Mary Shelley Archives - Criminal Element

Book Review: Making the Monster: The Science Behind Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein by Kathryn Harkup

By Angie Barry

November 15, 2019

In Making the Monster, bestselling author and chemist Kathryn Harkup does a deep dive into Mary Shelley’s life and the historical events and scientific theories that influenced her greatest work. For two hundred years, it’s been one of the most evocative, potent names in literature. It instantly conjures up images of sparking electrical instruments, laboratories and…

Creating the Perfect “Baddie”

By Leigh Russell

March 4, 2016

Are people ever truly “evil”? Many people commit evil acts, but are these a sign that the perpetrator is evil, or are their actions so far beyond what civilized people might consider “normal,” that we have to conclude these evildoers are insane? Can we hold the insane responsible for their actions? Are they “evil” or…

Mad Doctor Hall of Fame: Physicians’ Edition

By Lokke Heiss

June 21, 2013

Sir Lionel Barton: “You're Fu Manchu, aren't you?” Fu Manchu: I am a doctor of philosophy from Edinburgh, I am a doctor of law from Christ College, I am a doctor of medicine from Harvard. My friends, out of courtesy, call me doctor. Sir Lionel Barton: “Oh, I beg your pardon. Well, three times doctor,…

Drink Deeply of Halloween Crime Cocktails!

By Deborah Lacy

October 30, 2012

Halloween is almost here. Some friends and I decided we needed to create, borrow, and adapt beverages for our favorite Halloween crime classics—both books and TV shows. We got together to mix and test the drinks below. So grab a cocktail shaker and your favorite Halloween crime fiction novel or DVD and let’s get started. …

Poe and the Raven...mashup by Selin Arısoy

Selin Arisoy Mashes Up Authors with Their Work

By Laura K. Curtis

September 11, 2012

Love, love, LOVE the mashups of famous authors with their most famous work by graphic artist Selin Arisoy. He has other great stuff on his Tumblr, as well, but nothing quite as approprate as Edgar, here, from September 4, 2012. He’s so . . . ghoulish. (Head over and check out the Mary Shelley one,…