The library where I work is engaged in deacquisition (a euphemism for discarding unloved books) and I came across a little volume by Frederic DeWitt Wells, entitled A Man in Court, published 1917. Wells, a New York City magistrate, wanted to explain the legal system to the common man. I read the first page and […]

Rob Lopresti introduced us to Henry Lawson here on CB a couple of weeks ago, on Tuesday, July 21. To take another look at it, click here. Through no fault of his, nor of the intrepid Leigh Lundin, who took the reins as editor under the most challenging circumstances imaginable during my sojourn abroad, the […]

DON’T INSULT the DAME Welcome back our irrepressible friend, Yoshinori ‘Todo, a regular on Dell Magazine’s web site, The Mystery Place, whom you’ll spot under the name Josh. He’s impossible not to like: He’s trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, cheerful, kind, and the rest of the Boy Scout Law. He’s also knowledgable and chivalrous and […]

For several months, construction near my residence has interfered with internet reception. Yesterday afternoon, utility companies dug into my neighbor’s yard with the result I do not have internet service. This comes at a particularly inconvenient time while James is in Africa and I could not post our guest article by midnight. At 3a I […]

When ELLERY QUEEN met NBC by Dale Andrews Please welcome back our good friend Dale Andrews, the latest avatar of a certain well-known detective. —JLW Satire, it is said, closes on Saturday nights. In an article published some years back in the San Francisco Weekly reflecting on the spotty career of satirist Tom Lehrer, Jack […]

Here, as requested, is the second of the two Apocryphal stories featuring Daniel the Prophet, Private Investigator. In this exciting episode, Daniel solves a locked room mystery. And then gets locked up himself, but things work out all right in the end. As before, I’ve used the King James translation and lightly edited strictly for […]

Dorothy L. Sayers was not only one of the best mystery writers of all time, she was also a religious, um, well, not to put too fine a point on it, zealot. She abandoned Lord Peter Wimsey in order to write Christian religious tracts. But her spiritual erudition bears an item of interest for us: […]