The Return of Sexton Blake - New & Classic Crime Stories

"As brilliant as Holmes, as daring as Bond, the Jack Reacher of his day returns!"  The tag line on this cover of this magazine size collection of stories and comic tales definitely tries to draw in fans from detective, spy, and action genres - but after reading the stories in this special edition, I have to say - whoever came up with the tag isn't really far off from the truth!  To be honest, I had never heard of "Sexton Blake" prior to seeing this magazine advertised in Previews some months ago, but being a fan of detective stories, pulp-style tales, and comic books, I thought I'd give this one a chance.  Glad I did!

The Return of Sexton Blake is the perfect "jumping-on" point for people like me, who have never heard of the character and what to know more.  The magazine opens with a publishing history of Sexton Blake, written by Mark Hodder.  The history is much more extensive than one would think - with the first Blake story having been published in December 1893 in a cheap penny dreadful  ("cheaply produced newspaper-format weeklies," as described by Hodder) called The Halfpenny Marvel.  The author and creator of Sexton Blake was Harry Blyth, under the pseudonym of Hal Meredeth.  A year later, Blake stories began to appear in another one of those dreadfuls called Union Jack.  Because Blyth had sold his rights to the character when he was paid for the first story, the publishers of these dreadfuls were able to publish multiple stories of Sexton Blake by various authors.  Blake evolved over the decades, going from stories in those penny dreadfuls to having his own weekly booklet called The Sexton Blake Library, with each issue featuring its own novella-length tale.  Blake, who started out similar to Sherlock Holmes, eventually became more like James Bond.  He was featured in his own comic strip, and even had a multi-episode serial on BBC (which, according to Hodder, failed miserably).  With the television show a failure, that seemed to mark the end of Sexton Blake - until 2014, when Hodder (yes, the author of the article) authored the first sanctioned Sexton Blake story since 1978.  And now, here we are in 2021, and it appears there is yet one more attempt to breathe new life into Sexton Blake for new fans (which, I guess, would be me!).

The magazine features a multi-part comic tale called "Sexton Blake and the Terror of Troll Island," written by Bill Henry (whose real name was Chris Lowder) and drawn by Mike Dorey.  The story is very much in the vein of Holmes, insomuch as Blake and his assistant race to Troll Island after receiving a call from someone on the island claiming to be in danger.  Upon arrival on the island, they not only come across a dead body, but they find that the famous writer, Edgar Hollis, has gathered all of his ghost-writers on the same evening.  And that, of course, is when one of the butlers reveals to Blake that Hollis and his ghost-writers plan to kill him that evening!  Blake, of course, works his way through all of the suspects - another body turns up - a murder attempt is made - plenty of dangerous action and cliffhangers - and ultimately, Blake uncovers the truth and gets his man!  The art, in complete black and white, is filled with lots of shadows and shading, keeping the mood of the story very dark, which, of course, fits well with the whole murder-on-a-secluded-island-at-night-in-a-dreary-castle scenario.  It's an enjoyable tale for mystery fans - but what is truly interesting about the whole thing is that when it was originally published in Tornado magazine back in the late 1970s, it was a "Victor Drago" story and not "Sexton Blake"!  

As revealed in the next article in the magazine, by Karl Stock, the publisher known as IPC, wanted to revive Sexton Blake, and Lowder (Henry) and Dorey actually finished the first story, "Troll Island."  However, for reasons unknown (inability to secure the rights is the likely cause), at the last moment, just before it went to publication, the names had to be changed, and so Sexton Blake became Victor Drago.

Now, next in the magazine came a ten-page story starring Sexton Blake titled "The Death and Life of Sexton Blake."  Written by George Mann and drawn by Jimmy Broxton, this brand new comic tale of Sexton Blake features an old ploy - the detective fakes his own death in order to capture a criminal who will reveal himself once he thinks his nemesis is gone for good.  The artist renders Blake in the same fashion as the early comic artists did back in the day, and while not in black-and-white, the story is not told in full color either - instead, it features a duo tone (which I first experienced back when Renegade Press was publishing Ms. Tree comics back in the '80s), which is a process that uses limited use of only one or two colors - in this instance, orange and red.  It is a short story, relatively speaking, but it is fast-paced and filled with plenty of action, which makes you feel like you read a lot more than just 10 pages!

After a brief interview with George Mann, Mark Hodder returns to pen another article, this time focusing on the various artists who drew Blake throughout the years.  There is also an article that looks at the redesigning of "Sexton Blake" for the modern era, and finally, two reprints of stories from Penny Pictorial (1908) and Union Jack (1925).

The Return of Sexton Blake is a well-rounded introduction to the character, providing history, stories both old and new in both comic and prose format, and a look at the evolution of the character through the years.  I definitely felt much more knowledgeable about Blake after reading this magazine, and it definitely whet my appetite for more stories.  I hope Rebellion publishing will offer up more issues like this, with both old and new tales!

