From Barbie Doll Dioramas to Outrageously Overdue Books
Plus, trouble was afoot at Greenway House
Hello mystery friends,
Hopefully you’re squeezing in some reading time this summer between work and vacation and surviving the heat. Anthologies are a great way to get in some reading without sacrificing too much time. I recently read Thriller (edited by Don Bruns), a collection of short stories based on the title of Michael Jackson’s songs. Tons of awesome stories by talented writers. Thumbs up by me all around. Totally recommended.
Enough small talk. I’ve got a great link roundup for you below. And, quick reminder, you can find more mystery related content at @moremysteryplease on Instagram.
BARBIE WHODUNNIT
Since 2014, a mysterious artist has graced a Washington, D.C. neighborhood with colorful Barbie doll installations to celebrate holidays and comment on huge events. The who and why of the artist is not know.
MORE CHRISTIE THE NEWS
After the huge section devoted to her in the last newsletter, I hadn’t intended to even mention Agatha Christie in this one, but here we are.
Earlier this month, 100 people were trapped on the grounds of Greenway House, Agatha Christie’s English manor home, when a the road in and out of the property was blocked by a large tree.
Also this month, a series of mysterious bangs during the night in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, kept residents guessing at the source for several days. Wallingford, incidentally, is both where Agatha Christie lived for many decades and where the popular crime drama Midsomer Murders was filmed.
BOOK BLIPS
On her blog, Judy Penz Sheluk offers a touching reflection on Kinsey Millhone, Sue Grafton, and the alphabet that will always end with Y.
At The Graveyard Shift, Lee Lofland provides an amusing assessment odd but true things that have happened at the Writers’ Police Academy over the years.
Margot Kinberg offers several examples from mystery novels for not placing or responding to ads in the newspaper.
On Something’s Going To Happen, Meghan Leigh Paulk recalls her real-life brush with a true crime story.
Yvonne Glasgow, via Glam, provides 14 creative ways to organize books for coziness.
Over at Atlas Obscura, Jennifer Byrne recounts the unusual way Milwaukee residents recently celebrated the history of typewriters.
And, closing us out, Mark Mancini at Mental Floss notes the return of 11 ridiculously overdue books.
I’ll end with a friendly reminder that season 3 of Only Murders In The Building begins August 8th on Hulu. Although, I won’t be watching it until sometime in October. I have no patience to wait between episodes, yet holding off on viewing and sidestepping spoilers until the entire season’s aired just so I can binge it all at once is no problem. I often wonder how I ever watched live television at all.
A fellow mystery fan,
Kate