Smatterings galore

After listening to Richard Powers endure her inane questions on Fresh Air yesterday, I think Terry Gross might be a greater scourge upon the radio literary scene than Michael Silverblatt. And that is saying something.

The Boston Globe is thriller-happy this week, as Clea Simon raves about Robert Wilson’s THE HIDDEN ASSASSINS and Chuck Leddy is more equivocal on HANNIBAL RISING.

Speaking of Thomas Harris’s new book, while I see where Ali Karim is coming from in his more-or-less rave of the book, I agree with David Montgomery’s final assessment that he “can think of no reason why this book was written, other than the money.” David Hiltbrand finds the book to be “curiously off-target” and Maxim Jakubowski is bothered by the book’s laziness in getting France-related details right.

The Boston Herald’s Bill Brotherton proves a huge fan of Robert Randisi’s first Rat Pack Mystery, EVERYBODY KILLS SOMEBODY SOMETIME.

The Winter issue of Spinetingler is available and has a distinctly Killer Year bent, along with interviews of Duane Swierczynski and Mark Billingham that are worth perusing.

In what he promises to be the first in a series of critical takes on notable book review sections, Steve Weinberg puts the Washington Post Book World under his scrutiny.

Aileen Jacobson talks to Kevin Dwyer & Jure Fiorillo, who got together to look at the behind-the-scenes action of Law & Order and the crimes their shows are based on.

While many publications are doing the Best Books of the year, not Prospect Magazine – they have more fun with overrated books (and some underrated ones, too.)

Joan Robbins reflects on her life as an author escort. (via.)

As part of the NY Observer’s focus on prominent families, the Foers and the Jong-Fasts represent the literary side.

The Bookseller has a plethora of author interviews posted this week, including profiles of Joe Hill, Joshua Ferris and Thamima Anam.

And finally, the latest serial killer watch.