Lighting the Pipes

2025 has been a great year on the pod and in this episode we look back at this successful and surprising stretch of reading and collaborating across thirty episodes. In addition to sharing our rankings for the shared novels and stories we explored, we also share some laughs and challenges in tackling our annual Sherlock and Year-in-Review quizzes!

Damon Runyan's Broadway stories are characterised by crooks, rogues and revelers with hearts of gold. In "Dancing Dan's Christmas" from 1932, we see a trio of pals, led by Dan, on a Christmas mission to make Gammer O'Neil believe in Santa. All it will take is a cheap disguise, some stolen jewels and the courage that only comes from necking Tom and Jerry cocktails for a couple hours beforehand! LTP Festive continues with Josh's choice for 2025 and a deep-dive into this short, charming holiday caper. FastFacts@3:15; Summary@14:00; PIPES@19:45

It's Christmas Eve in Oldhampton and as residents enjoy what's left of their pre-holiday errands, cub reporter Sonia is looking to eschew the society fluff of her regular assignments by tackling a more thrilling angle. Nobody has yet spent a night among the wax effigies in the local Hall of Horrors without meeting a ghastly end. Success here would certainly propel Sonia over the bigoted jibes and through the glass ceiling of her toxic workplace. Ethel Lina White's "Waxworks" first appeared in the December 1930 edition of Pearson's magazine and was the precursor to her 1935 novel, "Wax". In Part 1 of LTP's Festive Season Triptych, your hosts explore this fascinating short story and its context. Fast Facts@14:45; Summary@38:45; PIPES@45:45

Before Philip Marlowe there was... "shamus"... aka Proto-Marlowe! In this episode, Scott goes on solo assignment through the pages of Black Mask magazine to share his thoughts on Raymond Chandler's 1935 story "Killer in the Rain", the key progenitor of The Big Sleep. From salacious booksellers to double-crossing hoods, this complex story presented readers with the blueprint for what would become a sinful California and a gripping, fool-proof character methodology that Chandler would draw and double-down upon for years to come. So grab your trench-coats and join LTP through the drenched pavements and heavy secrets of LA. Watch where you step, it's wet out there.

In this, his first Bernard Samson narrative, Len Deighton gives us the story of a weary MI6 veteran who's pulled back into danger when a suspected mole threatens London's Berlin intelligence network. As Cold War pressures intensify, Samson is forced to negotiate frayed loyalties and return to the divided city of his youth, where nostalgia threatens to cloud his professional judgement further. Deighton's prose balances the tight rope of moral uncertainty while softly critiquing early Thatcherism - the result being a portrayal of Britain as a nation losing coherence... not to mention its secret intel! Fast Facts@12:30; Summary@38:00; PIPES@58:00

From a post 9/11 framework, some could read John Gardner's Scorpius as chilling and prophetic. In the year of its publication, however, it was aiming to hit more contemporary targets. From growing world terrorism to the microchip boom, from satanic panic to luxury golf resorts, this outing sees M throw Bond into a complex web of inter-agency activity and exceedingly heavy stakes. Our run through the Gardner sweep continues with a closer look at this heavy-set and slithering seventh installment. Summary@6:00; Review@30:00

It's Halloween on Yellow Street and outcast Robbie Glinton has a plan for revenge. Let down by teachers, abandoned by parents and ignored by "the man", he and his troop of juvenile delinquents (Jody, Dags and Midge) are out for a little payback. Daniel Kraus' Blood Sugar, an exclusive Hard Case Crime publication from 2019, presents a complex story of trauma covered in seasonal guise and a veneer of adolescent reflection. Left to navigate their social and familial woes as best they can, Robbie's team of misfits prepare for the ultimate trick-or-treat with poisoned candy and weaponised sweets. Kraus gives readers a lot to chew over in this engaging story, told to us through the unique voice and teenage eyes of Jody. Fast Facts@7:45; Summary@22:00; PIPES@42:00

The John Gardner sweep continues with "Win, Lose or Die", the eighth continuation novel in his cycle of Bond adventures. With this story, Gardner keeps on trend-jumping, here drawing inspiration from the "Top Gun" and "Iron Eagle" craze of the era. Bond returns to the Navy, upgrades to Captain and plays War Games with some very important dignitaries in order to defend a top-secret Steward's Meeting from a new terrorist threat. So grab your aviators and fire up the After Burner Arcade, we're flying back to 1989 for one final wild ride of the decade!

