This chunky biography by José-Louis Bocquet and Catel Muller (translated by Edward Gauvin) from SelfMadeHero tells the life of Alice Guy, the first female filmmaker. At the end of the 1800s, she was writing, directing, and producing movies. She had her own production company in the US in 1912! And yet few have ever heard of her. Alice Guy: First Lady of Film covers from 1873 to 1968, the full span of her life, in an immensely welcoming, readable style. [...]

Rea Irvin’s The Smythes is a prestige hardcover from New York Review Comics reprinting a Sunday comic from the 1930s. Although I didn’t finish all the reprinted comic strips, which were much of a similarity, I found the historical information surrounding them fascinating. Rea Irvin is best known for creating Eustace Tilley, the snob with the butterfly who was on the first cover of The New Yorker and has become the mascot of the magazine. Irvin’s art style, appeal, and [...]

Sherlockians make the best recommendations. I saw this mentioned in a fan group and as soon as I heard the concept, I knew I’d enjoy it. Green Manor is a translated French comic, published by Cinebook Espresso, about an English club in the late 1800s where men gather to talk over vengeance and murder, or even to commit same. It’s a Victorian gentleman’s murder club. The series has two volumes, Assassins and Gentleman and The Inconvenience of Being Dead. (The [...]

I’ve talked before about the Mini Mysteries series of kids’ picture books — the first two featured Hercule Poirot, The Mysterious Affair at Styles and The Mystery of the Blue Train. Now comes the third, with a new detective. It’s The Secret of the Old Clock: A Nancy Drew Detective Story, written by Marci Kay Monson (who also wrote the previous two) and illustrated by Ryan Wheatcroft. It’s been a long time since I’ve read Nancy Drew, but Wikipedia tells [...]

The nice thing about the explosion in modern romance titles, particularly with those demonstrating more diversity and geek acceptance, is that you can find a book that makes you squeal “it’s for MEEEEEEE.” Such as Role Playing by Cathy Yardley. Maggie is a newly empty nester, divorced, and generally grumpy, with some social anxiety. She works from home, and she games online. Her two best friends are someone she went to school with that she talks to every couple of [...]

I can’t read Nero Wolfe mysteries, because of Archie Goodwin. But not for the reason you may think. I belong to an historical mystery book club, reading classics of the Golden Age. We tried our first Nero Wolfe last year, And Be a Villain, because someone wanted to read the one with “Wolfe’s Moriarty”, Arnold Zeck. I know several Sherlockians who are Wolfe Pack members, and I’ve been exposed to the theory that the detective is Mycroftian (a favorite character [...]

Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library is an adorable modern cozy with a strong sense of history. Tory Van Dyne is part of a rich New York family. Due to past trauma, her life has become small — she lives in a family home in Manhattan and restores old books. Don’t feel too sorry for her, though, because that building, thanks to her eccentric grandmother, also includes a perfect recreation of Agatha Christie’s home library, including the books she [...]

An overview of some mystery manga titles. Let’s start with the original detective. Manga Classics: Sherlock Holmes – A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by Crystal S. Chan, art by Julien Choy Manga Classics, $19.99 The first appearance of Sherlock Holmes is presented in full color. The storytelling and language are authentic, although the characters are drawn in manga style, with outrageous hair (Sherlock has a ponytail!) and dramatic outfits (including a bare-chested Holmes at breakfast!). There [...]