and it’s adorable!)

Cover to Cover 2026 Desk Calendar at Calendars.com

You Are the Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder at Penguin Books (This one’s on my list this year)

Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook at Lego (I have this and it is awesome)

Okay, that’s it from me until 2026. Here’s hoping you all have a safe and happy holiday season and a happy New Year!

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The links I provide are for reader convenience. Unless I specifically state I endorse a product, service, or opinion, these links should be viewed as being for informational purposes only. Clicking any of the links above will take the reader to an external site. A. Kate Willett and MysteryPlease! is not responsible for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links on the site. Any questions pertaining to an external site and its content should be directed to the administrator of the external site in question.

If any link is found to be broken or unsecure, please notify A. Kate Willett and it will be updated or removed immediately.

TLDR: At the time of publication, all links above are in working order and legitimate. But, considering the Internet is constantly tinkered with by good and bad actors, clicking any of the links above is at your own risk.

This post is copyrighted by A Kate Willett. Large Language Models (LLMs) and the AI bots trolling the web for content to train LLMs on do not have my permission to use my work for this or any other purpose.

Hello fellow readers!

I don’t know about you, but starting October 1st in my house we’re all reading, watching, and living Halloween until the 31st. It’s scary movies and scary stories all day, every day. It’s the one time of year we truly embrace the spookiness, and I love it. I like to keep the focus on Halloween and tend to lean toward Halloween themed stories and movies for my picks. My husband complained about my choices being like Hallmark Christmas but for Halloween, so I’ve amped up my game a bit and last night succeeded in scary the ever loving life out of him. It was awesome. Best Halloween ever!

And now, your regularly scheduled links…

This Is Halloween

Since Friday’s the big day, let’s start with a chunk of Halloween themed links to get the party started!

First up, Reda Rountree at Only Murders in the Inbox offers several suggestions for how to spend your Halloween night. First up, she has a list of 4 different ways to get comfy on the couch with a weekend of murder. Then she has a list of 5 murder mystery horror flicks for Halloween. Werewolves Within is one of my favorites from the selection.

We’ve got two link recommendations from Retro Ramblings as well: A list of old Halloween specials you might have forgotten (I’m going to check out the Rue McLanahan one!) and a nostalgic essay on the school harvest festival back in the day.

Agatha Christie official has an entire section devoted to Halloween with puzzles and pumpkin carving templates.

Finally, if you’re still searching for that perfect last-minute costume, CaLea Johnson at Mental Floss has suggestions for which Halloween costumes are trending in 2025.

The Inner World of Authors

Kat Long at Mental Floss challenges you to match Edgar Allan Poe quotes with his stories.

At The Guardian, Stephen King explores the dark brilliance of Daphne du Maurier.

Back again at Mental Floss, Jane Alexander explains how a book marketing ploy almost ruined Edgar Wallace while Sher Hackwell follows the twisted trail of Bram Stoker’s notes for Dracula.

Meanwhile, Lauren Noss and other authors via Thriller Thursday reveal what thriller writers call research.

Odds and Ends

I’ve always been fascinated by the vanishing of Dorothy Arnold. Dr Nell Darby has a great right up about the case on Secret Sleuths.

Kirsten Weiss explains why she’s given up reading for fun.

We’ll end with two more links from Only Murders in the Inbox. Reda Rountree does a deep dive into the role of the final girl in horror, then she reveals that Clue, my most favorite board game ever, is becoming a reality competition show on Netflix!

I’ll close with a question recently posed in one of my mystery group chats: What’s your favorite “murder song”? This could be a decades old ballad or something contemporary. Lot’s of great suggestions came up (from “The Wexford Girl” to Richard Marx’s “Hazard”). My personal favorite is “Delilah” by Tom Jones.

And that’s it. Stay safe this Halloween and thanks for reading!

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The links I provide are for reader convenience. Unless I specifically state I endorse a product, service, or opinion, these links should be viewed as being for informational purposes only. Clicking any of the links above will take the reader to an external site. A. Kate Willett and MysteryPlease! is not responsible for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links on the site. Any questions pertaining to an external site and its content should be directed to the administrator of the external site in question.

If any link is found to be broken or unsecure, please notify A. Kate Willett and it will be updated or removed immediately.

TLDR: At the time of publication, all links above are in working order and legitimate. But, considering the Internet is constantly tinkered with by good and bad actors, clicking any of the links above is at your own risk.

This post is copyrighted by A Kate Willett. Large Language Models (LLMs) and the AI bots trolling the web for content to train LLMs on do not have my permission to use my work for this or any other purpose.

Hello fellow readers!

Here’s something I never knew existed until the past few months: Lantern flies. They have invaded my area of the world. These bugs look like cicadas with pretty wings. They have about as much sense of direction as cicadas too. It’s causing all sorts of chaos for one member of my family, who is bombarded by them every time she waits for a bus. Someone told me they kill trees and have no purpose, they’re just a nuisance.

Their wings are pretty, though.

And now, your regularly scheduled links…

It’s All True

An older article, but still relevant. On CrimeReads, Rachel McCarthy James discusses Beth Klingensmith, the Villisca murders, and the graduate school research paper that helped solve a crime.

Also on CrimeReads, Maria Malone argues that people, contrary to popular belief, do sometimes just vanish.

Yet again on CrimeReads, Lisa Black shares what she learned in CSI school.

This article on Magnifico, a UK site about magnifying glasses, lets you have a peek at a Scotland Yard “murder bag” and learn about Sherlock Holmes’s iconic sleuthing accessory.

Speaking of Sherlock, Dr. Angela Buckley discusses Manchester’s Sherlock Holmes on The Detective’s Notebook.

And at The Stiletto Gang, Lois Winston says When Life is Stranger than Fiction, Stick it in a Cozy Mystery Novel.

The Private Worlds of Authors

Olivia Mason at Murder & Mayhem discusses Mary Roberts Rinehart and how she invented a new kind of mystery.

At Chicks on the Case, Cynthis Kuhn reveals odd little events that have recently happened her life and asks if any one can explain the shenanigans she’s experiencing.

Something Is Going To Happen has an article by Dennis McFadden in which he shares the writing process for his latest story.

Rhys Bowen explains why she wishes fall would go away on Jungle Red Writers.

Finally, Agatha Christie’s official website’s article on food in Christie novels has a delectable treat at the end: A recipe for Delicious Death Chocolate Cake.

Speaking of Death…

Luke Winkie at Slate explains what Doom Moms are.

Mental Floss’s Bess Lovejoy rounds up the 12 Most Beautiful Cemeteries Around the World.

Odds and Ends

Adam Thomas shares his top 5 1920s mysteries on Murder at the Manse.

Olivia Rutigliano declares that the Best Movie Genre is One Where a Party at an Estate Goes Horribly Wrong on CrimeReads.

M.E. Proctor explores the no-rules rules of crime fiction at The Roll Top Desk.

Kristin Weiss wonders if cozy mysteries are going the way of the superhero movie.

Meanwhile, EA Mayes asks if writer-detectives are reviving a tired genre on Mysteriousities.

At Only Murders In The Inbox, Reda Rountree celebrates Agatha Christie’s birthday with a roundup of of some of Christie’s best mysteries.

And that’s it for September. Up next: Spooky season. I’ve already got a bag of Reese’s Peanut butter cups shaped like bats and ghosts on my kitchen counter. One or two have mysteriously disappeared from the bag already. Will it last until October 31st?

Thanks for reading!

Subscribe now

The links I provide are for reader convenience. Unless I specifically state I endorse a product, service, or opinion, these links should be viewed as being for informational purposes only. Clicking any of the links above will take the reader to an external site. A. Kate Willett and MysteryPlease! is not responsible for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links on the site. Any questions pertaining to an external site and its content should be directed to the administrator of the external site in question.

