World of Mystery

Earlier this year I wrote about how much I loved James Preston Girard’s work, especially THE LATE MAN, which I consider to be one of the best crime novels I have ever read. And while I’d …

The National Film Theatre’s annual Crime Scene Festival makes its return to the South Bank, and for whatever reason, the literary content has dropped considerably since the time I went. But no …

Well kids, it’s that time of year again, the time when TPTB at Bouchercon hand down their panel assignments to 400+ lucky folk. I always equate this process to arranging tables at weddings and …

The news had been slowly trickling out that the option on Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels had been picked up once again by a major studio. But what wasn’t reported was [who actually bought …

Kermit (but call him Kim) Roosevelt’s debut novel IN THE SHADOW OF THE LAW is getting a ton of attention. Not just because of his background and pedigree, but because he’s written a legal …

It almost amuses me how Edward Wyatt’s profile of Janet Evanovich and her family marketing machine doesn’t really get to what’s likely the bottom line: that as the marketing hoohah …

Although in truth, I.J. Parker’s books are not exactly that, but they do feature an intrepid detective in Akitada and are set in the 14th Century. She talks with the Japan Times about why she …

As the stories roll in, the links will go live next to each participant’s name:

Alina Adams: “Hitting the Fan“

Ray Banks: “Outbid“

Gwenda Bond: “Unflappable …

I’ve been hopelessly remiss in not pointing people to  the Lipstick Chronicles, a kickass new blog from the minds of the Book Tarts: Susan McBride, Harley Jane Kozak, Nancy Martin and Sarah …

The finalists for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year have been announced:

LAZYBONES, by Mark Billingham (Little, Brown)
THE MURDER EXCHANGE, by Simon Kernick (Transworld)
THE …

A few weeks ago I went on at length about how much I adore crime fiction in translation. Now the Observer’s Louise France picks up on this and asks around as to why European crime novels are so …

As Bloody Words, Canada’s largest mystery convention, comes to a close, the news of the Arthur Ellis Winners has become available:

Best First Novel
Jon Evans, Dark Places (HarperCollins …

BEA madness delayed posting of this till today, but here are the nominees for this year’s edition of the Private Eye Writers of America’s annual awards for the best in P.I.:

BEST P.I. …

Mobylives points to this new essay by Robert Gray (of the Fresh Eyes bookseller blog) writing about why it’s vital for Americans — well, anyone really — to read books in translation: …

First up, in keeping with the theme of his latest novel, THE CLOSERS, Connelly’s recent op-ed in the LA Times touches on why cold cases are just as important, if not more, as fresh ones.

On the …

It’s fair to say that one of the hottest trends in the genre at the moment is the hybrid commonly known as the “chick lit mystery.” What makes this combination so appealing to a …

In keeping with the continuous schedule, various new items have been added over the last little while but I’m only catching up with them now. Aside from two new short stories by Ed Lynskey and …

Hey, stop that, it’s not as silly as it sounds. There are only 2 more Harry Potter books to go and no doubt she’s chomping at the bit to write for grownups, so why not crime fiction?

HER …

Perhaps the most famous Israeli crime novelist has died at the age of 57, after a nine-month battle with cancer. Her most recent book featuring Israeli police detective Michael Ohayon was published in …

The nominees for the annual awards given by the membership of Bouchercon have been announced:

Best Novel

Bruen, Ken — The Killing of the Tinkers (St. Martins/Minotaur)
Katzenbach, John …

First up, Best Novel:

Unlike other categories (as well as normal procedure) there’s a ton of overlap between the nominees here and the Edgars, with repeats by Laura Lippman, T. Jefferson Parker …

Issue 6 of Crime Spree, run by the effervescent and ever-influential Jordan clan, has just shipped and it’s got a pretty fantastic lineup. As a preview, they have the Spanish and English …

And as usual, their new issue grabs you by force and makes you beg a whole lot before letting go. Seriously, good stuff prevails as Charlie Williams explains how he went through a seriously blind …

One of the things I’d hoped to do more of was keep an eye on what’s happening in the Canadian mystery world. With my impending move it maybe a bit more difficult to do so, but here are …

Allan Guthrie’s fine zine returns with its sixth issue, and lord is it ever packed with good stuff. Charlie Stella offers a two-fer, interviewing Vicki Hendricks and Richard Marinick, while Jim …

Greetings from a very tired, somewhat frazzled blogger. Suffice to say that there’s much catching up to do which I’ll take care of a bit later on, but in the meantime, please do check out …

Over the weekend Fiona alerted me to the CWA’s newest initiative, and I must say, I’m one part amused and another puzzled at the whole “Dagger of Daggers” concept:

It’s …

Our Pal the Rake links to a very evocative piece about one of the genre’s living legends written by William Kittredge for the Missoula Independent. The memories are fond, and the haze is …

I’m already on record with my thoughts on Mo Hayder’s latest novel (known to some as TOKYO, others as THE DEVIL OF NANKING) and so I was quite pleased to see Elizabeth Renzetti’s …

There were many interesting points (and some not so interesting ones) mentioned during last week’s recap of the shitstorm surrounding the Edgar PBO pick, but two things stick out for me: first, …

Deadly Pleasures, as they do every year, have tallied their nominees for the annual Barry Awards. They are:

BEST NOVEL

THE ENEMY, Lee Child
ALONE AT NIGHT, K.J. Erickson
DARKLY DREAMING DEXTER, …

The winners of the Short Mystery Fiction Society’s annual awards are:

Flash Story (Up to 500 Words) — JA Konrath for “The Big Guys” in Small

Bites anthology edited by Garrett Peck and …

In my ever-present quest to find crime stories in the most obscure newspapers possible, this new interview of Billingham by the New Zealand Herald probably qualifies, at least for this week. Fairly …

So a few little birdies have alerted me to a rather interesting little invective sent over the DorothyL transom by a judge on the Edgar Award committee for Best Paperback Original. In the interests of …

As part of the run-up to Harrogate’s 3rd Crime Festival (and the 1st Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award) there will be a series of reading groups held at local pubs in North …

MacLean’s Magazine, Canada’s version of TIME and Newsweek, offers up a fairly decent piece on how several Canadian crime writers are looking northward for their bestselling novels: …

Since I couldn’t attend Malice Domestic this year — one day, I shall — I asked my friend and author of MURDER ON ICE and ON THIN ICE Alina Adams to scope out the conference and …

It’s apparent that Victor Gischler really ought to change the name of his interview series. World’s Worst? I think not, especially considering what he’s managed to extract from …

Over at Book Angst 101, Mad Max Perkins has posted yet another cautionary tale about how even when things seems very right at first, they can go south real fast. Meet “Keith,” a young …

And thanks to Jiro, I’m just stealing the press release:

Malice Domestic announced the slate of nominees for the Agatha Awards for the best mystery works of 2004.

