The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (1927) part 1, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – brings together intriguing mysteries from the final collection of Holmes adventures. Featuring dark, unusual cases like “The Illustrious Client” and “The Blanched Soldier,” these stories showcase the aging detective’s enduring brilliance and sharp deductive intellect.

Enos A. Mills (1870 - 1922) The Adventures of a Nature Guide – Pioneering naturalist Enos A. Mills recounts vivid encounters with Rocky Mountain wilderness, wildlife, and weather. Blending practical outdoor guidance with deep ecological appreciation, the collection celebrates self-reliance, quiet observation, and the transformative power of high-altitude solitude, establishing an enduring blueprint for modern nature interpretation and environmental conservation ethics.

Barchester Towers (1857) Anthony Trollope – satirizes clerical ambition and small-town politics within the fictional cathedral town of Barchester. The comedic struggle between the proud Bishop Proudie, his overbearing wife, and the scheming Obadiah Slope provides a witty, masterful portrait of Victorian ecclesiastical power dynamics.

The Monk: A Romance, by Matthew Lewis – is a landmark Gothic novel exploring the rapid moral downfall of Ambrosio, a pious Capuchin monk in Madrid. Tempted by demonic forces, lust, and dark magic, he descends into crime and horror, creating a shocking masterpiece of sensational eighteenth-century fiction.

Dracula (1897, by Bram Stoker) – is the foundational epistolary horror novel documenting Count Dracula’s attempt to move from Transylvania to England. A brave group led by Professor Van Helsing uses science, faith, and resolve to combat the terrifying vampire in a classic battle against gothic evil.

Jane Austen (1775 - 1817) Pride and Prejudice – Pride and Prejudice is Jane Austen’s classic comic romance, in which the five Bennett sisters try to find that most elusive creature: a single man in possession of a large fortune. Sparks fly when sweet, pretty Jane meets their new neighbor, Mr. Bingley, but her sister Elizabeth is most offended by his haughty friend, Mr. Darcy. This is Austen at the height of her powers: the ironic narration, hilariously drawn supporting characters, and romantic suspense make this her most enduringly popular novel.

A Tale of Two Cities (1859) by Charles Dickens – contrasts London and Paris during the bloody turmoil of the French Revolution. Exploring love, sacrifice, and political terror, the novel culminates in Sydney Carton’s unforgettable act of ultimate devotion amid the brutal reign of the guillotine.

The Pickwick Papers (1836) by Charles Dickens – follows the comical misadventures of Samuel Pickwick and his eccentric companions as they travel across England. Rich in satire, memorable characters, and humorous mishaps, this episodic classic offers a vivid and entertaining portrait of nineteenth-century English society and customs.

Oscar Wilde (1891) The Picture Of Dorian Gray – examines aestheticism, morality, and corruption as young Dorian Gray remains eternally youthful while his portrait ages and reflects his sinful soul. Wilde’s dark philosophical novel offers a striking exploration of hedonism, vanity, and the tragic consequences of unchecked desire.

Wuthering Heights (1847), by Emily Bronte – is a intense tale of passion, obsession, and revenge set on the bleak Yorkshire moors. The turbulent relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw spans generations, haunting their families with destructive emotion, atmospheric darkness, and tragic, enduring supernatural connections.

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1893)Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – collects eleven classic detective tales, showcasing Holmes’s supreme analytical skills in cases like “Silver Blaze” and “The Musgrave Ritual.” The anthology concludes with the dramatic confrontation against Professor Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls in “The Final Problem.”

The Hound of the Baskervilles (1902), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – sends Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to the atmospheric Devonshire moors to investigate an ancient family curse. Facing a terrifying, seemingly supernatural phantom hound, Holmes uses reason and science to unmask a deadly, calculated human plot.

Emma (1815) Jane Austen – follows clever, wealthy, and headstrong Emma Woodhouse as she delights in playing matchmaker in her quiet village. Through humorous miscalculations, romantic blunders, and personal growth, Emma gradually recognizes her own flaws and discovers where her true heart lies in Regency society.

The Valley of Fear (1914-15), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – A classic Sherlock Holmes novel, The Valley of Fear blends a locked-room murder at Birlstone with a dark American backstory of espionage, secret societies, and revenge. Holmes unravels both threads to expose how past crimes return to haunt the present.

The Man in the Iron Mask, By Alexandre Dumas – concludes the Three Musketeers saga with a daring plot to swap King Louis XIV with his secret twin brother, imprisoned in an iron mask. Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D’Artagnan face loyalty, age, and tragic destiny in royal France.

