Brian Abbott

LATEST ARTICLES ( 306 )

• Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood X

  

  On a summer’s day, John Jasper has come to call on Rosa Bud much to her horror. “If he had chosen his time for finding her at a disadvantage, he could have... Read more

  Posted on 13 May 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Writing Challenge 41

  

  It’s time for a Writing Challenge!Each month, The Poisoned Martini presents a photo to spark your creativity. Such images, because of their visual nature,... Read more

  Posted on 12 May 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood IX

  Edwin Drood has vanished.  And with the beginning of Chapter Seventeen, a “full half a year had come and gone.”The Rev. Crisparkle has gone up to London and... Read more

  Posted on 06 May 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood VIII

  

  What has happened to Edwin Drood? “He is not to be found.”Chapter Fifteen begins with a seemingly blissfully unaware Neville Landless–having set off on a... Read more

  Posted on 28 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• By Its Cover: The Cocktail Waitress

  

  Hard Case Crime has been issuing–or should I say, reissuing–novels with a retro pulp fiction look. This particular book, released in 2012, is touted as a lost... Read more

  Posted on 25 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood VII

  

  “WHEN SHALL THESE THREE MEET AGAIN?”The title of Chapter Fourteen asks a curious question.  To which three characters is it referring?Christmas Eve has come to... Read more

  Posted on 21 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• By Its Cover: Wait For Signs

  An owl perched in front of a full moon was the very first thing that caught my eye.  Then I say the author’s name: Craig Johnson, and that this was part of the... Read more

  Posted on 16 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Cocktail Special

  

  April 15th. By now, you’ve filled your taxes–hopefully–so it’s time to enjoy this cocktail special, an Income Tax cocktail!Income Tax cocktailSeriously, it... Read more

  Posted on 15 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood VI

  

  Chapters Twelve and Thirteen bring us an evening with Durdles and a meeting with Rosa Bud.“When Mr. Sapsea has nothing better to do … He likes to pass the... Read more

  Posted on 14 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Demise in Denim

  

  Book by Duffy BrownThe novel begins with Reagan Summerdale in a little trouble. “It was a perfect spring night except that my palms were seating, my heart was... Read more

  Posted on 08 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood V

  “It has been often enough remarked that women have a curious power of divining the characters of men, which would seem to be innate and instinctive…”So begins... Read more

  Posted on 07 April 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood IV

  

  “Glaces cut like blade through bone,With daggers drawn I glare at you,There at you who dare presumeTo stare at whomI’d make my wifeAnd share my life–I’d see... Read more

  Posted on 31 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood III

  

  So far, nothing truly mysterious has occurred.  However, John “Jack” Jasper, choirmaster in the Cathedral town of Cloisterham, has expressed a morbid curiosity... Read more

  Posted on 24 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Cocktail Special

  

  Shamrock cocktailFind your lucky clover with this cocktail special, the Shamrock.Looking for a little green in your cocktail today? Read more

  Posted on 17 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Chapter by Chapter: The Mystery of Edwin Drood

  

  The first two chapters of Charles Dickens’ last novel introduced a few key characters.  Aside from the title character, the most important was Drood’s young... Read more

  Posted on 17 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Live Read: That Thing at the Zoo

  

  Today, The Poisoned Martini is reading James R. Tuck’s novella, That Thing at the Zoo.Monster slayer Deacon Chalk faces an unknown assailant or “whatever is... Read more

  Posted on 15 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• Friday Cocktail

  

  Irish Whiskey cocktailThis Friday, in advance of St. Patrick’s Day parades and the actual celebratory day, try an Irish Whiskey Cocktail.It’s more than just... Read more

  Posted on 14 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• By Its Cover: The Martini Shot

  

  How do we choose what we read? Reviews? Word of mouth? Familiarity? Or by its cover?I’ll admit the first thing that caught my eye about this book was its... Read more

  Posted on 12 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• 18 Scandinavian Crime Novels

  

  Recommended Reads: Scandinavian CrimeThe success of the Steig Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy shined a light on Scandinavian crime. Read more

  Posted on 12 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE

• For Your Eyes Only

  

  Book by Ian Fleming“M replaced the stamp and the ink pad in the drawer and closed the drawer.  He turned the docket around and pushed it gently across the desk... Read more

  Posted on 11 March 2015 BOOKS, CULTURE