If any link is found to be broken or unsecure, please notify A. Kate Willett and it will be updated or removed immediately.

TLDR: At the time of publication, all links above are in working order and legitimate. But, considering the Internet is constantly tinkered with by good and bad actors, clicking any of the links above is at your own risk.

This post is copyrighted by A Kate Willett. Large Language Models (LLMs) and the AI bots trolling the web for content to train LLMs on do not have my permission to use my work for this or any other purpose.

Hello fellow readers!

September is barreling toward us. How did your summer go? I never made it to the beach or pool because I was taking developmental editing courses and working on art projects in my spare time. And catching up on reading after my months-long dry spell, of course! My most recent read was Thirteen Months Haunted, a light horror novel by Jimmy Juliano. I enjoyed it, but not as much as his debut novel, Dead Eleven. I do recommend you give Thirteen Months Haunted a try if you’re a fan of series like The Exorcist or The Conjuring.

And now, your regularly scheduled links…

It’s Back to School Time

For fun, here are a few articles for teachers about incorporating mystery into lessons.

Mystery Writers of America (MWA) has a page devoted to helping educators teach the mystery genre to students.

Amanda at Engaging and Effective Teaching has tips on hooking older students on mystery (without a murder).

PBS Learning Media is a wealth of crime information and lessons for teachers (but be warned sensitive topics may be addressed).

And, at Edutopia, Andrew Mills has advice specifically for Using a Murder Mystery Game in History Class to Kick Off the Year. He even offers a lesson planning guide to get other teachers started.

Want to read school mysteries instead of teach them? Check out Vera Kurian’s article about The Dark Pleasures of School-Based Mysteries on CrimeReads or the list of Dark Academia: Mysteries Happening at Elite Prep and Boarding Schools created by the staff at Arapahoe Libraries. Or try out one of the books on Sara Farmer’s list of Cozy to Cold-blooded: Boarding School Mysteries at DIY MFA.

Finally, on Thriller Thursday, Lauren Nossett interviews Amie Schaumberg about The Campus as Crime Scene: Amie Schaumberg on Murder, Myth, and the Death of a Beautiful Woman.

Cozy, Cozy…Gothic!

EA Mayes’ Mysteriousitites wonders: Is Cozy a Genre or a Growing Quiet Revolt?

On BookTrib, Valerie Burns examines The Comfort of Chaos: Why Cozy Mysteries Matter in a Violent World.

Julie K discusses An Easy Introduction to a “Gothic” Mystery over at Mystery Minutes.

Up Your Book Cred

Lucy Knight of The Guardian delves into How ‘books by the metre’ add the final touch to your home – or your image.

At Mental Floss, Chason Gordon explains How Book Nooks Bring Magic Little Worlds to Your Bookshelves.

It’s History

Dr. Nell Darby of Secret Sleuths spins the true tale of The female detective who caught a Lady.

At CrimeReads, Sulari Gentill recounts her experience on the famous train in The History of the Orient Express.

Dr. Angela Buckley of The Detective’s Notebook reveals The Science of Sleuthing in the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

And, last but not least, Adam Thomas at Murder at the Manse provides a thorough review of both Dorothy L. Sayers and the book The Letters of Dorothy L. Sayers.

I’m closing out this edition with something very off-topic: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s engagement news. Of all the articles that have popped up about this announcement, the BBC’s take is too inventive and unexpectedly refreshing to not share.

Thanks for reading!

Subscribe now

The links I provide are for reader convenience. Unless I specifically state I endorse a product, service, or opinion, these links should be viewed as being for informational purposes only. Clicking any of the links above will take the reader to an external site. A. Kate Willett and MysteryPlease! is not responsible for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links on the site. Any questions pertaining to an external site and its content should be directed to the administrator of the external site in question.

If any link is found to be broken or unsecure, please notify A. Kate Willett and it will be updated or removed immediately.

TLDR: At the time of publication, all links above are in working order and legitimate. But, considering the Internet is constantly tinkered with by good and bad actors, clicking any of the links above is at your own risk.

This post is copyrighted by A Kate Willett. Large Language Models (LLMs) and the AI bots trolling the web for content to train LLMs on do not have my permission to use my work for this or any other purpose.

Hello fellow readers!

I cannot believe it’s the end of July. Where has the summer gone? I’ve been swamped with projects, reorganizations, and family matters. I haven’t even had time to (gasp!) read. How about you guys? Is your summer turning into a whirlwind of chaos too?

And now, your regularly scheduled links…

Want To Try Your Hand At Writing Mysteries?

Grant Hudson at Clarendon House Publications spells out how to write a simple detective story. Loads of great advice in here!

Zara Altair via ProWritingAid offers tips and plot twist ideas. I’ve found Altair to be a fountain of valuable information on mystery writing in my own research. Again, great stuff here.

Another wonderful place to check out is Career Authors, where Laura DiSilverio has an series breaking down the individual elements in mysteries.

Meanwhile, if psychological thrillers are more your cup of tea, Karen Osman reveals how to write a gripping one over at Thriller Thursday.

And if you want a mini-masterclass in writing mysteries, check out Jane Kalme’s extensive series over at The Perfect Crime. Alternatively, you could pick up a copy of , her new book, The Tangled Web, a guide to writing complex plots.

Binge Watches

Julie K on Mystery Minutes reviews Netflix’s amazing Dept. Q.

If you have a BritBox subscription, I highly recommend BBC’s Death Valley and Ludwig. Both mix humor and mystery in a delightful little package. Bonus, I believe both have already been renewed for second seasons. Honestly, it would be worth subscribing to BritBox for a month just to binge these. There’s only about six episodes each.

At Only Murders In The Inbox, Reda Rountree offers a list of twelve classic Murder, She Wrote episodes perfect for devouring in a few sittings. .

It’s Science!

Dr. Angela Buckley of The Detective’s Notebook provides a fascinating and in-depth look at the science of sleuthing for Victorian and Edwardian detectives.

In The Guardian, Ella Creamer reports on a new tool for identifying deadly books (the infamous ones where arsenic was used to create the green book covers).

This is probably more mechanics than science, but it was interesting so I’m including it here. On Mental Floss, Jake Rossen explains the differences between deadbolt locks and why they are called by the name.

Odds and Ends

Can image if, in 1972, you wrote a letter to Agatha Christie and she wrote you back with personal advice for your own writing? At the Library of Congress, an article by Lewis Wyman tells the story of one lucky fan experiencing just that!

Raegan Teller studies the changing shape of storytelling on Mystery and Musings with Raegan Teller.

Gloria Chao via Crimereads explores why murder and humor go so well together.

At Mental Floss, Ellen Gutoskey reveals 8 bookstores in which you can spend a amazingly bookish night.

Mark Coggins shares the history behind his purchase of a typewriter that once belonged to Raymond Chandler. If you love typewriters like I do, you’ll love this article.

Finally, I haven’t read Stephen King’s Bill Hodges trilogy, but I can absolutely appreciate Stephen Lee’s breakdown of the investigative techniques used in Holly in his very spoiler filled article on Modern Detection. If you haven’t read the book but plan to, avoid this one.

The dog days of summer are almost over. I can’t say I’m going to miss them. I always get an urge to read Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine about this time each year. Maybe I’ll make that my first read after my unexpected reading dry spell? Stay cool everyone!

Thanks for reading!

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The links I provide are for reader convenience. Unless I specifically state I endorse a product, service, or opinion, these links should be viewed as being for informational purposes only. Clicking any of the links above will take the reader to an external site. A. Kate Willett and MysteryPlease! is not responsible for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links on the site. Any questions pertaining to an external site and its content should be directed to the administrator of the external site in question.

