Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: After famed explorer Quentin Mitchell goes missing on an expedition in South America, his wife, Louise, hires private detectives Jack Packard and Doc Long because she believes her stepdaughter Janet and Janet's boyfriend Rex Kennedy plan to kill her. Meanwhile, Janet and Rex believe Louise murdered her husband with the help of Quentin's partner, Arthur Logan. Things take a deadly turn when an assailant with a blowgun kills Louise's butler and the family dog, who always barks at strangers, remains quiet, raising the possibility of Quentin still being alive. The answer may come from a mysterious shrunken head discovered as cargo on a crashed plane. Who's in it? The movie stars Jim Bannon, Michael Duane, Barton Yarborough, Anita Louise , Mona Barrie, Frank Wilcox and Paul E. Burns. Review: I had planned on watching a different movie this morning but as I was looking for it, I came across The Devil's Mask and was intrigued enough by the description to give...

Synopsis: After being stranded on the island for 15 years, Gilligan finds a metal disc the Professor uses to fix their barometer just in time to predict a storm severe enough to cause a tsunami. They survive the storm by lashing their huts together as a boat and wind up at sea, where they are finally rescued. However, they find their return to society difficult, plus Gilligan is stalked by two Soviet spies seeking to retrieve their disc. Who's in it? The movie stars Bob Denver , Russell Johnson , Alan Hale Jr. , Jim Backus , Natalie Schafer , Dawn Wells and Judith Baldwin. Review: It had been decades since I last watched Rescue from Gilligan's Island, and I didn't remember a whole lot about the movie other than a few bits and pieces. So, when I came across the film this morning, I decided to take the time to watch it again. Overall, I would describe it as a film that was a good reunion movie but also far from perfect. I thought the overall premise about them being rescu...

Synopsis: Widow Gloria French has developed a reputation around the Cotswolds Hills as a woman who both pursued men, including those who are already married, and liked to borrow things without returning them. She has even resorted to stealing the things she wants, including a case of homemade elderberry wine that winds up being her undoing when someone poisons one of the bottles. Fearing what an unsolved murder will do to his community, village leader Jerry Tarrant   hires Agatha Raisin to find Gloria's killer. However, rather than being torn apart, Agatha finds a village that wants to believe it was done by an outsider and shuts her down at every turn. When her own life and the lives of her detectives and friends are put at risk, Agatha must decide whether to admit defeat or keep pushing forward. Review: I requested another book through my library's exchange program but while waiting for it, decided to give Agatha Raisin another read and checked out Something Borrowed, Someo...

Synopsis: Florist Miranda Green craves for the adventure she finds in the mystery novels she reads, especially the newly written books by Agatha Christie. When she receives an unexpected invitation to a dinner party hosted by reclusive billionaire Lewis Findlay, Miranda decides to attend and learns she is one of six guests who don't know each other and have never met their host.  When one of the guests is found stabbed to death and, later, one of the servants, Miranda finds herself embroiled in a real-life murder mystery. Using what she learned from her books and her ultra-strong powers of observation, she attempts to figure out who the killer is while knowing her own life is likely in danger. Who's in it? The movie stars Mischa Barton , Chris Browning, Bianca A. Santos, Giles Matthey and Grace Lynn Kung. Review: I've had Invitation to a Murder in my library for a few months but temporarily forgot about it until coming across it again last night. I decided to finally wa...

 Here are my thoughts from today's Green Bay Packers' 20-17 loss at the Detroit Lions: The offensive line injuries are starting to reach ridiculous levels . A team that has had to patch all season lost both their starting and backup centers on the first drive of the game. Hopefully Sean Rhyan and/or Jacob Monk aren't seriously injured. A shout out to John Williams though. For someone who has probably gotten few, if any, reps at that position, I thought he held up pretty well. He wasn't perfect but also wasn't as much of a disaster as he could have been. I love Daniel Whelan as a punter but after seeing Trey Smack miss a chip shot field goal in what seems to be a continuation of ongoing problems with the kicking game, I am starting to question if he, as the holder, is a big part of the issue. He is the one constant as the Packers have made multiple changes at the kicking position the past few years. If Matt LaFleur loses his job after this season , his decision not...

Synopsis: Newly divorced Sarah moves from Chicago to Pennsylvania with her 17-year-old daughter Elissa. She is able to get a reasonable deal on the rent because four years earlier, a teenager by the name of Carrie Anne murdered her parents in the house next door. Elissa meets Carrie Anne's brother, Ryan, who is fixing up the house to sell it. She begins seeing him, despite her mother's concerns and objections, not knowing he is keeping a secret locked in his basement. Who's in it? The movie stars Jennifer Lawrence, Elisabeth Shue ,  Max Thieriot , Alexandra MacDonald, Eva Link and Gil Bellows . Review: I was in the mood to watch a movie with my wife this evening and after failing to find a zombie movie that didn't look stupid and I hadn't seen before, I decided on House at the End of the Street. This is a movie I've heard about but surprisingly had not seen before. After watching it, I did not regret my choice to finally watch it. The movie's big twist was...