Alfred Hitchcock & Ellery Queen Mystery Magazines

The latest issues of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine are out! Every month these pages are filled with wonderful bite-sized stories of crime, love and game playing. I love the story by Shauna Washington in this month's issue, called "La Rouge Jolie" that goes to present day Vegas with touches of the Brat Pack days. 

Ellery Queen's August issue (which landed in my mailbox the same day as the September Alfred - not sure why) features the Most Dangerous Games. You can find stories in here by David Dean, William Link and Marilyn Todd. My favorite story in this issue was also the shortest, and ironically it has the word long in the name - "The Long Withdrawal" by Brendan DuBois. You won't want to miss it. 

Fatal Reservations & the Mojito

Lucy Burdette (AKA Roberta Isleib) joins us today to match her new cozy mystery, Fatal Reservations, with the perfect drink.


Before I began spending half the year in Key West, I had never tasted a Mojito, never mind made one. But now it's my new favorite drink. What spells tropical paradise better than the combination of lemons, limes, mint, and rum? Add a splash of bitters and a Key West mystery and you’re on vacation—but without the hassle of airports, freeways, and bank-busting expenses!

Ingredients for one mojito

• 1 lime, sliced
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 4 to 5 sprigs fresh mint 
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 1 to 2 ounces rum, depending on how strong you want the drink
• Club soda
• Ice
• Bitters 

Start by crushing several slices of lime, several slices of lemon, the mint, and 2 teaspoons of sugar in the bottom of an old-fashioned glass. Add the rum and stir. Fill the glass with ice. Cover the ice with club soda. Mix all that together and add a splash of bitters on top.

About FATAL RESERVATIONS: Food critic Hayley Snow sets aside her knife and fork when her dear friend Lorenzo the tarot card reader is accused of murdering his flaming-fork-juggling nemesis. If Lorenzo could read his own cards, he might draw The Hanged Man. He can only hope that Hayley draws Justice as she tries to clear him of murder.

“This strong series continues a unique blend of island mayhem and sparkling characters surrounding a layered mystery.”— Booklist 

About Lucy: Lucy Burdette (aka Roberta Isleib) is the author of 14 mysteries, including FATAL RESERVATIONS, the sixth in the Key West series featuring food critic Hayley Snow. Her books and stories have been short-listed for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She's a past president of Sisters in Crime. Like her food critic character in the Key West series, she is passionate about food.

You can read more about the books on Lucy’s website. Follow her on Facebook, or Twitter @LucyBurdette, or Pinterest, or Instagram.

Christmas in July - The Crime Scene Tree - Week 4

Crafty Thursday continues with our Christmas in July series with last ornament on our Crime Scene Tree. This week it’s Professor Plum, in the Library, with the Wrench.

We realize the sun is still out and everyone is at the beach, but here at Mystery Playground we’re still celebrating Christmas in July. We started off with The Suspect Ornaments in Week One. We followed that with Crime Scene Ornaments in Week Two. Week Three featured Blood Spatter Ornaments, and in Week Four, we decided that no crime scene Christmas tree would be complete without the addition of something from the game of Clue.

These ornaments aren’t just easy to make, but they leave a lot of room for creativity. You can really do anything you like to make yours unique. The materials can be purchased brand new, or you can often find Clue games at thrift shops. I tend to pick these up whenever I see them, just to have the pieces. There are many different versions of the game too, so each one has unique pieces for crafting. 

 
Materials

• Clue cards
• Clue weapons
• Clue characters
• Elmer's Glue 
• Twine
• Hole Punch

Step One: Choose your Materials
Pick your background card, suspect, and weapon. You can be as creative as you want. You can use the back of a suspect card with the Clue logo, or a room card showing a location.
 

Step Two: Attach your Hanger
Punch a hole in the top of your card using a single hole punch. Thread your twine or cord through and tie it off.
 

Step Three: Decorate
Using Elmer's Glue, glue your pieces on your card. Use multiple weapons or people, this is the creative part and you can decorate your ornament any way you like.

Step Four: Hang
Add this ornament to your tree.

Stay tuned for the final week of Mystery Playground’s Christmas in July. We will add the final touch to the tree and show you the finished product. 

Non-Fiction: Busting Bad Guys

Former Undercover Narcotics Cop, Mark Langan joins us today to tell us about his non-fiction book, Busting Bad Guys: My True Crime Stories of Bookies, Drug Dealers and Ladies of the Night. 

