Movie Monday: Conflict

Movie Monday: Conflict

Filmed in 1943 but not released until 1945, Warner Brothers’ film noir Conflict starred Humphrey Bogart, Sydney Greenstreet, and Alexis Smith (an actress who made quite a few movies, but I’d not heard of). A cameo appearance is also made by the Maltese Falcon statue. The movie is based on The Pentacle by Alfred Neumann and Robert Siodmak. Despite the “heavy-hitting” cast, the movie didn’t do well.

Bogart and Greenstreet starred in several movies together, but Conflict is the only one in which Bogart played the villain. And played it he did even though he was somewhat blackmailed to take the role. Several sources quote the actor telling Jack Warner “I’m sorry, Jack. I just can’t do it. My stomach will not let me. I am an honest man, and I have to be honest with myself in this manner. If you want to get tough with me…I will feel that I have lots a friend.” However, he accepted after Warner threatened to block production of Passage to Marseille or cast a different actor in the lead role.

On the surface, the plot is a good one and fairly straightforward: Richard and Kathryn Mason appear to

be a happily married couple. Unfortunately, Richard has fallen in love with Kathryn’s younger sister, but he’s resigned to the fact that his wife won’t grant him a divorce. Kathryn derides him every chance she gets, and a series of events occur prompts him to murder her. After the police determine that he “did the deed,” they set him up with a bit of gaslighting to catch him. A pawn shop ticket is mailed to him, and the envelope appears to be addressed in Kathryn’s writing. When he goes to the shop, he finds her locket and what appears to be her signature in the register. He takes the police to the shop, but the locket is gone, and the register is different. Then on the street, he sees a woman who looks and dresses like Kathryn, so he follows her to her apartment, but it’s vacant and no one is inside.

Now convinced Kathryn is still alive, he returns to the crime scene to see if her body is still in the car where he left her. Bad news for Richard: the police are waiting for him.

Bogart and Greenstreet were both lauded for their performances, however, more than one critic commented that neither actor was “good enough to save the film.” Complaints of too many artificial devices and plot holes litter most of the reviews of the time. Since then, critics have been a bit more forgiving.

Personally, I thought the movie’s suspense, cinematography, and psychological aspects make it very watchable, especially for those who enjoy “noir” films.

_________________________

A Lesson in Love

He thinks he’s too old. She thinks she’s too young. Can these teachers learn that love defies all boundaries?

Born and raised in London, Isobel Turvine knows nothing about farming, but after most of the students in her school evacuate during Operation Pied Piper, she’s left with little to do. Then her friend Margery talks her into joining the Women’s Land Army, and she finds herself working the land at a manor home in Yorkshire that’s been converted to a boys’ school. A teacher at heart, she is drawn to the lads, but the handsome yet stiff-necked headmaster wants her to stick to farming.

Left with an arm that barely works from the last “war to end all wars,” Gavin Emerson agrees to take on the job of headmaster when his school moves from London to Yorkshire, but he’s saddled with the quirky manor owner, bickering among his teachers, and a gaggle of Land Army girls who have turned the grounds into a farm. When the group’s blue-eyed, raven-haired leader nearly runs him down in a car, he admonishes her to stay in the fields, but they are thrown together at every turn. Can he trust her not to break his heart?

Pre-order link: https://amzn.to/3YHgUb0

Fiction Friday: New Releases in Christian Fiction

June 2025 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Children’s/ Picture Book:

If Jesus Came To My School by April Graney -- A young girl learns how Jesus’s love can shine at school through her compassion, kindness, and inclusion. (Children’s Picture Book from Waterbrook/Multnomah [Penguin Random House])

Phooey Kerflooey vs the Battle Squirrel by Kristen Joy Wilks -- Phooey Kerflooey has finally found a home of her own. Too bad a raging squirrel found it first! (Children’s, Independently Published)

Cozy Mystery:

