tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60347232011-12-14T21:49:41.198-05:00Musings on the world of crime fiction, including books, news, reviews, authors, movies, television and more.David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comBlogger2961100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1111955457150757862005-03-27T15:29:00.000-05:002005-03-27T15:30:57.160-05:00

I set up a new website doman for the Crime Fiction Dossier a while ago and now I'm finally ready to start using it exclusively.From this point on, the Crime Fiction Dossier can be found at: http://www.crimefictionblog.comI look forward to seeing all of your over at our new home!

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1111525896926265422005-03-22T16:05:00.000-05:002005-03-27T15:16:08.846-05:00

My most recent addition to Mystery Ink is an interview with Reed Coleman, author of the excellent detective novel The James Deans.We cover such topics as the lure of New York City, his good guy character Moe Prager, and how he got his name.Very interesting guy. Check it out.

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1111160838968193682005-03-18T10:44:00.000-05:002005-03-18T10:47:18.970-05:00

Good news for crime fiction fans and anyone who enjoys quality television. HBO has renewed The Wire for a fourth season.The critically acclaimed, Peabody Award-winning HBO drama series THE WIRE has been renewed for a fourth season, it was announced today by Carolyn Strauss, president, HBO Entertainment. The 12-episode fourth season will begin shooting in late 2005, with debut set for 2006.

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1111080649287949682005-03-17T12:25:00.000-05:002005-03-17T12:30:49.290-05:00

My latest interview, this time with Harley Jane Kozak, author of the recently published Dating is Murder, can now be seen on Mystery Ink.I don't know if I've been reading Victor Gischler's interviews too much lately, or just watching too much Inside the Actor's Studio, but check out the last question I asked her:Q. We end tonight, as we always do, with a question invented by my hero, Bernard

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1110994511766307452005-03-16T12:31:00.000-05:002005-03-16T12:35:11.766-05:00

I've been posting regular additions to the newest feature of Mystery Ink and the Crime Fiction Dossier, the Overnight Success site.A new one just went up this morning, from acclaimed writer Robert Ward, and it's a doozy.I published the first novel I ever wrote, Shedding Skin. Of course, I rewrote it for five years, and almost died in the process.Don't miss the rest of the story.

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1110841527329986952005-03-14T18:01:00.000-05:002005-03-14T18:05:27.333-05:00

It’s been suggested to me in the past that Mystery Ink should add a category to the Gumshoe Awards to honor the Best Paperback Original. (After all, the Edgars, among others, do it.)For a long time, I was resistant to the idea. What’s the point, I thought, of creating an award that Jason Starr is just going to win every year?In recent months, though, it seems that things have changed. With

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1110578775126632492005-03-11T16:52:00.000-05:002005-03-11T17:06:15.230-05:00

I just finished Reed Farrel Coleman's new book, The James Deans. It's the third book with PI Moe Prager, but the first of Coleman's work that I've read. In a word, it's superb.Moe is a great character, a refreshing change from the typical detective cliché. He's a good man, a devoted father and husband, a successful businessman. Like the rest of us, he's got his share of pain, but he’s not a dark,

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1110568209923115822005-03-11T14:06:00.000-05:002005-03-11T14:10:09.926-05:00

I just got a hot tip, straight from the horse's...er, the author's mouth. Harlan Coben informs me that Myron Bolitar is back!Okay, before you get too excited, he's not returning in a novel. But he will appear in an exclusive, original short story, "The Rise and Fall of Super D," to be included in the hardcover edition of Coben's new standalone thriller, The Innocent.This comes as very welcome

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1110485390725761472005-03-10T14:33:00.000-05:002005-03-10T15:15:36.306-05:00

Harlan Coben writes:As you know, on December 26th, 2004, an earthquake under the Indian Ocean created a series of devastating tsunami waves. Over 150,000 people have been reported dead so far, and many survivors have lost everything. In the aftermath of this terrifying natural catastrophe, people from every continent have been affected in some way.In an unprecedented collaboration, sixteen

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1110381178133599062005-03-09T10:03:00.000-05:002005-03-09T10:44:18.706-05:00

Mystery Ink, one of the internet's most popular destinations for readers of mysteries and thrillers, announced today the winners of the fourth annual Gumshoe Awards.The Gumshoes are given by Mystery Ink each year to recognize the best achievements in the world of crime fiction. The nominees were chosen from books published for the first time in 2004.According to Mystery Ink's editor, David J.

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1110316109203306942005-03-08T16:05:00.000-05:002005-03-08T16:08:29.206-05:00

Mystery Ink and the Crime Fiction Dossier are launching a new feature that we're very excited about.Overnight Success? collects author's stories, in their own words, about publishing their first novels.It's still in the formative stages, but we wanted to give you a sneak peek. The responses have been fascinating.If reading these doesn’t scare you off from wanting to be a writer, nothing will.

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1110295834403624012005-03-08T10:30:00.000-05:002005-03-08T10:30:34.406-05:00

Ed Gorman, the uber-prolific crime writer, just poked his head in the door to shout that his blog has a new home: http://www.edgormanandfriends.com.Okay, Ed, we got the message...now can you keep it down a little? Some of us is just a wee bit hungover...Check it out when you have a chance. Ed knows books.

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1110123208160881982005-03-06T10:24:00.000-05:002005-03-06T10:33:28.163-05:00

In case you're not yet sick of hearing me talk about Lawrence Block's excellent new book, All the Flowers Are Dying, here's my piece on it in the Philadelphia Inquirer.This morning's Inkie also has a flattering review of Richard Montanari's new book, The Rosary Girls, written by my editor there, Frank Wilson.

