Chris Chan's Blog

Escape Room Review– Redacted (West Allis, WI)– Heist Havoc

Escape Room Review– Redacted (West Allis, WI)– Heist Havoc

 

My friends and I are facing an unquestionably First World problem.  We are running out of new escape rooms to play in the Milwaukee area.  We’ve played nearly every room available, and very few new ones are being built, and several prominent escape room businesses have closed over the past few years.  Fortunately, one new place just opened in West Allis, Wisconsin: Redacted Escape Rooms.

 

Redacted is in the process of building its rooms.  Right now, it has only one room open, Heist Havoc.  Their plan is as follows: they will open a second, identical Heist Havoc room, and groups can play against each other to see who finishes first.  A second room, Rainforest Ruins, will open sometime next year, and two more rooms will follow at some point in the future  Then, the second Heist Havoc will be replaced with a new fifth room.

 

We played their one open room, Heist Havoc, and it was terrific.  The premise is pretty common– the goal is to break into a place and steal an enormous diamond– but the execution is unique.  In this storyline, a master thief has stolen a diamond, and you must break into his hideout, search his collection of purloined treasures, clear the surveillance foot: age, and steal the diamond back!

 

Almost uniquely, Redacted provides you with a set of tools to complete the mission, enclosed in a shiny metal case, save for the glass cutter, which is too big to fit.  Lock picks, explosives, two different safecracking devices, a viewing device, and more are included.  Make sure you arrive early to your booking, because it will help to spend 5-10 minutes reading over the booklet describing your tools, so you don’t lose precious time off the clock when the game actually starts.  

 

The co-owner of Redacted told us that they had a choice– open on schedule and create a poorer experience, or delay their opening and created the best possible experience possible.  I speak as a player and not their accountant, but they made the right decision.  The production values are great.  The design is both beautiful and immersive.  The props and artwork set the scene perfectly.

 

As for the puzzles, Redacted has a strict “No Locks” policy: none of the puzzles center around finding a combination of letters or numbers for a hard-to-line up padlock.  There are, however, a mix of logic, math, and other puzzles that require sharp observation.  Look everywhere, pay attention, and try to figure out when to use each tool as soon as possible.  Most, though not all, are one-use-only.  Also, make sure that no one stands too close to a wall when you finish a puzzle, on three occasions when something is revealed, it’s possible to get smacked in the head if you’re tall enough and standing in the wrong place.

 

Additionally, since all of the puzzles are unlikely to be completed in an hour, Heist Havoc is a 90-minute room.  The owners advise at least four players (though two skilled players might succeed), and I think that four is about right.  We played with five people, and finished with plenty of time left on the clock.

 

There was a slight technical issue when we played– we had to leave for five minutes while repairs were made, but then we were able to return with a reset clock.  It wasn’t a big deal at all.

 

Some minor warnings: one stage of completing the room will require some crawling and kneeling for at least one, and possibly two players.  Dress accordingly.  People with mobility issues will have to let their fellow players handle it.

 

I’m trying to avoid spoilers here.  Don’t be afraid to try out some possibilities in one puzzle– you may get a hilarious surprise.

 

I told the co-owner that this room is clearly made by people who know a lot about escape rooms and love escape rooms.  With great technology and terrific design, Redacted’s Heist Havoc is a great escape room experience, and I look forward to playing their next four rooms over the coming years.

 

 

–Chris Chan

 

 

 

Chris Chan’s flash fiction collection 156 Homicides will be published soon! His book Sherlock Poems retells the entire Sherlock Holmes Canon in verse.  He is also the author of the CWA Dagger Long Listed The Autistic Sleuth, written with the professional guidance of his mother Dr. Patricia Meyer Chan, and he has also written the Agatha and Anthony-nominated book on the Columbo killers, Some of My Best Friends Are Murderers! He is the author of the Funderburke and Kaiming novels Ghosting My Friend and She Ruined Our Lives and Well-Behaved Children Seldom Make History, released by Level Best Books.  He is also the author of the comedic novels Sherlock’s Secretary and Nessie’s Nemesis, published by MX Publishing, as was his anthology Of Course He Pushed Him and Other Sherlock Holmes Stories Volumes 1 & 2.  His Agatha-nominated book Murder Most Grotesque: The Comedic Crime Fiction of Joyce Porter was published by Level Best Books.  His first non-fiction book, Sherlock & Irene: The Secret Truth Behind “A Scandal in Bohemia” is available for sale at Amazon.com and the MX Publishing website, as well as at Book Depository (with free worldwide shipping there).  It is also available in a Kindle edition.