If any link is found to be broken or unsecure, please notify A. Kate Willett and it will be updated or removed immediately.

TLDR: At the time of publication, all links above are in working order and legitimate. But, considering the Internet is constantly tinkered with by good and bad actors, clicking any of the links above is at your own risk.

Hello fellow readers!

It’s mystery con season! I’ve only attended two of the biggies myself, Bouchercon 2020 via Zoom (because Covid) and Malice Domestic 2018 and 2019 in person. Sadly, Sleuthfest, Left Coast Crime, etc have remained out of my reach due to distance and finances. Here’s a super comprehensive list of these cons from the Mystery Writers of America Norcal Chapter. Be sure to research and see if an event is a good fit for you before buying tickets. Some of these cons are directed at fans/readers and some are focused on the writing craft.

If you’re curious what goes on at mystery cons, mystery author Ellen Byron at Chicks On The Case posted about the most recent Malice Domestic earlier this month (and dispels a misconception that prevents many readers from attending). Malice Domestic holds a dear place in my heart because my first published story was included in the 2019 Malice Domestic anthology (“Murder Takes The Cupcake”, Mystery Most Edible). At the close of each Malice Domestic, the next anthology’s information is announced and Mystery Most Senior is the current theme, in case you’d like to submit your own story for consideration. If you do, best of luck with your entry!

Bottom line, if you love mystery novels and want to connect with fellow mystery lovers, go to a con. You never know who you’ll meet or what may happen.

And now, your regularly scheduled links…

Speaking of writing cons…

If you are considering writing your own mystery story with law enforcement for Malice Domestic’s anthology or another platform, keep these tips on What Every Writer Should Know About Real Policework by D. L. Williams on Killer Nashville in mind. You can find information about the next Killer Nashville conference while you’re there.

Not all cons are amazing experiences. I’m talking about fiascos like the now infamous A Million Lives Book Festival that recently happened in Baltimore, MD. Leigh Stein at Attention Economy has an excellent write-up on what went wrong at A Million Lives and how it could have gone better, based on her personal experience in organizing writing cons.

Blasts from the Past

Did you know Abraham Lincoln wrote a true crime novel? Read all about it on Mental Floss, courtesy of Jake Rossen.

Also on Mental Floss, are you a paperback fan? If so, you’ll want to check out the story of How Paperbacks Transformed The Way Americans Read.

At CrimeReads, Tom Milani contemplates The Enduring Influence Of James M. Cain.

EA Mayes’ Mysteriousities examines the underlying America Dream at play in Alfred Hitchcock’s adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith classic, Strangers On A Train.

In his newsletter, Equip Story, Geoffrey Golden talks powerpoint parties, VCR games from the 80s, and (briefly) Clue.

Books and Book Clubs

On Murder at the Manse, Adam Thomas has two book reviews that caught my eye. The first is for Writing the Murder, edited by Dan Covon and Richard V. Hirst. I adore essay collections on mystery writing by mystery writers. The second is for Agatha Christie’s Marple: Expert in Wickedness by Mark Aldridge (yes, the same one who contributed to the BBC Maestro Agatha Christie class). I have this one, but haven’t been able to properly dig into it yet. Thomas’s review has made me excited to do so.

John Copenhaver of The Twisted Plot celebrates the satisfaction of a successfully written slow burn novel.

At The Big Thrill, Tracey Devlyn shares author recollections of unexpected happenings during book club events. My fav is Heather Gudenkauf’s cave story.

Mystery Mashup

Ever wondered what jobs some of today’s writers had before publishing their first words? Lauren Nossett at Thriller Thursdays has some surprising answers.

On One Tired Mother, Jessica Payne reveals How to Stage Your Own Disappearance on Mother’s Day.

Not Mystery Related

But still important. A plea from Ann Handley to use a “surprising new A.I.”—Analog Intelligence.

That’s all for this edition. One last note, I’ve completed BBC Maestro’s controversial AI Agatha Christie class and will be posting a write up of my thoughts in the next week or so.

Thanks for reading!

Subscribe now

The links I provide are for reader convenience. Unless I specifically state I endorse a product, service, or opinion, these links should be viewed as being for informational purposes only. Clicking any of the links above will take the reader to an external site. A. Kate Willett and MysteryPlease! is not responsible for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links on the site. Any questions pertaining to an external site and its content should be directed to the administrator of the external site in question.

If any link is found to be broken or unsecure, please notify A. Kate Willett and it will be updated or removed immediately.

TLDR: At the time of publication, all links above are in working order and legitimate. But, considering the Internet is constantly tinkered with by good and bad actors, clicking any of the links above is at your own risk.

Hello fellow readers!

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’m trying to chip away at the massive TBR pile I’ve acquired over the years. My goal is to create a personal library full of books I can randomly pull off the shelf and fall into at any point at any time. For instance, T Kingfisher’s novels The Twisted Ones or The Willows. Or Grady Hendrix’s Witchcraft for Wayward Girls. Or Simone St. James’s The Broken Girls. Or Jimmy Juliano’s Dead Eleven. Books that will instantly transport me to another world and immerse me in the story in a heartbeat.

This stipulation, that I be able to fall into the book for it to live on my shelf, means that many other wonderful books (and a few not so great) have not made the cut. The story ends up being more of a one-and-done situation that I won’t want to relive again. I now have a stack of these in my closet waiting to be donated or taken to the used bookstore.

Which brings me to my question for you. What keeps a book on your shelf? A good story? A beautiful cover? An author that you love who’s novels have a reserved spot?

And, on the flip side, what do you do with the books you choose not to keep? Gift them to friends? Donate them to your local library for a book sale? Guilt yourself into keeping them anyway? Let me know in the comments!

And now, your regularly scheduled links…

So Much Nostalgia

On Thriller Thursday, Carter Wilson explores how our rose tinted memories of the good ol’ days may be darker than we think, and why that’s a good thing for thriller writers.

And, while the subject is more about teen mystery than nostalgia, Reda Rountree of Only Murders In The Building dedicates a paragraph of her article High School Can Be Murder to Christopher Pike and I love her for that. Also, the other suggestions are awesome as well. Also also, they’re rebooting I Know What You Did Last Summer for a new generation. How do we feel about this? I was less than impressed with the Scream franchise reboot.

Speaking of Mr. Pike and teen fiction, Alissa Burger’s section at Reactor is loaded up with tons of articles on teen horror and mystery that will be sure to spark nostalgia in a lot of hearts.

Mystery In General

EA Mayes examines the uptick in mystery novels with multiple POVs instead of one POV of truth.

Kirsten Weiss solves the Mystery of the Missing Glasses (complete with a reenactment video).

Julie K at Mystery Minutes explores the power of location and setting in mysteries.

At CrimeReads, Olive Rutigliano takes a deep dive into critical reception in 1985 of the movie Clue.

Also at CrimeReads, Sarah Weinman presents a fascinating article about Howard Haycraft, Mystery’s First Great Historian.

Cozy and Surprising Spaces

Ever wondered what 221b Baker Street would’ve looked like in real life? Visit The Sherlock Holmes Pub in London and wonder no more! Via Atlas Obscura, Luke Spenser reveals that upstairs, above the bar, is a life-size copy of the apartment Holmes shared with Watson.

Sarah Laskow, also via Atlas Obscura, has a great piece with photos about the New York Public Library’s Last, Secret Apartments.

At Mental Floss, Luke Spencer (who may or may not be the same Luke Spencer mentioned above) lists 9 Notable Buildings with Secret Floors.