Something Wicked This Way Hums by Jennifer Lamont Leo -- Return to charming Timber Coulee, Idaho, where amateur sleuth Amanda Parrish is about to discover that murder can strike a sour note even in the most harmonious of places. (Cozy Mystery, Independently Published)

Historical Romance:

Angel from the East by Barbara A. Curtis -- Caleb Morgan has had everything stolen from him-his strength, the job he loved, even his good name. He's determined to even the score with the man responsible, until he meets the captivating new owner of the Double E Ranch. Though he's drawn to her compassion, he fears she may never see beyond his supposed wrongdoings, unless he can prove his innocence and reclaim his honor. Eliza Roberts is a teacher, not a rancher. But if she has any hope of selling the ranch she inherited from her grandfather and continuing on to her new life in California, she needs to restore it to some semblance of order. If only the man her grandfather advised her to trust wasn't refusing to help her. When an offer of courtship arises from the current foreman, Eliza sees the practicality in the offer. So why does her heart keep wandering back to Caleb? And why can't she shake the feeling that something's not right at the Double E Ranch? Will she have the courage to follow the clues behind the strange mishaps at the Double E-and possibly embrace a different life than she imagined? (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)

Of Silver and Secrets by Michelle Griep -- Buried underneath are truths bent on keeping them apart. . . . In 1889 Victorian England, Eva Inman is haunted by guilt over her parents' deaths while struggling to care for her blind sister and manage her family's crumbling estate. With the tax deadline looming, Eva's situation looks dire until an ancient silver ring is unearthed on the property. Despite superstitions warning against disturbing the supposedly cursed acres, Eva's need for funds ignites her curiosity about the potential of finding more buried relics. Cambridge professor Bram Webb must prove a legendary Christian Roman settlement exists, or he'll risk exposing his uncle's deteriorating memory and they'll both lose their positions. Then Eva steps into his office with the prospect of an archaeological dig that might lead to the very evidence Bram requires--provided he and Eva can set aside painful memories of a time they would rather forget. As the dig forces the two to confront their pasts, the work becomes fraught with challenges that threaten Eva's and Bram's hopes, as well as the growing attraction between them. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker Publishing Group])

Heart’s Promise Heart’s Desire by Linda Hoover -- Welcome back to Jacob and Julia's Iowa farm. The year is 1893. Their son Justin is now eleven. and daughter Annaliese is ten. When Jacob and Julia adopted Annaliese as an infant, they were told God had a special plan for her. As Annaliese grows up, she can't help but wonder if her purpose will be world-changing. Julia's old friend, Edward Harrington, comes to visit from England, along with his wife and son, Robbie. Their time at the farm is the beginning of a like/hate relationship and later something more between Robbie and Annaliese. When the families travel to San Francisco in 1900, a shocking revelation from Edward's wife could change everything, beginning with taking Annaliese back to England with them. If this is God's plan, Annaliese is disappointed. It's nothing like she imagined, and her heart's desire is to go to veterinary college. She must consider if this is truly God's calling for her because her decision could mean a very different future. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Heart of Hope by Kimberly Keagan -- One Philadelphia socialite, one man who broke her heart, and a town called Victory that might live up to its name. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Madison’s Mission by Susan G. Mathis -- Madison Murray, the devoted maid to the legendary Louise Boldt, harbors a singular mission—to care for her ailing mistress while hiding her own painful past. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Emmett O’Connor, the distinguished foreman overseeing Boldt Castle’s extravagant construction. Their connection sparks with promise, yet the chasm of class difference and hidden secrets loom large. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Secrets of the Revolution by Megan Soja -- Hannah Pierce is determined to keep her father‘s apothecary shop running, despite his failing health, the heavy burden of her mother’s recent death, and the mysterious disappearance of her brother. She’ll do whatever it takes to preserve her family’s legacy, including joining a dangerous ring of patriot spies...and falling for a revolutionary printer with a brave heart. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)