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1109971099559180422005-03-04T16:01:00.000-05:002005-03-04T16:18:19.563-05:00

I'm currently putting together a compilation of stories from a variety of crime fiction authors on how long it took them to write and sell their first novel.Most of the responses, predictably, reflect a period of years, with considerable rewriting and failed manuscripts, before success was finally achieved.And then there's Lawrence Block, author of the recently released All the Flowers Are Dying:

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1109880188240153282005-03-03T11:44:00.000-05:002005-03-03T15:03:08.243-05:00

Like Tod Goldberg, I'm never invited to participate in these things either. I'm not even sure I know what a meme is. But here's my list anyway.5 Things I've Done That You Haven't1. Got drunk with James Crumley and called him a son of a bitch (in a very good natured way).2. Sat in a hotel lobby with a half dozen well-known crime writers discussing the best way to handle an anal sex scene for a

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1109867373452584652005-03-03T10:55:00.000-05:002005-03-03T11:29:33.456-05:00

A few random thoughts on the Left Coast Crime conference that bubbled up through the haze over the past few days:Putting on a conference like this must be a huge amount of work, but these folks did a great job.I'm glad I visited El Paso, but hope I never return.Free beer in the hospitality room is just plain cruel. Wonderful, but cruel.Fried pickles actually are quite tasty.Mexican food in the

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1109795653415247562005-03-02T15:29:00.000-05:002005-03-02T15:34:13.416-05:00

For those of you who might be in the Houston area, there's a great signing at 6:30 tonight at Murder by the Book. Three terrific mystery writers will be there: Reed Coleman, Jim Fusilli and S.J. Rozan.I had the chance to hang out with them at Left Coast Crime last week and they're terrific people and I'm sure the signing will be a blast. (Apparently it's also being taped for the Texas Live

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1109691672892545852005-03-01T10:39:00.000-05:002005-03-01T10:41:12.896-05:00

I received a letter in the mail yesterday. The letter is from the head of the publishing company and reads:It has just been discovered that the copy of XYZ* ARC recently mailed to you may have contained a printer error wherein only even or odd numbered pages were bound together.This is a very small press. (So small that I've never heard of them in any other context.) How many galleys could they

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1109618546981803192005-02-28T14:14:00.000-05:002005-02-28T14:22:26.983-05:00

Frank Wilson, my editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer, explains why the Inkie doesn't review self-published, POD or electronic books:This is not out of snobbery. If a publisher like Farrar Straus & Giroux decides to publish somebody’s manuscript, they assume the costs of printing and publicity. They are betting on that manuscript and putting their money up accordingly. In all the other cases, it

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1109613571817751882005-02-28T12:40:00.000-05:002005-02-28T14:11:32.693-05:00

I was away from home for 4 days while I attended Left Coast Crime in El Paso (see my post about it below). Keep in mind, one of those days was Saturday (no UPS) and one was Sunday (no packages at all).I came home to find waiting for me:7 hardbacks (two of which I've already read and reviewed)6 advanced galleys (ARCs)2 paperbacks (both advance copies)At the convention, I was given a half-dozen or

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1109612991484929522005-02-28T12:34:00.000-05:002005-02-28T12:49:51.496-05:00

I got home just before midnight yesterday from four days in El Paso where I attended the Left Coast Crime mystery writers convention.El Paso is something of a depressing city, with an old and empty downtown with no one on the streets except for the homeless, and little in the buildings other than dollar stores and cheap Chinese take-out places.The organizers of the convention, though, did a

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1108487778080480382005-02-15T12:04:00.000-05:002005-02-15T12:16:18.083-05:00

When I first starting reading mystery novels, it was detective fiction that got me hooked and it still remains one of my favorite corners of the genre.Two of the masters of the P.I. novel have books out this week: Lawrence Block and Robert Crais. Both have produced favorites of mine in the past and their latest books were high on my anticipation list.My joint review of the two ran recently in the

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1108400931826117802005-02-14T12:05:00.000-05:002005-02-14T12:08:51.826-05:00

I recently conducted an interview with Kent Harrington, author of the wonderful new novel Red Jungle. You can see what Kent had to say over on Mystery Ink. Very interesting stuff.Here's a sample:Q. Was it frustrating for you not to get one of the big publishers to take on Red Jungle?A. Yes it was, very much so. Because, being stubborn, I believed in the book, especially after people said, "Hey

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1108243365338800542005-02-12T15:39:00.000-05:002005-02-12T16:22:45.340-05:00

A.J. Jacobs, author of the humorous memoir The Know-It-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World, has a piece in tomorrow's New York Times rebutting the review he received from Joe Queenan in the same pages a few weeks back.Jacobs takes exception to Queenan's venomous pseudo-critique, which seemed to either miss the tongue-in-cheek point of the book entirely, or else

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1108237234179323482005-02-12T14:29:00.000-05:002005-02-12T14:40:34.180-05:00

This doesn't exactly surprise me, but still...Despite it, I still doubt I'll ever read the book in question. It ensures a constant round of publicity for him, though. Every cloud, people, every cloud.

Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08306785919354327841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1108139062272201492005-02-11T11:09:00.000-05:002005-02-14T14:10:03.253-05:00

Got an email last night from Mr. Ferrigno, tipping me to a terrific interview he did with Bob Cornwell that's now up on Tangled Web. I was going to offer some commentary, but the inestimable Sarah Weinman beat me to it.I will single out one excerpt, though, that I loved:The political upheavals of the late 60s left the young Ferrigno with an abiding distrust of politicians, a fact that perhaps

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1108076391007859522005-02-10T17:49:00.000-05:002005-02-10T18:26:57.710-05:00

I made a post recently on how I decide "What to read next" which has generated some discussion elsewhere. For the record, in today's mail (and via courier service) I received: 9 Advanced galleys 5 Hardbacks 1 Paperback original This is a larger total than most days, but it gives you an idea of what I'm trying to keep up with. My immediate sort produced 3 ARCs and 1 hardback that I might read,

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1108070419036739682005-02-10T15:40:00.000-05:002005-02-10T16:22:55.406-05:00

"Paperback Writer," a blogger who apparently writes paperback novels under 5 different names no one’s ever heard of, hates reviewers. Loathes 'em. With a passion! (Thanks to Tod Goldberg for the link.) She writes: I accept that I am a public figure, subject to public opinion. Goes with the job. Certainly you reviewers are entitled to your opinions, and free speech -- something I dearly love --

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1108045505177899522005-02-10T09:18:00.000-05:002005-02-10T11:07:17.180-05:00

For me, amusing moment of the day came from this article from the BBC about jury selection for Michael Jackson's trial: Almost nine in 10 potential jurors said they had read or watched a lot or a little news about the case. Such a short sentence, but so rich.

Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08306785919354327841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1107976103474477212005-02-09T14:05:00.000-05:002005-02-09T14:08:23.476-05:00

The schedule for the upcoming Left Coast Crime mystery conference came out today. It looks like it's going to be a lot of fun, and informative as well. I'm participating in two panels: Reviewing Mysteries: How? Why? Where? Friday, February 25 9:00am Steve Brewer, Moderator Carl Brookins David Montgomery Betty Webb N.S. Wikarski The Must-Read Thrillers Saturday, February 26 10:30am Barbara

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1107964490858103362005-02-09T10:50:00.000-05:002005-02-14T16:10:35.730-05:00

In case you missed my review of Kent Harrington's terrific new book (Red Jungle) in the Chicago Sun-Times over the weekend, I have just posted the full-length version on Mystery Ink.This is an entertaining and powerful story that deserves to be read. I promise, you won't be disappointed.Check back soon to see my interview with Kent!

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1107954458653547712005-02-09T08:05:00.000-05:002005-02-09T08:07:38.653-05:00

Good news for Ian Rankin fans... This September Orion will re-publish his early, out-of-print novel The Flood. So at least we won't have to pay £600 just to read this rarity...

Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08306785919354327841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1107833406515239402005-02-07T22:21:00.000-05:002005-02-07T22:30:06.516-05:00

Victor Gischler, the world's worst blogger, and author of a few far-from-worst novels (including the forthcoming Suicide Squeeze), contines his string of wretched interviews with his latest victim, Christopher Moore, author of the humorous novels Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal and Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings. A sample exchange: VG: Do you have any

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1107789778956910692005-02-07T10:17:00.000-05:002005-02-07T10:22:58.956-05:00

The nominees for the 2005 Edgar awards were announced yesterday. There are several places to quibble (e.g., the soft best first novel picks, the TV category dominated by just one show), but it's a nice list overall. The Best Novel category, in particular, is very strong, with 4 of my favorite books of the year making the shortlist. (I haven't read the other, although I've heard good things about

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1107703326304178952005-02-06T10:19:00.000-05:002005-02-06T10:22:06.303-05:00

My latest column ran in the Chicago Sun-Times this morning, containing reviews of 5 excellent books, including one that might just be a masterpiece:Kent Harrington - Red Jungle (Dennis McMillan, $30)John Donohue - Deshi (St. Martin's Minotaur, $23.95)Neil McMahon - Revolution No. 9 (HarperCollins, $15.95)Michael Robotham - Suspect (Doubleday, $24.95)Duane Swierczynski - Secret Dead Men (Point

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1107527079577995292005-02-04T09:18:00.000-05:002005-02-07T08:53:17.936-05:00

This is quite interesting news, I think. The next James Bond film will be an adaptation of Ian Fleming's first book, Casino Royale. This is quite a nice move and it is, after all, one of the best of the books (not that that necessarily means that'll translate into what they put on the screen). A new start, almost, for a new actor - not that Pierce Brosnan should have been removed from the role.

Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08306785919354327841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1107465232452402862005-02-03T16:05:00.000-05:002005-02-03T16:13:52.453-05:00

Gregg Hurwitz, author of last year’s terrific thriller The Program, brings up an interesting question on his blog: how do we decide which books we’re going to read? I have to make this decision every couple of days. (I try to read 3 books a week, plus whatever false starts I suffer through.) On rare occasions, the selection is made for me, as when I'm reviewing a book on assignment, or am

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1107375203458783772005-02-02T15:13:00.000-05:002005-02-02T15:35:01.826-05:00

Kent Harrington's Red Jungle leads off my Chicago Sun-Times column this coming Sunday. Here's a sneak peek of what I wrote: There are certain highly-talented authors who ply their trade in obscurity, regularly turning out quality books that amazingly going unheralded and largely unnoticed. If there were any justice in the publishing world, these would be the writers receiving the million-dollar

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1107205784597244372005-01-31T16:01:00.000-05:002005-01-31T16:11:45.716-05:00

