Arach Attack: Infested (2023)

Kaleb (Théo Christine) visits Ali (Samir Nait), for two reasons: a package pickup as well as looking for an affordable gift for a beloved neighbor who is leaving his building. However, when Ali takes him into the backroom to look at his valuable, possibly smuggled jewelry, Kaleb sees something in addition to a pair of […]

The Miracle of Life Is Messy: The First Omen (2024)

When Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) comes to Rome to finish her apprenticeship at a nun-run orphanage and move into finally taking her own vows and joining the brides of Christ, she is understandably thrilled. This will be the culmination of the hard work she has been doing thus far and it will lead to good […]

Parable of the Bloodsucker: Octavia E. Butler’s Fledgling

When Shori attains consciousness, she has no memory of who she is, where she is, or what she is. She knows only the unrelenting hunger. It is satisfied at first by a surprisingly docile and self-sacrificing animal. Later, it is a human being who gets too close, who whispers words not of warning or fear […]

Not So Violent Blood Bath: Penalty of Death (1974)

Oscar Bataille (Fernando Rey) is a French prosecutor who specializes in violent crimes, pleading punishments for murderers and fiends to the full extent of the law. He’s been a big proponent of the guillotine death penalty. Over his career, Bataille has killed dozens in this way, saving society from the burden of supporting monsters for […]

Mystery and Supernatural Danger in the Roaring ‘20s: Catherine Cavendish’s Those Who Dwell in Mordenhyrst Hall

When she meets Viscount Simon Mordenhyrst, Grace Sutcliffe finds herself smitten. When he proposes marriage, she is surprised and pleased. Her own family has earned their money and place through hard work not because they are landed nobility as the Mordenhyrst family is. Instead of having a village to control and a vast number of […]

All The Dog’s Fault: Walter Mosley’s A Little Yellow Dog

As the fifth book in Walter Mosley’s mystery series opens, we find that Easy Rawlins has been living according to the promise he made to himself in the end of Black Betty. No more trouble, no more favors, no more taking money for questionable services, no more getting neck deep into danger. He’s parleyed previous […]

The Boys Are Back in Town: 48 Hours (1982)

Jack Cates (Nick Nolte) is having a typical day, waking up in his girlfriend Elaine’s (Annette O’Toole) place, having a morning grump, making up (sort of) before heading off to the job. Along the way to the police station, he stops off to bust balls with his plainclothes pals Algren (Jonathan Banks) and Vazant (James […]

Life Comes at You Fast: Harlan Coben’s The Boy from the Woods

When folks near the Ramapo Mountain State Forest discovered a six or seven year old child abandoned in the woods, he became a popular mystery: who was this “Real-Life Mowgli,” how long had he been out there, how did he know how to survive, and where did he come from? Those questions were never answered, […]

Switching Roller Coasters: Kelly Yang’s Front Desk

Mia and her family have come to the United States from China chasing a dream. Unfortunately, the 1990s America they have come to does not have the opportunities they hope for. After two years of living out of their car, they then lucked into a job managing a motel for the wealthy Michael Yau. He […]

The World Is Changing: Walter Mosley’s Black Betty

By 1961, most of Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins’s money is tied up in real estate deals, based on some information he got five years before (in White Butterfly, in fact). It has not accrued into the millions speculated on earlier. In fact, a legal representative is trying to wheedle his money out from under both Easy […]