Brief Cases

• While other men may prefer blondes, secret agent James Bond definitely went for the brunettes, according to researchers “who assessed the physical traits of all 195 female characters in the first 20 Bond movies, then contrasted the characteristics of the 98 who had ‘sexual contact’ with Bond with those of the 97 who did not.”

• Speaking of brunettes, dig that Modesty Blaise.

• I’ve recently been reading Tony Black’s second Gus Dury novel, Gutted (click here for a review), so was pleased to see Declan Burke’s fine interview with the author.

• Two previously unpublished Agatha Christie stories?

• Am I alone in thinking “Oh, no!” when I hear that plans are moving ahead to make a theatrical version of The A-Team?

• Despite its wonderful, Robert McGinnis cover, I guess I can scratch this book from the list of books I need to read before I die.

• A gallery of Lawrence Block’s porn novel covers.

• Scott D. Parker interviews William Dietrich, the author of historical thrillers including his new The Dakota Cipher.

• In the mood for an impossible crime? (Hat tip to B.V. Lawson).

• And I’m with Vince Keenan in being disappointed that the 1979 pilot film Ebony, Ivory & Jade--which starred Bert Convy as a tennis player who “doubles as a private eye with two female dancers, Debbie Allen and Martha Smith”--never made it to the regular viewing schedule. 1979 was the same year that such losers as California Fever debuted. Surely, Ebony, Ivory & Jade couldn’t have been worse than that.