 

Escape Room Review– Escape Waukesha: The Quest for El Dorado

Escape Room Review– Escape Waukesha: The Quest for El Dorado

 

Unlike many Milwaukee escape rooms, Escape Waukesha changes out its escape rooms every couple of years.  “The Alice in Wonderland” room is now gone, and replaced with ‘The Quest for El Dorado.”  Personally, I think this one is a step up in quality.

 

The premise of this room is to enter the rainforest, head towards a cave, and find a lost city of gold in one hour, before another expedition beats you to it.  The game is divided into three rooms, one larger one representing the rainforest, a smaller room in a temple, and another smaller area that serves the treasure room.

 

The old “Alice in Wonderland” room was looking a little bit frayed by the time my friends and I played it, with some of the Disney decals starting to peel off here and there, and the first room feeling more like a decorated bit of office space than a fictional world.  The two temple rooms of "El Dorado" are particularly immersive, however, though the initial temple room is a bit dark.  The opening room with the rainforest motif requires sharp observation, and care must be taken to scrutinize every object thoroughly– never forget to check the bottoms and all sides of each item to see if there is some hidden message taped to it.  Some of the puzzles require careful attention to subtle details, but nothing was too overwhelming.  Working in a group of four, we managed to solve all of the problems with minimal to moderate difficulty.  You just need to be prepared to take a creative or intellectual leap from time to time.

 

The next two room’s puzzles were challenging enough to get you thinking, but not nearly enough to be frustrating.  The final room was by far the easiest to complete, but the last puzzle was fun to complete and watch being completed.

 

Of the three current rooms at Escape Waukesha, I would say that “Captured,” a pirate-themed one, is the best-designed and best overall experience, save for one portal that requires stooping or crawling.  “The Quest for El Dorado” is a reasonably close second.  It requires very little physical dexterity, the puzzles are fair and 85% clear,  the art design’s very nice, and it’s suitable for family and groups of older children.  It’s definitely worth your time if you’re in the area.

 

 

–Chris Chan

 

 

Chris Chan’s book The Autistic Sleuth, written with the professional guidance of his mother Dr. Patricia Meyer Chan, was released on September 19th!  His book on the Columbo killers, Some of My Best Friends Are Murderers, was released on September 24th! He is the author of the Funderburke and Kaiming novels Ghosting My Friend and She Ruined Our Lives and Well-Behaved Children Seldom Make History, released by Level Best Books.  He is also the author of the comedic novels Sherlock’s Secretary and Nessie’s Nemesis, published by MX Publishing, as was his anthology Of Course He Pushed Him and Other Sherlock Holmes Stories Volumes 1 & 2.  His Agatha-nominated book Murder Most Grotesque: The Comedic Crime Fiction of Joyce Porter was published by Level Best Books.  His first non-fiction book, Sherlock & Irene: The Secret Truth Behind “A Scandal in Bohemia” is available for sale at Amazon.com and the MX Publishing website, as well as at Book Depository (with free worldwide shipping there).  It is also available in a Kindle edition.

The Autistic Sleuth Has Won a BIBA Award!

 The Autistic Sleuth Has Won a BIBA Award! 

 

Fantastic news!  The BIBA Awards (Best Indie Book Awards) have named The Autistic Sleuth the winner of this year’s “TV History” Award!  Please take a look at the announcement page!

 

 

Congratulations to all of the other winners!

