Category Archives: New York

FUZZ (1968) by Ed McBain

Posted on 17 May 2013 by

And Fedora is back (for now …) and so is Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct series (for my previous reviews click here). I am reading them chronologically, an approach that pays dividends in the case of Fuzz. Not only does it … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Ed McBain, Friday's Forgotten Book, New York, Police procedural | Tagged , , | 38 Comments

MEMOS FROM PURGATORY (1961) by Harlan Ellison

Posted on 26 April 2013 by

Harlan Ellison is a writer with a unique voice, paddling his own caustic canoe (sic), defying all those who would pigeon-hole his talent. His resistance to easy categorisation remains ever more laudable in an age of cookie counter consumerism and … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013 Book to Movie Challenge, Alfred Hitchcock, Friday's Forgotten Book, Harlan Ellison, New York, Scene of the crime | 19 Comments

EIGHTY MILLION EYES (1966) by Ed McBain

Posted on 29 March 2013 by

It’s common to hear it said that an act ‘died’ on stage but in the case of TV comic Stan Gifford this proves to be literally true – and in front of 40 million viewers too. This is the premise … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Ed McBain, Friday's Forgotten Book, New York, Police procedural | 39 Comments

THE GREEN PLAID PANTS (1951) by Margaret Scherf

Posted on 15 March 2013 by

This was the second of four screwball mysteries featuring Emily and Henry Bryce, full-time husband-and-wife interior decorators and part-time amateur sleuths. After eleven months of marriage the volcanic Emily is already feeling that their life in New York is in … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013 Vintage Mystery Challenge, London, Margaret Scherf, New York, Rue Morgue Press, Scene of the crime | 36 Comments

Side Effects

Posted on 12 March 2013 by

The thriller genre can be so capacious and seductive that filmmakers often use the form to smuggle in less commercial content on its coat-tails. Successful examples of this include the debate on Britain’s antiquated homosexuality laws found in Victim (1961), … Continue reading →

Posted in Hammer Studios, Jimmy Sangster, New York, Steven Soderbergh, Tuesday's Forgotten Film | 12 Comments

DREADFUL SUMMIT (1948) by Stanley Ellin

Posted on 1 March 2013 by

Stanley Ellin burst on the literary scene in Spring 1948 with a one-two punch with the twin successes of his first short story, ‘The Specialty of the House’, the classic tale of the macabre for Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013 Book to Movie Challenge, 2013 Vintage Mystery Challenge, Friday's Forgotten Book, Joseph Losey, New York, Scene of the crime, Stanley Ellin | 19 Comments

Douglas Slocombe – 100 years old today

Posted on 10 February 2013 by

OK movie buffs, here’s a fun pop quiz for you: what do Raiders of the Lost Ark, Sean Connery’s last Bond movie, Michael Caine in The Italian Job, Montgomery Clift’s turn as Sigmund Freud and several classic Ealing comedies such … Continue reading →

Posted in 'In praise of ...', Basil Dearden, Douglas Slocombe, Film Noir, George Baxt, Gothic, Hammer Studios, Jimmy Sangster, Joseph Losey, London, New York, Paris, Scene of the crime, Screwball | 19 Comments

DOLL (1965) by Ed McBain

Posted on 8 February 2013 by

After an unexpected break of several months I return to the urban (and sometimes urbane) world of Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct with one of its best and most compact entries so far. I am at present re-reading the entire corpus … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Ed McBain, Friday's Forgotten Book, New York, Police procedural | 28 Comments

THE HORIZONTAL MAN (1946) by Helen Eustis

Posted on 31 December 2012 by

Phew! By the skin of my teeth I’ve managed to complete the 2012 Vintage Mystery Readers Challenge. To celebrate, and as my last blog post until late January, here is my (short) review of Helen Eustis’ influential Edgar-winning debut. Set … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge, Amnesia, Campus Crime, Five Star review, Golden Age Girls, Margaret Millar, New York, Robert Bloch, Scene of the crime | 22 Comments

THE G-STRING MURDERS (1941) by Gypsy Rose Lee

Posted on 26 December 2012 by

Rose Louise Hovick (1914-70), better known under her stage name, ‘Gypsy Rose Lee’, had a brief but notable career. Her autobiography, Gypsy, detailing her rise to become the ‘Queen of Burlesque’ was a Broadway hit and was later filmed with … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge, Craig Rice, Friday's Forgotten Book, Golden Age Girls, New York, Scene of the crime, Screwball | 31 Comments