Malice Domestic Award for …

The annual festival run by Mary Alice Gorman and Richard Goldman of the Mystery Lovers Bookshop (concluding the “unofficial trifecta” that began with the Edgars and continued with Malice …

This post will be updated throughout the evening and Friday as well, starting with my thoughts and incorporating others as I get them.

So first, the Glamour Awards:

CALIFORNIA GIRL was a very good …

Best Novel: California Girl by T. Jefferson Parker (William Morrow)

Best First Novel: Country of Origin by Don Lee (W.W. Norton & Co)

Best Paperback Original: The Confession by Domenic …

While I really question the timing of this,

considering that the original piece (no link, alas) ran a few weeks

ago, it’s always nice to see Otto Penzler creating a ruckus, right? I swear, I …

And so, over the course of the rest of the day, I’ll update with pictures, reports, thoughts and by the end of the evening, the winners.

First up, the pictorial view, ably provided by Mary …

Whenever John Connolly has a book out — lately it’s been every year, though that may eventually change — he embarks on what many folks (himself included) dub the Neverending Tour. …

G. Miki Hayden, who won the Edgar for Best Short Story last year, has been filing reports for the Today in Literature site. Her opening report appears here, and she also details last night’s …

Over at Lee Goldberg’s blog there’s a thoughtful series of posts (though they have been swallowed up by Yet Another Fanfic Debate) that get into what’s a somewhat uncomfortable side …

So some of you have asked me over the last little while why I won’t be in town for Edgar Week. The answer basically goes like this:

1. I won’t be able to eat anything.

2. I won’t be …

So not content with making a huge introductory splash into the blogosphere, reformed TV writer Paul Guyot (who I know was around at BCon last year, but somehow I missed meeting him then) has issued a …

When I picked up my local paper yesterday, the entire back page of the Arts section was taken up by a great feature written by Peter Robinson about his recent book tour for his newest Inspector Banks …

The International Thriller Writers’ Association started off with a splash and it’s only getting louder. With a cocktail reception forthcoming during Book Expo and many star wattage authors …

The shortlists for the annual awards given by the Crime Writers of Canada were announced last night. They are:

Best Novel

Gail Bowen, The Last Good Day (McClelland & Stewart)

Barbara Fradkin, …

Sadly, Partners & Crime — aka my bookselling alma mater — won’t be doing the full-scale version of their annual Nevermore Awards (which usually take place the night before the …

And boy have I been looking forward to this issue, featuring all manners of stories about successful (and not so successful) heists. Along with interviews of Reed Coleman and Gary Lovisi, there are …

When I first clicked on this interview of George Pelecanos in the Independent, I had a sinking feeling that it might be another hatchet job along the lines of what Michael Connelly endured from the …

As if the bestselling author isn’t busy enough, he’s now doing the interview rounds for a new and somewhat different project — an album of music co-written with Fife-born Jackie …

Though I’ve still a lot of catching up to do on his backlist, almost everything I’ve read by Colin Bateman has had me in various stages of uproarious laughter. He’s funny, but in …

It’s a good question to ask, consdering that there are a number of writers — Peter Robinson, Giles Blunt, Linwood Barclay, and Howard Engel, just to name a few — who have had or will …

But interestingly, it’s not Tara Moss who inks a deal here, but someone else entirely:

Australian author Kathryn Fox’s debut forensic thriller, MALICIOUS

INTENT, about the investigation …

Marianne McDonald — no slouch in the crime writing field herself — has a lengthy chat with one of the doyennes of the genre about her newest book (written as Barbara Vine) her reluctance …

Deadly Pleasures has announced the nominees for the Short Story and Thriller Barry Awards, which are:

SHORT STORY

Catherine Aird, “Cold Comfort” (CHAPTER AND HEARSE and OTHER MYSTERIES) …

All of a sudden, Leonardo Paduro Fuentes, perhaps one of Cuba’s most prominent crime writers, is everywhere. His novel ADIOS HEMINGWAY is just out from Canongate, and another one, HAVANA RED, …

The annual awards given out by the Short Mystery Fiction Society have been announced:

Flash Fiction Stories (up to 500 words)

“Housesitter”

by J. K. Cummins

Futures Mysterious …

So Fiona McCade is just a wee bit bothered by Ian Rankin’s alleged comments about crime in Glasgow:

Maybe Edinburgh’s judges should award lower
sentences to the sort of people who commit …

The newest installment of January Magazine’s crime fiction newsletter is bursting with content, including reviews of new releases by Richard Rayner, Joan Brady, Cara Black, Mark Timlin, Carla …

I guess it shows how asleep at the wheel I truly am as I didn’t even realize Michael Connelly was due to release another novel this fall until I saw this news posted on the Deadly Pleasures …

It’s so difficult to keep up with all these new awards, but thanks to its new sponsor, the Harrogate Festival has put itself forward in this particular game with a fan-based award, the longlist …

Overlook Press is finally righting a wrong: reissuing the early books by Charles McCarry, thought to be arguably the best American spy novelist still writing. Now the LA Weekly catches up with the …

The BBC used to have a service called Great Writing, but when they shut it down, a bunch of enthusiastic individuals banded together to start their own version, which has just launched. But since they …

I was a bit surprised to see Lawrence Block writing about the enduring — and sometimes obsessive — appeal of Sherlock Holmes in this week’s Village Voice, but then again, who better …

The annual anthology of short mystery fiction will be returning after a bit of a hiatus:

Ed Gorman and Marty Greenberg’s anthology THE YEAR’S FINEST CRIME AND MYSTERY STORIES, …

I must say I love reading interviews with Glasgow-based crime writer Denise Mina because she always sounds like she’s having so much fun with them (which doesn’t contradict my own …

Henry Hawran is an unusual man. He spends his days cleaning homes and fixing windows, and when he’s done he wants to admire his own house and the art that decorates it. But this art is quite …

For those stray few who are actually looking for this, well, here you go. Nothing terribly negative this month, simply my take on the latest by George Pelecanos, Boris Akunin, Peter Craig, Jodi …