The Gold Bag (1911) by Carolyn Wells – introduces detective Fleming Stone in a suspenseful locked-room murder mystery. When a prominent businessman is found killed in his locked study with only a woman’s gold handbag as a clue, Stone uses sharp analysis to unmask the true culprit.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – features twelve ground-breaking short stories that established the detective’s global fame. Including iconic cases like “A Scandal in Bohemia” and “The Red-Headed League,” Holmes and Watson solve intricate mysteries through keen observation and brilliant logical deduction.

A Study in Scarlet (1887), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson debut in this 1887 mystery, where a murder marked by the word RACHE leads Holmes through brilliant clues, hidden motives, and a backstory of revenge that reveals the killer’s tragic Mormon path.

The Man of Property (Forsyte Saga Vol. 1) (1906), By John Galsworthy – dissects the upper-middle-class English elite through the wealthy, possessive Soames Forsyte. As Soames tries to control his beautiful wife Irene, her rebellion triggers family scandals, exposing the conflict between material wealth, personal freedom, and genuine human emotion.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) by Lewis Carroll – follows young Alice as she falls down a rabbit hole into a surreal world of bizarre creatures, nonsensical logic, and whimsical encounters. Carroll’s imaginative masterpiece brilliantly parodies traditional children’s literature through clever wordplay, memorable characters, and enduring literary fantasy.

The Sign of the Four (1890), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – finds Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson unraveling a dark case of stolen Indian treasure, betrayal, and murder. Centered on Mary Morstan’s mysterious pearls and a secret pact, the gripping narrative combines brilliant deduction with high-stakes adventure across Victorian London.

Les Misérables (1862) by Victor Hugo – is an epic masterpiece of redemption, justice, and compassion set against the backdrop of post-revolutionary France. Following ex-convict Jean Valjean and his relentless pursuer Inspector Javert, the sweeping narrative explores social injustice, sacrifice, and the enduring power of human love.

The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1905), by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – marks the thrilling resurrection of the master detective after his supposed death at Reichenbach Falls. Reuniting with Dr. Watson, Holmes solves thirteen ingenious cases, confronting dangerous criminals across Victorian and Edwardian London.

Siddhartha (1922), by Hermann Hesse – follows a young Indian man during the time of the Buddha as he embarks on a spiritual journey toward enlightenment. Through asceticism, worldly pleasure, wealth, and quiet meditation by a river, Siddhartha learns that true wisdom cannot be taught, only experienced.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1917) His Last Bow – gathers several thrilling espionage and mystery stories featuring the legendary Sherlock Holmes. Culminating in a famous title story set on the eve of World War I, Holmes uses his intellectual mastery to outwit foreign spies and serve his nation one last time.

Moby Dick, or the Whale (1851) by Herman Melville – recounts Captain Ahab’s obsessive quest to destroy the legendary white whale that maimed him. Narrated by Ishmael, this American epic delves into fate, nature, humanity, and madness aboard the whaling ship Pequod across vast, unforgiving oceanic depths.

The Quest of the Historical Jesus, by Albert Schweitzer – is a groundbreaking theological work examining nineteenth-century attempts to reconstruct Jesus’s life. Schweitzer argues that Jesus must be understood within his apocalyptic Jewish context, fundamentally reshaping modern biblical studies, historical research, and Christian theology.

Bleak House, by Charles Dickens – satirizes the convoluted British legal system through the endless court case of Jarndyce v Jarndyce. Centered around the mysterious Esther Summerson, Dickens weaves a rich tapestry of social critique, urban mystery, hidden identities, and atmospheric Victorian London storytelling.

The Count of Monte Cristo (1844) by Alexandre Dumas – follows Edmond Dantès, a young sailor falsely imprisoned for treason. After escaping from the Chateau d’If with hidden wealth, Dantès transforms into the mysterious Count of Monte Cristo to execute a meticulously calculated vengeance against those who betrayed him.

Treasure Island (1881), by Robert Louis Stevenson – is the ultimate pirate adventure following young Jim Hawkins as he discovers a treasure map and sets sail aboard the Hispaniola. Facing the cunning pirate Long John Silver, Jim navigates mutiny, danger, and island survival in this timeless high-seas classic.

The Man Who Would Be King, by Rudyard Kipling – follows two ambitious British rogues, Daniel Dravot and Peachy Carnehan, who set out to conquer remote Kafiristan. Using modern rifles and cunning, Dravot becomes a worshipped monarch, but divine pretensions lead to a dramatic and harrowing downfall.

Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883), by Friedrich Nietzsche – presents a profound philosophical masterpiece through the speeches of the prophet Zarathustra. Exploring themes of the Übermensch, the eternal recurrence, and the will to power, Nietzsche challenges traditional morality and urges humanity to create its own meaning and self-mastery.

Pie in the Sky (1994) – After being shot, DI Crabbe retires from the police force and sets up his own restaurant. Unfortunately, his ex-boss, Chief Constable Fisher, is constantly dragging him back in. Honestly, the premise is pretty dopey, but there’s something very appealing and comforting about this show.