For several months now, Lee Goldberg has been railing against vanity presses, especially the scam artists like Publish America. I thought it was time that I weighed in with my own thoughts. The problem with self-publishing is that the resulting product will have no credibility and no exposure -- and very little chance of ever obtaining either. Everyone will know that the only way you were able

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1106948416796091352005-01-28T16:15:00.000-05:002005-01-28T16:40:16.796-05:00

The International Thriller Writers have an announcement of the new Gumshoe Award for Best Thriller, presented by Mystery Ink, on their website.* Robert Crais helpfully inquires, "Why is an award for thrillers called the Gumshoe, which is a term usually associated with mysteries?" Okay, it's a fair question. When Mystery Ink started giving the Gumshoe Awards a few years back, I racked my brain

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1106873087814449052005-01-28T07:43:00.000-05:002005-01-28T11:51:22.293-05:00

Making a good film is a difficult proposition. Making a good film that will please the fans of the book that inspired it is all but impossible. What’s more, it’s a bad idea even to try. The thing to always remember about books and movies is that they are two very different and distinct mediums. You can't expect a film adaptation of a book to resemble its source material in anything more than

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1106861988313008192005-01-27T16:29:00.000-05:002005-01-27T16:39:48.313-05:00

James O. Born, author of last year's terrific debut Walking Money, returns this April with Shock Wave, another crackerjack thriller. In the current issue of CrimeSpree magazine, he relates some of his experiences from his first book tour. I Hate James W. Hall By James O. Born The past twelve months have been good ones for me. The crowning event was a contract with a New York publishing house.

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1106767977982622362005-01-26T14:22:00.000-05:002005-01-26T14:34:06.790-05:00

Mystery Ink announced today the shortlist for the fourth annual Gumshoe Awards. We have expanded the categories this year to include separate awards for Best Mystery and Best Thriller, plus an additional category to honor the Best European Crime Novel. The Gumshoe Awards are given by Mystery Ink each year to recognize the best achievements in the world of crime fiction. The shortlisted books

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1106683209344320772005-01-25T15:00:00.000-05:002005-01-25T15:09:01.956-05:00

Penguin is releasing one of last year's best reviewed titles of 2004 in trade paperback next week. Advance word is that Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind is receiving strong consideration for the Gumshoe Awards, which should be announced shortly. The publisher is sponsoring a contest to celebrate the release. (You've probably gathered by now that I'm a sucker for contests. Not that I

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1106672916669341292005-01-25T13:03:00.000-05:002005-01-25T12:11:36.880-05:00

Scholastic announced today that the new book from new mom J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, will be 672 pages long. For those keeping count, this is only 77% the length of the last one (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix), which clocked in at a hefty 870 pages. Looks like I'd better clear my schedule for the middle of July!

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1106590347305806282005-01-24T13:08:00.000-05:002005-01-24T13:15:40.450-05:00

Frank Wilson, the book review editor for the Philadelphia Inquirer (whom I sometimes write for), has started a blog about his experiences as, well, a book review editor. The very catchy name of it is Books, Inq. and I think it's a great idea. Maybe now we can figure out what the heck really goes on behind the scenes of the book review pages. I look forward to reading what Frank has to say.

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1106254520064052432005-01-20T15:48:00.000-05:002005-01-20T15:55:20.066-05:00

According to Nielsen Bookscan, John Grisham's latest thriller, The Broker, sold 218,000 copies in its first week on the market. That's a cool 500 g's in JG's pocket in just 7 days. The paperback edition of Grisham's previous book, The Last Juror, was #2 overall in sales for the week. You've gotta hand it to the man, he knows what he's doing. At least these last two are supposed to be pretty

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1106244524282939602005-01-20T13:48:00.000-05:002005-01-20T13:10:10.476-05:00

Exciting news today on the thriller front! Barry Eisler, author of the excellent John Rain books, returns June 23rd with another entry in this top-notch series. Killing Rain will be the fourth book to feature the Japanese-American assassin who specializes in the "natural causes" hit. Each of the first three books (Rain Fall, Hard Rain, Rain Storm) has been terrific -- and each has better than

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1105909547062636822005-01-16T16:00:00.000-05:002005-01-16T16:05:47.063-05:00

A recent post on Lee Child's message board put forth an interesting question regarding Robert B. Parker: My basic question about Parker is why bother? The reason to bother with Parker is because he wrote some of the finest PI novels extant and he was a key figure in the transition from the classic detective novels of Hammett, Chandler & Macdonald to the modern stories of Connelly, Crais, Mosley

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1105804208669701062005-01-15T10:48:00.000-05:002005-01-15T10:50:08.670-05:00

I've been playing with my anagrams again. Found one too good not to share: Patricia Cornwell = "I write crap: con all".

Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08306785919354327841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1105647317361476142005-01-13T15:09:00.000-05:002005-01-13T15:21:43.266-05:00

ESPN's new dramatic series Tilt, about the world of high stakes poker, premieres tonight on the cable sports network. The series is notable to crime fiction fans as one of the writers is none other than Lawrence Block, one of the greats of the mystery world and a favorite of mine. It looks like it might be a fun show. Check it out this evening at 9!

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1105146528294148042005-01-07T20:06:00.000-05:002005-01-07T20:08:48.293-05:00

What, exactly, is too much? This.

Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08306785919354327841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1104869784762014682005-01-04T14:52:00.000-05:002005-01-04T15:18:59.353-05:00

I read 125 books in 2004.* The vast majority were crime fiction titles, of course, with just a few others thrown in. I reviewed 56 of those books, some of them more than once. The breakdown was: Chicago Sun-Times: 50 booksBoston Globe: 6Mystery Ink: 3USA Today: 2January Magazine: 2Philadelphia Inquirer: 1 Note: Those totals don't include reviews that I cross-posted to Mystery Ink. I also

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1104790399545266202005-01-03T17:10:00.000-05:002005-01-03T17:13:19.546-05:00

I was recently asked by the new International Thriller Writers Association to compile a list of the must-read thrillers. Here is what I came up with. Patricia Highsmith, The Talented Mister Ripley, 1955 Graham Greene, Our Man in Havana, 1958 Richard Condon, The Manchurian Candidate, 1959 Len Deighton, The Ipcress File, 1962 Adam Hall, The Quiller Memorandum, 1965 Mario Puzo, The Godfather, 1969

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1104349577150813712004-12-29T14:39:00.000-05:002004-12-29T14:46:17.150-05:00

Word is that HBO’s The Wire, probably the best show on television, might not be brought back for a fourth year. If this were NBC we were talking about, the show’s axing would be a done deal. It’s a little disheartening to see that HBO, which has far less need to slavishly follow the ratings, is acting like they are no better or wiser. In a multi-channel cable universe dominated by programs that

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1104341713347705842004-12-29T13:31:00.000-05:002004-12-29T14:48:06.863-05:00

Writing Suspense: Fiction vs. Reality By Michele Martinez Author of Most Wanted, due in February 2005 As a federal prosecutor in New York City, I spent most of a decade locking up hardened criminals. Specializing in narcotics and gangs cases, I knew crime inside out. By the time I left that job, I’d done so many drug trials, listened in on so many wiretaps, and debriefed so many cold-blooded

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1103918890718782502004-12-24T14:15:00.000-05:002004-12-24T15:08:10.716-05:00

Here it is again: Christmas. It does seem to roll round so quickly these days, not like when I was young... Anyway, here's one or two final links from me before the big day: The Independent gives us a list of 2004's winners and loosers. In the main, waves of applause for Richard and Judy and Independent Publishers, but a chorus of boos, please, for HarperCollins and Supermarkets. If you have

Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08306785919354327841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1103394532952876492004-12-18T13:01:00.000-05:002004-12-18T13:28:52.953-05:00

According to Yossarian's latest online column over at the Ottakar's website, Mark Mill's Amagansett is being retitled The Whaleboat House for it's UK paperback release due to research showing that people couldn't pronounce it. (This entry's title is how I've always thought it would be - am I right?) Now, granted, it may not be a common word among the average Briton's vocabulary, but I still find

Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08306785919354327841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1103301322067352462004-12-17T11:30:00.000-05:002004-12-17T11:39:19.156-05:00

Okay, folks, here's your last chance to win! You could win a copy of Michael Crichton's new book, State of Fear, or other cool prizes. Go to this page and enter the following locations. Each one you enter gives you a chance to win instantly. Paris Nord, France Pavutu, Africa Pahang, Malaysia Shad Thames, London Tokyo, Japan Vancouver, BC San Francisco, CA Point Moody, CA Punta Arenas, Chile

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1103215139112243432004-12-16T11:33:00.000-05:002004-12-16T11:38:59.113-05:00

According to Nielsen Bookscan, Michael Crichton's latest techno-thriller, State of Fear, was very popular with book buyers its debut week, landing at #2 on the Bestselling Fiction chart with sales of 108,000 copies. I haven't read it yet, but my sense of it based on the reviews and word-of-mouth is that it's good, not great, with some interesting scientific information, although it gets preachy.

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1103152787284466102004-12-15T17:57:00.000-05:002004-12-15T18:21:51.033-05:00

In response to Sarah's post over at her blog, and because there are so damn many books that I'm looking forward to in 2005, here's the list of what I will be looking out for particularly next year... 1. Barbara Vine's The Minotaur, which is to be Rendell's first Vine novel in over three years. 2. John Connolly's much anticipated Charlie Parker novel, The Black Angel 3. Obviously, The Closers (

Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08306785919354327841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1102869741692431292004-12-12T11:38:00.000-05:002004-12-12T11:46:19.916-05:00

My latest column ran in the Chicago Sun-Times this morning. The books included are: Dean Koontz' Life ExpectancyJanet Evanovich's Metro GirlRichard Aleas' Little Girl LostRichard Stark's Nobody Runs ForeverMax Allan Collins' The Road to PurgatoryJeffery Deaver's Garden of BeastsThey were all entertaining reads, although I was particularly impressed by the Koontz book, one of the best things I've

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1102684840322393812004-12-10T08:06:00.000-05:002004-12-10T08:30:09.306-05:00

Richard and Judy have announced their list of 10 books for 2005. There's no word on the official site, but they've announced it on the show, and there are a few links around the place. This list is becoming, potentially, one of the most important of the year. Now, that may seem to be giving it more gravity than it deserves, but the effect on the sales of these books could potentially be huge,

Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08306785919354327841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1102444279657126172004-12-09T13:46:00.000-05:002004-12-12T11:43:04.366-05:00

Some gift suggestions for the readers in your life! For anyone who likes a story with genuine heart: Dean Koontz' Life ExpectancyFor the O.C. fan: T. Jefferson Parker's California GirlFor the Sopranos fan: Charlie Stella's Charlie OperaFor the detective fan: Michael Connelly's The NarrowsFor the action movie fan: Lee Child's The EnemyFor lovers of strong female characters: Laura Lippman's By a