 

 

 

–Chris Chan

 

 

 

Chris Chan’s flash fiction collection 156 Homicides will be published on December 2nd! His book Sherlock Poems retells the entire Sherlock Holmes Canon in verse.  He is also the author of the CWA Dagger Long Listed The Autistic Sleuth, written with the professional guidance of his mother Dr. Patricia Meyer Chan, and he has also written the Agatha and Anthony-nominated book on the Columbo killers, Some of My Best Friends Are Murderers! He is the author of the Funderburke and Kaiming novels Ghosting My Friend and She Ruined Our Lives and Well-Behaved Children Seldom Make History, released by Level Best Books.  He is also the author of the comedic novels Sherlock’s Secretary and Nessie’s Nemesis, published by MX Publishing, as was his anthology Of Course He Pushed Him and Other Sherlock Holmes Stories Volumes 1 & 2.  His Agatha-nominated book Murder Most Grotesque: The Comedic Crime Fiction of Joyce Porter was published by Level Best Books.  His first non-fiction book, Sherlock & Irene: The Secret Truth Behind “A Scandal in Bohemia” is available for sale at Amazon.com and the MX Publishing website, as well as at Book Depository (with free worldwide shipping there).  It is also available in a Kindle edition.

 

 

My Review of The Emmett Till Case is on the Crimespree Website!

 My Review of The Emmett Till Case is on the Crimespree Website!

 

My review of the fourth book in the French 50 States of Crime series, The Emmett Till Case, has just been published by Crimespree Magazine!

 

 

Here’s a snippet from my review!

 

The heart of the book comes from the question: what happens when the justice system fails?  Many French intellectuals and writers have gone off of Michel Foucault’s theories on punishment, following certain lines of thinking to raise questions about whether or not society benefits at all from identifying and incarcerating criminals.  Indeed, some prominent French crime novels have made a point of letting killers walk free, arguing that the dead cannot be brought back to life and that retribution is a futile waste of time.  The morality of such a perspective is understandably chafing to many differently-minded readers, but without confronting such arguments head-on, Pottier undermines such worldviews with every page of this book, showing how society is wounded when an act of violence brings no consequences. 

 

 

 

–Chris Chan

 

 

 

Chris Chan’s flash fiction collection 156 Homicides will be published on December 2nd! His book Sherlock Poems retells the entire Sherlock Holmes Canon in verse.  He is also the author of the CWA Dagger Long Listed The Autistic Sleuth, written with the professional guidance of his mother Dr. Patricia Meyer Chan, and he has also written the Agatha and Anthony-nominated book on the Columbo killers, Some of My Best Friends Are Murderers! He is the author of the Funderburke and Kaiming novels Ghosting My Friend and She Ruined Our Lives and Well-Behaved Children Seldom Make History, released by Level Best Books.  He is also the author of the comedic novels Sherlock’s Secretary and Nessie’s Nemesis, published by MX Publishing, as was his anthology Of Course He Pushed Him and Other Sherlock Holmes Stories Volumes 1 & 2.  His Agatha-nominated book Murder Most Grotesque: The Comedic Crime Fiction of Joyce Porter was published by Level Best Books.  His first non-fiction book, Sherlock & Irene: The Secret Truth Behind “A Scandal in Bohemia” is available for sale at Amazon.com and the MX Publishing website, as well as at Book Depository (with free worldwide shipping there).  It is also available in a Kindle edition.

 

Announcing 156 Homicides!

 Announcing 156 Homicides!

 

My latest book, 156 Homicides, will be released by Level Best Books on December 2nd!  This is a major project that I spent a year writing, one flash fiction story a day.  The book explores the effects that a particularly intense year of crime has on the city of Milwaukee.  The book consists of 356 flash fiction stories, each told by a different narrator or narrators, each showing a different perspective on the way that murder affects individuals and society. 