The Office (UK) – Manager David Brent has office workers squirming on their sofas in this multi-award winning comedy. File this fly-on-the-wall mocumentary under petty rivalry, bad management and easily bruised egos.

All Creatures Great and Small (1978) 7 seasons – In 1937, a young, newly-qualified veterinarian surgeon, James Herriot arrives in the picturesque village of Darrowby to take up his first job in the established veterinary practice of Sigfried and Tristan Farnon. But in rural Yorkshire, with few medicines available, the treatment of sick animals still seems to be rooted in the Dark Ages. This, together with the country-folk’s inherent suspicion of strangers, poses problems for James Herriot in the early years of his career.

The Office (US) – Based on the award-winning British comedy of the same name, “The Office” exposes the humorous and often foolish events at Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1985) 4 seasons – a British TV series starring Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes and David Burke as Dr. Watson. Faithfully adapting Conan Doyle’s stories, it follows the detective’s brilliant investigations in Victorian London, blending mystery, wit, and period authenticity with exceptional performances.

Breaking Bad (2008) - 5 seasons – follows Walter White (Bryan Cranston), an over-qualified, dispirited high-school chemistry teacher struggling with a recent diagnosis of stage-three lung cancer. White turns to a life of crime and partners with a former student, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), to produce and distribute methamphetamine to secure his family’s financial future before he dies, while navigating the dangers of the criminal underworld.

Bookish (2025) – A British crime drama set in post-war London, following Gabriel Book, an unconventional antiquarian bookshop owner who uses his knowledge, connections, and sharp instincts to help police solve difficult cases. Created by and starring Mark Gatiss, the series blends mystery, character drama, and a richly atmospheric 1946 backdrop, with story threads involving Book’s marriage to Trottie, his complicated interest in Jack, a young ex-convict who joins the bookshop, and the shadow of a past shaped by secrecy and wartime experience. The show also features Inspector Bliss and a strong supporting cast, giving each episode a period feel that mixes clever detective work with emotional tension and understated humor.

Reacher (2022) - “Saddle up, cause we’re about to do a whole lot of cowboy shit.”

Broken (2017) – Drama series about a well-respected Catholic priest presiding over a large parish on the outskirts of a major city in northern England.

A Ghost Story for Christmas (series) – a British TV anthology series, originally aired by the BBC from 1971, adapting classic ghost stories, primarily M.R. James’s tales. Airing around Christmas, it delivers chilling, atmospheric supernatural narratives set in eerie British locales, blending gothic horror with psychological depth and period settings.

A Touch of Frost (1992) - It takes a lot of tea drinking to commit and solve murders in England.

The IT Crowd (2006) 4 seasons 25 episodes Roy and Moss are relegated to the basement of Reynholm where they maintain minimal social contact. Their new department head Jen although her CV indicated a great deal of familiarity with computers, in reality, she doesn’t have a clue.

Sherlock (2010) – a modern adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective stories, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson. Set in contemporary London, the series follows the brilliant, eccentric detective solving complex cases with sharp wit, aided by Watson’s loyalty.

A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2001) – Genius detective Nero Wolfe and his right-hand man: Archie Goodwin, solve seemingly impossible crimes, in 1950’s New York.

Silicon Valley (2014) – Parodying the culture of the technology industry in Silicon Valley, the series focuses on Richard Hendricks (Thomas Middleditch), a programmer who founds a startup company called Pied Piper, and chronicles his struggles to maintain his company while facing competition from larger entities.

30 Rock (2006) 7 seasons / 138 episodes – a fast-paced NBC sitcom created by Tina Fey, who stars as Liz Lemon, the head writer of a chaotic sketch show called TGS.

Agatha Christie’s Marple (2004) 6 seasons – Geraldine McEwan brilliantly portrays the iconic Miss Marple as she astutely investigates a series of crimes, even when the police are reluctant to accept her help.

Lark Rise to Candleford (2008) 4 seasons – Set in late 19th-century Oxfordshire, this warm period drama contrasts the quiet hamlet of Lark Rise with the bustling market town of Candleford. Young Laura Timms moves between worlds, witnessing changing social codes, quiet struggles, deep community bonds, romance, and industrial progress shape rural Victorian lives. But… You have to overlook the father and to a lesser extent the mother of the main woman character who goes to work at the post office. They are miserable fucks. Everything in their life is a problem and dramatic. They are people that one should avoid at all costs. But if you can overlook them in the TV series, it is a very enjoyable series.

Shrinking - Jason Segel and Harrison Ford star in this comedy series about a therapist who decides to be brutally honest.

Mad Men (2007) – explores the glamorous and ego-driven “Golden Age” of advertising, where everyone is selling something and nothing is ever what it seems. And no one plays the game better than Don Draper (Jon Hamm), Madison Avenue’s biggest ad man - and ladies’ man - in the business.