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1102607925901727752004-12-09T10:54:00.000-05:002004-12-09T10:58:45.903-05:00

From the Book Standard, the public face of Nielsen BookScan, comes this week's fiction bestsellers, based on actual sales at bookstores and other retailers around the country. 89,000 books sold by Mitch Albom this week! THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN, Mitch Albom (Hyperion, Hardcover)A SALTY PIECE OF LAND, Jimmy Buffett (Little, Brown & Co., Hardcover with CD)BLACK WIND, Clive Cussler (Putnam

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1102607453861861152004-12-09T10:47:00.000-05:002004-12-09T10:50:53.860-05:00

Mysterious Press announced today that a winner has been selected for the first Sara Ann Freed Memorial Award for debut mystery novel. The award, which is in honor of Mysterious Press' longtime editor who passed away in June 2003, was given to Sacred Cows by Karen E. Olson. The award consists of a $10,000 advance and publication in hardcover by Mysterious Press, an imprint of the TimeWarner Book

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1102532942588793862004-12-08T14:04:00.000-05:002004-12-08T14:09:02.586-05:00

The Times released their list of the 100 Notable Books of 2004. My unbroken streak of being 180 degrees out of the touch with the literati continues, as I hadn't read a single one of them. In my defense, though, I had heard of a few...

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1102528511675005722004-12-08T13:51:00.000-05:002004-12-08T12:55:11.676-05:00

Hack Writer Victor Gischler is back with another round of The World's Worst Interview. This time his victim is the delightfully funny Julia Spencer-Fleming, who writes a series about a priest who flies helicopters. VG: Zapa-dappitty-doo-wap-doowap diddly-DOO! What do you think of that? JSF: Victor, I had no idea. Next time we get together, you and I are going jitterbugging. No excuses. I loved

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1102527472832054832004-12-08T13:32:00.000-05:002004-12-08T12:37:52.833-05:00

The Mystery Writers of America has named Marcia Muller, "'the founding mother' of the modern hard-boiled female private eye novel," a Grand Master. Other authors to receive the organization's highest designation include Robert B. Parker, Elmore Leonard, Lawrence Block, Donald Westlake, Tony Hillerman, P.D. James, Ellery Queen, Daphne du Maurier, Graham Greene, James M. Cain, Rex Stout, Agatha

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1102441468359961972004-12-07T13:41:00.000-05:002004-12-07T12:44:28.360-05:00

Dylan Schaffer, author of the superb debut Misdemeanor Man, adds his contributions to Mystery Ink's Top 5 Favorites list. The Narrows by Michael Connelly -- I recently saw Connelly's book, and various other titles, on sale in an obscure town on the Vietnam/China border. Any writer who has infiltrated a former enemy this deeply deserves our awe. And it's an un-put-downable, thought-provoking,

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1102188225579297472004-12-06T13:45:00.000-05:002004-12-04T15:42:40.576-05:00

Mystery Ink polled over 50 fiction writers, reviewers and other assorted readers, asking them to name their five favorite books they read during the year. They didn't have to be new, didn't even have to be mysteries. We just wanted to know what people liked. You can see the complete lists over on the website. The responses were very interesting, as you'd imagine. This is a well-read bunch!

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1102106300937396772004-12-03T15:20:00.000-05:002004-12-03T15:49:59.856-05:00

As a result of my incessant browsings on amazon.co.uk, here are a few very-recently posted synopses, that I've not seen anywhere else, of some books coming out next year: First, Kathy Reichs' Cross Bones (which sounds a little...odd): The latest gripping thriller from world class forensic anthropologist, Kathy Reichs, bestselling author of Bare Bones and Monday Mourning Temperance Brennan has a

Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08306785919354327841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1102097999828320582004-12-03T13:14:00.000-05:002004-12-03T13:19:59.826-05:00

Book Sense, an arm of the American Booksellers Association, announces their picks for the best books of January 2005. Here are the crime fiction titles that made the cut: THE COLD DISH, by Craig Johnson (Viking, $23.95, 0670033693) OUT: A Novel, by Natsuo Kirino (Vintage, $12.95 paper, 1400078377) ENTOMBED: A Novel, by Linda Fairstein (Scribner, $26, 0743254880) REVOLUTION NO. 9: A Novel, by Neil

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1102095892586494872004-12-03T13:00:00.000-05:002004-12-03T13:30:31.016-05:00

From the Book Standard, the public face of Nielsen BookScan, comes this week's fiction bestsellers, based on actual sales at bookstores and other retailers around the country: NIGHT FALL, Nelson DeMille (Warner Books, Hardcover) THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN, Mitch Albom (Hyperion, Hardcover) LONDON BRIDGES, James Patterson (Little, Brown & Co, Hardcover) THE DA VINCI CODE, Dan Brown (

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1101924345245936922004-12-01T13:49:00.000-05:002004-12-01T13:05:45.246-05:00

The staff at L.A.'s Mystery Bookstore, a great place to buy books, offer up their picks for the best of the year. Here are the choices of owner Shelly McArthur: Jilliane Hoffman, Retribution Jodi Compton, The 37th Hour John Shannon, Terminal Island Alan Furst, Dark Voyage M.C. Beaton, Death of a Poison Pen Barry Eisler, Rain Storm Jack Kerley, The Hundredth Man John Dunning, The Bookman's

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1101856718570529822004-11-30T18:17:00.000-05:002004-11-30T18:27:31.500-05:00

