author: Joe Pappalardo
release date: April 21, 2026
It’s possible, even likely, that I’ve been more surprised by a book than I was by this latest from Joe Pappalardo (a freelance journalist and critically acclaimed author), but I don’t recall when or by what book. While it’s understandable that many readers would initially muster little interest in a true story that took place 99 years ago in a small town located in the Texas panhandle, that’s where the surprise comes in. The Borger, Texas population may be significantly smaller now than it was then, yet the story includes politics, violence, corruption, brothels, moonshine, sports gambling, greed, and the evolution of America … many of the elements that keep us glued to the book’s pages and sometimes stunned by what we are reading.
Author Pappalardo structures the book much like a journal, detailing occurrences on specific days between February 1927 and August of the same year. Some days even warrant multiple entries (morning, evening, etc). He also goes to great lengths to explain that much of the dialogue and conversation presented between these real-life folks has been ‘imagined’ to fill the gaps. If that technique bothers you, please understand that the book and the story and people involved have been meticulously and extensively researched by the author. It’s fair to say that no living person knows more about 1927 Borger, Texas than Joe Pappalardo … the 366 footnotes prove it.
Bootleggers, gamblers, and corrupt politicians all served the up-and-coming oil workers congregating in the up-and-coming boomtown of Borger, dubbed ‘the wickedest town” in Texas. Rarely has a town sprung up so quickly (it was founded only a year earlier), and the daily recounting of events is sometimes startling. If you are thinking this story needs a hero, well how about Frank Hamer, the Texas Ranger Captain best known for leading the search that led to the end of the Bonnie and Clyde crime spree in 1934. Hamer’s story itself is enough to fill a book … actually two: one in 1968 by H. Gordon Frost and John H. Jenkins, and another in 2016 by John Boessenecker.
This is a rare glimpse into what America looked like a century ago. Of course, this is not the big cities of New York or Chicago, but rather the dusty plains that would ultimately create incalculable wealth and a booming industry. By recounting specific days, the author avoids generalities to focus on details and specifics … and yes, there’s a murder mystery as well. Individual personalities become familiar, and things play out like the developing story it was. Were the numerous incredulous events and colorful characters not part of actual history, Pappalardo’s book would excel as a page-turning novel of fiction. Instead, we are privy to the historical record.
St. Martin’s Press is releasing the book on April 21, 2026. Here is the Amazon link:
Posted by David Ferguson 
Greetings again from the darkness. As evidenced by the abundance of ‘shoot-em-ups’ released each and every year, it’s clearly not that challenging for screenwriters to find a reason to have characters firing bullets at each other. Director Ben Wheatley proved his mettle with this genre in 2016 with the excellent and madcap FREE FIRE. This time out, he’s working from a script by Derek Kolstad (the “John Wick” and “Nobody” franchises) and Bob Odenkirk (well known comedy writer and star of “Better Call Saul”).
Greetings again from the darkness. For a soldier of war, making it back home is the goal; yet it’s also only a first step. What comes home with the veteran is never simple. Many films have characterized PTSD on screen, but the debut feature from writer-director Aaron Davidman digs even deeper. Slinger (Joshua Close, “Fargo”) returns home as a wounded Special Forces veteran who nearly died (perhaps he even did briefly) and now must rediscover his own self while also finding his place in a society that presents so many challenges for him.
Greetings again from the darkness. For his debut feature film, writer-director Josh Heaps pays tribute to the Italian Giallo films (originating in the 1960’s) he clearly adores. But he goes a step further by creating his own Giallo … placing a Giallo-loving film student right in the heart of a Giallo world. Clearly not a film for the masses, but for the admirers of this genre, it’s likely to bring great pleasure and entertainment.
Greetings again from the darkness. It’s a tradition that began with JAWS (1975). Every summer gets a new disaster or shark movie … something to put a bit of doubt into the minds of beach vacationers everywhere. Of course, Spielberg’s original film (from Peter Benchley’s novel) remains the best, and in addition to the slew of movies, it’s been joined by Discovery’s “Shark Week” and even the absurd “Sharknado” movies. In fact, there have been so many through the years, that we are ready for the blending of disasters like we get with this latest from writer-director Tommy Wirkola (the underappreciated VIOLENT NIGHT, 2022).
Greetings again from the darkness. Evidence of the greatness of William Shakespeare has been provided so many times and in so many ways over so many years. Books, live theater, movies, and the work of influenced artists have made their way to various audiences, and regardless of the specific project, the source material stands tall. Director Aneil Karia and actor Riz Ahmed previously shared an Oscar for their excellent short film THE LONG GOODBYE (2021) and now they have collaborated again on an adapted screenplay by Michael Lesslie (MACBETH. 2015 with Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard) for a new version of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”.
Greetings again from the darkness. Psychologists long ago concluded that ‘belonging’ is a fundamental human social need. Finding our ‘peeps’ … a group of similar folks to share life with … plays a significant role in our identity – who we are. Documentarian Julie Wyman turns her focus … and her camera … onto herself as she searches for her own place.
Greetings again from the darkness. The first documentary from Cindy Meehl was her award-winning profile of ‘horse whisperer’ Buck Brannaman in BUCK (2011). It was a fantastic profile of an interesting man, and Ms. Meehl’s latest provides an even more personal look at artist James Grashow and his six-decade career, culminating in his masterpiece, “The Cathedral”.
Greetings again from the darkness. If you see something, say something. If you know something, say something. If you fear something but aren’t sure, say something. Such is the world we live in today … the world our children live in today. Somehow that same world also revolves around social media and the insatiable desire to be ‘seen’. The first feature film from writer-director Oscar Boyson and co-writer Ricky Camilleri takes on these somewhat conflicting societal issues, and they do so with an approach that’s at times absurdist, often comical, and always a bit frightening (in a real world way).
Greetings again from the darkness. As one who readily admits to unabated cringing at most romantic-comedies, it’s with a certain burst of pride that I acknowledge that this one from first time writer-director Matthew Shear is actually quite entertaining, and possesses a minimal cringe factor. There are likely a couple of reasons for this. First, Mr. Shear, who also stars in the film, has clearly been influenced by his time acting on filmmaker Noah Baumbach’s sets, and the second reason would be the most welcome presence of Amanda Peet in her first big screen role in 10 years.
Movie Reviews from the Dark 