Carry Me Through Sunday Smatterings

Marilyn Stasio focuses her attention on new mysteries and thrillers by Deborah Coonts, Michael Koryta, Lee Child, Sophie Littlefield, Elaine Viets and Tarquin Hall.

Also in the NYT, Charles McGrath considers Jim Thompson and the film adaptations – successful or otherwise – of his work.

Did Janet Maslin like Justin Cronin’s THE PASSAGE? Maybe, though it’s hard to tell from this piece. Laura Miller is less ambiguous in showing her admiration for the nearly 800-page vampire epic.

Oline Cogdill has her say on the new urban sf novel by James O’Neal (aka James O. Born) in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

In the Globe & Mail, Margaret Cannon rounds up new crime fiction by Thomas Perry, Lee Child, Stefanie Pintoff, Anne Emery and Brent Pilkey.

Also in the G&M, Cannon chats with Deon Meyer about his South African crime novels, most recently THIRTEEN HOURS.

Who better than Zoe Sharp to comment on the horrific killings in Cumbria by Derrick Bird? Her piece appeared on the BBC’s World at One.

Speaking of the BBC, PD James is increasingly critical of the broadcaster, saying that most people actually do have an attention span longer than a minute.

Former NYPD and LAPD Commissioner William Bratton tells Crain’s New York Business what he’s reading – predominantly police procedurals.

The Chicago Sun-Times profiles Martin Preib, author of one of my favorite non-fiction books of 2010, THE WAGON, which is all about real-life stories on the police beat.

Nice to see a good review of THE DARK END OF THE STREET, one of the strongest and highest firepowered anthologies published in a good while.

The books-to-film beat is shrinking and shrinking some more, especially for books that could be made into quality dramas. Variety investigates the situation.

New York’s David Edelstein is tremendously impressed with the film version of Daniel Woodrell’s WINTER’S BONE. I cannot wait to see this movie.

Let’s all drool over Tim Sheard’s 1969 Avanti II. That is one good-looking car.

Yes, self-publishing is gaining a greater foothold in the book industry, in large part thanks to digital options. Let’s get used to it, but not assume it’ll change things irrevocably.