Towards Zero (2025) (TV series) – England, 1936. Tennis star Nevile Strange’s scandalous divorce sparks tension at Lady Tressilian’s estate. When a murder occurs, detective James Leach must uncover the truth before someone else falls victim to the unknown killer. Really a movie broken into 3 parts. A BBC One mystery television series, adapted by Rachel Bennette from the 1944 novel Towards Zero by Agatha Christie.

Agatha Christie’s Poirot – David Suchet stars as the dapper, diminutive Belgian who solves the most serpentine cases with the sharpest of minds and the driest of wits.

Miss Marple (1984) - I can watch this kind of stuff all day long.

Upstairs, Downstairs (1974) – This Emmy Award-winning British drama series tells the story of the wealthy, aristocratic Bellamys and their loyal and lively servants.

Scott & Bailey (2011) 5 seasons – a British crime drama that follows Manchester Metropolitan Police detectives Rachel Bailey and Janet Scott as they tackle serious cases within the Major Incident Team. Balancing intense investigations with complex personal lives, the series explores themes of loyalty, ambition, and the emotional toll of police work. Rachel is impulsive and driven, often letting her private struggles affect her judgment, while Janet is experienced, methodical, and grounded. Their contrasting personalities create both tension and deep mutual respect. With strong performances and realistic storytelling, the show stands out for its focus on character development as much as crime solving, offering a grounded, human perspective on modern policing.

Dept. Q (2025) – Carl, a former top-rated detective, is wracked with guilt following an attack that left his partner paralysed and another policeman dead. On his return to work, Carl is assigned to a cold case that will consume his life.

The Twilight Zone (5 Seasons) – ran for five seasons from 1959 to 1964. Created by Rod Serling, the iconic anthology series blended sci-fi, horror, and suspense. Each episode featured unique characters facing bizarre, supernatural realities, famously delivering shocking twist endings that explored human nature, morality, and timeless social commentary.

Three Pines (2022) – Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec and his team investigate a series of perplexing murders in the mysterious Eastern Townships village of Three Pines, uncovering the buried secrets of its eccentric residents and in the process forcing Gamache to confront buried secrets of his own.

Friday Night Dinner (6 seasons, 37 episodes) – For the Goodman family, Friday night dinner is just like Sunday lunch: just take two days away, add on an extra course and you’ve pretty much got it. Adam and his brother, Jonny, view Friday night dinner as a necessary annoyance. Necessary because they get fed, and annoying because, well, they have to spend the evening with Mum and Dad.

Columbo (1968) – Columbo is the landmark series that inspired an entire genre. Columbo stars Peter Falk in his 4-time Emmy-winning role as the cigar-chomping, trench coat-wearing police lieutenant. I watched this show as a kid. Watching it again will be like a stroll down memory lane.

The OA (2016) – a popular, mind-bending Netflix original series about Prairie Johnson, a blind woman who returns home after being missing for seven years, now with her sight restored, and recruits locals for a mysterious mission involving other dimensions and near-death experiences.

The Booth at the End (2011) – One of the best, if not the best, series I’ve ever seen. Season 1 & Season 2

Fisk (2021) – An Australian comedy series starring Kitty Flanagan as a recently disgraced lawyer navigating probate law in a quirky Melbourne firm. The show’s charm lies in its deadpan humor, oddball characters, and understated storytelling, making it a refreshing, grounded alternative to flashy legal dramas. Reminds me a great deal of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020) – A stressed-out police officer struggles not to give in to the paranoia that grips his small mountain town as bodies turn up after each full moon. Much better than I expected.

The Strange Case of Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle (2005) – Set between 1892 and 1899 when Sherlock Holmes was killed off by his creator and Doyle was in his late 30s. It was during this electrifying and disturbed period that Doyle agrees to work with a biographer, Seldon, to write an account of his life. To Doyle’s mounting horror, Seldon begins to peel back the many faces of Holmes to reveal his true origins. – A treat for Sherlock Holmes fans.

Knives Out (2019) Director: Rian Johnson - When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate, the inquisitive Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan’s dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan’s untimely death.

All Good Things (2010) Directed by Andrew Jarecki - Ryan Gosling stars as the heir to a real estate dynasty who is suspected of murdering his wife in this chilling psychological thriller.

Black Mirror (2011) – Black Mirror is an anthology series that taps into our collective unease with the modern world, with each stand-alone episode a sharp, suspenseful tale exploring themes of contemporary techno-paranoia.

Office Space (1999) – a cult classic comedy directed by Mike Judge. It satirizes late-90s corporate tech culture through Peter Gibbons, an unmotivated software engineer who rebels against his soul-crushing office job, incompetent bosses, and mind-numbing routines alongside his disgruntled coworkers and a flair-hating waitress named Joanna.