Wrapping up this architectural themed section, the 2008 New York Times article “Mystery On Fifth Avenue” by Penelope Green details what it’s like to live in an apartment that’s also a puzzle.

Library Love

Lela Nargi on Mental Floss shares 19 Secrets of Public Librarians.

Again via Mental Floss, Jake Rossen presents 25 Amazing Facts About Libraries.

Interested in Nancy Drew and Mildred Wirt Benson (Drew’s first ghostwriter)? If you’re in Toledo, OH there’s a collection of cool Drew items to peruse that were donated by Jennifer Fisher, a Nancy Drew expert, from her personal collection.

On PBS’s site, Anthony Ha points out 10 Different Ways Libraries Make Our Lives Easier.

That’s all for this edition. I hope Spring’s treating you well, wherever you are. Here, everything’s green and lush. I love it!

Thanks for reading!

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The links I provide are for reader convenience. Unless I specifically state I endorse a product, service, or opinion, these links should be viewed as being for informational purposes only. Clicking any of the links above will take the reader to an external site. A. Kate Willett and MysteryPlease! is not responsible for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links on the site. Any questions pertaining to an external site and its content should be directed to the administrator of the external site in question.

If any link is found to be broken or unsecure, please notify A. Kate Willett and it will be updated or removed immediately.

TLDR: At the time of publication, all links above are in working order and legitimate. But, considering the Internet is constantly tinkered with by good and bad actors, clicking any of the links above is at your own risk.

Hello fellow readers!

The Atlantic recently published an article on how Meta trained its AI*. Every writer I know is in a justified uproar. In short, Meta used Library Genesis or LibGen, a shadow library for file sharing, for its AI training. I’m still unsure what LibGen is exactly. The descriptions I’ve read online suggest it’s akin to a free library of sorts. Maybe like the notorious Internet Archive? To stock this “free” library, LibGen pirated who knows how many copyrighted works and made them readily available to their users.

This copyrighted work is what Meta used to teach its AI. Or stole, I should say. The Atlantic article provided a tool to search the LibGen database also. Thousands of authors are finding their books in it. Some with 20+ books have been horrified to discover all of their work up for grabs in the database.

Remember those six crime fiction novels I ghostwrote? All are in the database. So, if I have any writers in the house, you might want to check out The Atlantic’s article for your own work. Here again is the link to do this. And, if you do find yourself a victim of this theft, the Authors Guild has created a page where you can tell Meta to stop using your work.

And now, your regularly scheduled links…

* Subscription required unfortunately but you can read enough in the preview to get the idea.

Spinsters, Spinsters, Everywhere

Gretchen Rue at CrimeReads shines a light on the single women who rule cozy fiction.

Also on CrimeReads, Katherine Hall Page remembers Dolores Hitchens and the early days of the “spinster sleuth”.

Meanwhile, Nina Stochlic enlightens readers on Rose Mackenberg, who probably posed as a spinster or two as she worked along-side Houdini to unmask fraudulent mediums.

Fun and Games

Test out your deduction skills at Mystery-O-Matic, where “A mystery a day, keeps the coroner away!”. How high can you get on the Sleuth-O-Meter?

Jonathan Bailey at Plagiarism Today offers insight into the bizarre IP history of Clue/Cluedo.

I love this breakdown on Danger Mouse, one of my favorite childhood cartoons, by Jon at Animated.

If the Walls Could Talk…

Back at CrimeReads, Gigi Pandian examines architectural misdirection in mystery novels.

In an older but still interesting article at The Denver Gazette, Jennifer Wilson recounts the shocking discovery during a home remodel of a man’s confession to a nineteenth century murder written on a board nailed to a wall. If you’d prefer a more recent article on the discovery (and more photos), Mike Walker at Atlas Obscura has you covered.

Be Kind to Your Mind

Things have been a bit slapdash in the world the past few months. If your anxiety’s been spiking (like mine has), Kirsten Sundberg Lunstrum via CrimeReads suggests we read a mystery to calm our anxious minds.

And, in case anyone needs to hear it, the amazing Jenny Lawson is here to remind us that there’s beauty in imperfection. Embrace it.

Odds and Ends

Laura Miller at Slate offers Sweater Detective show recommendations to warm you in these still chilly days of early Spring.

On LitReactor, Brian McGackin evaluates Agatha Christie’s first novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles.

If you're looking for your next missing persons mystery to read, Jamie Canaves at BookRiot has suggestions. And, if you’re searching for new mystery, thriller, and true crime adaptations to watch instead, Canaves also has eight of them for you to check out.

That’s all for this edi...Ah, wait. I mentioned kittens in the subtitle, didn’t I?

Meet Charles and Oliver, the six month old lil’ darlings who chose us to be their forever family. If you’re wondering about the names, we’re big fans of Only Murders in the Building around here, so Charles and Oliver made sense for our new boys.

Thanks for reading!

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The links I provide are for reader convenience. Unless I specifically state I endorse a product, service, or opinion, these links should be viewed as being for informational purposes only. Clicking any of the links above will take the reader to an external site. A. Kate Willett and MysteryPlease! is not responsible for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links on the site. Any questions pertaining to an external site and its content should be directed to the administrator of the external site in question.

If any link is found to be broken or unsecure, please notify A. Kate Willett and it will be updated or removed immediately.

TLDR: At the time of publication, all links above are in working order and legitimate. But, considering the Internet is constantly tinkered with by good and bad actors, clicking any of the links above is at your own risk.

Before we get started, I want to acknowledge the huge loss of life and land in the recent California wildfires. I am a member of the Sisters in Crime (SinC) LA chapter and International Thriller Writers (ITW) organizations. Both have provided links for making donations to the people who have lost everything they had. While I have not vetted these personally, I do trust both organizations and want to share the information they provided to their members with you. The SinC LA chapter has provided links from the California Governor’s Office to assist relief efforts. ITW has partnered with the American Red Cross and Butter to host an auction for Authors in LA.

Please use due diligence when interacting with these or any links after a tragedy. Unfortunately there are many heartless people out there eager to prey well-meaning folks after events such as this. I urge you to examine the information in the links provided above and decide for yourself if you are comfortable making a donation. Do not donate blindly to any charity without ensuring they are who they appear to be.

Also, I am a member of the SinC LA chapter, but I am not located in California and thus have not been directly affected by the wildfires. My heart goes out to those who have. There are profiles on news sites that give names and faces to the people who have lost and the people who have been lost. The victims and the heroes. I urge you to take a moment to read a few of these in remembrance.

And now, your regularly scheduled links…

Reading and Writing in 2025

Kelly Jensen has 56 Small Tasks to Be Proactive Against Book Censorship in 2025 and Beyond on Book Riot.

Also on Book Riot, Isabelle Popp shows you How to Establish a Reading Habit.

At Blackbird Writers, Amanda Marbais explains how to “Read Like a Writer”.

Daniel Kanitz explores the art of writing Thrillers in the Time of Smartphones at Crimereads.

Reading and Writing in General

Parker Peevyhouse discusses 7 Rules for Satisfying Murder Mysteries at The Writer’s Attic.

Reda Rountree tells us How To Escape A Killer In Five Easy Steps and provides a super list of Funny Mystery-Themed Episodes of Non-Mystery Shows You Love at Only Murders In The Inbox.

On Something Is Going To Happen, Jackie Sherbow offers tips for Learning How to WFH with EQMM.

Isa Arsen discusses Why We Tell The Same Stories Over And Over Again (And Get Something Different Each Time) while Alex Pavesi revels in The Joys Of Mystery Fiction’s Most Enduring Tropes over at Crimereads.

