MAN OF THE (WHOLE) CLOTH by Steve Steinbock Last week, when I was suffering from my case of Blog-Block , I was surprised that of all the topics I listed, the one that drew the most comment was my background in Bible. I get shy talking religion with people. I never know how they’re going […]

BLOG-BLOCKED by Steve Steinbock Maybe it was reading Melodie’s “Swan Song” column. Maybe it’s lack of caffeine. Maybe it’s hay fever or spring fever or the sudden heat wave that hit Maine on Thursday. I have a list of interesting topics on which to base columns. But I can’t seem to settle on any of […]

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT by Steve Steinbock This past week I reread Edgar Allan Poe’s story, “The Purloined Letter.” I’ve heard it argued that all the elements of the modern mystery can be found in the three stories featuring C. Auguste Dupin: locked room murder (“Murders in the Rue Morgue”), armchair detection (“Mystery of Marie […]

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY by Steve Steinbock Two years! Wow, had it not been for Rob’s celebratory, tag-clouded column on Wednesday, the second birthday of Criminal Brief would have gone right by. Happy Anniversary, everyone. And thanks to all who congratulated me on my first fiction sale. I’ll keep everyone updated as I learn more about the […]

POE AND PROUD by Steve Steinbock This week’s installment of Bandersnatches is coming to you direct from New York City, where your humble correspondent is attending the Edgars, the annual gathering of the Mystery Writers of America. It’s Grand Central Station out here. Literally. The New York Grand Hyatt sits directly atop Grand Central Terminal […]

The Mystery Blogosphere is a wonderful place for old friends to gather and for new friends to meet. One of the people I’ve had the pleasure of befriending online is my Friday counterpart at Murderati, J.T. Ellison. Early each Friday morning, just as Bandersnatches is being posted here at Criminal Brief, J.T.’s column, Comma Sutra, […]

GUILTY PRESSURES by Steve Steinbock Last Friday, during our week-long celebration at Criminal Brief Corporate Headquarters (CBCH), I disclosed a few of my guilty pleasures. While I continue to enjoy the “Beach Party” movies and The Three Stooges, I haven’t actually eaten an entire can of chocolate frosting for a long time. Another cinematic guilty […]