Her (2014) – The film follows Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a man who develops a relationship with Samantha (Scarlett Johansson), an artificially intelligent virtual assistant personified through a female voice.

The First (2018) – The historical events of the early 18 century have become the heart of the adventure action packed film “The First”, which will tell us about the times when explorers from all over the world were rushing into expeditions full of danger and difficulties in order to discover uncharted territories Once you get used to the English overdub this story is quite good.

There Will Be Blood (2008) – A sprawling epic of family, faith, power and oil, ‘There Will Be Blood’ is set on the incendiary frontier of California’s turn-of-the-century petroleum boom. The story chronicles the life and times of one Daniel Plainview, who transforms himself from a down-and-out silver miner raising a son on his own into a self-made oil tycoon.

The Vanishing (2019) - Three lighthouse keepers on a remote Scottish isle discover a chest full of gold - and are ensnared in a web of greed, paranoia, and murder.

The Imitation Game (2014) – Benedict Cumberbatch shines as real-life war hero and pioneer of modern-day computing, Alan Turing, who saved millions of lives by cracking Germany’s so-called unbreakable code during WWII.

The Usual Suspects (1995) – Five career criminals are caught up in the film’s labyrinthine plot that involves an intriguing, seldom-seen, almost legendary criminal mastermind named Keyser Soze.

The Gift (2015) – A horrifying secret emerges when a married couple encounter an acquaintance from the man’s past.

Hearts in Atlantis (2001) – A Stephen King adaptation about a man who recalls his boyhood summer of 1960 and his friendship with a mysterious clairvoyant stranger.

My Week With Marilyn (2011) – The guy who wrote the book(s) that the movie was based on, Colin Clark, is the son of Kenneth Clark, you know, the historian that wrote Civilization. I used to own the paperback with that picture on the cover. It is truly a small world after all.

Murder in the First (1995) – a American legal drama film, directed by Marc Rocco, written by Dan Gordon, and starring Christian Slater, Kevin Bacon, Gary Oldman, Embeth Davidtz, Brad Dourif, William H. Macy, and R. Lee Ermey. It tells the alternate history of a petty criminal named Henri Young who is sent to Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary and later put on trial for murder in the first degree as the lawyer representing him recounts Henri’s life and when he represented Henri.

A Simple Plan (1998) is a tense, snow-covered thriller about greed unraveling loyalty. Three men find a crashed plane with millions in cash and spiral into paranoia. Directed by Sam Raimi, it features powerful performances and moral complexity, exploring how ordinary people justify terrible choices when temptation overwhelms conscience.

The Quiet Man (1952) – An American ex-boxer returns to Ireland to win the hand of a spirited young woman. He is confronted by local customs and the woman’s belligerent brother. Set in the verdant Irish countryside, this film has beautiful scenery and local charm.

Panic (2000) – On the surface, Alex (William H. Macy) is a normal man with a wife, a son and a steady job. But Alex has a secret life no one knows about: he’s a contract killer suffering a midlife crisis.

The Hound of the Baskervilles (2002) Director David Attwood - A captivating 21st-century version of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s chilling masterpiece. The legendary Sherlock Holmes and dynamic Dr Watson grapple with an adversary that threatens to overwhelm them on the forbidding moors of England. As Holmes investigates the mystery of Sir Charles Baskerville’s recent death, events spiral out of control. Is his adversary human or occult?

Into the Labyrinth (2020) – When a kidnapping victim turns up alive after fifteen years, a profiler and a private investigator try to piece together the mystery. This movie has scenes in English, but about half in Italian (with subtitles) so your going to do a lot of reading. But, the film is quite gripping

Burn After Reading (2008) – a 2008 black comedy film written, produced, edited and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. It follows a recently jobless CIA analyst, Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich), whose misplaced memoirs are found by a pair of dimwitted gym employees (Frances McDormand and Brad Pitt).

Basic Instinct (1992) – Paul Verhoeven’s 1992 erotic thriller Basic Instinct follows San Francisco detective Nick Curran as he investigates a brutal murder. He becomes entangled in a dangerous, seductive affair with the prime suspect, enigmatic novelist Catherine Tramell, sparking a psychological game of cat and mouse defined by obsession, deception, and moral ambiguity.

Rough Magic (1997) - Set in the 1950s, Rough Magic tells the story of what happens when a pretty apprentice magician goes to Mexico to escape her fiancé, a wealthy politician, and to find a Mayan shaman who will teach her ancient principles of magic. She is being trailed by a detective hired by her fiancé. Much better than I thought it was going to be.

The Sense of an Ending (2017) – Jim Broadbent leads an all-star cast in this gripping story based on the acclaimed novel about a man whose quiet life is upset by the consequences of decisions made a lifetime ago.