RATING:  9 misfired crossbows out of 10 for reviving a detective from the past and introducing him to a whole new world of fans like me!

Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen - Book One: The Body Under the Piano

What if Agatha Christie had actually solved some crimes when she was only twelve years old?  What if her penchant for writing stemmed from the fact that she had been instrumental in solving murders when she was but an early teenager?  Author Marthe Jocelyn answers that question in this new series, "Aggie Morton, Mystery Queen."  As the tagline on the cover of the book reads, "Inspired by the real-life Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie," it's a murder mystery that features not one, but two budding sleuths - Aggie Morton and Hector Perot (gee, can you guess where those names came from?).

The Body Under the Piano introduces readers to young Aggie, an almost-teen who lives with her widowed mother and grandmother in the town of Torquay in the year 1902.  Aggie has a fascination with death, which, of course, worries both her mother ("Mummy") and grandmother ("Grannie Jane").  Aggie has even started a pet cemetery in the back of the garden, where she has carefully buried her pets that have died, giving each one a gravestone.  But, they needn't worry.  Aggie's fascination with death is what actually helps her solve the crime even the police can't seem to get right - the murder of Irma Eversham - a cantankerous old woman who also happens to be the bitter old sister of Aggie's dance teacher.  And Aggie happens to be the one who discovers the body.  In the dance classroom.  Under the piano (hence, the title of the book).

Jocelyn has a great, whimsical way with her characters, breathing such unique, individual life into each and every one of them that you, the reader, can't help but love them all.  Even the annoying Florence Fusswell and Lavinia Paine (and yes, clearly the names are somewhat representative of the characters' personalities).  But it's the fast-forming friendship of Aggie and her cohort in the crime-solving business, Hector Perot, that really warms the heart.  Hector is an immigrant, having been sent by his parents from Belgium to England.  While many are not as welcoming to the immigrants, Aggie has an immediate kinship with the boy and appreciates his analytical way of seeing things and thinking things through.  The two compliment one another nicely and make a fabulous detective duo!

As far as the mystery goes, Irma Eversham was a woman that no one liked.  She was unkind to her sister, controlling of her daughter, and wholly unfriendly to everyone she meets. So, no one is really saddened by her death.  I mean, sure, her sister Marianne and her daughter Rose are distraught over the fact that Mrs. Eversham was murdered - but for Roderick Fusswell, it could mean he might marry into riches if he can convince Rose to marry him ... for Rose Eversham, it could mean freedom at least from her mother's controlling nature ... for Augustus Fibbley, it could mean the story of a lifetime ... for Marianne Eversham, it could mean she inherits a fortune ... and for Aggie and Hector, it could mean the chance to show all of these stuffy adults that they are quite capable of solving a murder!

Whodunnit?  It's a classic Agatha Christie-style murder mystery with plenty of suspects, plenty of motives, and plenty of secrets.  Aggie's governess, Charlotte Graves, has a difficult time keeping Aggie out of the investigation, as do the Morton's groundskeeper, Leonard Cable, and the local Constable, Beck, who continually warns Aggie to stay out of it.  But she can see that the police have absolutely no clue as to what is really going on, and when they arrest the wrong person, Aggie knows she has to prove that person innocent.  Of course, it becomes all the more complicated when she discovers a blackmailer's message has been hidden inside her notebook.  It's a definite race against time for Aggie and Hector to catch a ruthless killer before he ... or she! ... strikes again!

This book was truly a wonderful read.  The characters are extremely likable (love Grannie Jane!), and the story is perfectly paced.  I definitely can't wait for Aggie and Hector's next mystery!

RATING:  10 woolly red cardigans out of 10 for introducing the world to a wonderful new young sleuth who I hope has many more mysteries to solve in the coming years!

Dark Shadows Audio Tales, Vol. 2 - Haunting Memories

It's been quite a while since I last listened to one of the Dark Shadows audio stories.  Part of the reason is because the cd player/radio in my car only seems to work intermittently these days, but the bigger part of it is because these anthology CDs have not really caught my interest as much as the full cast audio stories did.  However, I do have them all, and I do still love my Dark Shadows, so I finally got the wherewithal to sit down and listen to another set of short stories.

 

Haunting Memories features four new stories starring Josette Du Pres (as read by her portrayer, Kathryn Leigh Scott), Elias Trask (as read by his portrayer, Jerry Lacy), Angelique the witch (as read by her portrayer, Lara Parker), and Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (as read by Marie Wallace).  Each of the four tales centers around memories that these characters would best leave forgotten and in the past, but which, in true Dark Shadows fashion, manage to worm their way out to be told.  The stories are not connected to each other, but a couple of them to do manage to connect with stories from the television show and further expand and/or explain things that fans would have loved to have seen revealed in the show.