Top 20 Spy movies

Posted on 27 November 2012 by

The release of Ben Affleck’s smart historical satire Argo, based loosely on the true extraction by the CIA and Canadian officials of six American Embassy staff members out of Tehran in 1980, made me reflect on the spy genre as … Continue reading →

Posted in 'Best of' lists, Adam Hall, Alfred Hitchcock, Amnesia, Billy Wilder, Brian de Palma, Cold War, Elleston Trevor, Eric Ambler, Espionage, Film Noir, George Smiley, Ian Fleming, James Bond, John Frankenheimer, John le Carre, Len Deighton, London, Michael Powell, New York, Paris, Quiller, San Francisco, Scene of the crime, Spy movies | 69 Comments

NIGHTMARE (1941) by Cornell Woolrich

Posted on 23 November 2012 by

During the 1940s Cornell Woolrich was one of the true masters of the psychological suspense yarn, as adept at creating ingenious and outlandish plots as painting an atmosphere of universal dread and irrationality. This is a case in point with … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge, Amnesia, Cornell Woolrich, Film Noir, Friday's Forgotten Book, New York, Noir, Scene of the crime | 20 Comments

Two O’Clock Courage (1945)

Posted on 13 November 2012 by

Something of a forgotten semi Noir, this mixture of comedy and thrills marked the RKO debuts of director Anthony Mann and Jane Greer (here billed with her full name, ‘Bettejane’). The leading man is Tom Conway, already established at the studio … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Noir, New York, Noir on Tuesday, Scene of the crime, Tuesday's Forgotten Film | 18 Comments

The Mad Miss Manton (1938)

Posted on 16 October 2012 by

The screwball mystery stands as the unlikely historical and genre nexus between the pre-code movies of the early thirties and the Film Noir movement of the 40s and 50s. Don’t believe me? Well, just consider the iconic crossover presence of … Continue reading →

Posted in Dashiell Hammett, New York, Scene of the crime, Screwball, The Thin Man, Tuesday's Forgotten Film | Tagged | 42 Comments

MURDER ON THE BLACKBOARD (1932) by Stuart Palmer

Posted on 17 August 2012 by

This book features one of the first, and funniest, examples of that mystery mainstay, the spinster sleuth. From Mary Roberts Rinehart’s plucky one-off heroines to the more professional investigating of Agatha Christie’s Jane Marple and Patricia Wentworth’s Maud Silver (both first … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 Alphabet of Crime, 2012 Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge, Campus Crime, Craig Rice, Crime Fiction Alphabet, Hildegarde Withers, New York, Partners in Crime, Scene of the crime, Screwball, Stuart Palmer | 20 Comments

HE WHO HESITATES (1965) by Ed McBain

Posted on 13 July 2012 by

Today we turn to one of the most anomalous entries in the 87th Precinct series, which I am currently re-reading in the order of original publication (my previous reviews can be found here). The chronology of the series is only … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 Alphabet of Crime, 87th Precinct, Crime Fiction Alphabet, Ed McBain, New York, Police procedural | 28 Comments

FACE TO FACE (1967) by Ellery Queen

Posted on 28 June 2012 by

Did you know that at the end of his illustrious career Ellery Queen retired to Italy, got married and sired a son? And that ‘Queen’ was not his real name, even in the fictional sense? Well, this is the information … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 Alphabet of Crime, Crime Fiction Alphabet, Ellery Queen, New York, Scene of the crime | Tagged | 34 Comments

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

Posted on 19 June 2012 by

A topical satire and a crackerjack suspense movie, this still stands up among the cream of 1970s crime movies, especially when compared with its two inferior remakes. The plot remains the same in all three versions: a New York subway … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Noir, New York, Tuesday's Forgotten Film | 36 Comments

AXE (1964) by Ed McBain

Posted on 4 May 2012 by

Today we turn to one of the briefest entries in Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct series. I am re-reading them in chronological sequence (click here to read my previous reviews) though this is not really necessary as they are all fairly … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Ed McBain, Friday's Forgotten Book, New York, Police procedural | 11 Comments

THE SCARF (1947 / 1966) by Robert Bloch

Posted on 20 April 2012 by

“I have the heart of a young boy. I keep it in a jar on my desk” Robert Bloch was the prolific author of novels, short stories and screenplays in the horror, science fiction and mystery genres. He also possessed … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge, Amnesia, Chicago, Friday's Forgotten Book, Los Angeles, New York, Psycho, Robert Bloch, Scene of the crime | 37 Comments

TEN PLUS ONE (1963) by Ed McBain

Posted on 14 April 2012 by

Today we return to the world of Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct mysteries as I continue my challenge to read the entire series in its original publication order. For our reviews of  previous volumes, visit the dedicated miscrosite here. “Where are … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Ed McBain, New York, Police procedural | 5 Comments