The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Suntz -- Canada, 1837. In a British colony on the brink of rebellion, widower and lawyer James Kinney bands together with laundress Sara O’Connor to save the life of his lonely little girl. (Historical Romance from Tyndale House)

To Love a Beast by Karen Witemeyer -- Once known among New York's elite as the American Adonis, Everett Griffin now lives as a recluse in the wilds of Texas. Locals whisper of the beastly man who lives in the gloomy manor outside of town and his tendency to attack anyone who dares approach. Everett relishes his fearsome reputation and uses it as a shield to guard his privacy. Until a young woman as stubborn as she is beautiful infiltrates his sanctum and lays siege to his defenses. Beauty & the Beast story in 1800's Texas. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Romantic Suspense:

Rescued by Jerusha Agen -- As the nanny of twin two-year-olds who lost their mother, Valena Greer wants to create a happy and safe home for the children. The kids must know they’re loved and protected—the opposite of her own unstable childhood. But when danger comes to her door, the illusion of safety is shattered. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Romeo by Jessica Ashley -- A deadly secret, an unexpected love that could cost everything. Riley "Romeo" Hunt is an expert at finding those who don’t want to be found. When he's hired to catch a notorious jewel thief responsible for a brutal murder, he never expects to find a beautiful woman caught in the middle. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Reframing Trust by Regina Rudd Merrick -- FBI Special Agent Julia Rossi returns to Clementville to investigate signs of criminal activity linked to a case she’s struggling to leave behind. After losing her fiancé to infidelity and her partner to prison, trust has become a foreign concept. Can she trust her job, her instincts, or even her faith? Carpenter Eli Reno isn’t thrilled when his exploration of the tunnels underneath Clementville not only uncovers evidence of recent criminal activity but also forces him to work alongside the woman who broke his friend’s heart. As the two explore the dark tunnels, Eli battles his anger over his friend’s betrayal, while Julia fights to regain her footing in a world full of broken trust. But in the depths below, can they learn to rely on one another—and on God—to uncover the truth and find healing in each other’s hearts? (Romantic Suspense from Scrivenings Press)

Capturing You by Robin Patchen -- In a town shrouded by secrets, a photographer and the reclusive heir of the Ballentine fortune join forces to unravel a deadly conspiracy. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Trinity Sands Beach Club by Deborah Sprinkle, Jen Dodrill, and Sharon H. Carpenter -- What do a widow, a newly divorced woman, and a retired professor of art history have in common? They all came to Trinity Sands Island to find a simple life without any entanglements. But instead, they are each confronted with a mystery and another chance at romance. Will they be brave enough to face the possible dangers of solving a mystery and losing their hearts? This collection includes three novellas. (Romantic Suspense from Scrivenings Press)

Echoes of Darkness by Darlene L. Turner -- The sleepy community of Kenorapeake Falls in northern Ontario seems like somewhere Constable Oaklynn Brock can finally outrun her violent past. That is, until she’s assigned to investigate a series of suspicious deaths. She can’t reveal that she knows how serial killers think because she grew up with one. Yet the eerie similarities between these murders and those committed by her father, known as the Suicide Slayer, hint at a copycat in their midst. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Speculative Fiction/Fantasy:

Haunting of Time by Demi Griffin -- In the Age of Augury, Kairos, also known as Time, had grown weary of her role in playing both sides. With the departure of the Enchantress, she saw an opportunity to strengthen her alliance with Mortality. Possessing the ability to manipulate time, she would haunt Everlasting, siphoning time by stealing it from the citizens. As Kairos pieced together her plan, the King summoned his chosen Harbingers. This group of eleven seemingly unrelated individuals had been brought together by a divine entity known as Portent. They accepted the calling under one condition. They were explicitly instructed not to engage directly with Time. Their sole objective was to deliver the King's message. If they succeeded in doing so, the Age of Augury would reach its anticipated conclusion. (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy, Independently Published)

