Of “Curtain,” Castle, and Cloo

• At the Mulholland Books site, Spinetingler Magazine’s Brian Lindenmuth compiles a list of the “top ten noirs of the last ten years (or so).” There are a few familiar works listed, but also some--such as The Open Curtain, by Brian Evenson--that I don’t remember hearing of before. Lindemuth’s list is here.

• Spanish writer-publisher Óscar Palmer features a fine interview with the ever-prolific and seemingly ubiquitous Lawrence Block (Getting Off) in his blog, Cultura Impopular. Don’t worry, their exchange is in English.

• For the blog Criminal Element, Jake Hinkson provides an interesting look back at aspiring American star Peggie Castle, who, he writes, “would come to define pulp master Mickey Spillane’s view of women onscreen, a harrowing fate for any actress.” You’ll find Hinkson’s piece here.

• This story of murder during World War II was new to me, though it was evidently quite sensational in its day.

• Next month’s Bouchercon in St. Louis receives some good publicity from the city’s “alternative weekly,” the Riverfront Times.

• Check out Bill Crider’s impressive gallery of Harry Whittington book covers. I’d seen this before, but was reminded of it recently by Cullen Gallagher. To learn more about author Whittington, click here.

• This is just dumb. “From the company that morphed Sci Fi into Syfy comes another channel name destined to wreak havoc with your computer’s spell check. TV Guide Magazine has confirmed that NBCUniversal will change the name of Sleuth, its crime and mystery cable channel, later this spring. The new name? Cloo TV.” (Hat tip to Bill Crider’s Pop Culture Magazine.)

• Speaking of dumb ...

• I, too, remember Kevin Baker’s Paradise Alley fondly.

• Richard L. Pangburn writes about The Genuine Article (1977), one of the few novels by A.B. Guthrie Jr.--best known as the author of The Big Sky and The Way West--that I think I don’t recall reading.

• If he can find time between reading briefing papers and daily broadsheets, President Barack Obama will be enjoying Daniel Woodrell’s The Bayou Trilogy during his comparatively brief summer vacation on Martha’s Vineyard. Excellent choice!

• Jedidiah Ayres has a double bill of Ray Banks on offer. In his blog, Hard-boiled Wonderland, he has posted an interview with the author of the new P.I. Cal Innes novel, Beast of Burden. Meanwhile, in Barnes & Noble’s Ransom Notes blog, Ayres asks Banks for a list of his five favorite short mystery series.

• All I can say is, it’s about damn time. Writes Spy-fi Channel’s Christopher Mills: “It's April in August--According to Stephanie “April Dancer” Powers herself, the complete The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. television series will be out on DVD from Warner Archives next week!” On Tuesday, August 23, to be precise.