Because Victor Gischler manages to ask George Pelecanos some seriously strange questions that result in quite the hilarious answers:

**If you needed an extreme

way to relieve some stress, would you …

Now, I must admit that Christopher Rice’s new novel LIGHT BEFORE DAY wasn’t exactly my cuppa, but this new interview of him over at Powell’s gave me quite the good laugh for this …

Courtesy Lee Goldberg:

Variety reports that Ben Affleck will write and direct, but not act in, a feature film adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s book GONE BABY GONE.  The movie, which …

Chicklit mystery author Kyra Davis will see her first novel published in a couple of months. And though its title upon submission was WORDS TO DIE BY, it’s not surprising that was changed soon …

Been just a wee bit negligent in letting people know about new stuff at the UK online magazine but take a look around and peruse the latest in short stories by A. Christopher Drown, Derek Rutherford, …

So I’m reading Susie Maguire’s piece at the Glasgow Herald which is supposedly a review of Ken Bruen’s first two crime novels, RILKE ON BLACK and HER LAST CALL TO LOUIS MACNEICE, …

The CWA will award its latest Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement to Ian Rankin, who is certainly deserving of the accolade:

When told about the award of the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger, Ian …

On one of the (many) mailing lists I’m either subscribed to or lurk on, someone pointed out that the Anthony Award ballots are about to be mailed out to the BCon membership and would listmembers …

First, wearing his editor in chief hat, Duane Swierczynski announces the winners of the Philadelphia City Paper’s 19th Annual Fiction Contest — the Pulp Edition:

SF/F: David J. Synder, …

Which will be done “bullet stizz” (to shamelessly pilfer lingo from other sources):

-John Rickards forgot to buy eggs (and so much opportunity for choice heckling was lost) but still …

It all started a week or so ago when Jim Winter resuscitated the old “literary/genre” debate in a recent post, and then Ray Banks followed suit in a spirited fashion. But one thing Ray …

The latest issue of Crime Scene Scotland is now available for perusal, and once again, Russel McLean has assembled a fine mix of stories, reviews and articles. Carol Anne Davis writes about the …

I was thisclose to preparing a “Disappeared” feature on this guy, but luckily, now I won’t have to:

Shamus Award winner D. Daniel Judson’s THE DARKEST PLACE, a

Hamptons-set …

Most of the time, I do like what the Washington Post’s Patrick Anderson has to say. But unfortunately, there are times when I suspect he’s pressed for time and really needs to fill the …

But this new interview at the Dumpster Bust blog (part 1 here, part 2 here) is interesting for a couple of reasons: one, it’s yet another sign of how immediate blogging is compared to print …

That’s what I’m dubbing the monthlong tour that Ken Bruen is starting on today in New York City with a PR lunch hosted by his American publishers, St. Martin’s Press. Once that ends, …

A huge and hearty congratulations to Otis Twelve, who takes the Lit Idol crown for his debut novel, ON THE ALBINO FARM.

I just got off the phone with him and though he’s still rather in a bit …

(Today is all about the London Book Fair, which began yesterday and ends tomorrow. Scroll down for earlier posts, and check back for more LBF-related news throughout the day.)

I said in my previous …

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Book Editor, Regis Behe, assembled a strong group of writers and watchdogs to talk about why this genre of ours is so damn popular at the moment:

“I think …

Anyway, COLD GRANITE, the debut novel by Scottish crime writer (I mean, write-ist) Stuart MacBride, won’t be released in the UK till May and the US in July — but oddly, the first edition …

The North American Branch of the International Crime Writers’ Association has announced the shortlist for the prize as follows:

Colin Harrison, The Havana Room (Farrar, Straus & Giroux) …

And let’s start over at Powells.com, the online arm of the independent bookstore chain, where Ian Rankin gives seriously good interview. He talks about most of the usual things — …

First, a nod to my home country, as the Great Literary Prizes were handed out in Toronto last night. Alice Munro took it for fiction and Peter C. Newman won for non-fiction, but a special hat tip …

As expected, La Maslin is absolutely gaga for George Pelecanos’s latest novel, DRAMA CITY:

Grippingly and inexorably, “Drama City” moves toward the moment when

Lorenzo’s …

The Gumshoe Awards have been announced, and the winners are:

Best Mystery:
Jim Fusilli: Hard, Hard City (Putnam)

Best Thriller:
Barry Eisler: Rain Storm (Putnam)

Best …

Though part of me is now slapping my head, wondering why I didn’t think of this, all props to David Montgomery for his newest feature. Overnight Success will be a repository of stories by …

After a nearly month-long hiatus, Gorman’s back in the blogosphere at Ed Gorman and Friends. I think the link won’t be fully active till later today, but check it out — if you …

Publishers Marketplace reports in with further details on this deal reported earlier here:

Author of Twisted City and Tough Luck Jason Starr’s TIN GOD, a noir thriller set in Brooklyn …

Well, not just short stories. But the author of the upcoming HOLMES ON THE RANGE takes the Q&A bait from Bob Tinsley at The Short of It about writing funny, how different it is to write novels and …

January Magazine crime fiction editor J. Kingston Pierce presents a monster interview with ITN correspondent and crime novelist Tom Bradby, who writes incredibly entertaining historical thrillers (I …

Paula Woods writes up a lengthy piece in the LA Times about the importance of locale in crime fiction, especially of LA writers like Ross MacDonald, Raymond Chandler, Sue Grafton, the Kellermans, and …

Kristine Kathryn Rusch writes under a variety of pen names in a host of genres, including crime fiction (as Kris Nelscott.) What’s even more interesting, as she tells the Lincoln City, Oregon …

For those that do, you can read my little spiel about the state of small presses and short story markets over at MB Toolbox, the blog for freelancers run by Claire Zulkey.

The piece was sparked, of …

The favor’s going to be returned in an upcoming issue of Crime Spree, but for now, the disco-dancing man chats with Mr. Starr about horse racing, favorite peanut butter and jelly, and oh yeah, …

It was delayed a week, but finally, the five shortlisted writers for the 2nd edition of this competition have been announced:

On the Albino Farm by Otis Twelve
Sleeping with Angels by Elizabeth …

I missed this yesterday but The Washington Post had a hefty profile of the multi-bestselling Swedish author who hasn’t quite made the splash in North America that was expected:

Why …

Mexico is one of many, many countries with literacy issues, but one municipal police force has a unique solution to the problem:

For more than 1,200 municipal police officers in the city of …

John Dunning’s about to tour for his latest Cliff Janeway novel, but as he tells the Arizona Republic, writing it — and previous books — is tough going because he has Attention …

I’ll update this thread as I get more information, so if there’s a report I don’t know about, or that you want to add, please do so in the comments section.