Today The Guardian's G2 section ran a nice article on the annual penchant for "Books of the Year" articles. Obviously, it raises the question: what is the point? Indeed, as it points out, even The Times seemed rather disillusioned with the whole process this year.; instead of the myriad people telling us what obscure books they've read, we got about ten. (Instead, they elect to give us two

Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08306785919354327841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1101738848583246692004-11-29T09:29:00.000-05:002004-11-29T09:34:08.593-05:00

Lemurphoboic crime writer Victor Gischler, conductor of the world's worst interviews, returns to talk to mystery hottie Laura Lippman: VG: Sometimes I think of titles of short stories but then don't write the stories. Like "In the Hell of Bad Candy." I like that one. Can you share some of your discarded titles? Tell us about the "thinking of a title" process. LL: I'm not sure I can say it's

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1101690072754814842004-11-28T19:52:00.000-05:002004-11-28T20:01:12.756-05:00

Plots with Guns, one of the best e-zines devoted to crime fiction, has just published their final edition. Due to the increasing amount of time and resources the magazine was consuming, the fellas decided it was time to hang it up. The mystery world is going to miss the terrific work that Smith, Gischler, Maviano et al did, but I can certainly understand their reasons. Publishing a web

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1101591887707269532004-11-27T16:06:00.000-05:002004-11-27T16:44:47.706-05:00

I probably should have done this on Thanksgiving, but I was too busy eating. I'm finally up to doing it today. Here are some of the things I'm thankful for this year. I'm thankful that... ...2004 saw so many excellent crime fiction novels published, including Jeff Parker's California Girl, probably my favorite book of the year. ...Dean Koontz, America's greatest living storyteller, writes

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1101474454677549032004-11-26T08:02:00.000-05:002004-11-27T13:25:36.420-05:00

This might be old news on the Western shores of the Atlantic, but today The Independent have revealed to me (no link yet) that the title of Brown's follow-up to The Da Vinci Code will be called The Solomon Key. * Link here. And another to Janet Maslin's review of Ruth Rendell's latest. More praise, of course.

Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08306785919354327841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1101332800222226112004-11-24T16:42:00.000-05:002004-11-24T16:47:52.020-05:00

From the Book Standard, the public face of Nielsen BookScan, comes this week's fiction bestsellers: LONDON BRIDGES, James Patterson (Little, Brown & Co, Hardcover) BLUE DAHLIA, Nora Roberts (Jove Books|Penguin Group, Paperback) SKIPPING CHRISTMAS, John Grisham (Dell|Random House, Paperback) THE DA VINCI CODE, Dan Brown (Doubleday, Hardcover) I AM CHARLOTTE SIMMONS, Tom Wolfe (Farrar,

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1101309584261893982004-11-24T10:07:00.000-05:002004-11-24T10:19:44.260-05:00

The latest email newsletter from George Pelecanos contains his picks for fall reading, listening and viewing. Here are a few of them: Books Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides Like many readers, I resisted picking this up because of the element that seemed to dominate every review, implying that this was primarily a story about a hermaphrodite. Brother, was I wrong. Middlesex, a work of art that is

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1101307966357919602004-11-24T09:32:00.000-05:002004-11-24T09:52:46.356-05:00

Victor Gischler, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers, introduces a new feature to the World's Worst Blog. (Thanks to Sarah for tipping me off.) He has conducted the first World's Worst Interview, with Sean Doolittle as the subject. Q. Aside from Victor Gischler, who is the biggest influence on your fiction? Who's the thirteenth biggest influence? A: I like what I heard Walter

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1100964477425449692004-11-20T10:22:00.000-05:002004-11-20T10:29:28.626-05:00

Reichs confirms a Variety magazine report that 20th Century Fox TV is developing an hour-long pilot film based on her investigative work and fiction. The drama's main character is to be a forensic anthropologist like Reichs who writes mysteries and also uses her expertise in human bones to help solve crimes. From this article in the Charlotte Observer. Hmmm, is all I can say to that little piece

Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08306785919354327841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1100888660224723422004-11-19T13:12:00.000-05:002004-11-19T13:35:07.576-05:00

Charlie Stella, my wise and witty fellow panelist from Bouchercon 2004 and the author of the delightful Charlie's Opera, is promoting the upcoming release of his next book Cheapskates with these handy dandy little cards: The flip side contains a "Tipping at a Glance" chart to help you wiseguys stop stiffing the wait staff. I have a stack of them sitting here on my desk, so send me an email

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1100812866211856342004-11-18T16:13:00.000-05:002004-11-18T16:22:37.823-05:00

To promote the launch of Michael Crichton's new book (State of Fear, due 12/7), the Hype Council is running an interactive contest/game. Go to this website and enter the Location: Paris Nord, France. You might just win a prize instantly. (One of our readers has already won a copy of the audiobook on CD. Very cool!) You can also enter the Clue: Terror to unlock an excerpt from the book. I'm

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1100802459419694192004-11-18T13:18:00.000-05:002004-11-18T13:27:39.420-05:00

According to BookFinder.com, the Top 10 most wanted out of print books of 2004 were: The New Soldier by John KerrySisters by Lynne Cheney Sex by Madonna The Holy Innocents by Gilbert Adair Disco Bloodbath by James St. James The World Crisis by Winston Churchill It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis Where Troy Once Stood by Iman Wilkens General Printing by Glen Cleeton The Curse of Lono by Hunter

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1100802796114439122004-11-18T13:12:00.000-05:002004-11-18T13:58:41.463-05:00

