Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

We’ve discussed romantic comedies and science fiction in previous columns. Today we are going to look at the mystery genres. I say this in the plural because what was once known as mysteries is now so much more. Just as all the other types of stories have morphed into additional groups there are now dozens, if not hundreds of ways to tell a suspenseful tale.

We have thrillers, murder mysteries, suspense, romantic mysteries, locked door dramas, and so many more. When I think of this genre, I think of certain classic authors. Agatha Christie, P.D. James, Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Allen Poe, etc. One of my problems with modern mystery fiction is that most writers only know how to solve murders.

Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes solved mysteries and murders. My favorite is “The Man with the Twisted Lip.” If you have never read it, I will not spoil it for you. Get a copy and read it.

The funny thing about this story is that it begins as an investigation to find a missing man. His wife saw him in a window in a bad part of London. She is prevented from entering the building and as the investigation proceeds, she discovers that he does not work where he told her that he did.

A man is arrested in conjunction with the disappearance. Holmes solves the case by washing the prisoner’s face. The solution is that this wealthy man made himself up as a poor beggar and earned his money as a professional pan handler. This was not illegal even in that day. It was not a profession accepted by society.

Today we have schools where you can take classes on how to put the touch on others. Did you know that the person who you see at the airport with the sad story that all their money and ticket were just stolen, and they have no way to get home may have taken this training.

Shortly after I saw a report on television about these seminars, I had a lady walk up to me at a gas station. She had run out of gas and was on her way to Kansas City. I asked about her car, and she was vague. She needed ten or twenty dollars because there was a problem with her credit card. I was with my wife and offered to use a gas can I had in my trunk and take her to her car and bring her back to the station and pay for her gas. When I turned to finish filling my tank, she disappeared.

She had not come from the convenience store, and I was already suspicious. On the report I saw you were told to park away from the station and accept only cash. This type of farse is like the online and phone scams that we hear about on local TV.

Then there is the man that handed his sign off to a lady and walked into the Wal-Mart parking lot as my wife and I went inside. When we came out, we drove past an expensive conversion van and recognized the man inside watching television while sitting at a table having a meal with others.

The woman that had taken his place was walking back to the van and as we went by the intersection, someone else was holding the same sign. These were professional panhandlers. No homeless people here. This has been happening for hundreds of years.

How do we stop it? Give contributions to organizations that help the homeless or indigent. Do not give anything to someone you do not know. Don’t even give them food. We have seen full fast food bags left on the curb. If you want to find a person or group that you are familiar with that needs assistance, take that route.

When a local charity sent buses to pick up the beggars on the streets to take them to jobs, within three months they discontinued the program. One time a guy held a sign that said, “Will strip for food.” I’m sure that guy doesn’t need any help except psychiatrics.

©Copyright 2025 by Charles Kensinger