Author Archives: Richard Goutal

Special Circumstances – Sarcastic Cartoon and Character List

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Wealthy Men and their Multiple Divorces (Cartoon) List of Main Characters for SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES by Sheldon Siegel Download printable version of the following List of Characters shown below. THE PROTAGONIST FAMILY Mike Daley – The Lead Protagonist Rosie – Rosita Carmela Fernandez  – Mike’s ex-wife, legal colleague, & love partner Grace – Mike & Rosie’s 6 yr old daughter Pete – Mike’s younger brother, a solo PI THE GIANT LAW … Continue reading →

Late Night Reading?

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Tell me in the “Reply” box at the bottom if you can remember staying up real late reading a real page-turner. What was the book? How late did you stay up? Was it because the book was so good, or that the book was due for book club the next day? Haha! Can you see the whole cartoon? Click the title to expand the page.

NoirCon is for Fans of Noir Arts: Noir Books, Noir Films, Noir Comics, and More

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Very few of the many crime fiction conferences are totally for the fans. Usually, such events give 50%-100% of the conference time to helping writers (and lots of wannabe writers) learn to write and get published. NoirCon is a huge exception. It’s all for the fans and followers of the genre. It takes place every 2 years in Philadelphia, but like all conferences, it has been shut down during the … Continue reading →

Edgar Allan Poe in Baltimore

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To my knowledge, Baltimore has the only other full-bodied sculpture of Edgar Allan Poe – the other being in Boston. In a September 2022 trip to Baltimore, I was able to see this sculpture and some other Poe sites. The sculpture is located at Gordon Plaza at University of Baltimore (1415 Maryland Ave.). The statue was commissioned in 1911 by the Edgar Allan Poe Memorial Association of Baltimore and was … Continue reading →

Special Circumstances in the Law, Crime Fiction, and Daily Life

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First of all, some definitions, taken and slightly adapted from Wikipedia: Special circumstances in criminal law are actions of the accused, or conditions under which a crime, particularly homicide, was committed. Such factors require or allow for a more severe punishment. Special circumstances are elements of the crime itself, and thus must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt during the guilt phase of the trial. As such, they are formally … Continue reading →

Let’s Share – Crime Fiction Fun Topics!

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“Crime fiction“ includes all sub-genres of mysteries and thrillers and any blend thereof. (FYI: One list of 21 crime fiction sub genres.) “Fun“ includes reviews, information, suggestions, and your comments about crime fiction, such as: crime fiction books the club is not reading, crime fiction movies, TV shows, and theatrical performances, crime fiction tours, field trips, conferences you hear about or better – have attended, crime fiction sites (author homes, … Continue reading →

Was Nancy Drew a Part of Your Childhood?

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Many adult mystery book fans began as a fan of Nancy Drew and/or the Hardy Boys. As an adult, I have read some of the Hardy Boys books to my children and grandchildren. But how much mental space does the love of these pulp books for kids occupy for you, now as an adult? Is Nancy Drew a Part of Your Adult Life? For thousands of adults, the answer is … Continue reading →

Sheldon Siegel’s Books in the Daley/Fernandez Series

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Attorney Mike Daley – Ex-priest. Ex–public defender. And ex-partner in one of San Francisco’s most prominent law firms. He works with his ex-wife Attorney Rosie Fernandez. in Daly’s private practice as criminal defense attorney. In later books, they both go back to work in the public defender’s office. Good people protagonists. The books are listed below. Special Circumstances (2000) MBC Selection for Oct 28, 2022 Incriminating Evidence (2001) Criminal Intent … Continue reading →

MBC 20th Year Backyard Picnic Pictures

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After our August 26, 2022 meeting we enjoyed good conversations, sandwiches, chips, drinks, and cookies at our MBC 20th Year Backyard Picnic. Also a taste of Bellinis. (Cocktails consisting of peach juice mixed with Prosecco. The name of beverage is said to date back to a major exhibition of the Venetian painter Giovanni Bellini’s work in 1948 held in Venice.) Glad to have these photos from Ruth and Joan to … Continue reading →