First a little about the book:

Sergeant Mark Langan relives his front-row seat working the seamier side of crime during his decorated twenty-six-year career from youngest rookie in 1978 to narcotics sergeant on the Omaha Police force. 

Langan caught bold burglars who silently entered homes to get thrills off of touching sleeping victims. He hit bookie joints in smoke-filled bars, squeezed snitches for information, and arrested prostitutes and their everyday “Johns” in dangerous downtown alleys. 

Langan worked his way up the ranks to command undercover narcotics operations in the 1980s when sinister LA gangbangers invaded Omaha and claimed neighborhoods to sell crack. 

In his celebrated career, Langan felt the gut-wrenching pain of innocent children caught inside the wicked world of drugs and crime, their “safe” worlds shattered when the battering ram knocked down their doors-their cries haunt him every day. And two players from his past reemerge in startling ways. 

Busting Bad Guys delivers a graphic and authentic look at solid policing on the streets of America’s heartland and takes readers inside the high-adrenaline, top-secret investigations to develop innovative tactics to outsmart the criminals.

Now a Q&A with Mark:

What motivated you to write this book? 

For years friends and family implored me to write a book.  They knew how much I enjoyed being a cop, which translated into me becoming a storyteller after my retirement.  The next logical step was to write Busting Bad Guys, which I started in early 2013.  Less than a year later I was on the book-signing circuit.
  
What was the best thing about being a cop?

I'm frequently approached by people I arrested years ago, who served time in prison.  They’re trying like hell to get their act together.  Many approach me at book signing events and are surprisingly friendly. Some thank me for saving their lives.  How can it get better than that?

What happened on the worst day of your job as a police officer?

I had two "worst days".  The shooting deaths of Omaha Police Officers Jimmy Wilson and Jason Pratt were dark days that left an indelible mark on my soul.

What is the best thing that happened to you as a result of writing this book?

I've done media interviews from Canada to Florida, Boston to California.  I've done over a hundred book events in 18 months, including venues in Phoenix and San Francisco.  The best feeling is when someone walks by my table and says "hey, I read your book!"  I never take that for granted.

Denver Speakeasy: Green Russell

During the Prohibition years from 1920 to 1933, alcoholic beverages were illegal in the United States, but it wasn't too hard to find a drink. One of the easiest ways was to find a speakeasy—a hidden bar that served bootleg liquor and that often required a password to get in. Legend has it that the name speakeasy came from patrons being told to “speak easy,” or softly, so the police wouldn’t hear the party.

When the Volstead Act, which put Prohibition in place, was repealed in 1933. But if you want to revisit that time in a new way, you have your chance because modern speakeasies have popped up all over the country. These bars take the mystery and romance of history and create a fun atmosphere. 

At Mystery Playground we love to visit speakeasies when we travel. 

Hallmarks of the modern speakeasy include:

1) Individually mixed drinks with fresh ingredients, often invented at that bar. We’re talking fresh, muddled fruit and innovative concoctions. A far cry from the quality of spirits found in most speakeasies back in the day. This also means you pay more than you would for an average cocktail, and depending on the city you’re in, it can be a lot more.

2) An unmarked door or a misleading sign. You have to know where the speakeasy is. Most doors are unmarked, but I’ve visited one behind the façade of a Fortune Telling shop and another where you had to go into a restaurant and pick up an antique phone to gain admittance.

3) Reservations are commonly a must, and many times, you’ll need a password. It pays to do your research. I’ve never had trouble getting into a popular place—as long as I made a reservation and knew in advance if I needed a password.  

4) An intimate atmosphere with lots of attention from your bartender to help you get exactly what you want. These places are small (thus the need for reservations). Many of the speakeasies even play the music of the time.

5) Decor of the time. The ambiance matches the 1920s and/or there are antique items and photos from the time. 

Kerry, Kim and I were all in Denver recently and we went to check out Green Russell. It fits numbers one, four and five on our modern speakeasy list. They have a mock phone booth for patrons to make cell phone calls so the ambiance remains intact and a case full of vintage liquor bottles. 

1850s Colorado Gold Miner and Bar Namesake, William Green Russell

Food:
Green Russell is right downstairs from its sister restaurant, Russell's Smoke House. The two share a kitchen and that means the food here is much better than your  average bar, even your average speakeasy. 

