45. I'd Murder A Good Detective
The Case of the Reclining Reader
Hello, friend - hope you’ve had a good week!
My spies tell me that quite a few of you are either about to embark on a trip, are currently on foreign shores, or have recently returned to the safety of your home hearth.
Whether you’re freshly home, packing a bag, or dreaming of escaping to a cabin in the Hinterland to set an alarming amount of things on fire - we wish you godspeed, safe travels and many happy returns.
On a completely unrelated note, we accept novelty pencils, humorous postcards and cold hard cash as souvenirs. Please and thank you.
Fishbird Catch of the Week
We publish articles twice a week on the Fishbird Central website - every Wednesday and Saturday! This week’s included:
April TBR, 2025!
Let’s lock in some books to read in April 2025! Historical intrigue with What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez; pulse-pounding thrillers: Damascus Station by David McCloskey, Call for the Dead by John le Carré & Red Queen by Juan Gómez-Jurado! Comic fantasy with Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman! Crime and noir lovers rejoice with Little Red Death by AK Benedict, Everybody Knows by Jordan Harper, and Crimson Lake by Candice Fox! Finishing with some chilling horror - The Queen by Nick Cutter! So many stories - let’s dive in!
Check out the latest post here - April TBR, 2025!
Drawing in March: Week 3, 2025!
In this post it all gets a bit wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey as we meet up with no less than 4 of Gallifrey's finest, and head off in the TARDIS for an adventure! Oh, and I’m also there for some reason and save the day in a spectacular fashion. You’re welcome, Universe! I’m leaning into practicing sketching humans - so these drawing posts will only get weirder.
Check out the latest post here - Drawing in March: Week 3, 2025!
Murder, Mayhem & Mischief
I consume a lot of detective fiction - both in written and moving-picture formats - but, surprisingly, it’s not because I love murder. Just wanted that on the record.
For those of you that think I might be on the fence here - let me be clear. Murder is wrong and not clever. Don’t do murder. If you see a murder, don’t copy it or pick it up. Down with murder, up with non-murders. We love you (everyone who doesn’t do murders).
Detectives though? Those dynamic deducers who dance deftly down dark … … hang on, I’ve alliterated myself into a corner. What I mean to say, is that I love detective fiction for the detectives.
I get a kick out of watching good triumph over evil. I cheer for the emotionally vulnerable but intuitive Inspector who chases down clues that I don’t even register as clues. When the game is afoot, I’m rolling dice with the detective who pretends to be gruff and heartless, but would go to bat for the underdog and lay down their weathered overcoats for the ones they love.
Basically I’m a push-over for kind, clever troubleshooters. From spies to D.I’s, both ladies and guys - fictional fact-finders are my jam.
Who’s your favourite crime-solving sleuth, and why? Help trigger my new obsession in the comments section.
Quick Fire Wrap Up
Currently Reading: ‘Don’t Forget Me, Little Bessie’ by James Lee Burke. Watching the vast Texas countryside being destroyed by an oil company and a menacing figure with a violent past, Bessie is prepared to defend her home and her family. But when she accidentally kills an unarmed man to defend her father Hackberry, she must flee to New York.
Currently Watching: ‘Slow Horses’ Season 2 on AppleTV, based on the novel Dead Lions by the wonderful Mick Herron. The series is faithful to the books, so glad I’m reading ahead before watching. Jackson Lamb is my spirit animal.
Currently Singing Along To: ‘Is That You Mo-Dean?’ by The B-52’s. “… on the bus, to another plane - to the UFO and to outer space, baby …” Check out the music vid for this one (linked above) it’s a hoot!
Have any book, song or show recommendations? Let me know in the comments! :)
Wishes for the Week
You are wonderful, wise and witty - also cute as a button. The week ahead can only be filled with good things.
They say Helen’s face launched 1000 ships, but your smile can make a barista pour a perfect flat-white for under $8 - which is even better, and results in fewer giant wooden horses. So you’re basically saving the environment too. Nice job!
Stay cool, punks.
‘Miss Marple was my mother, and she solved her own murder’. - Kylie Minogue (probably)
Jen x