Miscast TV and Film Eyes (2001) As seen by The Casting Ouch!, film and television producers often make some pretty bizarre choices when casting actors in the role of private detective (Lorne Greene? Sammy Davis Jr.? The Hager Twins from Hee-Haw?) — but there should be a special place in hell for those who cast … Continue reading What Were They Thinking?
Tag: My Back Pages
So it’s come to this…
The Film Geeks' Top Ten P.I. Films (2012) OKAY, it may be hard to believe, but the entire world does not revolve around private eyes... Shocking, innit? Some people, even people who profess to love mysteries and detective stories and all kinds of crime fiction, aren't quite clear on exactly what defines a private … Continue reading So it’s come to this…
The 2026 Shamus Awards Finalists
From the Private Eye Writers of America The list of finalists for the 2026 Shamus Awards, for works first published in the U.S. in 2025, have just been released. The winners will be announced at the 2026 Bouchercon's Opening Ceremonies in Calgary, Alberta laster this year. BEST PI HARDCOVER The Big Empty by Robert Crais … Continue reading The 2026 Shamus Awards Finalists
My Scrapbook: Boston Blackie by N.C. Wyeth
Boston Blackie by N.C. Wyeth July 1914, The American Magazine "Unhurried and without excitement, but quickly, Boston Blackie forced drawer after drawer" . THIS WAS the lead illustration for "The Price of Principle," the first-ever Boston Blackie story and thus the first-ever depiction of one of crime fiction's more enduring characters. It appeared in the … Continue reading My Scrapbook: Boston Blackie by N.C. Wyeth
Ah, Virginia, Talk To Me Like You Do…
Virginia Eyes are for Lovers Pete Barrow by Ken Linn (Potomac County) Sam Drake by Roger Torrey Scott Drayco by B.V. Lawson (Cape Unity) Frank Johnson by Ed Lynskey (Pelham) Wendy Lu by Timothy J. Lockhart (Virginia Beach) Henry Malone by James D.F. Hannah (Parker County) Khloé Mercer by Kiki Swinson (Norfolk) Frank Pavlicek by … Continue reading Ah, Virginia, Talk To Me Like You Do…
My Scrapbook: “We’d Like You to Follow a Star”
My Scrapbook"We'd Like You to Follow a Star" I dunno. There's just something about this gag Christmas card that made me smile — a perfect little blend of seasonal greetings and the Shamus Game. The cartoon is by Stan Eales, and it's printed on recycled paper, and it's available on the Nobleworks.com web site, where … Continue reading My Scrapbook: “We’d Like You to Follow a Star”
My Scrapbook: Carroll John Daly’s Obituary
My ScrapbookCarroll John Daly's Obituary CARROLL JOHN DALY was one of the most pivotal figures in the development of hard-boiled crime fiction and pretty much created the "private eye" as we now understand the term, but even now, all these years later, he still can’t get no respect. But he apparently never got much even … Continue reading My Scrapbook: Carroll John Daly’s Obituary
My Scrapbook: Luke Cage, Page One
My ScrapbookLuke Cage, Page One The above splash page, presented in all its pre-press, pasted-up, camera-ready glory, is from the very first issue of Luke Cage, Hero for Hire (June 1972), garnered a lot of attention when it came up for auction at Heritage Collectibles. Not just because it's one righteous, bad ass piece of … Continue reading My Scrapbook: Luke Cage, Page One
My Scrapbook: This or That? (A Lincoln Lawyer Dilemma)
My ScrapbookThis or That? I'm just asking... FURTHER INVESTIGATION Mickey Haller (The Lincoln Lawyer)Our take... My ScrapbookA Cornucopia of Tear Sheets, Illustrations, Photos, Scribbles & Other Crap That I Think is Cool. Respectfully submitted by Kevin Burton Smith.
The Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid Cheatsheet
The Supporting Cast and Films Used in the Making of the Film The 1982 comedy, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, starring Steve Martin as 1940s Hollywood eye Rigby Reardon and directed by Carl Reiner, had a cast to die for. Literally, since most of those who appeared in it had shuffled off this mortal coil … Continue reading The Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid Cheatsheet