THE MUGGER (1956) ***½ by Ed McBain This paperback edition published by Penguin, 1987, 160pp (152pp) First published by Perma in 1956 (USA) © Ed McBain, 1956 ISBN: 978-0-140-01969-8 Blurb: He preys on women, waiting in the darkness…then comes from behind, attacks them, and snatches their purses. He tells them not to scream and as they’re on the…
Month: August 2021
Book Review – COP HATER (1956) by Ed McBain
COP HATER (1956) **** by Ed McBain This paperback edition published by Penguin, 1987, 176pp (171pp) First published by Perma in 1956 (USA) © Ed McBain, 1956 ISBN: 978-0-140-01968-1 Blurb: As a cop with the city’s famed 87th Precinct, Steve Carella has seen it all. Or so he thinks. Because nothing can prepare him for the sight…
Book review – FOREVER AND A DAY (2018) by Anthony Horowitz
FOREVER AND A DAY (2018) ***½ by Anthony Horowitz This paperback edition published by Vintage, 2019, 304pp (283pp) First published by Jonathan Cape in 2018 © Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. and The Ian Fleming Estate, 2018 ISBN: 978-1-784-70638-8 Blurb: A British agent floats in the waters of the French Riviera, murdered by an unknown hand. Determined to…
Film Review – SERENITY (2005)
SERENITY (2005, USA) **** Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller dist. Universal Pictures; pr co. Universal Pictures / Barry Mendel Productions; d. Joss Whedon; w. Joss Whedon; pr. Barry Mendel; ph. Jack N. Green (Colour. 35 mm (anamorphic) (Kodak Vision 2383), Digital (Texas Instruments DLP 1280 x 1024, 1.9 : 1 anamorphic). Digital Intermediate (2K) (master format),…
Film Review – SUSPICION (1941)
SUSPICION (1941, USA) **** Mystery, Thriller dist. RKO Radio Pictures; pr co. RKO Radio Pictures; d. Alfred Hitchcock; w. Samson Raphaelson, Joan Harrison, Alma Reville (based on the novel “Before the Fact” by Anthony Berkeley (as Francis Iles)); pr. Harry E. Edington; ph. Harry Stradling (B&W. 35mm. Spherical. 1.37:1); m. Franz Waxman; ed. William Hamilton;…
Book Review – COLONEL SUN (1968) by Kingsley Amis (writing as Robert Markham)
COLONEL SUN (1968) ***½ by Kingsley Amis (writing as Robert Markham) This paperback edition published by Vintage, 2012, 344pp (317pp) First published by Jonathan Cape in 1966 © Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., 1968 Introduction by Kingsley Amis (5pp) ISBN: 978-1-784-87145-1 Blurb: Lunch at Scott’s, a quiet game of golf, a routine social call on his chief M, convalescing in…
Film Review – YESTERDAY (2019)
YESTERDAY (2019, UK) *** Romance, Music, Fantasy dist. Universal Pictures; pr co. Etalon Film / Working Title Films; d. Danny Boyle; w. Richard Curtis (based on a story by Richard Curtis and Jack Barth); pr. Bernard Bellew, Tim Bevan, Danny Boyle, Richard Curtis, Eric Fellner, Matthew James Wilkinson; ph. Christopher Ross (Colour. D-Cinema (Digital Cinema…
Book Review – OCTOPUSSY AND THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (1966) by Ian Fleming
OCTOPUSSY AND THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (1966) *** by Ian Fleming This paperback edition published by Vintage, 2012, 126pp First published by Jonathan Cape in 1966 © Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966 Introduction by Sam Leith (10pp) ISBN: 978-0-099-57702-7 Short Stories: Octopussy (1965, 46pp) *** The Property of a Lady (1963, 34pp) **½ The…
Book Review – THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1965) by Ian Fleming
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN GUN (1965) **½ by Ian Fleming This paperback edition published by Vintage, 2012, 238pp (214pp) First published by Jonathan Cape in 1965 © Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., 1965 Introduction by William Boyd (8pp) ISBN: 978-0-099-57699-0 Blurb: ‘Mister, there’s something quite extra about the smell of death. Care to try it?’ After a…
Film Review – THE CHINA SYNDROME (1979)
THE CHINA SYNDROME (1979, USA) **** Drama, Thriller dist. Columbia Pictures (USA), Columbia-EMI-Warner (UK); pr co. Columbia Pictures / IPC Films; d. James Bridges; w. Mike Gray, T.S. Cook, James Bridges; pr. Michael Douglas; ph. James Crabe (Metrocolor. 35mm. Spherical. 1.85:1); ed. David Rawlins; pd. George Jenkins; rel. 6 March 1979 (USA), 20 July 1979…