 

"Hell Wind," written by Mary Robin, tells the story of a very young Josette Du Pres, when she and her family lived on the island of Martinique.  Told completely from the point of view of the child Josette, listeners get to hear the story of how Josette and Angelique first met, as well as the circumstances surrounding the death of Josette's mother.  It is set during a horrific hurricane, and I do have to get the writer credit, she gave a pretty accurate description of what it is like during a hurricane.  And considering this was set in the 1700s, it would be even more dangerous back then than it is today!  The one thing I did notice about the story is there was not really too much supernatural about it - more just the tale of a young Josette and a young Angelique...

"Communion," written by Adam Usden, was a bit more interesting story.  Elias Trask and his son, Gregory, are trying to escape the men who are chasing them down, wanting to kill them.  (And anyone who knows the Trasks knows that they are definitely men who deserve to be killed!)  They meet a young woman of ill repute, and Elias thinks that by rescuing her, he can "change" her - but ultimately, she is not what she seems to be!  This story definitely had the supernatural twists to it, and it also had some humor, with the entire thing being told from Elias Trask's point of view as he continually prays to his Heavenly Father (and revealing his true, carnal nature in the process)...

"The Ghost Ship," written by Lara Parker (who IS Angelique), tells an unknown tale of Angelique's past, when she was still pining for Barnabas Collins and is feeling regret over making him a vampire.  At this time, she is dead and nothing more than a spirit, but Nicholas Blair and some ghostly women waiting for their men to return from a sunken ship give her a chance with Barnabas that she never thought she'd have - but in the process, she, herself, becomes a vampire, and she beckons the spirits of the dead sailors to return home with the promise that their waiting wives will help her win Barnabas' love once and for all.  This story was so-so, as I am not overly enthused about the whole "Angelique wants Barnabas to herself" saga...

"A Face from the Past," written by Kay Stonham, is by far my favorite of these four tales.  The supernatural element in this story is subtle, but it's there.  Elizabeth Stoddard Collins is returning to Collinsport after having been in Paris for some time (for those who listened to one of the other anthology audios, they might recall Amy going over to Paris to visit Roger and Elizabeth).  But upon arriving in Collinsport, Elizabeth is drawn back into her own memories - memories of a love long past, a man whose heart she broke and who fathered her first child ... a child she gave birth to in New York and left at a fondling home ... and a man who strangely enough appears today exactly as he did nearly 40 years ago!  Marie Wallace, who played other characters on the show but did not portray Elizabeth, does an outstanding job with expressing Elizabeth's emotions, her love, her loss, and her shock at finding her love once again.  And to, once and for all, find out the truth behind Victoria Winters' parentage - well, that alone makes this story worth listening to!

Again, I'd much rather have the full cast audios, but I guess these short stories as told by single members of the cast will have to do until the sequel to Bloodlines and Blood Lust becomes a reality.

RATING:  8 cottages for sale out of 10 for revealing Victoria Winters' parentage, a secret that has been more than 50 years in the making!

Psychic Detective Mysteries, Volume 3 - Shadows Deceive

It's been a while since I read S.C. Wynne's last psychic detective mystery, and quite honestly, I wasn't sure there were going to be any more books in this series.  So, I was pleasantly surprised when I came across this third book on Amazon.  I had enjoyed the previous two books, so I did not hesitate to pick up this latest one.

Shadows Deceive takes Liam Baker and his partner, Kimball Thompson, to a completely new level in their relationship - to meet Thompson's family!  Baker, of course, is a nervous wreck.  He met Thompson's younger brother in the last book, and that didn't go so well.  So, how would the family react to meet their son's psychic boyfriend?  Baker's insecurities increase drastically as he meets his lover's mother, father, and two brothers.  The family welcomes him with open arms, but shorty after their arrival at Big Bear Lake, they have two very unexpected visitors - the first is a dead body, which Baker can handle; the second is Thompson's ex-boyfriend from his younger days, which is something Baker can't seem to cope with!

Let's look at the first visitor - Thompson and Baker take a hike up into the woods behind the Thompson's house, but they don't go too far before Baker happens upon the naked body of a young man lying in the woods.  Baker is no stranger to dead bodies (after all, he communicates with the dead and helps the police in murder investigations), but in this instance, something unexpected happens.  There is no spirit.  There is no ghost waiting to give Baker some cryptic clue as to what happened to him.  Did the man die of natural causes or was he murdered?

Now let's look at that second visitor - Alexander Barnaby.  A flame of Thompson's back in the days just before he left for college.  Now, he's a big-time author, so he's famous and somewhat wealthy.  And he just so happens to be REALLY good looking.  And he is polite and the perfect gentleman.  And from the thoughts that Baker is able to read, he truly has no apparent inclination to rekindle that old relationship with Thompson.  So, why is Baker so uncomfortable around him?  Is it simply because he knows the other man used to be Thompson's lover?  Or is it because Thompson seems to be doing everything he can to please his old friend?  Is it simple jealousy or something else entirely?