Synchronic (2020) – When New Orleans paramedics and longtime best friends, Steve and Dennis are called to a series of bizarre, gruesome accidents, they chalk it up to the mysterious new party drug found at the scene. But after Dennis’s oldest daughter suddenly disappears, Steve stumbles upon a terrifying truth about the psychedelic that will challenge everything he knows about reality and the flow of time itself. – Excellent concept

Frailty (2002) Directors Bill Paxton – A man confesses to an FBI agent his family’s story of how his religious fanatic father’s visions lead to a series of murders to destroy supposed “demons.”

Leaves of Grass (2010) – “Leaves of Grass” is a comic thriller seen through the dual perspectives of identical twins Bill and Brady Kincaid (two-time Academy Award-nominee Edward Norton, “American History X”), which weaves together such disparate narrative elements as Ivy League politics, backwoods drug deals, classical philosophy and the Jewish community of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

It’s time!!! No, not for the pheasant, but for the holiday tradition of watching the 1970 musical version of the Charles Dicken’s, A Christmas Carol AKA Scrooge, directed by Ronald Neame.

Road to Perdition (2002) – Mike Sullivan works as a hit man for crime boss John Rooney. After his son is witness to a killing, Sullivan finds him self on the run trying to save the life of his son and looking for revenge on those who wronged him.

An Inspector Calls (2015) Director Aisling Walsh – An Inspector Calls is a mysterious detective thriller set in 1912 and written by English dramatist J.B. Priestley. Following the suicide of a young woman from the local town, an inspector calls unexpectedly to interrogate the wealthy Birling family. As their world unravels, each member of the family is revealed to have unwittingly played a part in her demise.

Finestkind (2023) directed by Brian Helgeland – a crime thriller set in New Bedford’s fishing community. Brothers Tom (Ben Foster) and Charlie (Toby Wallace) face debts, leading to a dangerous drug deal. With strong performances, including Jenna Ortega and Tommy Lee Jones, the slow-burn drama explores family and sacrifice.

The Perfect Host (2011) – A career criminal finds himself on the doorstep of a consummate host preparing for a dinner party. As the wine flows and the evening progresses, we become deeply intertwined in the lives of these two men and discover just how deceiving appearances can be.

Zodiac (2007) – A newspaper cartoonist obsessed with solving San Francisco’s infamous “Zodiac” serial killer case closes in on a suspect long after the case has become cold.

The Player (1992) – Robert Altman’s razor-sharp satire follows studio executive Griffin Mill as anonymous death threats test his cynical grip on Hollywood. Blending mordant dark comedy, celebrity cameos, and a labyrinthine murder plot, this self-referential masterwork dissects creative compromise, industry power dynamics, and the ultimate triumph of commercial formula over artistic risk.

Stranger than Fiction (2006) – An IRS auditor suddenly finds himself the subject of narration only he can hear: narration that begins to affect his entire life, from his work, to his love-interest, to his death. 🗣 Way better than I was expecting.

The Raven (2012) – In 19th-century Baltimore, Detective Emmett Fields makes a horrifying discovery: The murders of a mother and daughter resemble a fictional crime described in a story by Edgar Allan Poe. When another murder occurs, also seemingly inspired by Poe’s writings, Fields realizes a serial killer is on the loose and enlists Poe’s help in catching the felon.

Inside Man (2006) – A tough detective matches wits with a cunning bank robber, as a tense hostage crisis is unfolding. Into the volatile situation comes a woman named Madaline, a mysterious power broker who has a hidden agenda and threatens to push a tense situation past the breaking point.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002) – A maverick creator of America’s favorite game shows gains notoriety for his smash television hits, he is also drawn into a shadowy world of dangers as a covert government operative. But soon his life begins to spiral out of control - both of them! A comedy thriller based on Chuck Barris’ cult-classic autobiography.

A Landing on the Sun (1994) Director Nick Renton - 20 years ago, George Summerchild fell to his death from a Ministry of Defence building. Was it suicide? Despite all the speculation, no one has ever solved the mystery. Now Brian Jessel, another civil servant, has been asked to investigate. What he uncovers is a curious romance which forces him to consider his own bleak life, the nature of happiness and the blinding power of true love.

The Men Who Stare At Goats (2009) – Astonishing revelations about a top-secret wing of the U.S. military come to light when a reporter encounters an enigmatic Special Forces operator on a mind-boggling mission. It’s like a Coen Brothers movie. Two s up

Elephant Song (2015) directed by Charles Biname - When a psychiatrist goes mysteriously missing from a hospital that has recently been plagued by scandal, Dr. Toby Green (Bruce Greenwood) is called in to investigate before the news goes public.