They have great pork sliders with slaw that are to die for. 


Drinks:
You can order off the menu, or as we did, tell the bartender what you like and they will give you a custom made beverage. 

Bartender Joey Smith gave us the recipe for the cocktail called, "Marti & the Doc," and said we could share it with you...

1.5 oz Ransom Old Town Gin

.5 oz Aperol

.75 oz Cocchi Torino Vermouth

.5 Maraschino

2 dashes Boker's bitters

2 dashes orange bitters

Reservations:
We walked in without reservations without a problem, but it was on a Wednesday night. For weekend night visits, you may want to call ahead. No password was required. 

#MajorCrimes Facebook Chat Recap With Raymond Cruz, Phillip Keene and James Duff

Major Crimes Co-Creator and Executive Producer, James Duff was joined by Raymond Cruz (Julio Sanchez) and Phillip Keene (Buzz) for tonight's Facebook Chat. I've recapped James' answers to all of the questions here - eliminating any specific references to the action happening in tonight's episode. 

Before we get started, you may want to take a look at the latest installment of Rusty's video log Identity: What's in a Name. If you have seen the other six episodes, you may want to start with the first. It can be found here. 

James Duff Raymond and I are looking forward to your reactions to this new episode! One of our most action oriented of the series. Directed by Michael M. Robin! Michael directed last year's Two Options, featuring all the helicopter chases!

James Duff Michael M. Robin spent three nights filming the opening of this episode.

James Duff Stefanie W asks if we have any news on season 5. Not yet, but we feel pretty good about it. In live same day ratings, we are either the first or second scripted series on basic cable, and sometimes the number one show period. Nothing is for certain. That's why we try to enjoy our work together while we can.

James Duff Raymond gets offered so many shows, I lose count. But he loves living in Los Angeles, and works so hard on Major Crimes, that he can be choosy.

James Duff Raymond Cruz also plays Tuco Salamanca on Breaking Bad and its prequel, Better Call Saul, and many of you saw him in the movie about Ariel Castro on Lifetime late spring.

James Duff Patrice will be back this November and   December. You will see her a lot.

James Duff Counting tonight, we have four more episodes this summer, and eight episodes this winter.

James Duff Lorraine B asks if Sanchez would ever have a romantic interest. Raymond says he would love to have lots and lots of romantic interests, but I myself don't know how much his wife would feel about it.

James Duff If he could date Jeri Ryan on the show, that make Raymond very happy.

James Duff Patsy A N asks if Julio is still living with his mom. Yes, for the time being, he's looking after her, but she's getting better.

James Duff People ask why we split up our season. It's largely because the network wants it that way.

James Duff Just want to say, don't miss the opening of this new episode. I think it's pretty emotional.

James Duff Something many people don't know: police officers are never, ever left in the street when they are shot unless there is an extremely good reason.

James Duff Whenever law enforcement officers are killed in the line of duty, the police mass, along with the fire department and Sheriff's Deputies.

James Duff Thank you to all who are experiencing the opening as an emotional experience. It's how we all felt, too.

James Duff Kelly B asks when we are going to see more of a relationship between Andy and Sharon. Please tune in next week, and stay until the very end, because there's a big, big moment in this relationship that will change the way everyone looks at it.

James Duff Rachel I I L asks where we get our stories from. And the truth is, most of them are completely made up, though Det. Mike Berchem, with whom I often write, sometimes pulls out his experience.

James Duff Kellie M ask whether Raymond and Phillip (who has just joined us) prefer to doing indoor or outdoor scenes. Or, as we would say here in L.A., scenes on our hero sets, or out on location. Raymond hates location and doesn't like going outside and isn't that fond of nature, period.

James Duff Raymond and Phillip often play golf together, along with Michael Paul Chan. And sometimes go on twenty-mile bike rides. Outside. Don't know how Raymond squares all that with hating nature.

James Duff Bárbara Godoi please tune in next week and stay until the very end to see something of what your asking about with Sharon and Andy.

James Duff Deborah Lacy asks if Raymond if his preparation for the character has changed since he started undergoing anger management. Raymond says, no. It's all hard work. Finding the inner life and then holding on to it is a continuing journey. Playing the character for over a decade doesn't change how difficult it is to find the authenticity in each week's work. What I love about Raymond most...is that he never does anything except what he believes the character would do. And that he can change an entire scene with just a look.

