Category: Crime

SCAR IN THE SKY by J. Todd Scott!

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J. Todd Scott’s SCAR IN THE SKY drops this coming Friday.  Here’s the lowdown…

Lightning never strikes twice —until it does.

A killer is hunting down survivors of lightning strikes in this dark and twisting thriller, perfect for fans of J. H. Markert and Richard Chizmar.

Everything changed for Andi Ellis when she was struck by lightning and her heart stopped. Andi was resuscitated, but she was never the same—electronics strangely malfunction in her presence: clocks can’t keep time; batteries swiftly die. And while many lightning strike victims are left with temporary “lightning tree” markings, on her they are permanent scars.

Years later Andi, her eight-year-old daughter, and a fellow lightning strike survivor have fled Texas and Andi’s dangerous ex to go off the grid in a strange and secluded desert community.

Meanwhile, two private investigators pursue a US senator’s missing daughter who they find too late. When searching for information on the strange lightning scars on the girl’s body, they find themselves pulled into an FBI investigation—people who have been struck by lightning are being murdered.

As the death toll mounts, the task force traces the killer farther west—closer and closer to Andi Ellis and her daughter, and the haven she’s carefully created.

Thriller and horror readers will be enthralled by the dark turns in SCAR IN THE SKY.

SCAR IN THE SKY paperback

SCAR IN THE SKY hardback

LADY MAYHEM written by Jenny Lynn Wright, illustrated by Karl Slominski / Z-View

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LADY MAYHEM written by Jenny Lynn Wright, illustrated by Karl Slominski

Publisher: Calculated Rebellion

When her father dies under suspicious circumstances a young woman returns to the city she left years before.  It was labeled an accident.  She knew it wasn’t.  The cops wouldn’t investigate.  No charges were filed.

The woman begins to dig.  She discovers her dad was a bookkeeper who learned things about many bad people.  He was starting to work with an honest cop.  Before they could prove enough, an “accident” happened.  Now everyone was ready to move on.

Except his daughter.

They didn’t know she was coming.  But they’d soon learn.

And they’d call her Lady Mahem.

+++++

LADY MAYHEM is Jenny Lynn Wright and Karl Slominski’s love letter to revenge stories.  The kind you’d find in ’80s movies, as well as comics like The Punisher and Miller and Darrow’s Hard Boiled.  Wright and Slominski love their inspirations and it shows on every page.

They’ve set their story in a corrupt town in the not too distant future.  This opens up opportunities for interesting visuals with flying cars and advanced weaponry.  Some things don’t change though.  We’ve got crooked cops, ruthless crime lords, one honest cop and a murdered parent with a grown child out for vengeance.  Only this time it’s a woman.  A very capable woman.

They call her Lady Mayhem.

 

Rating:

“Tulsa King” Season 3 starring Sly Stallone – The Trailer is Here!

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The trailer for Tulsa King: Season 3 is here and it is lit, slaps, fire, cool and, well, you get the idea.

Deal me in.

Only Tulsa is fit for this king. 👊

The new season of #TulsaKing premieres September 21 on Paramount+!

After serving 25 years in prison, Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) is unceremoniously exiled by his mob boss to set up shop in Oklahoma. Dwight slowly builds a new criminal empire in a place that to him might as well be another planet: Tulsa.

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Andrea Savage, Jay Will, Martin Starr & Max Casella

“City on Fire” (1987) directed by Ringo Lam, starring Chow Yun-Fat and Danny Lee / Z-View

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City on Fire (1987)

Director:  Ringo Lam

Screenplay: Tommy Sham; story by Ringo Lam

Stars: Chow Yun-Fat, Yueh Sun, Danny Lee. 

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Ko Chow is an undercover cop who has infiltrated a group of jewel thieves.  When a robbery goes sideways, people are killed.  The crooks barely get away.  The cops aren’t far behind.  The thieves think someone ratted them out.  The cops want them all dead or alive.