Mr. Holmes (2015) – In 1947 in a Sussex village, a retired Sherlock Holmes lives languidly with his housekeeper and her young son. While battling the beginnings of dementia, Holmes is haunted by a 30-year old case and the memory of a mysterious woman.

Bliss (2021) Director Mike Cahill – Bliss is a mind-bending love story following Greg (Owen Wilson) who, after recently being divorced and then fired, meets the mysterious Isabel (Salma Hayek), a woman living on the streets and convinced that the polluted, broken world around them is just a computer simulation. Doubtful at first, Greg eventually discovers there may be some truth to Isabel’s wild conspiracy.

Scarface (1983) – Brian De Palma’s 1983 crime epic Scarface follows Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee who rises from a penniless immigrant to a ruthless Miami drug kingpin. Driven by unbridled ambition and fueled by cocaine, his violent empire inevitably collapses under the weight of paranoia, betrayal, and his own explosive hubris.

American Psycho (2000) – Patrick Bateman, a young, well-to-do man working on Wall Street at his father’s company kills for no reason at all. As his life progresses his hatred for the world becomes more and more intense. Based on the book by Bret Easton Ellis.

Inside (2023) – Anything with Willem Dafoe is worth trying. Later… a one man show. Better than I thought it was going to be once I realized how it was unfolding. Dafoe is quite the actor. Few could pull something like this off.

Down Terrace (2010) – After being released from jail, a father and son struggle to rebuild the family crime business in this clever British gangster comedy. (It’s like Curb Your Enthusiasm meets The Sopranos)

Walden (2023) – Discovering he has a terminal illness sends a court reporter into a rage that has been simmering deep within him for years and now he is about to take justice into his own hands.

Gran Torino (2008) – a recently widowed Korean War veteran alienated from his family. When Kowalski’s neighbor Thao Vang Lor is pressured by his cousin into stealing Walt’s prized Ford Torino for his initiation into a gang, Walt thwarts the theft and develops a relationship with the boy and his family.

Fatal Attraction (1987) – Adrian Lyne’s psychological thriller Fatal Attraction follows a married New York attorney, whose brief, extramarital weekend fling turns terrifying. His obsessed lover, refuses to let the affair end, launching an escalating campaign of stalking, terror, and violence that threatens his family and his life.

The Village (2004) Directed by M. Night Shyamalan – When a willful young man tries to venture beyond his sequestered Pennsylvania hamlet, his actions set off a chain of chilling incidents that will alter the community forever.

Jeff Sharlet (2008) The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power – The book investigates the political power of The Family or The Fellowship, a secretive fundamentalist Christian association led by Douglas Coe.

Elle Hardy (2022) Beyond Belief: How Pentecostal Christianity Is Taking Over the World – How has a Christian movement, founded at the turn of the twentieth century by the son of freed slaves, become the fastest-growing religion on Earth? Pentecostalism has 600 million followers; by 2050, they’ll be one in ten people worldwide. This is the religion of the Holy Spirit, with believers directly experiencing God and His blessings: success for the mind, body, spirit and wallet.

Ray Kurzweil (1999) The Age of Spiritual Machines – A non-fiction book by inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil about artificial intelligence and the future course of humanity. In the book Kurzweil outlines his vision for how technology will progress during the 21st century.

Tom Robbins (1976) Even Cowgirls Get the Blues – Sissy Hankshaw, the novel’s protagonist, is a woman born with enormously large thumbs who considers her mutation a gift. The novel covers various topics, including free love, feminism, drug use, birds, political rebellion, animal rights, body odor, religion, and yams.

Gil Fronsdal (2016) The Buddha Before Buddhism – One of the earliest of all Buddhist texts, the Atthakavagga, or “Book of Eights,” is a remarkable document, not only because it comes from the earliest strain of the literature — before the Buddha, as the title suggests, came to be thought of as a “Buddhist” — but also because its approach to awakening is so simple and free of adherence to any kind of ideology. Instead the Atthakavagga points to a direct and simple approach for attaining peace without requiring the adherence to doctrine.

Jon Gertner (2012) The Idea Factory – From its beginnings in the 1920s until its demise in the 1980s, Bell Labs-officially, the research and development wing of AT&T - was the biggest, and arguably the best, laboratory for new ideas in the world. From the transistor to the laser, from digital communications to cellular telephony, it’s hard to find an aspect of modern life that hasn’t been touched by Bell Labs.

Walter Isaacson (2023) Elon Musk – From the author of Steve Jobs and other bestselling biographies, this is the astonishingly intimate story of the most fascinating and controversial innovator of our era—a rule-breaking visionary who helped to lead the world into the era of electric vehicles, private space exploration, and artificial intelligence. Oh, and took over Twitter.