In this special episode, Nick Anderson from The Book Graveyard lends his enthusiasm and rides sidecar through our exploration of "Maigret and the Ghost". When one of the Inspector's colleagues from the 18th arrondissement is gunned down in the peaceable Avenue Junot, Maigret has to pick up the loose ends of a secretive and time-sensitive investigation. From spooks in the window and open-marriage antics to expensive art and a flashy yellow jaguar, this later Simenon novel presents readers with... drumroll please... "the night of opening and closing doors" ! In addition to the LTP review, this monster episode also features some fun quiz nonsense and Halloween recommendations. Enjoy! Simenon FF@15:30; Plot Summary@30:30; PIPESreview@40:00; Art Thievery Quiz@1:50:30 Check out Nick on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TheBookGraveyard

Dr Richard Talbot: "I'm writing a paper on ailments of the heart." Nora Prentiss: "A paper? I could write a book!" LTP Noir is back with "oomph" and a deep-dive into 1947's Nora Prentiss, directed by Vincent Sherman, a love affair that literally goes up in flames. Not only does Josh give his final word on this compelling "Women's Noir" but shines deserving light on the career of Ann Sheridan, an outlier Warner Brothers star who held her own in the feisty world of Crawford, Davis and De Haviland. Plot Summary@2:30; Production Feature@24:00; LTP Noir Review@48:00

What would happen if a bunch of thugs were chasing down an old-man's horse-betting system? And what if only a sharpshooting physics teacher and his jockey-dreaming younger brother stood in the way of them and their shady profiteering! Well, it's all to play for here in 1981's "Twice Shy" by Dick Francis. If you're into equine thrillers with hurdles of domestic conflict and 80s computer jargon then this episode is for you! Or maybe you're just looking for a fun listen... Either way, we've got you covered. Saddle up!

Billy Summers, ex-marine, is an assassin with a moral compass and a mind scarred by trauma. In Stephen King's 2021 thriller, he takes on some "very bad men" in what he intends to be his final job. King's narrative focuses on the preparations and execution of the hit, while reminding us that you can never plan for the unexpected. "Dumb Billy" may conceals his sharper self behind Archie comics and offshore identities but he learns that there's always a force greater than yourself out there waiting, able to penetrate the facade and upend expectations. Join us as we split the payoff for this pulpy yet nuanced thriller! Summary@7:10; PIPES@34:30

In John Gardner's sixth continuation novel, M has "cream cake" on his face and Bond is brought in to clean up the mess. Ghosts from a former operation have returned to haunt the MI6 chief as his agents are being mutilated and wiped out. Without the help of official channels, 007 must rely on his rolodex of allies to safeguard the targets and track down the hit team before it's too late. So, tune those harmonica bugs and call your gangster friends: from London to Ireland, Paris to Hong Kong, the stakes are high and set-pieces abound in this "help wanted" adventure!

When Dr Huxtable (no, not that one) makes a desperate appeal to Sherlock for help in locating a missing pupil of his stuffy boarding school, Holmes politely declines. When he learns of the £6000 reward, however, and of the blue bloods behind the intrigue, the great detective does an about turn and catches the next train north! A case of murderous intrigue, ransom and bike-tire forensics quickly thickens around our hero. Scott's choice for "Sherlock Selects" comes from a December 2017 chat and closes out the retrospective Summer series for another year.

A young doctor and nervous sponsor... a criminal history and horrific murder... it must be time for "The Resident Patient"! Following the case of Dr Percy Trevelyan, Josh's choice kick-starts our annual "Sherlock Selects" Summer Series with heavy themes of suspicion and retribution. We've brushed the dust off our garage tapes of 2017 to bring you this conversation from LTP Season 1.

Can't get enough Maigret? Same here! So, when our buddy Nick from The Book Graveyard invited us over to his YouTube channel for a chat about 1931's The Yellow Dog we jumped at the chance. This time, Inspector Maigret is in Brittany but it's not just the medieval old town that's walled in Concarneau - the people have also built up ramparts around their secrets. In order to discover the truth behind a spate of violent crimes and a mysterious canine, Maigret must first break down the fortifications of bourgeois betrayal and public paranoia. Check out the video of our conversation ( https://youtu.be/2eI0ebZ9WJM ) as well as everything else Nick & The Book Graveyard have to offer fans of genre fiction and vintage reads (https://www.youtube.com/@TheBookGraveyard)!

We are ready for our close-up, Mr DeMille! Just in time for its 75th Anniversary, LTP Noir delivers a supersized episode on the ultimate dark Hollywood satire that is "Sunset Boulevard". This knowing and tragic noir classic was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, excelling on multiple fronts. From the pairing of Billy Wilder and Charles Brackett to the casting of Gloria Swanson and Franz Waxman's inspired score, Josh unravels the skills and secrets behind this roller coaster production and its enduring legacy. Plot Summary@2:20; Production@24:00; Review@1:07:00; Scoring Feature@1:19:00

"The Saint Goes On" is the fourteenth book of adventures by Leslie Charteris to feature Simon Templar and his unique skillset of wit, charm and reckless abandon. In the first, "The High Fence", Templar tracks down a master criminal through a package of stolen jewels, playing dress-up and dodging death along the way. Next, "The Elusive Ellshaw" sees The Saint narrowly escapes death as he helps Inspector Teal uncover the truth behind a missing husband and an assassniation plot. Finally, "The Frightened Innkeeper" finds Templar in Devon, investigating suspicious figures and things that go bump in the night. In this follow-up to our November 2024 episode on "Enter the Saint", three further novellas go under review!