This is a murder mystery, after all, so it isn't too long before another body turns up - this time, a young pizza delivery boy who just so happened to have a crush on Alexander Barnaby.  Baker and Thompson manage to work their way into the investigation (this is out of their jurisdiction, and the local Sheriff is none-too-keen on having interference from out-of-towners), and when they search the delivery boy's apartment, Baker discovers one of Barnaby's books which is autographed to the boy - along with Barnaby's phone number!  Baker is suspicious, but Thompson ignores his suspicions, writing it off as jealousy.

Wynne crafts a wonderfully twisted mystery this time around, giving poor Baker a difficult time in trying to determine if his psychic skills and intuition are failing him and he truly is feeding off his own jealousy, or if his instincts are right and Thompson is being sucked back into a relationship with the love of his past.  A third murder and a suspect taken into custody only adds more confusion to the mix, and when Baker is kidnapped and left to die, it puts his and Thompson's relationship to the ultimate test!

I think one of my favorite things about this book is Thompson's family.  Patricia (mother), Robert (father), Jeff (younger brother), and Sean (youngest brother) are the kind of family I would love to have!  The brothers banter and poke fun at one another.  The parents are loving but stern.  And the mother has no problems reaching out to her son's boyfriend to make sure he is welcomed into the family.  And their acceptance of Baker - psychic powers and all! - makes it all the more enjoyable to read.  These are the in-laws that every person would love to have!  Wynne provides very natural dialogue for the family, and none of it comes across too sappy or unrealistic.

Oh, and lest we all forget - Baker's arch-nemesis, Steven Pine, manages to worm his way into this book as well...

RATING:  8 glasses of gin and tonic out of 10 for mingling family drama with murder and psychic visions and keeping it thoroughly enjoyable to read!

Cleopatra in Space - GN Book Four - The Golden Lion

Mike Maihack returns with the fourth volume of the adventures of young Cleopatra, before she became the famous queen, yet so many centuries after she was queen - confused? Don't be! Maihack's fun-filled romp through time and space continues as Cleopatra, who has been pulled from the past into a distant future, where she is meant to fulfill the prophecy and save the galaxy from the tyrannical rule of one dastardly villain, Octavian, is sent on a new journey to retrieve the fabled Golden Lion - a piece of a star that is said to hold immeasurable power, which, if fallen into the wrong hands, could spell disaster for everyone!

 

Picking up after the events of the last graphic novel, The Golden Lion finds Cleo training hard and pushing herself even harder to be the best at everything. One of her friends is dead, another has lost her arm, and her teacher and mentor's secrets have been revealed.  But when Cleo and her best friend, Akila, are called to appear in front of the Council, they expect it is because of something Cleo has done - instead, it turns out that the Council is aware of the location of the Golden Lion, and there is an urgency to get to it before Octavian does.  Cleo, though, is grounded because of her actions in the previous book, and she was only made aware of the mission to keep her from going off half-cocked.  (Of course, anyone who knows Cleo by now knows that she does not like being left behind!)  Fortunately, for her, there are some members of the Council who believe fully in the prophecy and want Cleo to find the star piece first.

With the help of a new weapon and new technology that will enable her to travel across the galaxy faster than the search party (Brian truly is a tech-genius!), Cleo soon finds herself on the freezing planet of Cada'duun.  Cold.  Alone.  And with no idea how to track down the Golden Lion, if it even exists at all!  Maihack presents readers with another wild adventure, introduces readers to Akila's (Ki Ki's) parents, and brings back that ever-lovable thief, Antony, who just so happens to be hunting the same thing as Cleo.  They join forces to escape the dangers of the planet (and I'm not just talking about the cold) and unwittingly discover a tropical paradise hidden inside the frosty shell of a planet!  Maihack's story moves at a quick pace, but no so fast that characterization and subplots get lost in the shuffle.  Cleo has to face the things that she has done and learn from them; Khensu must take ownership of the lies he told to do what he thought was best for Cleo; Akila's parents must come to terms with the fact that their daughter is growing up; the Council must ultimately decide whether to trust Cleo to fulfill the prophecy that they have been counting on for so many generations; and for one of the characters, they must decide whether they are going to betray the ones who trust them or choose to follow the right path.

Oh, and along the way, Cleo makes a new friend in Mihos!  I won't spoil the surprise, but let's just say that Mihos is absolutely adorable (and hopefully will still be around in the next two books!).

