25c Dell Paperbacks

I love everything about the old 25c Dell paperbacks. The sensational cover art. The maps on the back. The yellowed pages. The great stories. I collect the old paperbacks even if they are stained, torn, or have ripped binding. It just shows how much they were read and loved. For some reason I don't love the covers of the novels after they raised the price past 25c. They just aren't as fun. Take a look at some of my favorite Dell 25 centers...


This is one of my favorites. Look at this cover and notice the shadow of the devil behind the woman's face.

This particular book has a fabulous map on the back of the "Murder Apartment." I certainly don't want to live in the murder apartment, although it is huge and in an excellent location.

The maps on the back are so much fun.

What a great title for a book.  I'd be afraid to walk up those stairs too.

Love the falling bridge in this first edition. 

Watson Meets The Hobbit?

I've clearly caught onto this late because this movie comes out in December, but this poster shows Watson from BBC's Sherlock dressed as Bilbo Baggins in the new Hobbit movie. To make things more Baker Street-esque, Benedict Cumberbatch, who plays Sherlock on the same series, is the Necromancer (just the voice) in this movie.

This will be a true test of Martin Freeman's acting ability. I don't know how I can forget, even temporarily, Watson standing at Sherlock's grave begging him not to be dead in the season finale long enough to believe that he is Bilbo, especially with Sherlock's voice in the movie.

The World's Largest Mystery Convention

The World's Largest Mystery fan convention, called Bouchercon, is happening this October 4-7 in Cleveland. It's an annual convention named for renowned mystery (and sci-fi) writer, Anthony Boucher and about 1500 mystery lovers are expected to attend.

I haven't been to Cleveland as an adult but I am looking forward to catching up with my mystery loving friends and going to the opening ceremony party at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The museum will be open to anyone who attends the opening ceremony.

A few friends and I have volunteered to help with the event (it's all volunteer) and I can tell you there are a lot of fun things planned -- including a social hour with Criminal Element, a craft room, basketball with S.J. Rozan and special appearances by Linda Fairstein, Karin Slaughter, Lee Child, Michael Connolly, Elizabeth George, Mary Higgins Clark, Val McDermid and Robin Cook.

Hank Phillippi Ryan will also be at Bouchercon. Don't forget to enter here to win a signed copy of THE OTHER WOMAN.

You can register and learn more about the convention here at the 2012 website, and here http://www.facebook.com/Bouchercon2012 and on Twitter @Bouchercon2012. You can learn more about future Bouchercons and the organization itself here.

Zombies and Bacon

This delicious canned bacon has a shelf life of ten years...yummo. 

I guess it never occurred to me that zombies and bacon go together although it makes sense that zombies would enjoy eating bacon, because everyone does.  The site "Think Geek" has combined their bacon and zombie offerings here. You can get your bacon salt and your bacon flavored popcorn while you are getting your pocket chain saw and your zombie magnetic poetry kit. Although I don't see the poetry kit helping you much in the event of a zombie apocalypse.

The bacon scented hand-sanitizer also seems like a big tactical error and evidentially, I'm not the only one who thinks so because it is marked down. You should try not to smell like food, or brains, if the zombies are coming for you. Just a thought.

It's a lunch box where you can store your pocket chain saw. 

If you would like further instruction on what to do in the event of a zombie apocalypse, you may want to check out this post here. 

The Return of Once Upon a Time

This is probably my favorite show on television right now. It's fun to figure out which fairy tale is featured that week and guess who everyone is. I like the drama between good and evil and good that's sometimes less than good, and evil that's sometimes almost less than evil.

If you watched the season finale you know that the Storybrooke curse has been broken and that magic is coming to town in the form of a big purple hurricane. I'm not sure what it all means, but both Regina and Gold/Stiltskin are so happy about it. As a general rule, if both Gold and Regina are on board, it's not good for the citizens of Storybrooke, Maine.  It might be good for us though if it delivers good storytelling.

They've got a great line up of guests this season and characters featured will include Captain Hook (one of my personal favorites), a giant played by LOST/ALCATRAZ star, Jorge Garcia, Sleeping Beauty and more.

Once returns to ABC on Sunday, September 30th and in the meantime I've got few questions I hope to get answered this season.

1) Why does Beauty love Rumplestiltskin?

Beauty loved the Beast in the Disney movie because ultimately he had a good heart. How does Rumple have a good heart? He only helps people if it helps his own nefarious ends (sending Emma after Malificent to get the sword for example). Sure Rumple wear trying to protect his son, but was there really no other way? It seems like Rumple wanted the power. Even after their big falling in love episode, I don't understand this relationship. Beauty is back this season so maybe they can convince me.

2) Is Sheriff Graham back?
There are photos of him on the Once Facebook page and rumors are flying all over the Internet. If the curse is broken does it un-squeeze his heart and bring him back to life?

3) Who is Dr. Whale?
With a name like whale, he might have something to do with the Pinocchio storyline, but there are rumors on the Internet that he is Rumple's son. Rumple's son does have to show up sometime.

Every time I look at Dr. Whale, I think of Julian Sark from Alias. Maybe Sydney Bristow can come out of retirement and help Emma fight against magic.

4) If the curse is broken, can people leave? Can they go back to their fairytale lives somehow?

It seems that everyone who tries to leave with the exception of Emma, and possibly Pinocchio, can't make it across the Storybrooke border into "real" Maine. If the curse is broken, can people leave or does magic make them stay? Is there a magical way to get back to their fairy tail lives and homes? Does that now become the end game since they know who they are? I guess we'll have to wait until September 30th to find out.

Win A Signed Copy of THE OTHER WOMAN from Hank Phillippi Ryan

We are giving away a SIGNED copy of the new hardcover, THE OTHER WOMAN, by Hank Phillippi Ryan.  It's an engaging, fast-paced, fun-read.  All you have to do is sign up to receive Mystery Playground by e-mail in the box to the right. Winners will be chosen at random. The contest ends September 15th. 

Here's the synopsis of THE OTHER WOMAN:

Jane Ryland was a rising star in television news—until she refused to reveal a source and lost everything. Now a disgraced newspaper reporter, Jane isn’t content to work on her assigned puff pieces, and finds herself tracking down a candidate’s secret mistress just days before a pivotal Senate election.

Detective Jake Brogan is investigating a possible serial killer. Twice, bodies of unidentified women have been found by a bridge, and Jake is plagued by a media swarm beginning to buzz about a  “bridge killer” hurting the young women of Boston.

As the body count rises and election day looms, it becomes clear to Jane and Jake that their investigations are connected…and that they may be facing a ruthless killer who will stop at nothing to silence a sandal.

With its dirty politics, dirty tricks, and a barrage of final twists, THE OTHER WOMAN is the first in an explosive new series. Seduction, betrayal and murder—it’ll take a lot more than votes to win this election!

As one character warns: You can choose your sin, but you cannot choose your consequences.

Emmy-winning (she's won 27 total Emmys) author Hank Phillippi Ryan talks about THE OTHER WOMAN in the trailer below.

You can read a review of THE OTHER WOMAN here at Criminal Element.

Hank Phillippi Ryan at work at Channel 7 Boston

Have you registered to attend Bouchercon? 

Bouchercon is the world's largest mystery fan convention and it's happening in Cleveland, October 4-7. Hank Phillippi Ryan will be there as will Michael Connolly, Elizabeth George, Lee Child, Linda Fairstein and Karin Slaughter. You can learn more about Bouchercon 2012 here. 

Here's a photo of Hank and Lee Child. There's an interview of the two of them in the audio version of THE OTHER WOMAN.