 
Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

Felling Fury by F.D. Adkins -- As Ray vows to protect the woman he is falling for, it may be Ray who is in danger. Will he allow his anger and resentment to destroy him, or will he heed God’s voice calling to him from the light of Sandy’s faith? (General Suspense)

The Memory Garden by Jessica Brodie -- In the small Southern town she vowed to escape forever, a shattered journalist discovers that protecting a boy with secrets as haunting as her own might be her last chance at redemption. (General Contemporary)

Keepsake by Susan Page Davis -- Stanna Waverly is cleaning out her grandmother's attic when she finds an old love letter. It's to Emma, her grandma, all right, and the writer is urging her to elope with him. But at the end of the letter, she stares at the signature. That's not her grandfather's name. (Contemporary Romance)

The Ties That Loose by Felicia Ferguson -- Can you really trust God when life plummets out of your control? As she searches for a way to bring Chris home and he strives to stay alive, they each battle their family histories desperate to find God’s future for them both. (Military Suspense)

Portent by Demi Griffin -- Short interactions that led to beautiful moments captured more than Traveler’s heart. They were the bridge to the discovery of his name. Once he found that, he realized his decision to be a part of the King’s plan or not had already been made for him. (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy)

Across the Crying Sands by Jane Kirkpatrick -- Based on a true story of the life of Mary Gerritse, wife, mother of four and the first woman to deliver the mail on the treacherous Oregon Coast in the late 1890s. (General Historical)

Judging Athena by Perrin Lovett -- Judging Athena is an exciting foray into innocent, pure, and productive love. It is also a clarion call to return to the traditions of marriage, large families, and genteel society. (General Romance)

Sweet Double-Cross by Sally Jo Pitts -- As bullets fly and bodies pile up, Trudy discovers Kirt is hiding his own secret. Amidst unexpected attraction and lethal betrayal, can the two survive this double-cross? (Romantic Suspense)

Surviving the Storm by Melanie D. Snitker -- At an accident scene, Paramedic Curtis Whitman and EMT Aurora "Rory" Graham discover a gunshot victim and an absent driver. Rory's unease intensifies when she spots a man watching her from the woods, followed by a barrage of gunfire. Now, a sinister stalker lurks, convinced Rory has witnessed too much. (Romantic Suspense)

His Liberating Flame by Ashley Thompson -- She grew up in church and has never been in a relationship, he's a prestigious model with a scarlet past in search of redemption. (Contemporary Romance)

The Oasis by Lorisa D. Wiedenheft -- Ten-year-old Charly Harding has had a rough life. Her parents died in a car accident when she was five. She and her younger brother Matty moved three hours away to live with Granny, who is always strapped for cash. Then the unthinkable happens. One night, their double-wide trailer catches on fire and burns to the ground. (Children’s)

Shattered Peace by Julie McDonald Zander -- A forgotten diary. A century-old secret. A town still haunted by its past when a peaceful parade turned deadly. A gripping time-slip novel inspired by true events. (Dual Time)

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome JA Webb

 Talkshow Thursday: Welcome J.A. Webb

Grab your favorite beverage and get to know author J.A. Webb, his writing journey, and his latest release Inheritance!

When did you know you wanted to be an author?

My heroes have always been writers, and I’ve always had the desire . . . and have always dabbled. But never really believed I could be an author. I have no formal training, and regular people can’t be authors, can they?

How did you learn how to write?

First, I read many thousands of books. Many thousands. Over the course of those years, I made several abortive attempts at writing, but nothing ever clicked. Then, I sat down to write in earnest. After having written my first novel, I submitted it to a contest at which time I discovered I had a lot to learn. I poured through craft books, podcasts, and courses. Then I found a wonderful friend, mentor, and editor who met me where I was and patiently helped me improve my craft- to the point that one year later one of my books won the ACFW Genesis award. It’s been a lot of fun, but without that faithful mentor, none of it would have been possible.