Maihack's art continues to mesmerize, and the change of setting allows him to expand his talents with the polar opposite climates of a sub-zero, frozen terrain to a tropical paradise.  And the climactic fight sequence between Cleo and Ophois is enough to get you on the edge of your seat, waiting to see how it's going to end!  And without giving anything away, I will say that this book ends with not only a surprise reveal, but an explosive cliffhanger that will certainly have repercussions in the coming story.

I know this is only a 6-book series, and with four books now behind me, that only leaves two left.  I hate the idea of Cleo's adventures in space in the future ending, but I guess sooner or later she will have to return to Egypt to grow up and fulfill her destiny there.  And judging from what I've seen so far, I have no doubt the last two books will be some of Maihack's best work yet!

RATING:  10 zutupple fruits out of 10 for expanding Cleo's universe and taking readers on a fun-filled romp through space in the process!

Hardy Boys Adventures, Book 22 - Trouble Island

While thus far, I have been finding the Hardy Boys Adventures series to be much better written stories and plots than the Nancy Drew Diaries series, I think the tide is starting to change (no pun intended).  The most recent Diaries book was actually well-written with an intriguing plot.  This latest Hardy Boys book, however, is not quite up to par with the books that have come before, and even more surprising, the story enters around a secluded island with a storm brewing that provides some very dangerous waters - which is somewhat similar to the previous book, A Treacherous Tide, which was set in the Florida Keys and featured, you guessed it - some very dangerous waters as part of the plot!  Not sure why Simon & Schuster decided to do two books with similar settings and plot elements, but I hope it is not a sign of things to come for this series...

Trouble Island does offer one surprising twist - Aunt Trudy plays a major part in the mystery.  While the boys' aunt shows up in the books from time to time, it is rarely to play any integral part to the story.  Usually, she is merely a background character.  This time, however, it is her cooking expertise that wins her an apprenticeship with a famous television chef (think Gordon Ramsey) named Colton Sparks and leads to the boys to their latest mystery.  Trudy is invited to a small island off the coast of Maine to work with Chef Sparks for a week at an exclusive resort.  Frank and Joe are on break from school, so she brings them along for the ride.  They quickly discover, though, that trouble is brewing on Rubble Island.

The author works overtime to make Colton Sparks an unlikable character, but sadly, it doesn't come across natural.  It reads very forced, and for all his nastiness towards his kitchen employees, volunteers, and others around him, whenever confronted by Frank or Joe, he suddenly becomes contrite - and, no offense to the author, but I can't imagine a world-famous, television chef would take to heart the admonitions of two teenage boys that he doesn't even know.  Thus, the entire premise of an island of people who hate the man who is threatening to change their whole way of life by bringing a hotel chain onto the island and opening one of his famous restaurants to make it a tourist destination falls rather flat.  However, that being said, I did rather enjoy Trudy's relationship with Chef Sparks - she is so in awe of him, that she looks past his gruff nature, and he slowly warms up to her and even turns to her when he is having difficulties with his kitchen help.  The series has never established Aunt Trudy's age, but in my mind, I see her as a just-beyond middle-aged woman who comes across soft-spoken and kind, but who knows how to reprimand and take charge when needed.  This book really allows Trudy to shine!

As far as the mystery goes, someone is after Chef Sparks (big surprise there, eh?).  A brick is thrown through his hotel room window, with a warning note that he tries to keep hidden from everyone (but who can keep anything hidden from the Hardy Boys?).  A fish dinner that he makes for the hotel owner, Trudy, and the boys is poisoned, leaving everyone sick (except Frank, who is not fond of fish and doesn't eat it).  Joe is pushed over the side of a cliff and literally left hanging on for dear life!  And the trophy that was to be awarded at the end of the week to the attending chefs is stolen.  Other than the cliff-hanging incident and a turbulent trip out on the ocean to pull up some lobster traps, there are no real "dangers" faced by the boys in this one - it is more of a "track down the person trying to sabotage Chef Sparks' visit to the island" kind of mystery.

One last comment on this book - the author makes a number of references to restrooms, and in one instance, the boys not only hit the bathroom, but they carry on a conversation while "going about [their] business" (p. 29-30).  Now, I'm no prude, but as far as I'm concerned, carrying on a conversation while standing at a urinal in the men's room is not standard fare for a children's mystery, and the fact that we get more than a one-line or even one-paragraph trip to the restroom, but instead read their conversation while they are "doing their business" and get descriptions of them washing their hands after is a but much (particularly since, and I don't know if I'm the only one who does this, but when I'm reading a book, I usually am envisioning everything in my head, like a movie or television show - so the idea of imagining these two teenage boys using a urinal and carrying on a conversation about the mystery while they relieve themselves is NOT something I want to picture in my head while reading!).

The next mystery, Mystery on the Mayhem Express, will hopefully offer up a change of pace and get the boys back on the right path, with great plots and well-written stories.

