Smatterings

It may have the worst headline accompanying a story I’ve seen in some time, but the G&M’s interview of Fred Vargas is well worth a look.

After the phenomenal success of JARHEAD, Anthony Swofford goes back to his first love of novels with his debut, EXIT A.

John Freeman talks to Vikram Chandra about the impetus for his massive, 900-page new novel SACRED GAMES, as does the SF Chronicle, while the New Yorker has a lengthy review by Pankaj Mishra.

The Scotsman’s Jackie McGlone gets frustrated at Stef Penney’s unwillingness to reveal personal details, but is enthused about her debut novel, THE TENDERNESS OF WOLVES.

I guess if Patrick Anderson likes a mystery novel, it’s automatically a “thriller.” Newest candidate: Martha Grimes’s Richard Jury novels.

At the National Review online, David Forsmark sorts through the best and worst of crime fiction – with a conservative twist.

Did Mark Twain come up with the idea for the Internet? An intriguing premise served up at The Tyee by Crawford Killian.

Norman Mailer’s new novel: trainwreck.

There’s a new mystery group blog on the block, featuring writers, booksellers, editors, publishers and readers. Check them out at Hey, There’s a Dead Guy in the Living Room.

Speaking of new blogs, J. Robert Lennon and his wife Rhian Ellis have joined forces to start Ward Six. Already it’s shaping up to be quite good indeed.

If you, like me, weren’t able to make last weekend’s GoodisCon, Duane Swierczynski has a very comprehensive writeup of what took place.

And finally, Mystery*File has more on the passing of A.I. Bezzerides, whose novels served as the backbone of many a classic film noir.