Lee Goldberg promises …

I can just imagine that Charles Ardai and Max Phillips have been bursting about this news for months, but now, it’s official:

Stephen King, master of surprise and strange twists, is taking his …

The following awards were given out Saturday evening at Left Coast Crime in El Paso, Texas:

The Dilys Award (for the book Independent booksellers most enjoyed selling) was given to Jeff Lindsay for …

(_This was originally posted on Saturday, February 26 but will stay at the top of the blog throughout the weekend. Check back Sunday for new content appearing below.)
_

Ladies and Gentlemen, BTK (for …

SF author Spider Robinson posted some very worrying news a few days ago to the newsgroup alt.callahans:

My favorite living writer, Donald E. Westlake, suffered a detached retina while in Hong …

So Otto Penzler’s been a very busy boy of late. Not only does he run his bookshop, put his head together with former publishing bigshot (and Random House UK consultant) Anthony Cheetham to …

Sorry, I couldn’t resist, but the lede in this new profile by the Bookseller definitely made me chuckle:

Mark Billingham has evolved a little ritual for the publication day of each new …

In a profile by the Grand Rapids Press, bestselling author Joseph Finder reveals why he decided to set his upcoming novel, COMPANY MAN in Western Michigan amongst the fun-and-games of a Staples-style …

The Sydney Morning Herald has a fascinating article about the country’s own brand of pulp fiction, with the usual fast-turning prose and lurid covers you’d expect from American-brand …

As first reported on the DorothyL mailing list, Barbara Burnett Smith, author of several mystery novels (most recently BEAD ON TROUBLE) died Saturday night in tragic circumstances. She and her husband …

The author of the psychological thriller FROZEN (and one of the nine debuting writers in Orion’s “New Blood” Campaign of early 2004) doesn’t just write books and produce …

Ken Bruen has developed an unfortunate habit of being declared dead prematurely. The first time happened last November, when the Galway government council gave him a “vote of sympathy” for …

Malice Domestic has announced the nominees for the Agatha Awards, as follows:

Best Novel

We’ll Always Have Parrots, by Donna Andrews (Thomas Dunne Books)

By a Spider’s Thread, by Laura …

As promised last week, the author survey on advances in the crime fiction world — be they of first novels or later novels — is now ready to go. The link will stay up on the right-hand …

Lots of cool writers get the Q&A treatment this week. First up is Barbara Seranella, the latest subject of the World’s Worst Interview. She speaks pithily of music choices, what she likes to …

A few weeks ago, I thought of posting my thoughts on Robert Crais’s THE FORGOTTEN MAN today, since it’s the book’s publication day. But because David Montgomery’s review for …

For indeed, the latest issue of Thrilling Detective is online, and of course it focuses around the 75th anniversary of a certain work by a certain Mr. Hammett. Read an excerpt of THE MALTESE FALCON. …

Kent Harrington talks to David Montgomery, wearing his Mystery Ink hat, about the frustrations of seeing RED JUNGLE get turned down by a gaggle of major publishers only to get rapturous praise from …

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the publication of THE MALTESE FALCON. Why it should have been on Valentine’s Day could be (and probably is) the subject of many a research paper, but …

The veteran author of the Kate Martinelli and Mary Russell series is the latest to set up shop in the lit ‘sphere, and she gets the ball rolling very nicely with an illuminating post that …

It’s been a while since Bob Cornwell, Tangled Web’s interviewer about town, offered up a nice meaty profile. But now he offers up a fresh interview with Robert Ferrigno, whose books have a …

This is, if I may say so, very cool news indeed:

Kate Mills at Orion has

bought two novels by US crime-writer Jason Starr from Mary Pachnos at Gillon

Aitken for a good five figure sum. Last autumn …

This week there’s been a veritable font of information about what’s really happening in the publishing world. Much of it is not for the faint of heart, but it’s all incredibly …

Hardly a day passes where I don’t come home from work to find a review copy or ARC waiting for me, but yesterday was extra-special: several boxes from the Baltimore Sun offices were nestled …

The lovely thing about this blog is that it puts me in touch not only with established writers, but those on the verge of launching their careers. Cornelia Read is one such person, and this is news …

Denise Mina’s next novel, THE FIELD OF BLOOD, heralds the launch of a new series. Though it was originally due to be published last year, the date got pushed off till April (in the UK) as she …

Last month, a bunch of crime writer types put their heads together and wrote short stories based on a single story idea. Now, the “Junk in the Trunk” online anthology, co-edited by Dave …

A long, long time ago in a galaxy far far away, I used to watch soap operas. It was so long ago, in fact, that Michael Malone (known to some for his novels, including UNCIVIL SEASONS and FIRST LADY) …

But I do think Victor Gischler’s Q&A with Christopher Moore may well be my favorite, considering questions like these:

Do very very very strange people show up to your book …

(This post will stay up at the top of the blog all day. For analysis of the major categories, scroll down to the posts below starting at midnight EDT.)

**
BEST NOVEL**

Evan’s Gate by Rhys …

Like David Montgomery, I think this is a very strong category, and fairly balanced as well. There’s really something for everybody here: the cozy written by a well-regarded author (Rhys Bowen), …

So first, a big round of applause for David Mitchell on his nomination for his book, CLOUD ATLAS.

Wait, what’s that? You mean it’s not the Booker-shortlisted, mega-praised work? Really? …

Rinse and repeat my “Where are the chicks?” lament, but even louder. I mean, paperback originals are where cozy writers rule the roost. Surely there could have been but one, even a single …

Before I get started, allow me to present a choice quote from yesterday’s profile of Laurie Lynn Drummond in the Oregonian:

Laurie Lynn Drummond was in Borders Books & Music in Eugene, …

So it turns out there is a “WTF?!” moment to the Edgars after all, but it’s not in the major categories. Instead, it’s to do with L&O: Criminal Intent’s four — …

With the 2005 Edgar Award nominations set for announcement late tonight or early tomorrow morning, this blog will be all Edgar, all the time tomorrow. Look for the list of nominees here early tomorrow …

This has been a veritable weekend of good news for people I like, be it family or friends, but I’m especially pleased about these two bits of news concerning book deals for cool people.