RATING:  6 buttered lobster rolls out of 10 for allowing Aunt Trudy to take the spotlight and giving her more than just a background, supporting role in the story.

Proof of Murder - the fourth Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery

The books in this series are coming out faster than I can keep up with reading them!  I just now finished the fourth book in the series, and the sixth book came out already at the bookstores.  Which, is not necessarily a bad thing, since that simply means I have more stories of Addie Greyborne to look forward to!  And that, without a doubt, is definitely a good thing!  I've grown to appreciate Addie and her sleuthing skills, as well as her will she/won't she relationships with the police chief (Marc) and the doctor (Simon).  This go-around though, the status quo definitely changes!

In Proof of Murder, Addie finds herself facing a locked-room mystery that would make Sherlock Holmes proud.  Of course, that would be too easy, so author Lauren Elliott throws in another twist - Addie becomes the prime suspect in the theft of some very rare and very expensive Sherlock Holmes first printings!  It seems Marc Chandler, the Chief of Police for Greyborne Harbor is back in town, and he has brought Special Agent Ryley Brookes from the FBI with him!  So, when Addie stumbles across the body of an appraiser at an allegedly haunted house whose contents are being auctioned off and simultaneously finds that several first edition Sherlock Holmes books that she had seen the previous day have been mysteriously replaced with more recent copies, it turns out her keen sense of observation and theories are the last things Chandler and Brookes want to hear.  Addie quickly learns that Agent Brookes believes Addie is the one who stole the books, and if the appraiser was murdered, then it was likely Addie who did that, too!

Now, I'll quickly admit that Marc's attitude toward Addie seems completely out of character and out of place in this story.  Yes, the two of them have had their ups and down in trying to figure out whether they have a relationship or not, but this sudden about face, and his not only cold shoulder but outright cruelty towards Addie does not read like the Marc of the previous three books.  Now, this could be because of his new relationship with Agent Brookes (who has some secrets of her own, and who, throughout the entire book, seems to have it in for Addie, determined to prove her guilty of the crime no matter what the evidence says), or it could just be that his time away from her and his return to find her in a budding romance with Simon Emerson, the town's coroner.  In either event, I found it very difficult to read the scenes featuring Marc and Addie, and I was the same as Addie in not at all understanding this sudden harsh treatment of her.

Aside from that, the mystery was exceptional!  The death of Charlotte McAdams in a library that was locked from the inside, the door bolted and the window jammed shut, makes for a wonderful mystery.  Spilled tea and a missing feather pen leave one to wonder if she was poisoned.  The missing books lead one to wonder if she was killed solely for the purpose of stealing those books.  And the room locked from the inside leave one wondering how in the heck did the murder and theft take place?  Of course, these are all questions that Addie has to answer in order to clear herself of the crime that she is being accused of committing.  Despite repeated warnings from Marc to stay out of it, she brings out her trusty board in the backroom of her bookstore and starts keeping a list of suspects and clues.  

Now, I'm not going to say that the secret passage in the library was not really a surprise - I mean, read enough mysteries, and you pretty much know that in a locked room murder, there is more than likely a hidden passage.  However, in this instance, the hidden room, and the passage that went out from the hidden room was rather unique, and I have to wonder if Elliott researched and discovered a house that contained a real floor plan like this to be able to describe it in such detail.  If she did, then I'd sure love to know where that house is!  With passages and hidden rooms like this, it is definitely a house I'd love!

What was a surprise, however, is the identity of the killer and thief!  I definitely did not see that one coming.  With the plethora of suspects, including Addie's very own cousin who unexpectedly showed up in town, helped her catalogue some of the books, then disappeared, it was hard to narrow it down to just one person.  In fact, at one point, I thought I was certain I had it all figured out - and then, wham! Elliott throws the reader a curve ball that, once revealed, definitely makes sense and fits with all of the clues in the story.  So, bravo to Elliott for keeping me guessing up until the very end (not too many mysteries do that any more!).

Thus, aside from the very off characterization of Marc, this book is another winner for Elliott, and I look forward to seeing what she has in store for Addie and her ever-growing supporting cast in the next book.

RATING:  8 wisps of white, ghostly smoke out of 10 for giving readers a mystery that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would be impressed by!

Short(est) Lived Comic Series #16 - Blake Harper, City Surgeon (Gold Key Comics)

Over the numerous decades that comic books have entertained readers, there have been quite a few short-lived series - titles that only lasted two, three, sometimes four issues before being cancelled.  Out of those myriad of titles, a select few can claim to be the shortest-lived series, having had only one issue published (despite indications that more issues were planned, considered, wanted, or hoped for). In all the years that comics have been published, there have also been hundreds of publishers who have come and gone, most of whom are no longer in existence, and many of those not even known by comic readers today.  Hopefully, Gold Key is not one of those long-forgotten publishers.  For me, I remember Gold Key as publishing television-related titles such as Dark Shadows, Star Trek, Space Family Robinson (a/k/a Lost in Space), and Battle of the Planets (among others).  But at a comic convention a couple of years ago, I came across a book that caught my eye, and I finally got around to reading it.

