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!
Does anyone else remember the “cereal” killer themed Cinnamon Crunch commercials from last year?
They’ve been popping up in my streaming commercials lately and I’m still conflicted on how I feel about them. On one hand, they are darkly amusing. On the other, the murdery vibe doesn’t fit the General Mills brand. I know they have monster themed cereals like Count Chocula and Frankenberry, but those are fun and cartoony takes on horror. These are…disturbing in their aggressive violence. How about y’all? Thoughts?
And now, your regularly scheduled links…
Mystery Smorgasbord
On Reddit, user shezoff posted in the Forgotten Bookmarks thread about a crime clipping she discovered in a vintage book. I just found it interesting and wonder who might keep this specific piece of history between the pages. A researcher? Someone from the victim’s family? The killer?
EA Mayes of EA Mayes’ Mysteriousities asks “Are False Death Certificates Concealing Real Crimes?”
Mystery author Benjamin Stephenson guest posted at The Big Thrill. Titled ‘Writer Zoo’, the piece is hilarious and very, very true-ish.
Via CrimeReads, Lisa Q. Mathews shares her thoughts on iconic girl detective Nancy Drew.
On Mystery Minutes, Julie K also discusses Nance Drew and the complexities of age and female detectives in literature.
At The Detective’s Notebook, Dr. Angela Buckley explores the art of murder maps.
Mental Floss, Mental Floss, Mental Floss
Ever wonder how the word “madwoman” became a trope? Paul Anthony Jones has some thought on the topic over at Mental Floss.
Also at Mental Floss, delve into the death of Edgar Allan Poe and four theories about his demise with Logan DeLoye.
Colin Scanlon, again at Mental Floss, lists six celebrities with surprising connections to true crime killers. The Angela Lansbury one shocked me so much I had to look it up. On the AETV website, Sara Kettler has a great write-up on it with more information.
If You’ve Read This Far…
Roland Hulme examines the history of reader attention spans at Hidden Gems Books.
At Inc.com, Jessica Stillman explores the neuroscience behind why some readers struggle to finish a book.
In other news, I got the chance to visit Alcatraz East Crime Museum in Pigeon Forge, TN. The building houses an amazing amount of history and information about crime. It’s a must-do if you’re in the area. Here’s a photo of a reproduction of Al Capone’s prison cell. Note: Al Capone may not be to scale.
Thanks for reading!