James Duff @Karia O asks if Rusty's biological mother will return this season. Not in the summer, but in the fall: yes.

James Duff Elaine says Raymond is so cute that he probably is so cute that he probably has to fight off ladies. I've never seen him struggle. But, in real life, Raymond is married and has a son, and he only has eyes for his wife.

James Duff @Louise K asks what roles Raymond would like to try off Major Crimes. Raymond says he'd love to try his hand at some more comedies. One of his favorite roles ever was a young gay man obsessed with Dorothy and the Ruby Red Slippers from the Wizard of Oz. He was pretty hilarious. It's called Playing Patty. He's incredibly hilarious.

James Duff @Hubert BB says he'd like more screen time for Phillip P. Keene. Phillip says he's willing. Look for another Buzzcentric episode next season.

James Duff Tamela C M mentions that two police officers where in Hattiesburg, Mississippi were shot to death at a routine traffic stop last May. It happens. It's horrible. It's disturbing.

James Duff We tried to capture the grief our first responders feel in a moment like this. The courage it takes to be a police officer, especially today, in the face of so many difficulties, is pretty amazing.

James Duff Linda K asks what she and other loyal viewers can do to help convince TNT to renew Major Crimes for another season! Raymond says only our watch our show!

James Duff Our guest stars in this episode are amazing.

James Duff Helicopters and Special Operations Bureau work with Major Crimes. This stuff happens in Los Angeles every day.

James Duff We get criticized sometimes for not showing enough of L.A. We just showed about half the city from one of those helicopter shots!

James Duff Please stop flattering Phillip and Raymond for their picture above this chat session. It's made them both unbearable. Raymond is especially obnoxious. But in a lovable way.

James Duff All right. I want to give you a final word before we leave. This show is not about politics; it's about justice; it's about ethics. We wrote and produced it before Donald Trump entered the Presidential race and not one word of the show is related to anything Mr. Trump is said.

James Duff It is the job of artists and storytellers to ask questions. Not to provide answers. We work our way to the end of our inquiry and stop.

Book Review: Name of the Devil

Sharon Long reviews Name of the Devil by Andrew Mayne, published by Bourbon Street Books. The paperback version comes out this month. This is the second in the Jessica Blackwood thriller, mystery series.  

I picked up Name of the Devil because I had read and thoroughly enjoyed Maybe's first book, Angel Killer. I was anxious to read this second in the series which is the sequel.  Like the first book, this one combines magic and illusions resulting in unexplained deaths and events. Since this is a sequel, I highly recommend reading Angel Killer first as many of the characters; locations and a subplot are continued in this book.   

The book starts in the small Appalachian town of Hawkton, where a sheriff receives a phone call telling him he knows what he needs to do.  

It turns out that this means to the local church and brutally murdering the four people inside. After the murders, a terrible explosion destroys the victim's bodies and all of the evidence.  Simultaneously in Rome, a priest is studying a 19th-century document when a stranger asks him to translate a recording. This recording is in the ancient language spoken by the Jews during the time of Jesus. The priest is shocked because the recording is a declaration of evil spoken by the Pope himself.  

Jessica and other FBI agents are sent to Hawkton to investigate the murders. Upon arriving, they find a gaping hole due to what appears to be a gas explosion, but no gas is found.  After a helicopter search more than 100 yards away, the victim’s bodies are found all hanging 30 feet upside down in trees.  All the victims have the name of a demon in Hebrew written in blood on their bodies. Jessica wonders if this is the Warlock’s handiwork, but she had put him in his prison several months ago. This is the beginning of Jessica’s newest chase into the world of demons and unexplainable deaths.   

In this second book, we discover more about Jessica’s childhood with her father, uncle and grandfather all magicians/illusionists. I enjoyed Jessica’s vulnerability and fears in this book creating an even stronger female character than the first book. She is also earning the respect of her fellow agents and bosses. This story takes places in West Virginia, a small Mexican town and cities in Europe including the Vatican. As with the first book, I was immediately drawn into this story. It is fast paced with a great action scenes. 

The intricate plot is believable and combines religion with the Mexican cartel and murder. Andrew is finishing the third book in the Jessica Blackwood series which I most definitely will be reading. I highly recommend this second book which in my opinion is even better than the first which I enjoyed, whereas this book I absolutely loved.

This book was provided to Mystery Playground by the publisher. This review is fair and independent.