 

Here is the book blurb:

 

How does murder shape an American city?   156 Homicides is composed of 365 short chapters, each set during a different day of the year, each one narrated by one or more people who have been affected by violence.  The over four hundred different narrators come from every conceivable background, and include police officers, grieving loved ones, prosecutors, defense lawyers, trauma surgeons, witnesses, clergymen, gang members, journalists, professors, politicians, criminals, bloggers, children, business owners, and even the perpetrators and victims. The tone of the stories ranges from farcical capers led by inept criminals, to heartbreaking stories of families devastated by the losses of loved ones.  Every corner of the city is a setting at some point, from graffiti-scarred alleys to churches filled with mourners, from the universities to the parks, from Lake Michigan to the city’s downtown, from the poorest and most crime-ridden neighborhoods to the nineteenth-century mansions built by Milwaukee’s first millionaires.  No corner of the city is left untouched by the effects of crime.

 

156 Homicides includes slice-of-life tales, police procedurals, cozy mysteries, private eye narratives, noir, suspenseful adventures with twist endings, opinionated musings, and family dramas.  This epic mosaic novel depicts both the worst and the best aspects of society, but it’s not just about crime.  156 Homicides is a story about people, adversity, and ultimately, hope.

 

It’s a massive work, possibly my most ambitious project yet.  And here’s the cover!

 

–Chris Chan

 

 

 

Chris Chan’s flash fiction collection 156 Homicides will be published on December 2nd! His book Sherlock Poems retells the entire Sherlock Holmes Canon in verse.  He is also the author of the CWA Dagger Long Listed The Autistic Sleuth, written with the professional guidance of his mother Dr. Patricia Meyer Chan, and he has also written the Agatha and Anthony-nominated book on the Columbo killers, Some of My Best Friends Are Murderers! He is the author of the Funderburke and Kaiming novels Ghosting My Friend and She Ruined Our Lives and Well-Behaved Children Seldom Make History, released by Level Best Books.  He is also the author of the comedic novels Sherlock’s Secretary and Nessie’s Nemesis, published by MX Publishing, as was his anthology Of Course He Pushed Him and Other Sherlock Holmes Stories Volumes 1 & 2.  His Agatha-nominated book Murder Most Grotesque: The Comedic Crime Fiction of Joyce Porter was published by Level Best Books.  His first non-fiction book, Sherlock & Irene: The Secret Truth Behind “A Scandal in Bohemia” is available for sale at Amazon.com and the MX Publishing website, as well as at Book Depository (with free worldwide shipping there).  It is also available in a Kindle edition.

 

 

                                                                  

 

–Chris Chan

Well-Behaved Children Seldom Make History Makes the Chanticleer Clue Short List!

Well-Behaved Children Seldom Make History  Makes the Chanticleer Clue Short List!

 

The Chanticleer Clue Awards for Suspense and Thriller Fiction have made their latest announcement, and Well-Behaved Children Seldom Make History has advanced to the Short List!  Congratulations to all of the other authors on the list!

 

–Chris Chan

 

 

 

Chris Chan’s book Sherlock Poems was published on June 30th!  He is also the author of the CWA Dagger Long Listed The Autistic Sleuth, written with the professional guidance of his mother Dr. Patricia Meyer Chan, and he has also written the Agatha and Anthony-nominated book on the Columbo killers, Some of My Best Friends Are Murderers! He is the author of the Funderburke and Kaiming novels Ghosting My Friend and She Ruined Our Lives and Well-Behaved Children Seldom Make History, released by Level Best Books.  He is also the author of the comedic novels Sherlock’s Secretary and Nessie’s Nemesis, published by MX Publishing, as was his anthology Of Course He Pushed Him and Other Sherlock Holmes Stories Volumes 1 & 2.  His Agatha-nominated book Murder Most Grotesque: The Comedic Crime Fiction of Joyce Porter was published by Level Best Books.  His first non-fiction book, Sherlock & Irene: The Secret Truth Behind “A Scandal in Bohemia” is available for sale at Amazon.com and the MX Publishing website, as well as at Book Depository (with free worldwide shipping there).  It is also available in a Kindle edition.

 

Story Profile– “Escape the Money Launderers”

Story Profile– “Escape the Money Launderers”

 

I have a story in the new anthology The Most Dangerous Games!  It’s anthology with stories based on various games.  My story, “Escape the Money Launderers,” is a Funderburke and Kaiming mystery, narrated by Nerissa, set at an escape room company that is being exploited by money launderers.  Funderburke and Nerissa have an unconventional plan to save the family-run business, but will it work? 