LIKE LOVE (1962) by Ed McBain

Posted on 16 March 2012 by

Today we return to Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct mysteries. I am re-reading them in chronological sequence (click here to read my earlier reviews), though this is not really necessary as they are all fairly self-contained. This aspect is well in … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Ed McBain, New York, Police procedural | 8 Comments

THE EMPTY HOURS (1962) by Ed McBain

Posted on 19 February 2012 by

Today we return to the world of Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct mysteries. Published originally between 1956 and 2005, I have been reading them in chronological sequence (click here to see my reviews of the books in the series). McBain once … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Ed McBain, New York, Police procedural | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

KINDS OF LOVE, KINDS OF DEATH (1966) by Donald Westlake

Posted on 16 February 2012 by

Donald Edwin Edward Westlake (1933-2008) was a prolific writer and over the decades published all kinds of crime and mystery books – and other types of fiction too – under a great many pseudonyms. Of the dozen or so names … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Westlake, Film Noir, New York, Richard Stark, Scene of the crime | Tagged , | 12 Comments

SEE THEM DIE (1960) by Ed McBain

Posted on 29 January 2012 by

Today we return to the world of Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct mysteries. Published originally between 1956 and 2005, I have been reading them in chronological sequence (click here to read my other reviews of the books in the series). After … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Ed McBain, New York, Police procedural | 10 Comments

The Dark Mirror (1946) – Tuesday’s Forgotten Film

Posted on 24 January 2012 by

Okay, it’s quiz time – what do Bette Davis, Jeremy Irons, Elvis Presley, Bette Midler, Yul Brynner and Arnold Schwarzenegger all have in common? Would it help if I added Nicolas Cage, Danny Kaye and Hayley Mills? Yes, they all played … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Noir, New York, Tuesday's Forgotten Film | 22 Comments

FALLEN ANGEL / MIRAGE (1952) by Howard Fast

Posted on 20 January 2012 by

I begin the second stage of Bev’s 2012 Vintage Mystery Readers Challenge with an early mystery from the pen of Howard Fast, probably still best known as the author of Spartacus, his epic tale of revolution in ancient Rome. Like … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012 Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge, Amnesia, Film Noir, New York, Scene of the crime | 20 Comments

LADY, LADY, I DID IT! (1961) by Ed McBain

Posted on 13 January 2012 by

Today is Friday the 13th so it seemed appropriate to skip forward slightly in my reviews of Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct mysteries (all listed here) as this is also the day on which this novel begins (albeit some fifty years … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Ed McBain, New York, Police procedural | 2 Comments

87th Precinct mysteries now on Kindle

Posted on 6 January 2012 by

Regular visitors to this site will know that I’m a big fan of Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct mysteries (all my reviews are posted here). Now Amazon publishing, under its Thomas & Mercer imprint, is re-releasing the entire series on Kindle. … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Ed McBain, New York, Police procedural, Scene of the crime | 10 Comments

THE HECKLER (1960) by Ed McBain

Posted on 17 December 2011 by

Today we reach another milestone in the 87th Precinct mysteries by Ed McBain, one that introduced one of its most nefarious characters. This is the twelfth of my reviews, all of which are listed here. This page will be updated … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Ed McBain, New York, Police procedural, Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2011 | 5 Comments

GIVE THE BOYS A GREAT BIG HAND (1960) by Ed McBain

Posted on 9 November 2011 by

Today I continue my reviews of the 87th Precinct mysteries by Ed McBain, all of which are listed here. This page will be updated as I progress through the entire run, which originally was published between 1956 and 2005. Margaret … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Ed McBain, New York, Police procedural, Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2011 | 3 Comments

‘TIL DEATH (1959) by Ed McBain

Posted on 22 October 2011 by

Today I continue my series of reviews of the 87th Precinct mysteries by Ed McBain (all of which are listed here). It is also the last covering those published before 1960, so it is eligible under the guidelines of Bev’s … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Columbo, Ed McBain, New York, Police procedural, Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2011 | 3 Comments

Top 101 Film & TV Mysteries

Posted on 4 October 2011 by

This is a minor milestones for Tipping My Fedora as the blog has now reached its 101st post. So, seeing as it is also my birthday today, what better way to celebrate than with a small indulgence in the company of … Continue reading →

