Welcome to a hard-boiled and not without noir blog with news and reviews, occasional outbursts of maniacal Autograph Hound activity, plus archival records from the forty-five year run of The Dashiell Hammett Tour. 
The Dashiell Hammett Tour
1977-2022
Arkham House Ephemera
The Classic Years 1937–1973
Death Lit
Essays and Reviews Selected from Fifty Years of Writing 1974–2024
Willeford
The Book
Tag Archives: Michael S. Chong
Hammett: #MeToo 2
Awhile back I linked to a set of contemporary newsprint articles on Hammett and the assault on Elise De Viane. At that moment Cosby had been thrown in the hoosegow — and now he’s out. The weird meanderings of history-in-the-making. … Continue reading
Sinister Cinema: The Boss Digs Cockfighter
Michael Chong keeps an eye peeled for any online mention of Willeford, and reports in that “The Boss has good taste!” Yes, Cockfighter makes the short list of Springsteen’s fave movies — or, maybe the dude is just another one of us … Continue reading
Rediscovered: A Chat with the Sundial Book Club
Michael Chong hasn’t sent any cool online tidbits about Charles Willeford in awhile, so maybe one was due. A little interview with Betsy Willeford — https://www.wlrn.org/post/mystery-writer-and-teacher-loved-freaking-out-his-students — posted June 20, occasioned by the Sundial Book Club selecting Miami Blues as … Continue reading
Rediscovered: Classic Crime Quips
Occasional Guest Blogger Michael S. Chong popped in news that Death is a Lovely Dame by Jeff Vorzimmer has hit the mean streets — classic lines from crime novels, classic covers. Michael notes that it contains some excerpts from Hammett … Continue reading
Rediscovered: Willeford’s Grandfather
And to keep the Willeford train rolling, Michael S. Chong recently popped me a note as he was waiting to go under the knife for some foot surgery — now there’s a serious Willeford fan for you! To keep himself … Continue reading
Rediscovered: The Death of Willeford’s Grandfather
Michael S. Chong keeps surfing the net, looking for stray tidbits concerning the late great Charles Willeford. In with some other info he sent the above clipping, saying: “As a bonus, a small biographical detail in the column ‘The Time Has … Continue reading
Posted in Willeford
Tagged Ben Wasson, Delta Democrat Times, Greenville Mississippi, Michael S. Chong
Hammett: Red Harvest Begat the Three Stooges?
You never know what you’re going to find drinking joe/surfing around the net/trying to wake up. Today I came across a brief review of Hammett’s Red Harvest by Ron Scheer, who usually blogs about Old West stuff — worth checking … Continue reading
Rediscovered: “Say It Simple”
And today Michael S. Chong returns, with the third entry in his series of “lost” Willeford bits scattered through the newspapers of North America — this time an item about Willeford’s interest in playing around with big, fancy words … Continue reading
Rediscovered: “Just Ask Luis Rodriquez”
So, to follow-up on the idea of doing In Memoriam: Willeford, how about we premiere a new Guest Blogger with a new series? The blogger: Michael S. Chong, Willeford fan (who ain’t on the mean streets?). The series: articles with some Willefordian presence he’s … Continue reading