First …

Oh, I would have given almost anything to be at the launch party of Reed Farrel Coleman’s THE JAMES DEANS at Partners & Crime last week, but alas, day jobs have a nagging sense of priority …

Maybe it’s me, but I have a serious sense of deja vu about this particular story — or maybe the plethora of mystery novels-turned-computer games has become so prevalent it’s turning …

The ninth issue of Shred is now available for perusal, and it’s jampacked with good stuff. This quarter’s contributors include Victor Gischler, Pat Lambe, Jason Duke, Mark Agee, Stephen D. …

James Reasoner, who’s certainly written his fair share of novels in a variety of different genres, wonders when the mystery world became so heterogeneous to the point of polarization: …

Olen Steinhauer’s pretty much well and done with his upcoming novel, 36 YALTA BOULEVARD, but that doesn’t mean he’s plenty worried about the fourth book, which he’s just …

And so, the World’s Worst Interview series continues, as Victor Gischler peppers his buddy (and damn fine novelist) Scott Phillips with questions about the upcoming ICE HARVEST movie, why he …

January Magazine’s first crime fiction newsletter of 2005 is now available for all to see. Along with the usual mix of news and noteworthy items are a ton of reviews, mostly by Kevin Burton …

Duane Swierczynski (who, sadly, did not get to appear on TV last night to talk about this new “beer and caffeine” monstrosity that Budweiser is trying to inflict on poor saps) recently …

Cara Black, the author of several books featuring French sleuth Aimee Leduc, has revived her once-dormant blog to interview New Yorker Rebecca Pawel, who’s just returned after spending several …

Jeff Lindsay, whose DARKLY DREAMING DEXTER was greeted with praise by many within the crime fiction community, recently spoke to SHOTS Assistant editor Ali Karim about the book, his previous forays …

At least, if my current column at the Baltimore Sun is anything to go by. To sum up, I really, really loved Jan Burke’s BLOODLINES and Peter Moore Smith’s LOS ANGELES (for different …

I love reporting news like this, where a writer kicks around for years and years, rejection after rejection and then — success. So three cheers for Anthony Neil Smith whose debut novel, …

NYTBR: So you better believe I was interested in Wendy Shalit’s essay on the portrayal of Orthodox Jews in fiction (considering my recent fictional foray) She brings up some of the usual …

Many in the mystery community know Mattes as the longtime proprietor of Kate’s Mystery Books in Cambridge, MA, but as she tells the Cambridge Chronicle, she’s having a blast with her …

Lord, it seems to be Awards week, but here comes Mystery Ink with their nominees for the 4th annual Gumshoe Awards:

Best Mystery:
Laura Lippman: By a Spider’s Thread (William Morrow)
T. …

Now, keep in mind I’m taking this with a grain of salt b/c book deals in the UK have a nasty habit of being overreported (Helen Oyeyemi, anyone? And the false figure still gets bandied about, …

I say that because it seems like the Scostman has a requirement to have at least one Ian Rankin-related story per week to keep their credibility going, based on this bit of news:

SIR SEAN …

George Pelecanos updates his website occasionally with his current picks of good movies and books, and before New Year’s he wandered into a neighborhood bookstore and set his eyes on the Hard …

which are as follows:

The LEFTY is for the best humorous mystery novel published in 2004.

Blue Blood, by Susan McBride (Avon)

Carnage on the Committee, by Ruth Dudley Edwards (Poisoned Pen Press) …

(_Today’s posts will appear below this one, so keep checking back for additional content)

About a month ago, I got an email from two gents asking me to participate in a special project. The …

So who else is participating in this fine project? Look below for the names and their stories:

“Delia’s Gone” by Ray Banks
“The Anniversary” by Aldo Calcagno
“I …

Given by the Lambda society for best Gay and Lesbian mysteries of 2004:

LESBIAN MYSTERY

. An Intimate Ghost by Ellen Hart, St. Martin’s Minotaur
. Commitment to Die by …

Murder by the Book (whose link now appears in the right-hand sidebar), Houston’s fine independent mystery bookshop (that sadly, I didn’t get a chance to visit when I was in the city last …

(the first in the series of dispatches can be found here.)

All Generalizations are Untrue Including This One:Towards a Mediterranean Crime Novel

Friday, 21 January 2005

Sorry, Cara, I missed the …

When this came my way, well, how could I possibly refrain from reporting it?

12 YEAR OLD SIGNS MAJOR DEAL

Grace Kennedy Bruen, a trainee hairdresser, today signed a six figure two-book deal for her …

(the first in the series of dispatches can be found here.)

All Generalizations are Untrue Including This One:Towards a Mediterranean Crime Novel

Friday, 21 January 2005

Sorry, Cara, I missed the …

When Rebecca Pawel told me she was going to Spain to attend the first European Crime novel conference (as well as promote the translated edition of her first novel, The Edgar Award-winning DEATH OF A …

Yesterday a delightful package from Stark House Publishers, a company devoted to reissuing classic crime fiction, came in the mail. There were lots of goodies but what immediately caught my eye was a …

Obviously I got caught napping b/c no one told me the new issue of Hardluck Stories, guest edited by Michael A. Black, is now online. Lots of goodies available this time out; on the non-fic side, …

In what was the biggest dustup in the lit ‘sphere in ages, Lee Goldberg confessed he was underwhelmed by Ken Bruen’s THE GUARDS, and all hell broke loose. But, as he explains, he’s …

Sheil Land Associates is one of the UK’s most prestigious literary agencies, but they’re taking a serious hit as key personnel are jumping ship.  The Bookseller reports that Luigi …

Reader D.K. writes in with an interesting question:

I am a huge mystery reader and like to read reviews.  There is one

reviewer, however, who drives me insane.  He is Patrick Anderson of …

And the good news is, it will be updated on a rolling basis from now on, meaning new content will appear when it’s ready instead of on a fixed schedule. Having said that, I haven’t exactly …

The latest issue of Crime Scene Scotland, the brainchild of Russel MacLean (whose stories can be found at times in AHMM) is now up and running. It has yet more of the Cabana Boy quotient as Ray …

The longtime cozy mystery writer, who also wrote under the pen name of Ailsa Craig, has died at the age of 82:

