Death and Taxes

I started to write something on Death and Taxes yesterday since Tax Day is April 15 in the U.S. That makes it sort of a holiday and holidays are my thing. But I really didn't come up with much. Maybe the whole taxman thing is just too depressing.

J. Kingston Pierce to the rescue. Check out his April 15 blog on The Rap Sheet, "Dying for a Refund" The mystery he reviews is Death and Taxes by David Dodge (1910-1974), a onetime certified public accountant. The book is set in San Francisco, so that's another bonus for me.

Thanks, Jeff!

Don't miss Crime for the Holidays, volume 25:1, Mystery Readers Journal.

Raymond Chandler Redux

Thanks to the Rap Sheet for all the additional information on Raymond Chandler--in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of his death. First, the Rap Sheet launched a poll a week ago to determine which of Raymond Chandler's seven original Philip Marlowe novels. The results are in. The Long Goodbye (1953) received the greatest number. For all the results, go Here.

There were many other tributes to Chandler yesterday. Sarah Weinman cites Judith Freeman's review of the Chandler's life and career in the L.A. Weekly and Chris Routledge has a recollection of this novelist's early life. J. Kingston Pierce in The Rap Sheet has put together a marvelous collection of trailers from the 20th century adaptions of the Philip Marlowe novels. The final paragraph in this excellent essay has links to more Raymond Chandler READING:
“How Chandler Made a Killing at the Movies,” by Hugh Tynan; “Raymond Chandler Wrote Los Angeles,” by Carolyn Kellogg (Los Angeles Times); “Trouble Was His Business--Raymond Chandler,” by Larry Harnish (Los Angeles Times); “Marlowe Back on the Case?,” by J. Kingston Pierce (The Rap Sheet).

Seems like a good time for me to reread all the Chandler novels. He's one of my favorite authors.

Barbara Franchi

I received a note from Barbara Franchi's husband, Rudy Franchi, this morning with the sad news that Barbara passed away last night. Her daughters, Jill, Susan, Regina, her son-in-law Tony, her grandson Bennett and her husband Rudy were at her bedside. Susan writes that "Barbara, a child of the Bronx, started her life as a teacher of geology and then gained prominence in the world of mystery fiction via her renowned review website (Reviewing the Evidence), and movie poster collecting, through her years of organizing auctions and running a major retail/internet operation. Her true joy was traveling across America with Antiques Roadshow and spending time in London. Barbara's blunt honesty and acerbic wit will be missed. She mentored many young reviewers, dealers and collectors, dispensing street smart advice mixed with self-learned literary perceptions. For those in the Los Angeles area, the family will be sitting Shiva on Sunday, March 8 at Jill's home, 3725 Mountain View Avenue, 90066."

I knew Barbara was ill, but we all hoped that she would pull through. We had all been looking forward to spending time with her at Left Coast Crime. I will miss chatting with Barbara at conventions. Susan had it right when she said Barbara had blunt honesty. When we were together, we talked about books, Reviewing the Evidence, and she always said and wrote what she thought. Susan also wrote that Reviewing the Evidence will continue with Sharon and others.

Barbara Franchi's bio on Reviewing the Evidence

Born on Long Island in 1935 and raised in New York, Barbara gained her degrees through the benificence of the City of New York attending Hunter College and CCNY. She taught high school and college biology, general science, and geology in New York City high schools, CCNY and then Loyola of Montreal. In 1969, Rudy and Barbara started The Nostalgia Factory, which they finally sold in 2005, thereupon retiring to Los Angeles. She is the coauthor (with Rudy) of MILLER'S MOVIE COLLECTIBLES. Rudy is currently writing a mystery novel and she is researching a book to be with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences imprimatur. She has been a generalist on Antiques Roadshow since the first season and often fills in at the collectibles table when things get hectic. Her favorite mysteries tend to be police procedurals and what she calls medium boiled fiction. She also likes the crossover books between mystery and fantasy or science fiction. Her secret passion is for willy-wagglers, thrillers such as those by Clive Cussler and Matthew Reilly. She thanks Sharon Wheeler for taking over the unpaid and unappreciated office of editor of RTE and for making the site a professional looking and important one in the crime fiction field.

Another loss to the mystery community.

Contributions in Barbara’s name can be made to Beit T’Shuvah, 8831 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90034, USA

3/2/09 Ali Karim has a beautiful tribute to Barbara Franchi in The Rap Sheet
including an extract from a piece he wrote for Red Herrings, the magazine of the British Crime Writers’ Association, talking about the origin and intentions of Reviewing the Evidence. I'm also including a photo Ali took of Barbara and the late Elaine Flynn.

Jack Webb, R.I.P.

The Rap Sheet brings us news today via Bill Crider's Pop Culture Blog that novelist John Alfred “Jack” Webb (not the same Jack Webb who brought us Dragnet) has died at age 92. January 13, 1916 - February 12, 2008. He also wrote as John Farr. During the 1950s and ’60s, Webb wrote mysteries featuring the crime-solving pair of Father Joseph Shanley and Sammy Golden. Father Shanley was a Catholic priest in Southern California. Golden was a Jewish detective-sergeant working with what was apparently the Los Angeles Police Department’s Homicide Division. Among Webb’s titles: The Big Sin (1952), The Damned Lovely (1954), The Brass Halo (1957), and One for My Dame (1961). Jim Doherty wrote an article on Jack Webb for one of the early issues of Religious Mysteries of Mystery Readers Journal.

Nora Roberts opens a Romantic Inn

Thanks to The Rap Sheet for news on Nora Roberts new Literary-Lovers Inn.
Nora Roberts, best selling romance and suspense author, has opened the Inn BoonsBoro. She has named the rooms of her hotel after married detectives. Roberts says of the Nick and Nora room, "It's a comfortable room that blends sleek art deco and fussy Hollywood glamour," she says, "which strikes me as very Nick and Nora Charles." The room's smoky walls, chocolate ceiling, crystal light fixtures and mirrored night stands, she says, would ensure "they'd be very comfortable and happy here."

The Charleses are one of seven fictional couples who inspired the Inn's decor and romantic atmosphere. Read more. There's also a video of the Inn on the site. Roberts's husband owns the nearby Tattered Cover Bookshop, one room of which is devoted to Roberts' novels. Can't imagine they all fit in one room!

When I was in Ann Arbor a few years ago for a mystery symposium, I stayed at a small B&B that had different rooms dedicated to different mystery genre. I stayed in the Mystery Room, of course.

Michael Crichton, R.I. P.

Went to The Rap Sheet this morning, only to read more sad news. Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park author and numerous mystery novels, died of cancer. He was 66.

Michael Crichton was a real cross-over writer. Crichton was the author of The Andromeda Strain, the Great Train Robbery, and so many more terrific novels. He created the award-winning TV hospital series ER. and wrote for film. A real Renaissance man. Read "The Admirable Mr. Crichton " by Ali Karim in the Rap Sheet (2006) and this from Hillel Italie in the Huffington Post.