The Great Sunday Smatterings Catchup

Marilyn Stasio reviews new crime fiction by Paul Doiron, Michael Harvey, Donna Leon and Jassy MacKenzie for the NYTBR.

Oline Cogdill has some fun with Elaine Viets’ new “Dead End Job” mystery, HALF-PRICE HOMICIDE.

Marcel Berlins has his say on new crime & thrillers by Donato Carrisi and Simon Conway in the Times of London.

The Seattle Times’ Adam Woog looks at what’s new in the genre by Michael Gruber, Jon Talton, Elizabeth George & Robert Dugoni.

The G&M’s Margaret Cannon rounds up new mysteries & thrillers by Deon Meyer, Sam Eastland, Ariana Franklin, Elizabeth George, Dan Smith and Marc Strange.

Lee Child explains his predilection for minimalist apartment decor and a sizable book collection in the Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, Esquire editor in chief David Granger loves the Jack Reacher novels, but appears to miss the point on the latest, 61 HOURS, by a mile.

John Connolly riffs on his fears of jumping the shark and how series characters go stale in the Irish Independent. His new novel, THE WHISPERERS, is reviewed by the Independent’s Mark Timlin.

Scott Phillips reveals the contents of his record collection to the Riverfront Times.

From last week, a good piece in the LA Times about Michael Connelly’s hands-on research for the Harry Bosch novels.

Alexandra Sokoloff faces what appears to be a frivolous lawsuit about someone’s name being used in her most recent book.

Miguel Syjuco talks with the National Post, the NYT and the Wall Street Journal about his debut novel ILUSTRADO, which won the Man Asian Literary Prize and followed an unusual route to publication.

David Mitchell makes the essay rounds in honor of the UK publication of his most excellent new novel THE THOUSAND AUTUMNS OF JACOB DE ZOET, discoursing on writing his first opera libretto in The Guardian and his thoughts on historical fiction in the Telegraph. He also reveals his life in travel to the Independent and the profundity of photocopying in the Observer.

A.O. Scott ponders whether Generation X is in a midlife crisis. Considering how many men hovering around age 40 I’ve encountered over the last few years who traffic in passive-aggressive behavior that barely masks deep rage, yeah, I’d say so.

Also from last week: the 2010 Derringer Award winners, and the Agatha Awards were given out at Malice Domestic.

And finally, TWILIGHT influences the hot baby names of 2009. If that doesn’t signify what a cultural phenomenon the books (and movies) are, I don’t know what does. Will “Lisbeth” be among the most popular names of 2010 then?