LEWISTON, Maine– Mystery writer Charlotte MacLeod, whose specialty was the …

Andi Schechter, a longtime mystery fan who wears a great many hats, gets to try on the event coordinator one again as she will bring Left Coast Crime to Seattle in 2007 (following the one to be held …

All you Stephanie Plum fanatics, and there must be a lot of them considering how this series still tops bestseller lists, here’s some good news for you:

NYT bestselling author Janet …

Victor Gischler’s highly acclaimed, internationally celebrated World’s Worst Interview series continues with…um, me. I’d quote from it but the last time I quoted myself in this …

Not only will Winslow’s first novel in years, THE POWER OF THE DOG, be published by Knopf in late April, but it looks like a movie of his first book starring slacker PI Neal Carey will finally …

I feel like I’ve been waiting for this project for weeks and weeks, but finally, the Anthony Neil Smith-edited online issue of the Mississippi Review is finally up and running, with more …

Poor, poor Ian Rankin. It seems anything he does, whether discovering crime scenes, getting accidentally recruited for police work or shopping for groceries gets written up in his hometown papers. …

The UK-based magazine offers up some new content on its website, including reviews of the latest by Reginald Hill and Lisa Gardner, and a couple of really juicy interviews as well. John Shannon talks …

Yeah, yeah I’m late, considering I came up with the idea in the first place, but then again, this post stays at the top of the blog till Sunday morning. So there.

Aside from the fact that Donna …

In what might be Sara Nelson’s final piece for the NY Post (since she jumped ship to helm PW and take it to 21st century relevancy) she leads off with Scribner’s expensive plans to promote …

It might be surprising that Tingle Alley linked to this before I did, but it’s been that kind of morning.

Laura Lippman, in her latest website letter, took a whack at the whole “genre …

One of the most delightful new additions to my blogroll is Bob Tinsley’s The Short of It, devoted to all things short fiction. Not only are his reviews of stories, available both in print or …

James Reasoner, author of TEXAS WIND and about a zillion other books, thought that blogging might cut into his productivity. But it looks like that was far from the case, as he explains in his …

When Duane Swierczynski isn’t writing novels, books on beer or freelance pieces, he’s the editor in chief of the Philadelphia City Paper. And this week, they announced a brand new writing …

Now that the hangover’s subsided, the resolutions have been slowly abandoned, and the sense of hope grows after what was most certainly a tumultuous year for all (and certainly for me) …

And let’s start with Duane Swierczynski, taking time out from his insane life (as the editor-in-chief of the Philadelphia City Paper, novelist, and beer lover) to interview Ray Banks on the …

I’m a sucker for a good cause, and doing my bit to ensure that HBO’s THE WIRE gets renewed for a fourth season certainly counts.

The show’s been on the bubble for a number of …

So it seems that Bill Crider has been waiting around for someone to interview him, what with this new trend of interviews by writers of other writers on their blogs and whatnot. But instead of waiting …

Once again, the venerable online magazine puts together a doorstopper of a crime fiction list, highlighting the usual suspects and many lesser-known books that deserve a chance at the spotlight. To …

Greg Iles was in Britain recently for pre-publication promotion of his newest novel BLOOD MEMORY, due out in April. Aside from traumatizing the poor Brits with anecdotes about Amy Tan’s penchant …

I’m really–OK, really late on this news, but what I can’t make up in time I can make up in extra content.

Mysterious Press has finally announced the winner of the Sara Ann Freed …

Or very, very scary. For Jon Jordan, editor of Crime Spree, coffee freak and mystery fan extraordinaire, now has a blog.

Now if only someone could convince Ruth to start one….

The Independent Mystery Booksellers Association has announced their nominees for the 2005 Dilys Awards, given to the book “they most enjoyed selling during the past year”:

THE ENEMY, by …

One of these days I might see a new deal reported and not want to be snarky about it. But that day has not arrived yet:

Keith Raffel’s DOT DEAD, a debut Silicon Valley mystery, about a high …

Writers interviewing writers is the new black, but that doesn’t mean that new entries aren’t welcome. Steven Torres, author of the PRECINCT PUERTO RICO series, has started with with a new …

Though  many rising stars and established veterans have jumped ship of late, Harlan Coben–who did some jumping himself a couple of years ago–will stick around with Dutton, as just …

Teddy Hayes may not be a Renaissance man, but he comes pretty close as a writer (of the Devil Barnett crime novels) a producer, a filmmaker and a musical booking agent. Now he’s turned his …

I forgot to post this before–day job upheaval will do that–but Lev Grossman’s recent essay in TIME about “highbrow fiction being assaulted by lowbrow genre” (the quotes …

I’ve made mention of this before but I’m rather intrigued by the fact that Weiner (who was one of the first on the block with a writer’s blog) is shifting her attention from straight …

One of the things I lament is how too often a novel has a different title in the US and the UK. But HarperCollins UK has taken things a step too far. Mark Mills’ debut novel was published last …

Several folks have sent me some lovely reminscences about the groundbreaking crime writer, and two have consented to let me repost their thoughts here.

From Ed Gorman:

Over the years we (Marty …

One of my favorite activities is looking through the Mystery Writers of America submission lists, and not just to faint dead away at the sheer number of books published in a calendar year (for those …

And in this installment, mega-nominated mystery writer and all around good sport Julia Spencer-Fleming answer’s Mr. Gischler’s questions, like this one:

What are you working on now? What …

Seeing as I have this degree I never use (and by the looks of things, I’ll probably never actually work in a forensic lab proper) it seems a good idea to keep a note of the latest news and deals …

It took a few weeks, but the news of Joseph Hansen’s death is now official. As ghoulish as this sounds, maybe this is what’s needed to bring his works back into public consciousness. The …

The ensuing fallout deriving from Lee Goldberg’s reasoned puzzlement over the hype surrounding Ken Bruen’s THE GUARDS has taken some unexpected, and interestingly uncomfortable, turns. It’s hard to …

The seeds were sown in a meeting held during this year’s Bouchercon, but as begun by founding members Gayle Lynds and David Morrell, this new organization has been set up to recognize the …

Yeah, yeah I’m posting on a Friday, but that’s because I was running around like a crazed banshee yesterday, the reason for such to be explained on the weekend.