Do you hear from your readers? What do they say?

 It’s funny. I originally wrote The Seekers Series for adult men and teen guys. I never expected readers

outside that demographic to enjoy the books, but have been pleasantly surprised that it’s had wide appeal. From the guys I often hear “I loved the book and couldn’t put it down – when does the next one come out?” Which is exactly what I’d hoped for. A number of women who don’t ordinarily read speculative fiction have contacted me to let me know “This is not the kind of thing I ordinarily read, but I enjoyed it and want to read the next book.” Which is both surprising and gratifying.

Most gratifying has been the number of letters I’ve gotten from non-believers, who are reading through the books a second time, their interest in things eternal having been piqued. Wow. Who could ask for more than that?

When did you know you wanted to be an author?

My heroes have always been writers, and I’ve always had the desire . . . and have always dabbled. But never really believed I could be an author. I have no formal training, and regular people can’t be authors, can they?

How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?

I’ve got seven books in various stages of completion, and my favorite is always the one I’ve not started writing yet but is percolating in my head. Which can change from day to day. (I have a lot of unstarted projects in my notebooks. I think it’s a common malady amongst us writers)

What was your inspiration for the story?

I spent decades of my adult life as an atheist. I turned my back on God at a very young age and didn’t look back until all other means of finding truth and meaning had been exhausted. What I learned was without Him, there is not truth, no meaning, no peace.

After I’d been saved it struck me how many times and how quickly the people of God forgot Him. When reading the story in 2 Kings in which the priest Hilkiah found the book of the law while cleaning the temple, I was struck. God’s word - forgotten for how many years? I asked myself what it would be like to live in such a world . . . where the Bible has been forgotten to living memory. In such darkness. And how would God move in such a world? 

And then I realized I had lived in that very same darkness, with no knowledge of God. That had been my state as a lost seeker. And how would God move? That question motivated me to write the Seekers Series, to tell a thrilling tale set in such a dark world, and reveling in the exciting way God has always pursued His own. Made Himself known to them. That, and my own frustration with the lack of exciting Christian fiction for men- especially speculative fiction- was my motivation for writing these books. Both to thrill the hearts of believers, and hopefully, to light a fire in the heart of the unbeliever, for His Kingdom and His Glory!

About Inheritance:

The Order has been betrayed. The hunters have been loosed.

Father Curtis has forsaken his vows. He has left the Order and joined the Seekers, a hidden rebellion dedicated to uncovering the truth long buried by the global church. But walking away from the Order does not mean escaping its reach.

When word spreads that a copy of the True Text — the original thirty-nine books of the Creator — has surfaced on the far side of the world, Curtis, Professor Reuel, and Phillip embark on a desperate mission. If they can retrieve the artifact, it could change everything. If they fail, the truth will be lost forever. But the Eye of the Eternal, the secret police of the Order, has already mobilized. Their assassins are relentless. Their power is absolute. And they will stop at nothing to silence the truth. Outnumbered and hunted, Curtis and his allies must risk everything to defy an empire built on deception. But against such overwhelming darkness, is faith enough? Or will their inheritance — humanity’s true past — be erased from history once and for all?

The war for truth has begun. And the Order will not suffer heretics to live. 

A Dystopian Thriller of Deception, Faith, and the Fight for Truth 🔥 Perfect for fans of dystopian thrillers like 1984, Brave New World, and The Da Vinci Code—but with a Christian twist! ⚡ A suspense-filled journey into a world where illusion is law and questioning it means death. 📖 If you love stories of faith, defiance, and the battle against unseen tyranny, this is the book for you. The Order has ruled from the shadows long enough. Are you ready to see the truth?

Connect! http://www.jawebbauthor.com

_____________

Photo Credits:

Mailbox: Pixabay/Kat_Pulse

Scroll: Pixabay/joduma