On Mysteries & Musings by Raegan Teller, Teller reveals The Weight of Secrets in storytelling.

If you’re looking for reading recommendations, Emily Burack lists 21 of the Best Classic Murder Mystery Books of All Time at Town & Country.

Odds and Ends

I agree with Jonathan Edward Durham’s seasonal take in The Cold Hard Truth About Winter on his substack. Would that we could just hibernate until Spring!

On the other end of the discussion, the Jungle Red Writers list the things they love about this cold time of year in The Grateful Days of Winter.

On Instagram, @spookylittlebooknerd has a marvelous idea for a fun way to work though your TBR pile.

Mental Floss’s Mark Peters serves up a list of 19 Old-Fashioned Words for Writers that’s interesting, including Bookwoman, or a woman who loves or writes books.

Lastly, you should check out Receipt from the Bookshop by Katie Clapham. She provides a unique perspective on bookstores from her role as a bookseller.

I find I have less anxiety when there’s a feline around to knead biscuits into my thigh and purr into my ear. Hence, the cat photo at the top, because 2025 is off to a…start…of some sort, and I’m sure there are others like me who are twenty-two days in and feeling a little anxious. With the second and fourth most destructive fires in California history and a blizzard in the Gulf Coast (???) happening within days of each other, its shaping up to be a doozy of a year.

Stay safe out there, readers.

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The links I provide are for reader convenience. Unless I specifically state I endorse a product, service, or opinion, these links should be viewed as being for informational purposes only. Clicking any of the links above will take the reader to an external site. A. Kate Willett and MysteryPlease! is not responsible for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links on the site. Any questions pertaining to an external site and its content should be directed to the administrator of the external site in question.

If any link is found to be broken or unsecure, please notify A. Kate Willett and it will be updated or removed immediately.

TLDR: At the time of publication, all links above are in working order and legitimate. But, considering the Internet is constantly tinkered with by good and bad actors, clicking any of the links above is at your own risk.

Is it me, or is December flying by? More importantly, have you gotten all your shopping done, or are you one of the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants shoppers who head bravely out on Christmas Eve to pick up some gifts?

My INFP self got all the shopping done at the very beginning of November because my anxiety and crowds do not mix. The bummer is I miss out on a lot of great sales, but c’est la vie.

This holiday is different for us this year. It’s the first in seventeen years that we haven’t had a cat clawing at the wrapped gifts under the tree or trying to paw chunks of sugar cookies off a plate. Still, I’m thankful for this year and the things I’ve learned about life and about myself.

How was 2024 for you?

And now, the links…

Still trying to find a gift for the special bookworm?

I recently published 9 Online Stores With Fun Gifts For Bookworms. In case you’re still stuck on what to give, here are some other bookish lists of gift ideas.

Manon Wogahn, author of the magnificent Cluesletter, has a fabulous lookbook of gifts on her site.

Over at Book Riot, Kelly Jensen has a list of the Best Bookish Gifts Under $30.

Crimereads and Olivia Rutigliano have released the Crimereads 2024 Holiday Gift Guide.

Eleanor Pilcher of That’s What We Read offers a list of Cosy Gifts For Book Lovers.

At FictionMatters, Sara Hildreth lists several thoughtful items in A Small Gift Guide For Big Readers.

And last but not least, Deedi Brown of Deedi Reads gifts us with the jam-packed Ultimate Bookish (Non-Book) Holiday Gift Guide.

No matter what kind of reader you’re shopping for this year, one of these lists has got to have something they’d love!

When in doubt, a gift card to a book store is a solid choice. Thinking of going rogue and getting your book lover a book not on their list? Peter Derk at LitReactor has some thoughts on that you might want to look over first.

Have Yourself A Spooky, Murdery Little Christmas

People regaled friends with spooky stories during the holidays long before Dickens’s A Christmas Carol was published. Grady Hendrix examines the origins of the Christmas ghost story in How The Holidays Became Haunted at Reactor.

Christmastime is for merriment and joyful spirits. So Why Do We Read Crime At Christmas? Fans chime in on the official Agatha Christie site.

Be A Better Reader In 2025

Claire Swinarski at Coffee With Claire shares How To Be A Good Literary Citizen In 2025.

On Reactor, Molly Templeton implores readers to get loud about the books they love. Now.

If you aren’t sure what to read next, Michelle Debczak at Mental Floss suggests trying out TheLibraryMap.

Just For Fun

Did you know you can vote for future Lego products at Lego Ideas? It’s not just all superheroes there, folks. Check out this pitch for an amazing Lego replica of the iconic Clue board. I’d absolutely buy this if it was released!

Curious about when a word was first used in print? Or what words were added to the dictionary, officially coming into existence, the year you were born? Check out Time Traveler on the Merriam-Webster site.

I just finished watching A Man On The Inside on Netflix and, oh my. It was so satisfying. Ted Danson’s character infiltrates a retirement home to discover who’s stealing items from the residents. This show is more about the characters than the mystery and it’s excellent. Amazing performances by everyone involved and a touching storyline that transcends the mystery subplot. 100% recommended.

I hope the end of 2024 finds all of you well, dear readers. Good luck to those of you still braving the shopping malls and navigating festive get-togethers. Happy holidays and happy New Year! See you in 2025.

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The links I provide are for reader convenience. Unless I specifically state I endorse a product, service, or opinion, these links should be viewed as being for informational purposes only. Clicking any of the links above will take the reader to an external site. A. Kate Willett and MysteryPlease! is not responsible for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links on the site. Any questions pertaining to an external site and its content should be directed to the administrator of the external site in question.

If any link is found to be broken or unsecure, please notify A. Kate Willett and it will be updated or removed immediately.

TLDR: At the time of publication, all links above are in working order and legitimate. But, considering the Internet is constantly tinkered with by good and bad actors, clicking any of the links above is at your own risk.

I’m excited to announce I’m starting a reading club next month and invite you to join! The book we’ll read together is Murder at the Mill by M. B. Shaw. We’ll read one or two chapters and discuss what we’ve read at the end of each day. I’ll post a more specific schedule for our readings next week. Can’t wait to talk to you guys about the book!

And now, the links…

THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING. GET READY.

Heading home for the holidays? Agathachristie.com will show you how to pack like Poirot.

Looking for a new mystery to read on the trip home for Thanksgiving (or to escape into once you’re there)? Check out this list of shocking first lines from mystery novels from Book Riot’s Elisa Shoenberger for some solid suggestions.

Need some television entertainment instead? Reda Roundtree of Only Murders In The Inbox recently posted a list of where you can watch the best murder mysteries for free. It’s a loooong list.

And if you’ve been enjoying the changing colors of the season, drop by Blackbird Writers where Christine DeSmet discusses how Fall colors can inspire plots and characters for authors.

TRUE CRIME CORNER

Over at Crimereads, Janet Beard offers an insightful look at murder ballads.

Atlas Obscura and Nina Strochlic explore the mystery of Monsieur de New York, the ingenious celebrity hangman of the mid-1800s.

Alice Nuttall contemplates the ethics of true crime on Book Riot.

Moving on to Something Is Going To Happen, Kevin Mims takes a deep dive into Netflix’s The Perfect Couple and laments the way television shows gloss over the true and hard work of being a real detective. Note: this article contains spoilers for the show.

COZY CORNER

The Jungle Red Writers share 5 things they can do that others can’t. They also confess 5 things they’re not good at.

Meanwhile, the Chicks On The Case writers reveal the books they sneak read when they were growing up. Fun fact, my mom’s (attempted) sneak read was Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levine. She was a young teen when it was published and tried to check it out of the local library. It was a small town and the librarian called my Gran for permission to lend it to her. Gran nixed that in the bud and mom still hasn’t read the book.