Blake Harper, City Surgeon is a single-issue comic series that, according to the indicia, was published by K.K. Publications, In. in cooperation with Golden Press (Gold Key).  Published in 1963 (with a cover date of August 1963), it is one of Gold Key's non-television related titles that has an original creation in an original story.  The early '60s seems to have been a time for a number of medical-related comic books, with Dell and Charlton publishing a number of medical romance titles.  It was also around this same time that The Doctors and General Hospital both made their television premieres, which could potentially be a reason the comic companies decided to jump on the medical drama bandwagon.  Whatever the reason, Gold Key was apparently not going to be left out (although, since this series only had one issue, it apparently didn't sell as well as they had hoped!).

The comic features two stories about the title hero, Blake Harper. The first is a 16-page lead story titled "Crash Victim" (on which the cover of the comic is based), and finds surgeon Blake Harper and his faithful nurse, Miss Lake, rushing to the site of a plane crash in the middle of Park Avenue (New York, perhaps?) where they must save the life of one Professor Harder, who holds the answers to problems the space program is facing.  From emergency surgery right there at the plane crash site, to pulling him to safety from the burning plane, to an emergency blood transfusion to save his life, the story is filled with tension and drama.  

After a brief four-page interlude ("Donora's Deadly Fog," which tells the story of the real-life terror that affected the town of Donora, Pennsylvania back in October 1948) and a one-page prose tale ("Early Surgery," telling the story of Ambroise Pare of France, said to be one of the first great surgeons of modern times), readers find a second Blake Harper tale.  This second story is 11-pages in length and is titled "Plague."  Based on the title, it's pretty obvious what the story is about (and how apropos is that to the world we are living in right now?).  When a patient of Dr. Harper shows up with strange symptoms after being on a cruise, Harper suspects the man may be carrying a contagious disease.  Once he confirms the ship made two calls at African ports, the doctor is convinced this could be the start of a plague.  Once again, the drama ensues as Dr. Harper and Miss Lake must track down and inoculate all of the passengers from the cruise - but two crew members have taken off-ship and are nowhere to be found!  One turns up dead, and the other is trying to sneak into the country undetected.  An appeal on the TV gets the final crew member to show up at Miss Lake's house, where he attacks and threatens her to keep his whereabouts a secret.  The man is tricked into being given the antidote, and it becomes a matter of waiting the virus out.... and just when they think they have it kicked, a new patient shows up with the symptoms of the plague!

As with many of the comic book titles by Gold Key and other smaller publishers of that day, there are no credits given in the book to the cover artist, the writers, the artists, the letterers, editors, or anyone else who worked on the book.  A search online reveals that Jack Sparling provided the interior art for the two Blake Harper stories, as well as the "Deadly Fog" tale.  Ben Oda is identified as the letterer for the stories.  There are no credits found for the writer of the stories, and no credit for who painted the beautifully rendered cover to this comic (which is also featured as "Pin Up No. 1" on the back cover without the title and blurb to obscure any of the art).  This is one thing I have to give Gold Key credit for - a lot of their comics featured beautifully painted cover art, for which I would love to find out the artist's identity!

I have to say, the two Blake Harper stories are very well written, although they are clearly dated now.  With only 16 and 11 pages, there's obviously not a lot of room for build-up and character development, particularly of the supporting characters, the writer does manage to give readers a clear feel for both Blake Harper and Miss Lane (even if we never do learn her first name).  The two have a very good rapport, going beyond just doctor/nurse - employer/employee (but definitely not anything of a romantic nature).  Miss Lake is very loyal and professional, and Dr. Harper definitely trusts her capabilities and knowledge.  It's nice to know that even back in 1963, a writer could give a nurse such a strong position within the story, and not just write her in as a love interest.  Another thing I noticed, and enjoyed, is that with both stories, there are very few caption boxes in the story - pretty much everything in the story is moved forward with the art and the dialogue - the readers do not need all the captions that most comics today have to move them forward in the story.  The few captions that are used in these two stories are to either introduce the tale or to provide a transition through a montage.  

While there is no "To Be Continued..." or "Next Issue:" blurb at the end of the comic, the indicia on the first page indicated this is indeed issue "No. 1" and that the title is "[p]ublished quarterly," which would indicate that this was intended to be an ongoing series with more than one issue.  Sadly, though, the world was only give one issue of Blake Harper, City Surgeon, and we'll never know what future stories held in store for the gifted physician.

RATING:  10 units of Type A Negative blood out of 10 for giving comic readers an original medical drama that had such fantastic potential (that it's such a shame it never got to fulfill...)

