Nice review of James Swain's Loaded Dice ran in the Chicago Sun-Times a few days ago. Jim's a very interesting guy and a terrific writer. (See my take on his latest book.) If you have any interest in gambling, his books are a must read. Even if you don't, though, I think you'll still enjoy them.

There are a slew of new reviews up on Mystery Ink, including Jack Kerley, Steve Hamilton, Rob Reuland and more. See the list here.

There is also an interview I did recently with new author J.A. Konrath. He's a very interesting guy and his book (Whiskey Sour) is terrific.

Bouchercon, the world's most incredible convention, is only a little more than 3 months away and people are starting to get excited. I know I am. Herewith is some commonsense advice for those of you who might be attending for the first time.

Montgomery's 10 Rules for Attending Bouchercon

1) Stay at the convention hotel. This will minimize time wasted on travel.

2) Arrive the day before the con begins. The first day (Thursday) begins early and you will want to be ready.

3) Scope out the schedule to see what you don't want to miss. (If you see anything like "Michael Connelly interviews James Lee Burke" make sure you plan on attending!)

4) Pace yourself. B'con is intense and long. You won't see everything and that's okay.

5) Sleep when you can. The days are long and tiring. One hour power naps can really save you.

6) Hang out in the bar, even if you don't drink. Everyone will be in the bar and one point or another.

7) Don't be shy. People are there to meet each other and talk. If you see someone you want to meet, introduce yourself.

8) Prepare to go home with lots of books. Not only do you get freebie just for showing up, there will be tons of books to buy.

9) Please introduce yourself if you see me. I'll even let you buy me a drink! :)

10) Have the time of your life. There is no better company in the world than people who love mysteries. Make the best of it.

From the June 15th issue of The Hollywood Reporter:

"Aarniokoski nails 'Repairman' pic"

Helmer Douglas Aarniokoski, who frequently collaborates with Robert Rodriguez, is meeting up with "Repairman Jack" for Beacon Pictures, sources said. The project is described as "Indiana Jones" meets "The Mummy," centering on a man for hire who tries to track down an elusive evil figure and save the world. Bill Borden and Barry Rosebush are producing along with Beacon Pictures, where it's being shepherded by company topper Armyan Bernstein and development and production topper Suzann Ellis.

Originally written by Trevor Sands, the project was most recently handled by scribe Chris Morgan. Executives at Beacon could not be reached for comment. Aarniokoski is repped by ICM, Nine Yards Entertainment's Matt Luber and attorney Marc Golden at the law firm Gendler & Kelly. He also is attached to direct "The Courier" for Avi Lerner's Millennium Films and producers Willi Baer and Carmen Miller at their Eternity Pictures. For Rodriguez, Aarniokoski has directed second unit on "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" and was first assistant director on "Spy Kids" and "From Dusk Till Dawn."

They never bother to mention that this excellent series and character were created by F. Paul Wilson. Good news for Paul, though.

My latest column in the Chicago Sun-Times ran this morning:
"Splendid debut by a Chicago writer". (The writer in question is Joe Konrath.)

It includes reviews of 5 new crime fiction books:

J.A. Konrath -- Whiskey Sour
Jack Kerley -- The Hundredth Man
Steve Hamilton -- Ice Run
Rob Reuland -- Semiautomatic
Richard Cox -- Rift

Konrath's book, in particular, is excellent. One of those debuts that comes along (rarely) and really leaps out at you. Damn fine writer. (He also has a cool locked room mystery in the latest issue of Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.)

Ice Run is also excellent -- but, then again, all of Hamilton's work is.

Happy reading!

One of the most popular special features on DVD releases are scenes deleted from the original movie. Today, I'd like to present my own literary equivalent, a "scene" deleted from my upcoming Chicago Sun-Times column:

"Loaded Dice (Ballantine Books, $22.95) is yet another winner in the Tony Valentine series from gifted author and gambling expert James Swain. Valentine is a consultant to most of the big casinos; like his creator, he knows all the ins and outs of games of chance and the ways of ripping them off.

In Loaded Dice, Tony is again called to Las Vegas to help figure out how a mammoth casino is being cheated of millions of dollars. He’s also determined to once and for all help his wayward son escape from the perpetual mess of a life that he has gotten himself into.

Swain’s knowledge is so comprehensive that it alone would be enough to make his books interesting to read. Combine that with his considerable skills as a writer, though, and it’s easy to see why his stories so entertaining and readable.

Even though the subplot involving Al Qaeda terrorists feels tacked on, rather than an organic part of the story, the rest of the narrative, especially the wonderful characters and dialogue, is truly top-notch."

Sure, it's not as exciting as those outtakes of Harry Potter using the invisibility cloak to sneak into the girl's locker room, but Jim's book is terrific and deserves all the attention it can get.