Lighting the Pipes

It's Christmas Eve in Oldhampton and as residents enjoy what's left of their pre-holiday errands, cub reporter Sonia is looking to eschew the society fluff of her regular assignments by tackling a more thrilling angle. Nobody has yet spent a night among the wax effigies in the local Hall of Horrors without meeting a ghastly end. Success here would certainly propel Sonia over the bigoted jibes and through the glass ceiling of her toxic workplace. Ethel Lina White's "Waxworks" first appeared in the December 1930 edition of Pearson's magazine and was the precursor to her 1935 novel, "Wax". In Part 1 of LTP's Festive Season Triptych, your hosts explore this fascinating short story and its context.

Fast Facts@14:45; Summary@38:45; PIPES@45:45

Before Philip Marlowe there was... "shamus"... aka Proto-Marlowe!

In this episode, Scott goes on solo assignment through the pages of Black Mask magazine to share his thoughts on Raymond Chandler's 1935 story "Killer in the Rain", the key progenitor of The Big Sleep. From salacious booksellers to double-crossing hoods, this complex story presented readers with the blueprint for what would become a sinful California and a gripping, fool-proof character methodology that Chandler would draw and double-down upon for years to come. So grab your trench-coats and join LTP through the drenched pavements and heavy secrets of LA. Watch where you step, it's wet out there.

In this, his first Bernard Samson narrative, Len Deighton gives us the story of a weary MI6 veteran who's pulled back into danger when a suspected mole threatens London's Berlin intelligence network. As Cold War pressures intensify, Samson is forced to negotiate frayed loyalties and return to the divided city of his youth, where nostalgia threatens to cloud his professional judgement further. Deighton's prose balances the tight rope of moral uncertainty while softly critiquing early Thatcherism - the result being a portrayal of Britain as a nation losing coherence... not to mention its secret intel!

Fast Facts@12:30; Summary@38:00; PIPES@58:00

From a post 9/11 framework, some could read John Gardner's Scorpius as chilling and prophetic. In the year of its publication, however, it was aiming to hit more contemporary targets. From growing world terrorism to the microchip boom, from satanic panic to luxury golf resorts, this outing sees M throw Bond into a complex web of inter-agency activity and exceedingly heavy stakes. Our run through the Gardner sweep continues with a closer look at this heavy-set and slithering seventh installment.

Summary@6:00; Review@30:00

It's Halloween on Yellow Street and outcast Robbie Glinton has a plan for revenge. Let down by teachers, abandoned by parents and ignored by "the man", he and his troop of juvenile delinquents (Jody, Dags and Midge) are out for a little payback.

Daniel Kraus' Blood Sugar, an exclusive Hard Case Crime publication from 2019, presents a complex story of trauma covered in seasonal guise and a veneer of adolescent reflection. Left to navigate their social and familial woes as best they can, Robbie's team of misfits prepare for the ultimate trick-or-treat with poisoned candy and weaponised sweets. Kraus gives readers a lot to chew over in this engaging story, told to us through the unique voice and teenage eyes of Jody.

Fast Facts@7:45; Summary@22:00; PIPES@42:00

The John Gardner sweep continues with "Win, Lose or Die", the eighth continuation novel in his cycle of Bond adventures. With this story, Gardner keeps on trend-jumping, here drawing inspiration from the "Top Gun" and "Iron Eagle" craze of the era. Bond returns to the Navy, upgrades to Captain and plays War Games with some very important dignitaries in order to defend a top-secret Steward's Meeting from a new terrorist threat. So grab your aviators and fire up the After Burner Arcade, we're flying back to 1989 for one final wild ride of the decade!

In this special episode, Nick Anderson from The Book Graveyard lends his enthusiasm and rides sidecar through our exploration of "Maigret and the Ghost". When one of the Inspector's colleagues from the 18th arrondissement is gunned down in the peaceable Avenue Junot, Maigret has to pick up the loose ends of a secretive and time-sensitive investigation. From spooks in the window and open-marriage antics to expensive art and a flashy yellow jaguar, this later Simenon novel presents readers with... drumroll please... "the night of opening and closing doors"! In addition to the LTP review, this monster episode also features some fun quiz nonsense and Halloween recommendations. Enjoy!

Simenon FF@15:30; Plot Summary@30:30; PIPESreview@40:00; Art Thievery Quiz@1:50:30

Check out Nick on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TheBookGraveyard

Dr Richard Talbot: "I'm writing a paper on ailments of the heart."

Nora Prentiss: "A paper? I could write a book!"

LTP Noir is back with "oomph" and a deep-dive into 1947's Nora Prentiss, directed by Vincent Sherman, a love affair that literally goes up in flames. Not only does Josh give his final word on this compelling "Women's Noir" but shines deserving light on the career of Ann Sheridan, an outlier Warner Brothers star who held her own in the feisty world of Crawford, Davis and De Haviland.

Plot Summary@2:30; Production Feature@24:00; LTP Noir Review@48:00

What would happen if a bunch of thugs were chasing down an old-man's horse-betting system? And what if only a sharpshooting physics teacher and his jockey-dreaming younger brother stood in the way of them and their shady profiteering! Well, it's all to play for here in 1981's "Twice Shy" by Dick Francis. If you're into equine thrillers with hurdles of domestic conflict and 80s computer jargon then this episode is for you! Or maybe you're just looking for a fun listen... Either way, we've got you covered. Saddle up!

Billy Summers, ex-marine, is an assassin with a moral compass and a mind scarred by trauma. In Stephen King's 2021 thriller, he takes on some "very bad men" in what he intends to be his final job. King's narrative focuses on the preparations and execution of the hit, while reminding us that you can never plan for the unexpected. "Dumb Billy" may conceals his sharper self behind Archie comics and offshore identities but he learns that there's always a force greater than yourself out there waiting, able to penetrate the facade and upend expectations. Join us as we split the payoff for this pulpy yet nuanced thriller!

Summary@7:10; PIPES@34:30