Posted in 'Best of' lists, Charlie Chan, Columbo, Dashiell Hammett, Dorothy L. Sayers, Film Noir, Giallo, Inspector Morse, Jonathan Latimer, London, Lord Peter Wimsey, Los Angeles, Nero Wolfe, New York, Oxford, Paris, Parker, Philip MacDonald, Philip Marlowe, Philo Vance, Raymond Chandler, Rex Stout, Richard Stark, Robert Culp, Ross Macdonald, San Francisco, Scene of the crime, Scott Turow, Sherlock Holmes, SS Van Dine, The Thin Man, TV Cops, William Goldman | 28 Comments

LADY KILLER (1958) by Ed McBain

Posted on 24 September 2011 by

Today I continue my series of reviews of the 87th Precinct mysteries by Ed McBain (all of which are listed here). As it was published before 1960 it is also eligible under the guidelines of Bev’s 2011 Mystery Readers Challenge. … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Ed McBain, New York, Police procedural, Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2011 | 7 Comments

SONGS OF INNOCENCE by Richard Aleas

Posted on 15 September 2011 by

Songs of Innocence is published by Hard Case Crime, the imprint founded by Charles Ardai specialising in pulp fiction in the style of the 50s and 60s – the era of the paperback original as delivered by the likes of … Continue reading →

Posted in Charles Ardai, Ed McBain, Film Noir, Hard Case Crime, New York, Private Eye, Richard Stark, Scene of the crime | 4 Comments

THE CON MAN (1957) by Ed McBain

Posted on 30 August 2011 by

Today I continue my series of reviews of the 87th Precinct mysteries by Ed McBain (all of which are listed here). As it was published before 1960 it is also eligible under the guidelines of Bev’s 2011 Mystery Readers Challenge. … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Ed McBain, New York, Police procedural, Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2011 | 6 Comments

THE PUSHER (1956) by Ed McBain

Posted on 10 August 2011 by

Today I continue my series of reviews of the 87th Precinct mysteries by Ed McBain, all of which are listed here together with links to my reviews so far. These will be updated as I progress through the entire run, … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Ed McBain, New York, Police procedural, Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2011 | 8 Comments

Film Top 10: Surprise Villains

Posted on 24 July 2011 by

O Henry was considered to be the original master of the twist ending in his popular short stories, at least in the sense that this is what he became famous for – and certainly there are a great many movies … Continue reading →

Posted in 'Best of' lists, Agatha Christie, Columbo, DVD Review, Film Noir, Giallo, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rome, Spy movies, Top 10 | 10 Comments

THE MUGGER (1956) by Ed McBain

Posted on 17 July 2011 by

At Tipping My Fedora we thrive on challenges and in that spirit have decided to review each and every one of the 87th Precinct mysteries written by Evan Hunter as ‘Ed McBain’. They were originally published in the US between 1956 and … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Ed McBain, New York, Police procedural, Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2011 | 5 Comments

Z is for … Michael Bar-Zohar’s THE THIRD TRUTH (1972)

Posted on 11 July 2011 by

The 2011 Alphabet of Crime community meme over at the Mysteries in Paradise blog has reached the end of the line with the letter Z – and both my nominations this week, I am proud to say, are from author … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime Fiction Alphabet, Espionage, New York, Paris | 8 Comments

COP HATER by Ed McBain

Posted on 9 July 2011 by

At Tipping My Fedora we like a challenge and so have decided to review each and every one of the 87th Precinct mysteries written by Ed McBain. A complete rundown of the 55 volumes in the series has been placed here together with links … Continue reading →

Posted in 87th Precinct, Ed McBain, New York, Police procedural, Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2011 | 9 Comments

THE RED RIGHT HAND (1945) by Joel Townsley Rogers

Posted on 18 May 2011 by

The Alphabet of Crime community meme over at the Mysteries in Paradise blog has reached the letter R, and my second nomination this week, also eligible under the guidelines of Bev’s 2011 Mystery Readers Challenge, is …

THE RED RIGHT HAND by Joel Townsley Rogers

“… surely one of the dozen or so finest mystery novels of the 20th century.” - Jack Adrian

There are prolific mystery writers, of great and small acclaim, who become defined by just one work – I’m not thinking of Helen Eustis and her sole adult contribution to the genre, the groundbreaking The Horizontal Man (1946), nor of distinctive but only belatedly recognised authors such as John Franklin Bardin. Rather there are those who, for various reasons, despite producing a number of offerings over their careers, only became popularly known for a small or even single portion of it. In some cases this is just an indication of capitalising on commercial success, as in Robert ‘Psycho’ Bloch for instance, but there are others only known to cognoscenti except for one exceptional title – and Joel Townsley Rogers is certainly one of those authors. Continue reading →

Gallery | 14 Comments