Finally, also at Chicks On The Case, Lisa Q. Mathews spins the tale of the apartment she once shared with a poltergeist because the rent amount was too good to give up.

That’s it for today! It feels good to be back at the keyboard after such a long hiatus. I’ll be back in your inbox next week with the details on the reading club. Until then, keep reading!

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Well, it’s an interesting time to be a Murder, She Wrote fan.

A new movie based on the series was announced to be in the works. Several years ago, I remember the idea was being thrown around to do a series reboot, but fan protest was too loud (there was even a bit of pushback at the time from Jessica Fletcher herself, Angela Lansbury). Octavia Spencer was set to take on the titular role, and I for one would’ve loved to see her in it. She has a lovely range in her acting and always comes off as poised but welcoming, just like Jessica.

FYI, the show has also recently been revived as a young adult mystery series with one of Jessica’s numerous nieces taking over as the lead sleuth. The second book in the series comes out on October 31st. I purchased the first book out of curiosity, but haven’t gotten around to reading it yet. It’s still in my TBR pile.

Murder, She Wrote also made an appearance on the picket lines of the WGA strike. Angela Lansbury’s son, Anthony Shaw, was on hand alongside a handful of others associated with the show to protest.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming movie? I’m curious about who they’ve picked to play Jessica. If Octavia Spencer’s no longer available, Jamie Lee Curtis would be great.

I’ve got a great link roundup for you below. And, quick reminder, you can find more mystery related content at @moremysteryplease on Instagram.

THE BIRTH AND DEATH OF TWO GREAT MYSTERY WRITERS

On LitReactor, Christopher Schultz wishes Agatha Christie, born on September 15th, a happy birthday and offers an interesting take on my favorite of her novels, And Then There Were None.

And, in an older article over at Smithsonian Magazine, Natasha Geiling reflects on the tragic and mysterious death of Edgar Allan Poe. He died on October 7th. As I mentioned in a previous newsletter, October is a big month for Edgar Allan Poe lovers this year. Beyond the obvious (ahem, Halloween), the Edgar Allan Poe International Festival is October 7th and 8th in Baltimore.

Additionally, his famous short story, The Fall of the House of Usher, has been remade into a limited Netflix series by Mike Flannigan and drops on October 12th.

BOOTLEGGERS AND GANGSTERS

Rebecca Hesse at Mental Floss gives readers a lineup of 8 gutsy gals who kept the alcohol flowing during Prohibition.

Meanwhile, at Something Is Going To Happen, Joseph Koenig relays the exploits of journalist Florabel Muir, who wasn’t afraid to rub elbows with gangsters if it got her the scoop.

BOOK BLIPS

J. Kingston Pierce shares an opinion piece from a 1905 newspaper article declaring the “decline and fall of the fictional sleuth” on The Rap Sheet.

Over on CrimeReads, you can find an excerpt from translator Lucia Grave’s introduction to the Folio Society’s edition of Carlos Ruiz Zafón’s beloved novel, The Shadow of the Wind. The Folio Society is known for its beautiful (and super pricey) limited editions of well-known novels and, looking at the thumbnails on the site, this edition of The Shadow of the Wind doesn’t disappoint.

Jacqueline Feldman, via The Paris Review, provides insight on how Paris booksellers are preparing for next year’s Summer Olympics.

On her site, Margot Kinberg muses that solving the mystery of a whodunit hinges on the sleuth getting to know the victim.

At Terrible Minds, Chuck Wendig lays out why being a writer right now is weirder and more worrisome than before.

And lastly, Lupin Part Three drops on Netflix October 5th. Somehow, this slipped past my radar until now. Part One and Two were amazing, so I’ll definitely be binging this in a couple of weeks.

And we’re at the end of this newsletter. I’ll be back in a couple of weeks with more links. Until then, here’s a list of three mystery themed games I enjoy that you might too:

1. Gloom by Atlas Games (CARD) - Okay, technically this isn’t a mystery game. The goal is to wipe out your “family” and leave only death and destruction in your wake. But, a large portion of the gameplay is each player coming up with an original storyline on the spot or adding on to an existing one. Because of this, crafting a game with wicked mysteries intertwined isn’t difficult. The story, and the direction it goes, is in your hands.

2. Agatha Christie - Hercule Poirot: The First Cases by Microids (VIDEO GAME) - It takes a minute to get the hang of utilizing the mind map and making connections, but my daughter and I are having a blast trying to deduce our way through this game. We’re playing on Playstation, but the game’s available on other platforms as well.

3. Rear Window by Funko (BOARD) - I’ve mentioned this game on Instagram. One player is the director and, through trial and error, the other players determine if the director’s movie involves a murder and, if so, who did it.

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Detroit Publishing Co., Copyright Claimant, and Publisher Detroit Publishing Co. Headless horseman bridge, Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, N.Y. North Tarrytown United States New York State New York, None. [Cbetween 1910 and 1920] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2016812432/.

Halloween’s a few weeks away and, if you like to decorate with a literary nod, you should check out the offerings at Michaels craft stores this season. Edgar Allan Poe is well covered, with many items devoted to the man and his raven (including the Poe on a toilet figure which seems to be a joke that I don’t get). And there’s a (paltry) few items dedicated to Mary Shelley, which depict the Universal Studios image of Frankenstein (green skin and bolts) instead of hers (yellow and scarred skin with flowing black hair).

Happily, I also discovered a handful of items devoted to Washington Irving’s Ichabod Crane. It’s a story I’ve always loved, from Irving’s original text to Walt Disney’s animated cartoon with Bing Crosby to Tim Burton’s big screen adaptation, Sleepy Hollow.

Fun fact, the photo above is of the modern bridge that serves as a monument to Crane’s final ride, but wasn’t built until the early twentieth century. The original bridge Irving used as a reference for his terrifying tale is no longer around. You can read more about Washington Irving and Sleepy Hollow on the Visit Sleepy Hollow site.

I’ve got a great link roundup for you below. And, quick reminder, you can find more mystery related content at @moremysteryplease on Instagram.

IT’S LIBRARY CARD SIGNUP MONTH

Jenn McKinlay at Jungle Red Writers posts about the benefits of the local library and why everyone should have a library card.

This one’s an older post via Penguin Random House with a list of excellent books featuring libraries and librarians.

AGATHA IN THE NEWS

There’s a new Agatha Christie in Wallingford, and this time she’s bronze. The town’s installed a new statue near the Wallingford museum as a tribute to Christie’s residency in the town.

On the other side of the pond, Kiki Dy of Eater Carolinas introduces readers to Agatha’s Coffee and Tea House in Savannah, GA. The restaurant isn’t officially associated with the famous writer, but, with it’s circa 1930s decor and “legend” about a suspected murderer, Agatha Harper, threaded into its theme, might be the perfect eatery for any Golden Age mystery lover.

BOOK BLIPS

Ever wondered why writers use pen names? On Book Riot, Elisa Shoenberger has answers.

On CrimeReads, Mark Waddell discusses his favorite settings for charming murders.

Also on CrimeReads, Lauren Muñoz examines how Golden Age murders have influenced current YA mysteries. Side note, I’ve read Muñoz’s Suddenly A Murder and it’s fantastic.

Lewis Buzbee details the struggle of saying goodbye to books and why it’s necessary on Literary Hub.

Criminal Element has an article by Nina Simon about three things she wishes she’d known before writing her first murder mystery.

At Something Is Going To Happen, take a ride with Gabriela Stiteler as she explores the joy of thrift stores and pulp magazines.

Liberty Hardy at Book Riot lists authors who do double duty as booksellers.