Ko Chow is in a tight spot… and it’s getting tighter.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

City on Fire provided the inspiration for Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs.

Chow Yun-Fat and Danny Lee would re-team two years later in John Woo’s The Killer.

City on Fire (1987) rates 3 of 5 stars

Rating:

Dwight Manfredi is the “Tulsa King” by Wilfredo Torres!

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In 2012, I went to MegaCon and my main purpose was to get a sketch from Wilfredo Torres.  I was lucky enough to be first on his sketch list.  Wilfredo opted to draw Stallone as Cobra.

Finally, in 2025, the stars aligned and I was able to get on Wilfredo’s advance sketch list for HeroesCon.  I asked for Stallone from Tulsa King and Wilfredo came through royally.

“Affinity” starring Marko Zaror – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Here’s the poster and trailer for Affinity starring Marko Zaror.

Deal me in for a fun-looking drive-in movie.

AFFINITY – Official Trailer | On Digital September 30

Official film page: https://wellgousa.com/films/affinity

Chilean martial-arts star Marko Zaror is Bruno, an ex-SEAL struggling with PTSD. He lives a life in fear of his demons until one day when he discovers a beautiful woman with no past of her own. Together they begin to build a life, but when she disappears, Bruno must return to his violent past if he’s going to save her from a shocking conspiracy in this riveting, fast-paced sci-fi action film from director Brandon Slagle.

Directed by: Brandon Slagle
Cast: Marko Zaror, Louis Mandylor, Brooke Ence, & Jane Mirro

“The Wire”: Season 3 (2004) created by David Simon / Z-View

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The Wire: Season 3 (2004)

Created by: David Simon

Teleplay by:

  • (eps. 1, 12) David Simon from a story by David Simon, Ed Burns;
  • (ep.2, 8) Richard Price from a story by David Simon, Richard Price
  • (ep. 3) Dennis Lehane from a story by David Simon, Dennis Lehane
  • (ep. 4, 11) George Pelecanos from a story by David Simon, George Pelecanos
  • (ep. 5, 10) Ed Burns from a story by David Simon, Ed Burns
  • (ep. 6) Rafael Alvarez  from a story by David Simon, Rafael Alvarez
  • (ep. 7) Joy Lusco from a story by David Simon, Joy Lusco
  • (ep. 9) David Simon from a story by David Simon, George Pelecanos

Directed by: Ed Bianchi (ep. 1); Steve Shill (ep. 2); Rob Bailey (ep. 3); Ernest Dickerson (eps. 4, 12); Dan Attias (ep. 5); Leslie Libman (ep.6); Tim Van Patten (ep. 7); Agnieszka Holland (ep. 8); Alex Zakrzewski (ep. 9); Christine Moore (ep. 10); Joe Chappelle (ep. 11)

Stars: Dominic West, Idris Elba, Lance Reddick, Sonja Sohn, Robert Wisdom, Wood Harris, Clarke Peters, Seth Gilliam, Domenick Lombardozzi, J. D. Williams, John Doman, Frankie Faison, Deirdre Lovejoy, Andre Royo, Jim True-Frost, Wendell Pierce, Corey Parker Robinson, Robert F. Chew, Method Man, Michael Potts, Hassan Johnson, Isiah Whitlock, Jr., Jamie Hector, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Felicia Pearson, Glynn Turman, Callie Thorne, Chad Coleman, Maria Broom  and Michael K. Williams.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

The towers are razed for new development.  This leaves the Barksdale drug organization without territory.  Councilman Tommy Carcetti begins a run for Mayor of Baltimore.  Since it is an election year, crime becomes a campaign issue.  Pressure is put on the Baltimore PD to get crime statistics down… even if they have to massage them.

Police Major Covin comes up with an unauthorized and controversial plan to actually lower the crime stats by forcing drug dealer to move to low population areas of the city where they can freely sell drugs. Covin knows that higher ups and the mayor would never approve of his idea, but he moves forward anyway.

