Lockdown rolls on, and so does my GAD-focussed podcast, which this time around sees me picking the brains of John Norris who blogs at Pretty Sinister Books and is surely one of the most widely-read members of our GAD coterie.

This episode sees us discussing the utilisation of magic in crime fiction, from its slightly disappointing pulpish roots up to the full dress detection of the Golden Age.  We look at how magic and misdirection are essentially two halves of the same coin, examine the works of a few luminaries, and then veer into mummery, psychics, and other aspects of the dark arts, and after that it’s all something of a blur.  I guess you’ll just have to listen below to find out more — or, if the player is, er, playing up for you, try clicking here to open it in your browser.

One thing’s for certain: John has some authors you’ve doubtless not heard of up his sleeve, so watch very closely…

https://theinvisibleevent.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/04.-magic-mummery-misdirection.mp3

My thanks to John for giving up his time to talk, and to all y’all for listening.  Hope this finds you and your families well.

I’ve been reminded that I didn’t provide a link to my post on seances in fiction which is mentioned in the above discussion; you can find it here.

More podcast in a fortnight, stay safe!

Lockdown rolls on, and so does my GAD-focussed podcast, which this time around sees me picking the brains of John Norris who blogs at Pretty Sinister Books and is surely one of the most widely-read members of our GAD coterie. This episode sees us discussing the utilisation of magic in crime fiction, from its slightly … Continue reading In GAD We Trust – Episode 4: Magic, Mummery, and Misdirection [w’ John @ Pretty Sinister Books]

Here we go again, podcast time!  And this week I’m joined by President of the Detection Club and recent recipient of the Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger, Martin Edwards.

Of course, Martin has been involved in the gamut of crime and detective fiction over the years, so conversation had to be restricted to just a few key topics: his involvement with the British Library’s Crime Classics range — you may have heard of them — and his recent 1930s-set novel Mortmain Hall (2020), the second to feature the enigmatic Rachel Savernake.

But, Ed-Nerds need despair not!  We also touch on how some of the earlier work in his career — like completing The Lazarus Widow (1999) from a manuscript started by Bill Knox, and historical fiction such as his novelising of the Dr. Crippen case in Dancing for the Hangman (2008) — has informed elements of his later writing.  And we couldn’t not discuss The Golden Age of Murder (2015) and The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books (2017), plus the upcoming Howdunit (2020) a collaborative work from members of the Detection Club both living and dead.

How did we fit all this into just over an hour of discussion? Click here to open in your browser or listen below to find out.  I’m afraid the sound is a little glitchy at times — clearly Zoom was hosting a lot of meetings at the time — but that shouldn’t prove too great a distraction…

https://theinvisibleevent.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03.-martin-edwards.mp3

Thanks for listening, and my thanks once again for Martin for taking the time to talk to me — if you’re somehow unaware of his blog Do You Write Under Your Own Name?, you can find it here.

Thanks are also due, as always, to Jonny Berliner for the music; if you’re looking to do some learning while in lockdown, you should check out his SciTunes website here.

Here we go again, podcast time!  And this week I’m joined by President of the Detection Club and recent recipient of the Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger, Martin Edwards. Of course, Martin has been involved in the gamut of crime and detective fiction over the years, so conversation had to be restricted to just a … Continue reading In GAD We Trust – Episode 3: British Library Crime Classics and Mortmain Hall (2020) by Martin Edwards [w’ Martin Edwards]

Another week in lockdown, another episode of my new “hopefully this will distract you” Golden Age Detection podcast, In GAD We Trust.

Today I’m joined by Aidan of Mysteries Ahoy! who, having made something of a study of the inverted mystery on his blog, suggested them as the topic for this episode.  In order to better observe social distancing, we recorded this while in separate countries, with a shift from Zoom to Zencastr as the platform of choice making me wonder why everyone is clamouring for the end of the alphabet when it comes to naming their collaboration software…which we can all reflect on another time.

Anyway, the origins, the purpose, the variations, and the game-playing of a story that tells you whodunnit up front is examined in a loosely meandering way — as are my own initial objections to the form, a few movies that employ the inverted structure, and a sudden moment of elucidation when I remember a TV show from about 20 years ago.  There was originally much more Jim Thompson in here, too, but I recognised that our nerding out was veering off-topic a bit and so trimmed it back.

Also not included is Aidan’s five attempts trying and failing to say “Heir Presumptive by Henry Wade” while we giggled like loons, but if we want to be taken seriously then we must not be seen to be so frivolous.  And so, without further ado, either click here to open it in your browser or listen below…

https://theinvisibleevent.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/02.-inverted-mysteries-1.mp3

My thanks to Aidan for taking the time to talk about this, and thanks once again to the incomparable Jonny Berliner for the music.

In GAD We Trust will hopefully now settle into a one-episode-a-fortnight routine, so should be back on April 25th.  In its stead next Saturday: R. Austin Freeman’s The Eye of Osiris (1911)…

Another week in lockdown, another episode of my new “hopefully this will distract you” Golden Age Detection podcast, In GAD We Trust. Today I’m joined by Aidan of Mysteries Ahoy! who, having made something of a study of the inverted mystery on his blog, suggested them as the topic for this episode.  In order to … Continue reading In GAD We Trust – Episode 2: Inverted Mysteries [w’ Aidan @ Mysteries Ahoy!]

You’re stuck at home, you’re bored, you could really do with a new, Golden Age Detection-focussed podcast to help pass the time, eh?

Let’s hope so, because today you’re getting the first episode of my latest undertaking: a Golden Age Detection-focussed podcast called In GAD We Trust.  With so many people being at home, and with so many of us seeking solace in books, I thought I’d take the opportunity to rustle up some GAD-based discussion with my fellow bloggers and enthusiasts and record the results for your listening pleasure.

Gamely stepping up to the plate is Kate of CrossExaminingCrime, who wanted to discuss the female sleuth in fiction and so — in accordance with governmental guidelines on social distancing — we met up via Zoom and you can listen to the edited highlights below (I think I’ve taken out all the wonderful mispronunciation of names, Kate ).  There’s no real structure or larger point, it’s mainly just very enjoyable getting people to talk on their own enthusiasms; and so, since there’s really no more to say, you can open it in your browser by clicking here, or listen below:

I hope you enjoy the above and find it gives you something to think about (or, at the very least, disagree with).  A second episode — with another collaborator — should follow next week, after which the plan is to put out a new episode every two weeks.  My thanks again to Kate for taking the time to talk with me, and to the omni-talented Jonny Berliner for writing the music.

And, hey, if you have a burning desire to talk about a GAD-related topic, get in touch — the next star of the show could be you (though, just to be clear, I’m very much the actual star of the show…).

You’re stuck at home, you’re bored, you could really do with a new, Golden Age Detection-focussed podcast to help pass the time, eh? Let’s hope so, because today you’re getting the first episode of my latest undertaking: a Golden Age Detection-focussed podcast called In GAD We Trust.  With so many people being at home, and … Continue reading In GAD We Trust – Episode 1: Female Sleuths [w’ Kate @ CrossExaminingCrime]