HOLMES AND VARIOUS ROYALS
SHERLOCK HOLMES HAD a deep respect for Queen Victoria. Though he didn’t boast about it, he applied his consulting detective skills more than once in the Queen’s service. Occasionally, he … Continue reading
HURRAH FOR THE FBI’S ANOM!
THE VOICE OF AMERICA reports “800 Arrested in Global Organized Crime Investigation,” June 8, 2021. VOA says “Operation Trojan Shield involved police raids in 16 countries in which 250 firearms … Continue reading
THE OUIJA CAPER
TWO PALS USED outlandish means to escape from an Ottoman prison camp during World War I. Chris Jennings’ “Breaking Out of Prison With a Ouija Board and Some Clever Tricks” … Continue reading
SLEEPING WITH VIRGINIA WOOLF, DREAMING ABOUT A NAKED GIRL WITH LONG JADE EARRINGS
MAYBE YOUR READING habits are like mine? I always seem to have four or five books that I’m part way through. Whenever I finish one, I’ve added another to my … Continue reading
BAVARIA AND THE CONRAD CASE
MUCH OF THE action in vintage radio hero Paul Temple’s Conrad Case takes place in Bavaria. So, despite more than a little anachronism, I turn to my Baedeker’s Southern Germany. … Continue reading
YEGGMAN RESEARCH
THE TERM “YEGGMAN” arose in a recent cop show on SiriusXM “Radio Classics.” I knew it meant “safe cracker,” but not much else. This called for research; here are tidbits … Continue reading
THE PERILS OF CWT
THERE’S DUI (DRIVING under the influence), OWI (operating while intoxicated), and DWI (driving while intoxicated). But what about CWT (cooking while tattooed)? It sure got an alleged mafioso in a … Continue reading
A NECKLACE WITH LEGS PART 2
NO ONE IN Part 1 of our tale seemed to covet the fabulous necklace commissioned in 1772 by Louis XV for his mistress Madame du Barry. However, in Part 2 … Continue reading
A NECKLACE WITH LEGS PART 1
“IF ‘SOMETHING HAS LEGS,’ ” says VOA Learning English, “it means people have interest in it.” Here, in Parts 1 and 2 today and tomorrow, I offer an example of … Continue reading
THE DROOD CAPER
CALL ME DATCHERY. Others call me Dick, or sleuth, or shamus. I’m white-haired, whiskered, wearing my powder-blue suit, with dark blue shirt, tie and display handkerchief, black brogues, black wool … Continue reading