And we’re at the end of this newsletter. I’ll be back in a couple of weeks with more links. Until then, here’s a list of two fairly new mystery novels and one upcoming novel I’ve enjoyed recently that you might too:

1. Last Night at the Hollywood Canteen by Sarah James - 1940s murder mystery with a fast talking sassy style.

2. Grave Expectations by Alice Bell - A medium, a ghost, and a country house murder with strong characters and a twisty plot.

3. The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard- The bond between sisters is tested when one of them goes missing. The ending in this one left me devastated.

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October’s shaping up to be a big month for Edgar Allan Poe. Anyone in the Baltimore/D.C. region can head over to the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival and Awards event on October 7th and 8th. There’ll be tours, the Black Cat Ball, other cool events, and lots of vendors with unique items. I was lucky to go to one a few years back, before Covid hit, and had a lot of fun.

The next week, on October 12th, you can catch Mike Flannigan’s version of Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher. So far, Flannigan’s Netflix projects have been excellent. I’m hoping this one will be too. (Sidenote: The Haunting of Hill house was amazing, but Midnight Mass continues to haunt me daily. Some viewers thought the series was too monologue-y. For me, watching it felt like being sucked into a great book. I suppose because of all the talky bits.)

I’ve got a great link roundup for you below. And, quick reminder, you can find more mystery related content at @moremysteryplease on Instagram.

IF MURDER, SHE WROTE MET LOVECRAFT AND HAD A BEAUTIFULLY COZY WEIRD BABY

This article from Meaghan Colleran at Bell of Lost Souls (BoLS) reminded me that the role-playing game Brindlewood Bay exists, I bought it a while back, and I really want to play it. Even if you aren’t a big RPG fan, the play book for Brindlewood Bay and its supplement book, Nephews in Peril, is entertaining reading. Not like reading a novel, sure, but if cozy, off-kilter mysteries are right up your alley, check it out.

BOOK BLIPS

At Fine Books & Collections, Nate Pederson interviews Charles Ardai, founder and editor of Hard Case Crime, about rediscovering the lost Rex Stout novel, Seed On The Wind, and his journey to get the book back in production. It’s being re-released by the imprint in November. I was also excited to read at the end of the interview that also on the horizon for Hard Case Crime is the release of Cornell Woolrich’s unfinished final novel (completed by the amazing Lawrence Block!).

Elizabeth Zelvin at Trace Evidence wants to know if you love mysteries for the crimes or the characters.

The next time you’re in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Atlas Obscura suggests stopping by the El Ateneo Grand Splendid, formerly theater and cinema, to shop for books.

On Slate, Dorie Chevlen lays out the benefits of getting rid of books to declutter your life.

CBS Weekend News reports on residents at an Ohio senior living center who banded together and wrote a mystery novel titled The Old and the Beautiful. Residents took turns writing the sections of the completed book. A sequel, The Old and the Beautiful Season Two, has also been released. From the book descriptions and the title, both books have a murdery soap opera vibe and I am loving it.

And we’re at the end of this newsletter. I’ll be back in a couple of weeks with more links. Until then, here’s a list of three crime mystery films I’ve enjoyed recently that you might too:

1. The Outfit - Tense suspense and twisty plot. Kind of feels like watching a stage play. Great performances by everybody, but Zoey Deutch and Dylan O’Brien were my initial reason for watching.

2. See How They Run - A theater production of Christie’s The Mousetrap goes awry in mid-century London.

3. Invitation to a Murder - An And Then There Were None knockoff with Mischa Barton and murder in 1930s England.

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Hello mystery friends,

Well, the big talk in the publishing world this week centered once again around AI, but with a twist. Jane Friedman, well renowned in the writing world for her books on writing and all around publishing savvy, hasn’t put out a new book since roughly 2018. So, she was shocked when a handful of new books purported to be written by her popped up on Amazon. Jane was successful at getting the books removed (finally), but her article indicates other authors are having the same issue. Books being pirated is nothing new. Scammers generating AI content and publishing it under an established author’s name and brand, essentially claiming to be the author in an effort to fool trusting readers into purchasing the book, is. The fake books even included introductions commending Jane on her contributions to and knowledge of the writing and publishing business. The moral of this story for readers is to look closely before purchasing your favorite author’s new release. If the author hasn’t promoted or even announced the book’s upcoming availability, that’s a red flag. Ye’ve been warned, my friends.

Let’s move on to nicer conversation topics, shall we? I’ve got a great link roundup for you below. And, quick reminder, you can find more mystery related content at @moremysteryplease on Instagram.

LIFE IS STRANGER THAN FICTION

When Emma Rosenblum’s debut mystery novel manuscript was leaked to residents of the beach town she set it in, oddness ensued. Per Rosenbaum “things started getting weird”.

In 1975, Jack H. Hetherington had a problem. Specifically, that problem was the royal “we” used throughout the physics paper he written and wished to submit to Physical Review Letters, who only accepted the royal “we” on manuscripts written by more than one author. Doing so would require hours of work. This was before the days of laptops and find-replace. In the 70s, manuscripts were typed on manual typewriters and mistakes required either the aid of correction tape or retyping. Enter Hetherington’s cat, F.D.C. Willard. Eric Grundhauser tells the story on Atlas Obscura.

PAGING JESSICA FLETCHER

Francine Paino muses how Jessica Fletcher (and Columbo) help her with housework on Austin Mystery Writers.

On NextAvenue, Laurie Bain Wilson discusses Jessica Fletcher, her father Donald Bain’s ability to bring Cabot Cove to life in the books based on the television series, and Kennebunkport.

BOOK BLIPS

Margot Kinberg ruminates on how hopes and dreams can lead to murder in many mystery novels.

Via The Sydney Morning Herald, Keith Austin explains why Hay-on-Wye is like “a Willy Wonka factory for book lovers”.

At The Guardian, Ella Creamer reports on Rolling Stone drummer Charlie Watts’s extensive book collection of modern editions which is heading to Christie’s for auction this September. Most interesting to me are his first editions of Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle novels.

Sara Bader of Literary Hub discusses the ways in which famous authors have mourned for their pets after their beloved animals' passings.

On Something Is Going To Happen, Andrew McAleer provides exclusive excerpts of the conversations between his father, John McAleer, and Nero Wolfe creator Rex Stout during interviews from 1972 and 1975 for the book Royal Decree: Conversations with Rex Stout.

Also on Something Is Going To Happen, Kevin Mims examines who the first baby boomer was in detective fiction.

I’ll leave you here with a fun chance to Solve Your First Space Murder, courtesy of another Substacker, Adventure Snack. If you loved Choose Your Own Adventure books when you were a kid, you’ll enjoy perusing Adventure Snack’s archives.

Happy reading until next time,

Kate

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Hello mystery friends,

Hopefully you’re squeezing in some reading time this summer between work and vacation and surviving the heat. Anthologies are a great way to get in some reading without sacrificing too much time. I recently read Thriller (edited by Don Bruns), a collection of short stories based on the title of Michael Jackson’s songs. Tons of awesome stories by talented writers. Thumbs up by me all around. Totally recommended.

Enough small talk. I’ve got a great link roundup for you below. And, quick reminder, you can find more mystery related content at @moremysteryplease on Instagram.

BARBIE WHODUNNIT

Since 2014, a mysterious artist has graced a Washington, D.C. neighborhood with colorful Barbie doll installations to celebrate holidays and comment on huge events. The who and why of the artist is not know.

MORE CHRISTIE THE NEWS

After the huge section devoted to her in the last newsletter, I hadn’t intended to even mention Agatha Christie in this one, but here we are.

Earlier this month, 100 people were trapped on the grounds of Greenway House, Agatha Christie’s English manor home, when a the road in and out of the property was blocked by a large tree.