Our inspection of John Gardner's continuation novels rolls on with his fifth 007 adventure. Here, James Bond is forced to jettison his annual leave in Europe when he's made aware of a SPECTRE contract on his head. Some of the bounty hunters hope to lure Bond in by kidnapping May and Moneypenny, two heart-shaped targets for the noble agent. Gardner diverts from his own formulaic structure in this one but still delivers the action and unpredictability we've come to expect from his early adventures. Vampires and guillotines at the ready!

Part satire, part crime adventure and part screwball comedy, Donald E Westlake's heist caper follows an eclectic team of European baddies vowing to aid (then betray) a beautiful freedom fighter in a plot to restore (and then steal) her nation's purloined treasures. "Castle in the Air" is driven thematically by an insatiable appetite for greed and a zest for poking fun at itself. The plot works up to a raucous rip-off operation across the roads and waterways of Paris, led by master criminal Eustace Dench and his ensemble cast. We had a good time reviewing the pulpy energy of this one, complete with its hijinks, social commentary and a language barrier that just won't quit. Fast Facts@10:40; Summary@34:00; PIPES@53:00 Get your Magic Mind here! 👇 www.magicmind.com/LTPJUNE

In this special episode (a listener-favourite from our BBN days), Josh newly presents his research on Sir Francis Walsingham. Dubbed "Spymaster to the Queen", popular history broadcasts Walsingham as a cut-throat playmaker and confidant in and around the court of Elizabeth I; this is a piece of the truth, sure, but there is so much more to the man than just a nifty label. Equally powerful in daylight as in the shadows, Walsingham weaponised political rhetoric and manipulated a staggering network of intelligence in the Tudor era. Long before Philby and Fleming, Maugham or Croft, there was Sir Francis Walsingham. Get your Magic Mind here! 👉www.magicmind.com/LTPMAY

When Dr Huxtable (no, not that one) makes a desperate appeal to Sherlock for help in locating a missing pupil of his school, the great detective politely declines. When he learns of the £6000 reward, however, and the blue blood behind the case, Holmes does an about turn and hops on the next train north! A tale of murderous intrigue, ransom and bike tire forensics then ensues. Scott's choice for "Sherlock Selects" comes from December 2017 and closes out the retrospective Summer Series for another year.

"I'd hate to take a bite of you... you're a cookie full of arsenic." Alexander McKendrick's compelling noir is full of lines like this, courtesy of screenwriter Clifford Odets - quite fitting for intrigue set in the back-stabby world of showbiz journalism. Burt Lancaster may appear more dinky here than normal but don't be fooled by his glasses: JJ Hunsecker is a powerful and fiendish columnist who employs an ambitious press agent, Sidney Faclo, played by Tony Curtis to break up his sister's romance. Conflict and betrayals emerge from the darkness here, masterfully rendered through sharp angles and lighting contrasts by Oscar-winning DP, James Wong Howe. Decorated with subtle touches and engaging performances, "Sweet Smell of Success" was a critic's favourite when released in 1957 and Josh lays the whole story out in this episode of LTP Noir. Pre-Production @ 01:55; Summary @ 23:00; Production @36:00; Review @47:00 Get your Magic Mind here! 👉 www.magicmind.com/LTPMAY

According to Ogden Nash, "Philo Vance needs a kick in the pants", and Dashiel Hammett described the character's posturing as being, "like a teenager who had been studying the foreign words and phrases in the back of their dictionary". S.S. Van Dine's foppish sleuth certainly does make an impression on a reader and here, in his first appearance, we get to follow his methodology and manipulation alongside DA John Markham and "The Benson Murder Case". Opinions weren't hard to come by during our read and review of this crime classic! Fast Facts @15:00; Summary @41:00; PIPES @55:00 Get your Magic Mind here 👉 www.magicmind.com/LTPMAY

Another year, another 007 continuation novel for John Gardner! In 1984 it was "Role of Honour", his fourth effort, which pits a rich but disenchanted James Bond up against a SPECTRE in sheep's clothing. From computer programming to terrorist training, Endor battles and blimp jumping, Gardner leaves little on the cutting room floor with this one, taking readers to crazytown and back in this raucous spy thriller.