Anyway, January Magazine …

Now, I do admit that the childish part of me screaming “Fight! fight!” in the back of my head is contributing to why I’ve decided to post this, but truly, there’s a point to be …

It’s been in the works for a while (with speculation begun when the UK deal was announced first even though previously, world rights for her series had been awarded to her former US publishers) …

But instead, the crossover appeal of crime and thriller types moving towards younger readers has yet to be exhausted. This news from my favorite source ever:

Bestelling author and ex-special forces …

As already noted by my fine friends, Laura Lippman (heretofore referred to from now on as Empathy Girl) was peppered with all sorts of random questions by Victor “Lemur Lover” Gischler. …

Lindsey Davis is best known for her series starring itinerant Roman PI Marcus Didius Falco. The books, which sell incredibly well in the UK, aren’t doing nearly the same business in the US, …

Alas, the rumors are true. The brand new issue of the much-acclaimed, highly respected and down-and-dirty noir online magazine, PLOTS WITH GUNS, is the last. Though some very cool projects are in the …

Crime Time, one of the UK’s leading crime fiction mags, has updated their website with Natasha Cooper’s essay on John Le Carre and reviews of books by Ken Bruen, Stephen Hunter & …

My latest column at the paper concentrates somewhat on the heavy hitters, but I do get in a deservedly good word for some lesser-known writers as well. And I promise: after this weekend, a moratorium …

Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt novels sell in the gazillions, a phenomenon that’s almost 30 years in the making. But now that Cussler’s getting on in years–he’s 73 …

There’s something oddly perverse in posting this particular information considering the subject matter’s all about keeping secrets. But that’s the fun of this worldwideinterweb …

One of the most curious and yet strangely wonderful finds was discovering the author interviews at Bankrate.com, which–not surprisingly–focus on the financial side of the writing life. The …

Did someone forget to tell me and it’s been up for a long time already? In any case, the new edition of Allan Guthrie’s spiffy online mag Noir Originals is now up, and the contents are …

Victor Gischler has embraced blogging with a vengeance, telling the world about his pathological hatred of lemurs, his newfound remembrance of liking Jethro Tull, and much more. Now, he introduces a …

I read and re-read this Sydney Morning Herald interview of David Baldacci and damned if I don’t  keep arriving at the conclusion that Daphne Guinness, the interviewer in question, …

Over the course of this blog’s history, I’ve linked to many an article about the UK’s bestselling crime writer. How can I not when weird and bizarre things keep happening to him? …

I got the link from Publisher’s Lunch but it’s circulating around the ‘sphere at a furious pace. Anyway, Lit Idol–that oh-so-utterly fabulous exercise in catapulting …

I’ve been meaning to put up a long winded report of the goings-on at last week’s Giller Light, but dammit, I’ve run out of time. Maybe next week. So to amuse you all, check out some …

While attending the New England Crime Bake in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, held this past weekend, Al Blanchard died of  a heart attack yesterday. He was the author of several novels, including …

Tart City holds a special place in my heart. It was one of the first mystery-themed sites I started hanging out in, and I’ve been a regular on its message board since near the beginning, five …

Most pieces that talk about blurbs usually deal with those who are inundated with requests. Lee Goldberg turns the subject on its ear by explaining why soliciting them from his friends is one of his …

My colleague Ali Karim, who’s been sadly silent of late in the crime fiction world due to other commitments, emerged from hibernation to attend the Dagger Lunch last week, and provides this …

Sometimes, I wonder if I shouldn’t prejudge. I haven’t read the manuscript, after all, and boiling down an entire novel to a few short keystrokes often lessens the impact considerably. And …

Last weekend the Southern California Booksellers Association handed out prizes for Best in Fiction and Best in Mystery in 2004–although really, the eligibility goes from summer 2003 to summer …

Earlier this afternoon, I spoke with John Rickards (calling from the pub, natch) who, in a stroke of luck, sat through the entire ceremony next to James Patterson’s UK publisher. Talk about …

As phoned in by one of my faithful spies:

Macallan Gold Dagger: Sara Paretsky, BLACKLIST (Hamish Hamilton)

Silver Dagger: John Harvey, FLESH AND BLOOD (Heinemann)

Dagger in the Library: Alexander …

One thing I have noticed informally as I compare the Gold & Silver Dagger winners to say, the Edgar Award winners is how the CWA tends to pick more (for lack of a better term) high-falutin’ …

The CWA began its Debut Dagger competition for unpublished writers back in 1998, and the winner of that was Joolz Denby (known primarily as a poet and spoken-word artist) for STONE BABY. To say that …

To get things started, let’s take a look at a new award that’s been created

by the Book Club Association, parent owner of MysteryThriller.co.uk and one of

the sponsors of the Dagger …

So because I feel like it and because the CWA’s Dagger Lunch is ongoing as I post this, today’s been designated as Dagger Day on the blog. I’m not sure if I’ve ever done a …

To get things started, let’s take a look at a new award that’s been created

by the Book Club Association, parent owner of MysteryThriller.co.uk and one of

the sponsors of the Dagger …

James Patterson seems to have it all–riches, fame and fortune, a legion of monkeys doing the gruntwork for him on his books–but alas, he made the fatal mistake of mixing business with …

Looks like Ken Bruen’s going to have to appease some folks that he is, in fact, actually alive, at least if the Galway Advertiser is to be believed:

Galway author Ken Bruen may have to

start …

The latest edition of Robert Crais‘ newsletter went out this morning and within it, some real news about his next Elvis Cole novel:

THE FORGOTTEN MAN will be released in February 2005. The …

Although it’s a phrase clearly designed to drive people both within and outside the mystery community up the wall, I’ve been giving it a lot of thought lately. In no small part this is due to the fact …

It’s that time of month again, and so check here for my latest column at the Baltimore Sun, where I review new releases by Carol O’Connell, Michael Koryta, Greg Rucka, Melissa Clark …

So if you’ve visited Laura’s website more often than the once-a-month updates on the main page, you might find a picture of her from her senior high school days when she captained her …

And as usual, some very choice links, news, and reviews of new books written by folks like Natalie Collins, Sam Hill, Stephanie Kane, the Hard Case Crime boys, and many more. Also, Anthony Rainone was …

As provided, of course, by the fine people who make them available at Publisher’s Marketplace (what would I do without them? I honestly have no clue…)

First, it’s been a very good …

Jennifer Jordan’s eagle eyes found this first, and frankly, I’m still recoiling in horror:

NEW YORK — Readers hungry for a good thriller can get ready to welcome an old friend:. A …

NOCTURNES, John Connolly’s new short story collection, began life way back in 2000 when Radio 4 producer Lawrence Jackson requested the Irish writer pen some ghost stories that could be …