A new and ruthless drug dealer begins to encroach on Stansfield territory.  Omar continues to steal cash and drugs from dealers.  Omar is becoming a legend. Brother Mouzone, a ruthless killer, is brought in to find and eliminate Omar.

Meanwhile the major crimes unit deals with political demands and personal issues as they work to bring down the city’s drug traffickers.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Each season of The Wire builds upon the last. The series continues to be well written, well directed and well acted.

The series spends as much time with the criminals as the cops. This season we get political intrigue and the impact politics has on police work. Kudos to the writers for making each character and storyline important.

New recurring characters introduced in The Wire Season 3 that are amazing include Jamie Hector (Marlo Stanfield), Gbenga Akinnagbe (Chris Partlow), and Felicia Pearson (Snoop).

I cannot wait to start season 4.

The Wire: Season 3 (2004) earns 5 of 5 stars.

“Charley Varrick” (1973) directed by Don Siegel; starring Walter Matthau and Joe Don Baker / Z-View

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Charley Varrick (1973)

Director:  Don Siegel

Screenplay: Dean Riesner, Howard Rodman; based on THE LOOTERS by John H. Reese

Stars: Walter Matthau, Joe Don Baker, Felicia Farr, Andrew Robinson, Sheree North, Norman Fell, Benson Fong, Woodrow Parfrey, William Schallert, Jacqueline Scott, Marjorie Bennett, Rudy Diaz, Colby Chester, Hope Summers, Craig R. Baxley, Don Siegel, John Vernon, Bob Steele and Charles Matthau. 

Tagline: It’s not easy to rob the Mob and stay alive.

The Plot…

Charley Varrick wasn’t always a criminal.  At one time he was a stunt pilot.  Then a crop duster.  When his crop business went south, Charley became a bank robber.  He was always careful to pick small banks in remote locations.

When Charlie and his three man crew knock off a bank in a no name town, things go sideways.  Two of his crew are killed along with the bank’s security guard.  Charlie and Harmon get away with the loot.  They’re shocked to discover they have $750,000.00.  There is no way that tiny bank should have that kind of cash.  Radio reports are that the thieves made off with $2,000.00.

Charlie realizes that the bank was being used by the mob to launder money.  He knows that if you steal from the mob, they will find and kill you no matter how long it takes.  Charlie tells Harmon they’ll need to sit on the money for a few years.  If they’re lucky, they’ll live to slowly spend it.  Harmon just wants his cut now — he plans to live it up.

As if that isn’t bad enough, the cops are working the case.  Worse still, the mob has hired a stone cold killer to track down the cash and kill the thieves.

It’s not easy to rob the Mob and stay alive.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Walter Matthau’s son, Charlie plays the role of the little boy in front of the bank that gets robbed.

Director Don Siegel plays a character named Murphy.

Surprisingly Walter Matthau wasn’t a fan of the finished film.

Joe Don Baker is perfect as the sadistic killer who dominates every scene he’s in.

Charley Varrick (1973) rates 5 of 5 stars

“NUREMBERG” starring Russell Crowe, Rami Malek, Leo Woodall & Michael Shannon – The 2nd Teaser is Here!

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Deal me in.

The world will take a stand.

The official teaser #2 for NUREMBERG, only in theaters November 7.

The Allies, led by the unyielding chief prosecutor, Robert H. Jackson (Michael Shannon), have the task of ensuring the Nazi regime answers for the unveiled horrors of the Holocaust while a US Army psychiatrist (Rami Malek) is locked in a dramatic psychological duel with former Reichsmarschall Herman Göring (Russell Crowe).

Written & Directed by: James Vanderbilt
Based on the Book: THE NAZI AND THE PSYCHIATRIST By Jack El-Hai

Starring: Russell Crowe, Rami Malek, Leo Woodall, and Michael Shannon

GRAY DAWN: AN EASY RAWLINS MYSTERY by Walter Mosley!