Dale Carnegie (1936) How to Win Friends and Influence People – One of the best-known motivational guides in history, Dale Carnegie’s groundbreaking book has sold tens of millions of copies, been translated into almost every known language, and has helped countless people succeed. Buy the oldest edition you can find. Often as time passes publishers and chapters to books and make edit to keep up with the modern world. I always recommend getting the authors original thoughts. Dale Carnegie lived before there was any social networks or anything like that. So you don’t want an addition where the publishers have added their thoughts about social networks, you want the original authors thoughts.

Tom Robbins (1980) Still Life With Woodpecker – is the third novel by Tom Robbins, concerning the love affair between an environmentalist princess and an outlaw. The novel encompasses a broad range of topics, from aliens and redheads to consumerism, the building of bombs, romance, royalty, the Moon, and a pack of Camel cigarettes. The novel continuously addresses the question of “how to make love stay” and is sometimes referred to as “a post-modern fairy tale”.

Blue Highways: A Journey into America (1982) William Least Heat Moon – Chronicles William Least Heat-Moon’s journey along America’s back roads after personal loss, capturing forgotten towns, diverse voices, and landscapes. It’s a meditation on travel, resilience, and the hidden heart of America.

Peter Zeihan (2022) The End of the World is Just the Beginning – a nonfiction book written by Peter Zeihan, a geopolitical strategist who formerly worked for the geopolitical intelligence firm Stratfor.

Peter Matthiessen (1978) The Snow Leopard – It is an account of his two-month search for the snow leopard with naturalist George Schaller in the Dolpo region on the Tibetan Plateau in the Himalaya.

Marshall McLuhan (1964) Understanding Media – Terms and phrases such as “the global village” and “the medium is the message” are now part of the lexicon, and McLuhan’s theories continue to challenge our sensibilities and our assumptions about how and what we communicate.

Understanding Power: The Indispensible Chomsky (2002) by Noam Chomsky – A collection of previously unpublished transcripts of seminars, talks, and question-and-answer sessions conducted from 1989 to 1999.

Pepper White (1991) Learning to Think (at MIT) – I like the idea of getting a CorningWare glass titration drip apparatus connected to a rod stand that I can place next to and above my Melita drip coffee maker slowly drip by drip instead of sorting of doing it that way by hand in the morning. That way, my cup of coffee would be better, AND I could go pee while the dripping is happening. I know that’s kind of crazy, but after reading this book, it doesn’t feel as crazy now.

The Last Murder at the End of the World (2024) Stuart Turton – On a remote island shielded from a lethal fog, 122 villagers and three scientists live under strict protection. When one scientist is murdered, the fog-barrier begins failing. With memories wiped and only hours to act, Emory must solve the crime before the world ends.

Amusing Ourselves To Death (1985) – Postman distinguishes the Orwellian vision of the future, in which totalitarian governments seize individual rights, from that offered by Aldous Huxley in Brave New World, where people medicate themselves into bliss, thereby voluntarily sacrificing their rights. Drawing an analogy with the latter scenario, Postman sees television’s entertainment value as a present-day “soma”, the fictitious pleasure drug in Brave New World, by means of which the citizens’ rights are exchanged for consumers’ entertainment.

Tom Robbins (1971) Another Roadside Attraction – Centers on John Paul Ziller and Amanda, who run a peculiar zoo. Their lives intersect with a monk, Brother Fiasco, leading to the discovery of Jesus Christ’s body. The novel humorously explores themes of religion, freedom, and the absurd nature of life.

The Life We Bury (2014) Allen Eskens – College student Joe Talbert stumbles into a mystery that unravels his past and tests his moral compass. Tasked with a biography assignment, Joe interviews Carl Iverson, a dying Vietnam veteran and convicted murderer residing in a nursing home.

Alex North (2023) The Angel Maker – weaves a dark and unsettling tale about fate, memory, and the consequences of violence. The story revolves around Katie Shaw, a woman haunted by a brutal attack on her brother years earlier, and Detective Laurence Page, who investigates a new murder connected to an old crime. As past and present converge, the novel explores how trauma and guilt shape lives and how evil can linger in unexpected places. North blends psychological suspense with philosophical depth, creating an atmospheric, twisting narrative that examines whether destiny can ever be escaped.

The Life We Bury (2014) Allen Eskens – College student Joe Talbert stumbles into a mystery that unravels his past and tests his moral compass. Tasked with a biography assignment, Joe interviews Carl Iverson, a dying Vietnam veteran and convicted murderer residing in a nursing home.

Dan Chaon (2022) Sleepwalk – Sleepwalk by Dan Chaon is a 2022 literary thriller about Will Bear, a man living off-grid who works as a henchman for a shadowy organization, whose life is upended when he’s contacted by a woman claiming to be his daughter, leading him on a journey through a near-future America divided by factions. The novel blends suspense, dark humor, and science fiction as it follows his road trip and search for connection in a dystopian world dominated by corporations and fringe groups.