Two weeks ago, I wrote about how disappointed I was with the film The International. Last week, I was hoping to be more upbeat about Public Enemies, seeing as the material—J. Edgar Hoover takes on John Dillinger—seemed tailor-made for writer-director Michael Mann (Manhunter, Heat, The Insider). But, once again, a weak script prevented even a charismatic lead—in this case, Johnny Depp—from facilitating a must-see. So I cheated: I re-visited an old favorite of mine, knowing I'd have nothing but good things to share. My only hook is that, outside of film-buff circles, it's an unappreciated gem, one overshadowed by other work by Joel and Ethan Coen. It's titled Miller's Crossing.

It was Boxing Day when I got the call from the Police Control Room asking that I attend the wooded area running alongside the River Thames and liaise with the Police following the discovery of a body. On arrival and after a ¾ mile walk along the towpath I arrived at the scene. There was a wooded area running down the right hand side between the towpath and a railway embankment. It was only some 30 feet in width but was not generally walked through by the public who remained on the towpath.

Just so you don't get to thinking that cities and ghettos have a lock on stupid senseless crimes.

I was very eager to read David Hosp's new book Among Thieves. A Boston-area lawyer Hosp uses the real-life 1990 Gardner heist as the backdrop for a thriller that tries in its own way to solve the case.

The question, “Do cops keep a round in the chamber,” has been making its “rounds” through the writing groups this week. Several people have written me saying they’ve heard both yes and no answers. And now they’ve asked me to confirm the real answer to the question. I’m not sure, but I may have started this discussion with my comments regarding Detective Kate Beckett from the Castle TV show. In case you haven’t seen the show, in the last episode, Beckett, for some reason did everything wrong, from tasting a fat pinch of heroin to chugging a shot of whiskey in the captains office.

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