 

Please take a look at this anthology!

 

–Chris Chan

 

 

 

Chris Chan’s book Sherlock Poems was published on June 30th!  He is also the author of the CWA Dagger Long Listed The Autistic Sleuth, written with the professional guidance of his mother Dr. Patricia Meyer Chan, and he has also written the Agatha and Anthony-nominated book on the Columbo killers, Some of My Best Friends Are Murderers! He is the author of the Funderburke and Kaiming novels Ghosting My Friend and She Ruined Our Lives and Well-Behaved Children Seldom Make History, released by Level Best Books.  He is also the author of the comedic novels Sherlock’s Secretary and Nessie’s Nemesis, published by MX Publishing, as was his anthology Of Course He Pushed Him and Other Sherlock Holmes Stories Volumes 1 & 2.  His Agatha-nominated book Murder Most Grotesque: The Comedic Crime Fiction of Joyce Porter was published by Level Best Books.  His first non-fiction book, Sherlock & Irene: The Secret Truth Behind “A Scandal in Bohemia” is available for sale at Amazon.com and the MX Publishing website, as well as at Book Depository (with free worldwide shipping there).  It is also available in a Kindle edition.

I’ve Been Nominated for a Shepherd Express Best of Milwaukee Award!

I’ve Been Nominated for a Shepherd Express Best of Milwaukee Award!

 

The Shepherd Express has announced this year’s Best of Milwaukee nominees, and I’ve been nominated for Milwaukee Author!  This is my fourth nomination in this category, and my third consecutive one!  Thanks to everybody who nominated me, and congratulations to all of the nominees! 

 

Voting runs until October 30th, so please take a few minutes to look over the categories and vote for some deserving individuals and businesses!

 

Thanks!

 

–Chris Chan

 

 

 

Chris Chan’s book Sherlock Poems was published on June 30th!  He is also the author of the CWA Dagger Long Listed The Autistic Sleuth, written with the professional guidance of his mother Dr. Patricia Meyer Chan, and he has also written the Agatha and Anthony-nominated book on the Columbo killers, Some of My Best Friends Are Murderers! He is the author of the Funderburke and Kaiming novels Ghosting My Friend and She Ruined Our Lives and Well-Behaved Children Seldom Make History, released by Level Best Books.  He is also the author of the comedic novels Sherlock’s Secretary and Nessie’s Nemesis, published by MX Publishing, as was his anthology Of Course He Pushed Him and Other Sherlock Holmes Stories Volumes 1 & 2.  His Agatha-nominated book Murder Most Grotesque: The Comedic Crime Fiction of Joyce Porter was published by Level Best Books.  His first non-fiction book, Sherlock & Irene: The Secret Truth Behind “A Scandal in Bohemia” is available for sale at Amazon.com and the MX Publishing website, as well as at Book Depository (with free worldwide shipping there).  It is also available in a Kindle edition.

 

 

Pink Umbrella Theater Co.’s “Sharing Our Stories”

Pink Umbrella Theater Co.’s “Sharing Our Stories”

 

Milwaukee’s Pink Umbrella Theater Co. has something special for Disability Awareness Month.  As part of their program, “Sharing Our Stories,” Pink Umbrella is making filmed versions of its original productions available for viewing for anyone who wants to see them!

 

Here is the official announcement from Pink Umbrella:

 

 

During the month of October, we are making our entire catalog of shows FREE to access!

 

Revisit our stories as told by Disabled Actors and Artists.

We are changing the narrative by changing the narrator.

​

Request the entire catalog, or pick and choose what seasons you want to watch. After requesting the catalog, a document containing links to the digital recordings will be sent to you.

​

While accessing the digital recordings of our shows are free, a donation of any amount is greatly appreciated in order for us to continue creating accessible theater for all.

 

Shows by Year

·       ​2021 Season - "Scavengers", "Jerome", "All In Your Head", and "Shine!"

