Crime Fiction & True Crime

Murders, con jobs and heists, both real and fictional, from D.B. Cooper to Stephen Sondheim.

“Bad Romances: Abuse of Weakness.” Crooked Marquee, February 12, 2024.

“Anatomy of a Fall is a Stunning Experiment in Unknowability.” CrimeReads, November 3, 2023.

“‘Reason Has Limits: The Fog of War at 20.” Crooked Marquee, December 19, 2023.

“‘A Little Like a Soap Opera’: The Sleaze and Sympathy of Star 80.” Crooked Marquee, November 8, 2023.

“The True Crime Melodrama of I Want to Live!“ Crooked Marquee, October 5, 2023.

“Flawless: Kay Francis’ Jewel Heist Comedies.” Crooked Marquee, August 28, 2023.

“The Jewel Thief is an Intimate Portrayal of a Criminal Mastermind.” CrimeReads, July 28, 2023.

“White House Plumbers Tells the Whole Story of all the Stupid, Very Dirty Stuff That Went Down During Watergate.” CrimeReads, May 31, 2023.

“The Bad Romances of Ruth Rendell.” Crooked Marquee, February 8, 2023

“What a Wonderful World: Bowling for Columbine at 20.” Crooked Marquee, October, 10, 2022.

"There’s Irma Vep and Then There’s Irma Vep.” CrimeReads, September 12, 2022.

“The Big Influence on Bodies Bodies Bodies Everyone is Missing.” Slate, August 15, 2022.

“Season Six of Better Call Saul Brings Jimmy McGill to His Final Crossroads.” CrimeReads, April 19, 2022.

“Looking Back on One of the Scariest Serial-Killer Films Ever Made, 10 Rillington Place.” CrimeReads, April 15, 2022.

“The Tonal Trickery of Death on the Nile.” Crooked Marquee, February 28, 2022.

"Death on the Nile is One of Agatha Christie’s Most Insightful Mysteries.” CrimeReads, February 11, 2022.

“The Bad Romances of Ruth Rendell.” Crooked Marquee, February 8, 2022.

“On the Murder Mystery Written by Stephen Sondheim and Anthony Perkins.” CrimeReads, December 10, 2021.

“A Rumination on DCI Jane Tennison.” CrimeReads August 26, 2021.

“Could On Her Majesty’s Secret Service Be The Best Bond Film?” CrimeReads, October 8, 2021.

“A Field Guide to the Long History of Skyjackings.” CrimeReads, May 10, 2021.