Flash: Crossover Crisis - the YA Novel Book 2 - Supergirl's Sacrifice

Barry Lyga returns with the second part of this latest Flash trilogy, and let me just say - these books are absolutely fantastic!  Just because they are marketed for young adults, it doesn't mean adults should not read them.  This story proves just what a fantastic writer Lyga really is, and the wealth of Easter eggs scattered throughout the book will many any fanboy (or girl) go crazy!  These books have the exact feel that the first couple of seasons of the television show had, and it definitely makes me long for those "innocent" days again!

 

Now, in this second part of the Crossover Crisis, Supergirl’s Sacrifice, the threat of the Anti-Matter Man expands from just Flash’s Earth over to Earth-38 (where Supergirl resides).  It should be noted this story takes place prior to Crisis on Infinite Earths – in fact, there are several references in this book to the newspaper article that Team Flash has seen dated 2024 – there is even a reference to the article’s authorship changing from Iris West-Allen to Vicki Vale (which happened in the TV show when it was predicted that Savatar would kill Iris). So, even though Lyga has firmly established that the stories taking place in the books are from a different timeline than that of the TV show (which, by the way, is referenced once again in this book as the “Transuniversal Version” universe), there are still aspects of this universe that mirror that of the TV universe.

With the expanded threat of the Anti-Matter Man (who comes across very similar to the Anti-Monitor in this story, having already destroyed the Crime Syndicate’s universe, and now bringing familiar red skies and black lightning to Earth-38 as he begins to destroy that universe), the cast in the story expands, and there seems to be a LOT more going on for our heroes to fight:

-          Ambush Bug is still going crazy in Star City, so Joe West, Black Canary, and Wild Dog are there to try and put a stop to his zany pranks

-          Iris West-Allen, Caitlin Snow, and Felicity Smoak are in Central City trying to find a way to locate and rescue Vibe and Mr. Terrific, who disappeared after Oliver’s perfect shot that stopped the Anti-Matter Man from destroying their universe in the last book

-          Cisco Ramon and Curtis Holt find themselves somewhere in the past, with no apparent way to determine when and where they are, let alone find their way back to the present

-          Oliver Queen and Barry Allen have jumped over to Earth-38 to help Supergirl, Superman, Brainiac 5, J’onn J’onzz, Alex Danvers, Jimmy Olsen, and Lena Luthor find a way to stop Anti-Matter Man’s destructive wave

-          Madame Xanadu is revcovering after having one of her dopplegangers killed in the last book

-       And last, but not least, Bruce Wayne a/k/a Owlman is making big plans to take over this new Earth on which he has found himself!

Whew!  As I said, that is a LOT going on in this book – and that doesn’t even address the prologue (featuring Ava Sharpe and my personal favorite Legend, Gary Green) and epilogue (featuring Heat Wave and a very surprising guest star – more on that later…).  Yet, despite all of the stories, characters, and crazy action of Ambush Bug, the story is very easy to follow, and reads so much like a well-written episode of the CW television shows that I wish Lyga would actually be the writer of those shows!  We might actually get better stories than what we have been getting on Supergirl and Flash for the past two seasons…

And speaking of Ambush Bug – Keith Giffen would be exceptionally proud of Lyga for the way he handles the character.  Ambush Bug is fun, zany, and totally breaks the fourth wall, talking about the way Giffen writes him, talking about how his name is trademarked by Warner Brothers, and talking about Berlanti giving him his own show!  I laughed out loud as I read Joe, Dinah, and Rene react to the craziness that A.B. spews out, as they have no understanding that they are just characters in a book that is based on characters in a television show – but A.B. knows!

Oh, and Barry’s reaction when Brainiac 5 lets him use his Legion flight ring to join Supergirl and J’onn J’onzz in their fight against the Anti-Matter Man – well, it is absolutely priceless!  It is dead-on for the character, and a scene that I could so clearly see in my mind’s eye when I read it, that I would absolutely LOVE to see it brought to life on the screen for real.

Like Empire Strikes Back, this book is the linking story between the opening of the last book and the conclusion of the next book – so there is no real beginning or ending, but lots of build up to what is to come.  Like the big revelation of who, at the end of time, has been pulling the strings? And how will Team Arrow, Team Flash, and Team Supergirl get to the far-flung future to stop him?  And will they get some help from the future (a BIG hint right there as to that special guest star who shows up to help Heat Wave) to save all of time and space?

Lyga needs to be made the permanent reader of all books based on the CW television shows – and I sure as heck hope that the next book (which will FINALLY see the Legends of Tomorrow get involved) is not the last!

RATING:  10 cell phones from the Wild West out of 10 for keeping the fun in the Flash and writing a far-better story than the CW has been capable of for some time!