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Any time a new Walter Mosley tale premieres, it’s cause for a party.  When it’s a new Mosley Easy Rawlins yarn, get ready for a festival.

On September 16th get your party pants on, because that’s the day GRAY DAWN: AN EASY RAWLINS Mystery drops.  Here’s what to expect…

In this thrilling mystery from “master of craft and narrative” Walter Mosley (National Book Foundation), Detective Easy Rawlins has settled into the happy rhythm of his new life when a dark siren from his past returns and threatens to destroy the peace he’s fought for.

The name Easy Rawlins stirs excitement in the hearts of readers and fear in the hearts of his foes. His success has bought him a thriving detective agency, with its first female detective; a remote home, shared with children and pets and lovers, high atop the hills overlooking gritty Los Angeles; and more trouble, more problems, and more threat to those whom he loves. In other words, he’s still beset on all sides.

A number of below-the-law powerbrokers plead with Easy to locate a mysterious, dangerous woman—Lutisha James, though she’s gone by another name that Easy will immediately recognize. 1970s Los Angeles is a transient city of delicate, violent balances, and Lutisha has disturbed that. She also has a secret that will upend Easy’s own life, painfully closer to home.

Walter Mosley’s Easy Rawlins tales are the best.  Pre-orders are available now.

“Play Dirty” written & directed by Shane Black; starring Mark Wahlberg and LaKeith Stanfield – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

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Play Dirty written & directed by Shane Black; starring Mark Wahlberg and LaKeith Stanfield – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

Shane Black has written some bangers in the past.  I hope Play Dirty joins the list.  It has a decent cast and is based on the Richard Stark Parker novels.

Deal me in.

It’s time to rob the robbers.

Play Dirty starring Mark Wahlberg and LaKeith Stanfield is streaming on Prime Video October 1.

An expert thief rolls out the biggest heist of his life in Play Dirty, an action-packed thriller from director Shane Black. Parker (Mark Wahlberg), along with Grofield (LaKeith Stanfield), Zen (Rosa Salazar) and a skilled crew, stumble onto a score that pits them against the New York mob in this gritty, clever caper.

Starring Mark Wahlberg, LaKeith Stanfield, Rosa Salazar, Keegan-Michael Key, Chukwudi Iwuji, Nat Wolff with Thomas Jane and Tony Shalhoub

Directed by Shane Black
Written by Shane Black & Charles Mondry & Anthony Bagarozzi
Based on The “Parker” Book Series By Richard Stark

“The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear” (1991) starring Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley and George Kennedy / Z-View

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The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991)

Director:  David Zucker

Screenplay: David Zucker, Pat Proft; based on Police Squad! by David Zucker,  Jim Abrahams, Jerry Zucker

Stars: Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, O.J. Simpson, Robert Goulet, Richard Griffiths, Jacqueline Brookes, Anthony James, Tim O’Connor, Peter Mark Richman, Peter Van Norden, Gail Neely, Mel Tormé, Zsa Zsa Gabor, ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic and Lloyd Bochner. 

Tagline: If you see only one movie this year…you ought to get out more often.

The Plot…

Dr. Albert Meinheimer is an advisor to the President.  Meinheimer supports renewable energy sources (solar, wind, etc.) and plans to get the President to move the country in that direction.  Quentin Hapsburg, of Hexagon Oil has other ideas.  Hapsburg kidnaps Meinheimer and replaces him with a lookalike.

And that’s where Frank Drebin and the police squad come in.

Annnnnnnd action!

 

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

If you enjoyed Airplane and The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, then you should get a kick out of The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear.

Lloyd Bochner has a brief cameo.  He is seen in a crowd carrying a large book titled TO SERVE MAN, as he yells, “It’s a cookbook!  It’s a cookbook!”.  This of course refers to the classic Twilight Zone episode, To Serve Man which he starred in.

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) rates 4 of 5 stars