·       2022 Season - "Shine! Remount" and "Bigger Top"

·       2023 Season - "Bizarre Intrusive Thoughts - Staged Reading" and "Kaleidoscope"

·       2024 Season - "Bizarre Intrusive Thoughts", "Portraits", and "A Christmas Carol"

·       2025 Season - "Heard Mentality", "Our Mothers Are Not Refrigerators", "Shimmer", and "It's About Time"

 

All of these plays are by people with disabilities and/or present disabilities in original and innovative dramatic manners.  Some are fully produced plays, some are staged readings.    Scavengers is an interactive play about animals and friendship. Jerome is a staged reading of a television series.  All In Your Head is a young woman’s coming-of-age story.  Bigger Top is a sensory friendly and immersive production.  Bizarre Intrusive Thoughts covers OCD and the attendant anxiety.  Kalidoscope is a musical that views the hero’s journey from a different perspective.  Portraits is a musical about a man trying to run a camera business by himself.  A Christmas Carol is a special holiday show.  Heard Mentality looks at hearing impairment, hearing aids, and a first date.  Shimmer is a fantasy about a tree child, eight senses, and unique ways of processing the world.  It’s About Time is a play/musical/variety show exploring various kinds of time and how different people experience it.

 

And finally, there’s my own play, Our Mothers Are Not Refrigerators, the story of four very different people with autism who attend a support group meeting, share their stories, and build surprising connections.

 

So please, check out these original productions, and if you like what you see, write to Pink Umbrella (admin@pinkumbrellatheater.org) and tell them what you liked about these plays, and if you’d like to see them performed again in the future.  Thanks!

 

 

–Chris Chan

 

 

 

Chris Chan’s book Sherlock Poems was published on June 30th!  He is also the author of the CWA Dagger Long Listed The Autistic Sleuth, written with the professional guidance of his mother Dr. Patricia Meyer Chan, and he has also written the Agatha and Anthony-nominated book on the Columbo killers, Some of My Best Friends Are Murderers! He is the author of the Funderburke and Kaiming novels Ghosting My Friend and She Ruined Our Lives and Well-Behaved Children Seldom Make History, released by Level Best Books.  He is also the author of the comedic novels Sherlock’s Secretary and Nessie’s Nemesis, published by MX Publishing, as was his anthology Of Course He Pushed Him and Other Sherlock Holmes Stories Volumes 1 & 2.  His Agatha-nominated book Murder Most Grotesque: The Comedic Crime Fiction of Joyce Porter was published by Level Best Books.  His first non-fiction book, Sherlock & Irene: The Secret Truth Behind “A Scandal in Bohemia” is available for sale at Amazon.com and the MX Publishing website, as well as at Book Depository (with free worldwide shipping there).  It is also available in a Kindleedition.

 

What Would You Like to See on this Blog?

What Would You Like to See on this Blog?

 

Do you have any suggestions for what you’d like to see on this blog?  Please leave your ideas in the comments.  Thanks!

 

–Chris Chan

 

 

 

Chris Chan’s book Sherlock Poems was published on June 30th!  He is also the author of the CWA Dagger Long Listed The Autistic Sleuth, written with the professional guidance of his mother Dr. Patricia Meyer Chan, and he has also written the Agatha and Anthony-nominated book on the Columbo killers, Some of My Best Friends Are Murderers! He is the author of the Funderburke and Kaiming novels Ghosting My Friend and She Ruined Our Lives and Well-Behaved Children Seldom Make History, released by Level Best Books.  He is also the author of the comedic novels Sherlock’s Secretary and Nessie’s Nemesis, published by MX Publishing, as was his anthology Of Course He Pushed Him and Other Sherlock Holmes Stories Volumes 1 & 2.  His Agatha-nominated book Murder Most Grotesque: The Comedic Crime Fiction of Joyce Porter was published by Level Best Books.  His first non-fiction book, Sherlock & Irene: The Secret Truth Behind “A Scandal in Bohemia” is available for sale at Amazon.com and the MX Publishing website, as well as at Book Depository (with free worldwide shipping there).  It is also available in a Kindle edition.