The Game’s A-foot!

Puzzles, Books and Other P.I. Games Oh, the games people play now, every night and everyday, now...      Of course, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, so here's a short list of puzzling diversions for those of you who like to play. Lawrence Treat's Detectograms Mystery author Lawrence Treat did … Continue reading The Game’s A-foot!

It Figures…

Private Eye Dolls, Action Figures & Collectibles       They're not dolls! They're not even action figures anymore! They're... "collectibles." Honey West (1965, Gilbert) Possibly the first-ever P.I. action figure, this 11-inch doll was allegedly "beautifully fashioned after Anne Francis" who played Honey on television, and there were several "glamorous action accessories" available (a formal … Continue reading It Figures…

Oh, The Games People Played Then

Some Classic Private Eye & Detective Board Games Every night and everyday, now... Of course, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, so here's a short list of diversions from the past (and present) for those of you who like to play. A roll of the dice, a spin of the spinner, … Continue reading Oh, The Games People Played Then

The Thrilling Detective Gift Guide

Games, Toys, Collectibles and Other Odds & Sods HARDCOVERS | PAPERBACKS | DIGITAL | AUDIO | COLLECTIONS & ANTHOLOGIES NON-FICTION, REFERENCE & TRUE CRIME | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS | TV & FILM THE THRILLING DETECTIVE GIFT SHOP I used to do a Holiday Gift Guide every year, and then I didn't (although I still … Continue reading The Thrilling Detective Gift Guide

Jim Doyle

Created by -- File this one under "rare." Jim Doyle Private Detective and the Train Hold-Up was published in 1939 as a "penny" book published by Whitman Publishing, out of Racine, Wisconsin, and measured a scant 2 5/8" x 3 5/8." It was had 32 pages, and boasted ten illustrations, and was all held together … Continue reading Jim Doyle

The Vinyl Detective

Created by Andrew Cartmel As anyone hep to the jive knows, the twelve-inch LP enjoyed an unexpected comeback of sorts among mostly younger hipsters and wannabes in the 2010s, while audiophiles and aging old-school rockers from Jack White to Neil Young strutted around saying "I told you so!" Which probably explains why this series, pretty … Continue reading The Vinyl Detective

My Scrapbook: A Seasonal Greeting Card from the Charleses

My Scrapbook A Seasonal Greeting Card from the Charleses MGM publicity still for the release of Shadow of the Thin Man (1941) Above is a publicity still for the release of Shadow of the Thin Man (1941, MGM), starring William Powell and Myrna Loy and as Dashiell Hammett's Nick and Nora Charles. Of course by … Continue reading My Scrapbook: A Seasonal Greeting Card from the Charleses

My Scrapbook: Scooby-Doo Goes Postal

My Scrapbook The Scooby-Doo Doo Good Forever Stamp From the official press release from the United States Postal Service, June 14, 2018: WASHINGTON — “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” For nearly 50 years, this call has summoned the beloved animated Great Dane wherever help is needed. The U.S. Postal Service, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, … Continue reading My Scrapbook: Scooby-Doo Goes Postal

On the Trail of The Black Bird…

The Whereabouts of the "Real" Maltese Falcon As of March 1995, the original movie prop (two were made, but only one was used) from John Huston's 1941 classic The Maltese Falcon had finally gone home to roost in San Francisco, site of the film and the original novel by Dashiell Hammett. The leaden statuette emerged … Continue reading On the Trail of The Black Bird…

Gimcracks, Geegaws & Other Dinguses

Private Eye Collectibles Just in case you need something to hang on your wall, plop on your desk or otherwise catch dust, one of these sundry treasures may be just the rara-avis you're looking for. (By the way, if the buy links don't work, well, that's probably why they're called "collectibles.") The Maltese Falcon Statuette … Continue reading Gimcracks, Geegaws & Other Dinguses