Brian Bethune of Maclean’s magazine, Canada’s equivalent to Time and Newsweek, happened to be in attendance at Bouchercon and caught the literary vs. crime panel featuring Stephen Booth, …

Robert B. Parker, author of a gazillion novels, talks to Benjamin Ivry at the Bloomberg syndicate about his newest book in the Sunny Randall series, his unusual living arrangements with his wife Joan, …

Although several others have made mention of it already, I refrained from putting anything here about my new article in Mystery Scene because, um, I only got my contributor’s copies this …

Want to be part of a cool anthology? Then Akashic Press, the folks responsible for the success that was last summer’s BROOKLYN NOIR, is your best bet. Their next offering is out in April, edited …

The news that BBC television is reviving the Miss Marple series was met with delight–till the news broke that the stories would be “updated” and the sleuth made to be rather more …

So Tod Goldberg has stepped in to guest-blog over at the Elegant Variation, and he’s already demonstrated his ability to be as obsessively prolific as the rest of us (and his family, as well.) …

Now, don’t get me wrong, I like to frame my reviews in some sort of context. And I know that Patrick Anderson is working on a book about thrillers through the ages, and so his brain may be ready …

The Eye Award, given by the Private Eye Writers of America, is the association’s lifetime achievement award. This year, the honor went to Donald Westlake, but unfortunately, he couldn’t be …

One of the more interesting anecdotal trends I’ve noticed in the few years I’ve been a serious crime fiction fan is the tendency for some people to prefer novels written in the other …

Like Michael Schaub at Bookslut, I have a hard time trying to describe Kinky Friedman, so better I don’t, especially in light of this new, rather odd interview over at Nerve.com. Here, he …

Last night this Dagger was awarded in a special ceremony in London, and the winner is Barbara Cleverly for THE DAMASCENED BLADE, the third entry in her India-set series starring Joe Sandilands. …

It all started when I got an email asking if I knew who’d won. Because, curiously, I hadn’t heard this at Bouchercon, where the news was supposed to break during the Shamus Awards. But a …

It’s funny how some stories have a cyclical effect–there’s an immediate reaction when it first becomes known, but then people who either were focusing their attention elsewhere or …

Couldn’t be at Bouchercon? Well, if you were at the LA-based Mystery Bookstore over the weekend, like Aldo Calcagno was, you experienced the next best thing–a slew of authors crowded into …

With issue three in the process of arriving in subscribers’ mailboxes as we speak (after being the hit of the convention dealer room) Crime Spree saw fit to get a new look on its website. …

George Easter, the proprietor of Deadly Pleasures, posted his own lengthy report on the mystery zine’s website. He talks about who he was happy to see again and which authors he got to meet for …

Although M.J. Rose enjoyed Bouchercon for meeting fellow authors, fans and the general social environment, she raises a much-needed point about the overall lack of publicity and attention given the …

John Rickards attended his first Bouchercon and naturally, spent much of his time surrounded by drink (no matter what those sober pictures of him would have you believe.) If you thought my report was …

This post may be continuously updated throughout the week so please do check in from time to time. But the first person out of the gate with incriminating photos is fellow reprobate Bryon Quertermous, …

Things are more than a little hectic this morning due to some prior commitments and errands to run. Hence, new stuff, including a gigantic backlog of mystery-related links, won’t appear till …

Like Jim, I learned a hell of a lot at this year’s convention, and besides, it’s so much easier to do a bulletpoint listing instead of a long-winded report (aside from the fact that I may …

So I’m a little late getting started on this Thanksgiving/Columbus Day afternoon because last night, I finally earned my very own Ken Bruen Drinking Story. Never has eating at Movenpick–a …

Lots of awards were given out during Bouchercon, and though more commentary will likely appear here and elsewhere, for now, just the facts:

The Barry Awards were the first to be handed out during …

Although some stragglers still remain and some last gasps of the week that was, Bouchercon 2004 is now in the memory banks. It will be discussed in future as, I think, one of the better ones of the …

So, unless you’re living under a rock, you might be aware that the 35th Annual World Mystery Convention–otherwise known as Bouchercon—begins officially tomorrow morning, but a whole …

Anthony Rainone, one of my colleagues at January Magazine, prepared this thoughtful, in-depth interview with one of crime fiction’s current masters, James Lee Burke. They discuss his career, the …

Hey, it’s not my fault there are just so damned many that keep popping up on my radar. But this profile in the Grey Lady goes somewhat beyond standard boilerplate fare, as along with talking …

Fiona (who also provides some incisive commentary on the Dagger nomination lists) gets into a snit about the new James Patterson novel. And not for the usual reasons, either, but because of the UK …

Though I’m still rather sad that John Connolly, a fairly popular writer (both in terms of books sold and rounds bought) won’t be attending Bouchercon this week, he has a fairly good …

Marcel Berlins, who seemingly writes for every major UK paper about crime fiction, shows up in the Guardian to wonder publicly about the country’s lack of bestselling legal thriller writers, a …

So I’m settling back into my apartment, looking at the mountain of unanswered email and links that have piled up to the heavens (I should sort through them for an early morning post tomorrow) …

Courtesy of Deadly Pleasures, the complete list is available now. Comments to follow in the next post.

THE CWA JOHN CREASEY MEMORIAL DAGGER

Denise Hamilton – THE JASMINE TRADE – Orion …

The longwinded version got lost, so the bulletpoint version follows of the four main categories:

Gold/Silver Dagger: An interesting list. Especially because it skews more towards women than men. …

So remember that “how to write a serial killer novel” post from earlier this week? Looks like Maddy forgot one important thing–now everyone wants funny, as just reported at PM:

UK …

So I’m late on this, but then again, I’m actually a bit surprised to be as lucid as I am this morning, considering I lost count how many vodka tonics I had (let alone my friends, who went …

As I’ve said before, as a youngster, I spent far, far too many hours in front of the television watching CNN. Quite the junkie, I was. So that’s how I was introduced to the odd accent and …

Boris Akunin’s Erast Fandorin novels are incredibly popular in his native Russia, and this popularity has spread to a whole host of other countries. Next year will see publication of TURKISH …

Looks like Tim Cockey, author of the Hitchcock Sewell series starring a handsome Baltimore-based undertaker, is switching gears in a major way, at least if PM is to be believed:

Tim Cockey, writing …