Philip MacDonald’s Mystery at Friar’s Pardon opens with a careful introduction to the man who will become our amateur sleuth, Charles Fox-Browne. MacDonald takes his time. He wants us to understand Browne before sending him to Friar’s Pardon, where he will say very little and observe a great deal. A wise move—there is much to… Continue reading Mystery at Friar’s Pardon
I've had a few stuffy reads lately. Well regarded, well written, well mannered—well, well, well. And then, I read this pulpy, wild tale. It's freeing. The novel teems with coincidences and improbable turns, yet they never feel arbitrary. Within Markham’s feverish style, these chance encounters take on the rhythm of a nightmare—events emerging and dissolving… Continue reading The Devil Drives (1932)
This blog has never been what you’d call “regular.” I’m an author, not a blogger, and the only real reason this thing exists is to share the occasional update or bit of news. Does that help build an audience? Absolutely not. Every now and then, I’ve also posted a review. And in the short, uneven… Continue reading Murder Mansion (no, not that one, the other one) 1928 — Herman Landon
The precise difference between story and plot changes depending on your source. A friend of mine once said that story contains all the meaning—theme, character, the DNA of a work’s soul. Plot, he claimed, is just the roadmap. I didn’t argue. I like maps. I'm a plothead. The idea that one bad decision could destroy… Continue reading Story vs Plot
Since I started my blog, I've posted about the cover after every publication. This is the latest version. At the very end, I'll tell you what might be coming next. If you've read my cover posts of the past, feel free to skip to the end. My first novel was Goodnight Irene (2018). It was… Continue reading Covers and Plans
James Scott Byrnside 