Last Wednesday, returning from the weekly University of Southampton Creative Writing Society meeting, I stopped off in a bookshop. I do this a lot, of course. Stop off in bookshops, I mean. Books are my therapy, my comfort. In the past 3 days I have bought six (time to kill and a student loan to spend!) Indeed, I am spending far too much on books - the TBR is going to topple soon. Maybe it will

Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08306785919354327841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1100721735214084132004-11-17T14:48:00.000-05:002004-11-17T15:02:15.213-05:00

The New York Times reports that hatchet mistress extrordinaire Kitty Kelly (who wrote a vile biography of Frank Sinatra) is being sued by a freelance writer who claims that she plagiarized material from his article in her recent best-selling book about the Bush family. Glynn Wilson accuses Kelly and Random House of copyright infringement and asks for a judgment of $5 million. He claims that

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1100720820561341352004-11-17T14:45:00.000-05:002004-11-17T14:47:00.560-05:00

Save 20% on almost everything in the store at Borders. Valid 11/17 - 11/21/04. Get the coupon Happy shopping!

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1100644090267206882004-11-16T17:18:00.000-05:002004-11-16T17:28:10.266-05:00

ABC has announced that the fourth season of J.J. Abrams' award-winning spy drama Alias will return on Wednesday, January 5, with a two-hour season premiere. The following week, the series will settle into the 9pm hour, following Abrams' new series Lost. New episodes of Alias will air each week, without any repeats, through the end of the season. "When we made the strategic decision this fall on

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1100622875110445322004-11-16T11:29:00.000-05:002004-11-16T11:34:35.110-05:00

Macavity's, a British mail order bookseller, interviews Stuart Pawson, author of the forthcoming mystery Over the Edge.

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1100543765497534462004-11-15T13:27:00.000-05:002004-11-17T09:30:24.676-05:00

Variety reports that it's all but a done deal that uber-mensch Tom Hanks will star in Ron Howard's upcoming film adaptation of Dan Brown's mega-best-selling thriller The Da Vinci Code. (Production is slated to begin next year for an '06 release.) For the record, I still haven't read the book...but I did listen to the abridged audiobook version on the drive home from Bouchercon. It's an

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1100533393242880672004-11-15T10:05:00.000-05:002004-11-15T10:43:13.243-05:00

Tom Cruise has bought Christopher Reich's The Devil's Banker to bring to the big screen. Story follows a female British spy and a U.S. agent/forensic accountant who join forces to stop a terrorist attack aimed at the United States. Richard Price will adapt his own novel Freedomland for Scott Rudin and Joe Roth. The book deals with the aftermath of a carjacking that becomes a racially charged

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1100455182862607382004-11-14T13:51:00.000-05:002004-11-14T12:59:42.863-05:00

Elsewhere in the Times, Michiko Kakutani spends 1000 words on a conscientious and thoughtful review of why Mark Winegardner's Godfather sequel The Godfather Returns isn't very good. Surely that is the least-surprising news of the day. Reading her take on it confirms my suspicions of the book without even laying eyes on it. Why the Times thought this worth the space, though, is a puzzler.

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1100452537619683772004-11-14T13:07:00.000-05:002004-11-14T12:15:37.620-05:00

Deborah Friedell, assistant literary editor of The New Republic (aka "The Least Read Magazine in America You've Actually Heard Of"), is quite possibly the most obnoxious person in the literary firmament. Want proof? Read her review of Michael Chabon's The Final Solution in today's New York Times. Writing about crime fiction, she reports, "A genre that is by its nature so constrained, so

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1100356910368417182004-11-13T09:08:00.000-05:002004-11-14T13:10:33.776-05:00

Aside from Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (which I'm tipping not just for the Whitbread Best Debut award, but, being a bold kinda gal, the final Best Novel one as well - it was always more of a Whitebread book than a Booker one), what's going to be the big book in Britain this Christmas? Well, Phoenix are hoping that it could be Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind, after Waterstones'

Fionahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08306785919354327841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1100277809839491502004-11-12T11:35:00.000-05:002004-11-12T11:43:29.840-05:00

Book Sense, an arm of the American Booksellers Association, announces their picks for the best books of the year. Here are the crime fiction titles that made the cut: THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH, by Arturo Pérez-Reverte AMAGANSETT: A Novel, by Mark Mills SKINNY DIP: A Novel, by Carl Hiaasen THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, by Mark Haddon BIRDS OF A FEATHER: A Maisie Dobbs Novel, by

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1100271949834929292004-11-12T09:55:00.000-05:002004-11-12T10:08:00.886-05:00

Amazon joins the fray with their editors' picks for the 10 Best Mysteries & Thrillers of 2004. It's a better list than Borders' (see yesterday's post), with the likes of Jeff Parker's California Girl and Barry Eisler's Rain Storm, two books that are sure to make my list as well. They also single out James Lee Burke's In the Moon of Red Ponies, Jeff Lindsay's Darkly Dreaming Dexter and Ken

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034723.post-1100213229973151492004-11-11T17:31:00.000-05:002004-11-11T18:07:52.470-05:00

Borders announces their picks for the best books of the year in the Mystery & Thrillers category. Overall it's a very mainstream list, with some strong books, as well as some curious choices included. (I suspect this will be the only "best of" list that James Patterson's London Bridges or Patricia Cornwell's Trace will appear on.) I was pleased to see that Katherine Neville's The Eight was

David J. Montgomerynoreply@blogger.com