Also this month, a series of mysterious bangs during the night in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, kept residents guessing at the source for several days. Wallingford, incidentally, is both where Agatha Christie lived for many decades and where the popular crime drama Midsomer Murders was filmed.

BOOK BLIPS

On her blog, Judy Penz Sheluk offers a touching reflection on Kinsey Millhone, Sue Grafton, and the alphabet that will always end with Y.

At The Graveyard Shift, Lee Lofland provides an amusing assessment odd but true things that have happened at the Writers’ Police Academy over the years.

Margot Kinberg offers several examples from mystery novels for not placing or responding to ads in the newspaper.

On Something’s Going To Happen, Meghan Leigh Paulk recalls her real-life brush with a true crime story.

Yvonne Glasgow, via Glam, provides 14 creative ways to organize books for coziness.

Over at Atlas Obscura, Jennifer Byrne recounts the unusual way Milwaukee residents recently celebrated the history of typewriters.

And, closing us out, Mark Mancini at Mental Floss notes the return of 11 ridiculously overdue books.

I’ll end with a friendly reminder that season 3 of Only Murders In The Building begins August 8th on Hulu. Although, I won’t be watching it until sometime in October. I have no patience to wait between episodes, yet holding off on viewing and sidestepping spoilers until the entire season’s aired just so I can binge it all at once is no problem. I often wonder how I ever watched live television at all.

A fellow mystery fan,

Kate

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Hello mystery fans,

Happy July! The heart of summer is upon us. And the heat. I’m so glad the humidity where I live now is low. I grew up in the south, where walking outside in July was like trying to move through a sweaty, gloopy dish of gelatin. Here’s hoping you’re somewhere with either kick-butt AC or a strong summer breeze.

On we go. I’ve got a great link roundup for you below. And, quick reminder, you can find more mystery related content at @moremysteryplease on Instagram.

CHRISTIE, CHRISTIE, CHRISTIE…

There’s tons of fun coming up for fans of the Queen of Crime over the next few months.

First up, the International Agatha Christie festival is happening September 8 -17, 2023 in Devon.

On the video game front, two new cases arrive for Poirot to solve. If you played Hercule Poirot: The First Cases and loved it, be sure to check both out, First up is Hercule Poirot: The London Case, arriving on August 29, 2023. Next, look for Agatha Christie: Murder On The Orient Express on October 19, 2023.

A Haunting In Venice, based on Christie’s novel Hallowe’en Party, releases September 15, 2023. If the spooky and gorgeous trailer is any indication, this should be a great movie for the season.

And on September 12, 2023, artist Bob Al-Greene releases his graphic novel adaptation of Christie’s Murder On The Orient Express.

MORE ON AI IN THE NEWS

On Daily Dot, Gavia Baker-Whitelaw details how AI-generated books are spamming Amazon’s offerings, making legitimate books more difficult to discover. If you purchase ebooks, be sure to check that what you’re paying for is the real deal.

BOOK BLIPS

G.T. Karber reveals the origins of Murdle, the online murder and logic puzzle sensation that’s spawned a recently released book version with more volumes to come in the near future.

If your a book lover living near British Colombia, Rob Gibson’s report on one West Kelowna woman’s free book garage might interest you.

Lee Lofland lays out 6 Reasons Why A Detective’s Job Isn’t As Glamorous As You Believe at The Graveyard Shift

Jakob Povl Holck and Kaare Lund Rassmussen report on a handful of books found to be hazardous to the reader’s health in the University of Southern Denmark’s library collection.

He takes collecting to the extreme, but I relate to the desire displayed by the subject of Arlene Schulman’s article detailing one man’s intense love for his books. Although I do enjoy pulp fiction. And cats. There, we differ. Also, I feel for his poor family. Living in a maze of books and being second to the novels on a shelf must be upsetting.

What makes a book perfect for the beach? Elise Moser breaks down the essence of a beach read in this Book Riot article from 2020

DEAD BOY DETECTIVES IS A GO…AGAIN

The live-action television show of the comic series Dead Boy Detectives is back on. HBO Max, who originally proposed the series and spotlighted the characters in an episode of Doom Patrol (another DC comic adaptation), has sold the project to Netflix. Excited can’t describe how anxiously I await this series after the disappointment of the show never materializing on HBO Max and then getting scrapped by the channel’s new powers that be. I’m a huge fan of the series for its intriguing concept of two ghosts who choose to stay in the living world to solve crimes instead of going gently into their good nights.

And, because this is the time of year where bees and swimming can mix at lakes and pools, here’s an article on one way to not escape from being stung. When I was younger, I ducked under the water in the pool to avoid the myriad of bugs shooting through the air. Apparently, that’s not always advisable.

Stay safe this summer!

A fellow mystery fan,

Kate

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Hello mystery fans,

It’s the inaugural issue of MysteryPlease! I thank you for taking a moment out of your plans to join me.

Speaking of, how’s your summer going so far? June and July are usually busy for me. That’s when a lot of the writing conferences I attend are happening. The dog days of summer are approaching too which, for a heat-sensitive human like myself, can be ruff (ba dum tss).

I recently got into a “robots are taking over the world” conversation with a friend. Points were made about how AI is changing the publishing landscape and authors are nervous. My personal opinion is that AI is a huge and concerning unknown gray area, but it can’t replace human writers. That doesn’t mean it’s not harming us in other ways. And AI is a major sticking point for the folks in the ongoing WGA strike. What’s your take on AI (in general, not just related to publishing)?

On to the fun stuff. I’ve got a great link roundup for you below. And, quick reminder, you can find more mystery related content at @moremysteryplease on Instagram.

AI’S TACKLING THE MYSTERY GENRE

Laura Miller’s Slate article examines the differences between AI generated plot and prose in Death of an Author, a mostly AI “written” mystery created by Stephen Marche.

That might explain why even artificial intelligence can’t solve the puzzle of Cain’s Jawbone, puzzle-expert Edward Mather’s 1934 novel published with all of its pages out of order, despite Kenna Hughes-Castleberry creating an entire competition focused on just that.

TIPS FOR READERS TO GET ORGANIZED

Scott Parker at Do Some Damage offers up a fun way to track what you read and watch.

While at LitHub, Emily Grosvenor provides excellent suggestions for corralling overflowing book collections.

BOOK BLIPS

Grady Hendrix and Riley Sager, two of my favorite authors, discuss horror and thriller novels in this CrimeReads article.

Also on CrimeReads, L.M. Chilton explains why dating is like a whodunnit and Olivia Rutigliano presents her list of The 19 Most Polished Detectives in Crime Film and TV.

At Book Riot, Carolina Ciucci provides clues for how to tell if you’re the detective or the sidekick in a mystery novel.

Jake Rosen tells the true and unsolved tale of Virginia’s TV Fairy at Mental Floss.

And on Something Is Going To Happen, Bev Vincent discusses mystery novels post-pandemic and whether they should ignore or reflect current world events.

SLY’S POE DREAM

Did you know Sylvester Stallone has been working on an Edgar Allan Poe screenplay for decades? I didn’t until I came across this mundane article about Adele refusing to buy Stallone’s house unless he left the Rocky statue by the pool. Stallone started drafting a biopic on the iconic writer and poet long before lifting a pen to script Rocky. And, as of 2019, he's still hoping to one day finish it. In the screen legend’s own words: YO, POE…we gotta go.

That’s all for this newsletter. I’ll be back in your inbox in a couple of weeks with more links. Until then, I have a question for you: Do you carry physical books with you when you travel, and are they hardback or paperback? Let me know.

A fellow mystery fan,

Kate

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