Great news! Tower, a novel written by great authors Ken Bruen and Reed Farrel Coleman, will be out in fall 2009.
From the cover copy:
Can't wait to get my hands on this one!
Most people have heard the sad news that Tony Hillerman passed away on Sunday. Now more sad news...author Elaine Flinn passed away from pneumonia (cancer complication) on Saturday.
I had the privilege of meeting Elaine Flinn on a number of occasions at mystery events. She was always friendly and had a great sense of humour. She'll be missed.
Elaine Flinn shows Ann Cornellier (left) and Pari Noskin Taichert (right) her Barry Award (Bouchercon, 2005)
I recently watched Boy A, a movie based on the novel of the same name by British author Jonathan Trigell. The story centers on a young man who, as a child, was convicted of murder. Now in his 20s, he has been released from prison and must figure out a way to live in the real world.
The story is compelling, and lead actor Andrew Garfield delivers an amazing performance. The cinematography is really well done, and somehow this films manages to be both subtle and yet powerful at the same time.
The issues addressed in the film (rehabilitation, forgiveness, evil act vs evil person, etc.) are complex, and are interestingly presented in a thought-provoking way.
I'm currently in the middle of reading two books that are due out this summer.
THE FOLLOWER, by Jason Starr, is a suspense novel that deals with a young woman's search for love in New York City. If you are familiar with Jason's earlier work, you know it's going to be a dark journey.
In Thomas Perry's latest book, SILENCE, we meet Jack Till, a P.I. who helped a woman disappear years ago, and Sylvie & Paul, the killers hired to find that same woman and make her disappear permanently.
Full reviews to come soon.
I am so far behind in both my reading and posting, but wanted to mention a few recent reads that impressed me.
THE DEAD HOUR by Denis Mina is the second book in the Paddy Meehan series (after FIELD OF BLOOD), and I thought it was even better than the first (and that's saying a lot). Great characters, and the story manages to both be interesting and raise some thought-provoking ethical issues.
Robert Crais' THE WATCHMAN is a nice return to Pike and Elvis Cole (in a smaller role than in previous books). It still wasn't quite as good as some of the earlier Pike/Cole novels, but I enjoyed it more than recent books by the author. That being said, an 'okay' Crais book is still better than much of what's out there.
THE BLONDE by one of my favourite authors, Duane Swierczynski, is truly fantastic. It's fast-paced, funny, dark, and wonderfully weird and unique. No cookie cutter aspects here. It's a great installment in what I'm sure will end up being an impressive body of work. I only wish he'd write faster!
Donna Moore won the Lefty award for her fantastic novel, Go to Helena Handbasket. Her acceptance speech was short and, not surprisingly, funny.
Finally organized my photos and added them to the site!
I'm finally back home after taking a little time to visit family after attending LCC in Seattle. This convention, for a number of reasons, was more of a vacation with friends than a fan/author convention. That's not a complaint (I had a blast!)...just an observation.
There were lots of rumours swirling around, and one had to do with the lack of authors in attendance. Apparently there were issues with getting on panels and with the treatment in general. I didn't attend many panels, but I understand that there were un-published authors on some panels. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I guess that if they're billed as fans I can understand, but un-published authors lumped in with published authors? I find that a bit misleading. Why not simply have a panel specifically for un-published authors?
One outstanding panel was The Liars Panel, moderated by Alex Brett and featuring Hakan Nesser, SJ Rozan, Meg Chittenden and Barry Eisler. It was absolutely hilarious, and quite unique. Big kudos to Alex for her job as moderator...she was fantastic.
The Dealer's Room wasn't impressive. There weren't that many book sellers, and the selection was lacking. I made up for that by visiting Seattle Mystery Bookshop and buying as many books as I could squeeze into my suitcase!
The host hotel was great, as was the banquet (included in registration price - nice!). What really made this a great experience was the people attending. It was great to re-connect with old friends and meet lots of new people (especially the gang from 4MA, the best online discussion group devoted to mysteries/crime fiction).
I'm heading off to Left Coast Crime tomorrow, and I'm really looking forward to discovering new authors, re-connecting with friends and meeting new people. I'm going to try to post updates and pictures while there, but as it goes with most conventions, down time is at a minimum.
I haven't packed yet, still need to clean the house and shop for a few last minute things, and my plane leaves in 17 hours. Oh ya...procrastination is alive and well in my house! :)
I'm going through a particularly rough time in my life right now, and I'm once again reminded at how glad I am that I'm a reader. There's a lot about my life that's up in the air, and to say that I'm stressed would be an understatement. Nevertheless, I still manage some time everyday to read, and that gives me a much needed break from worrying about my problems. Of course, given the types of books I like to read, I end up reading about someone else's troubles, but that seems to work for me. ;)
I'll post full reviews later, but for now let me just say that Peter Robinson's PIECE OF MY HEART and Simon Kernick's RELENTLESS are terrific, compelling reads. Next up is DYING LIGHT by Stuart MacBride.
Ken Bruen & Jason Starr: Bust
Noir at its best. When you have a group of flawed characters and bad things keep happening to them, it makes for a great read. Funny, dark, and very well-written.
Donna Moore: Go to Helena Handbasket
Laugh-out-loud funny spoof the crime fiction/P.I. genre. Great characters, pace and dialogue. This should be required reading for any fan of the genre.
Robert Crais: The Two Minute Rule
Great character, excellent pace, and interesting twists and turns in the story. I hope this is just the first in a new series.
Stuart MacBride: Cold Granite
Top-notch police procedural that is set in Aberdeen, Scotland. The dark subject matter (missing kids) doesn't overshadow the terrific writing style, strong plot, complex characters, and humour. A very compelling read.
Charlie Stella: Cheapskates
The dialogue, colourful cast of characters, dark humour, and wonderful unpredictable plot make this a great read.
Duane Swierczynski: Secret Dead Men
Check into the Brain Motel and you won't be disappointed. This is a unique, creative, funny, and compelling novel.
Rick Mofina: The Dying Hour
Suspense novel featuring rookie Seattle reporter, Jason Wade. Smart, scary, and interesting with fun twists and surprises. The first of what I hope will be a long-running series.
John Sandford: Broken Prey
Run, don't walk to go out and get this book. It's part suspense, part thriller, and part police procedural, and all parts are done masterfully. The characters, storyline, pacing and writing style make this a must read.
Chris Niles: Hell's Kitchen
The lives of various New Yorkers (including a serial killer, struggling writer, and beautiful pickpocket) intersect in this engrossing story. I loved the memorable characters and wonderfully dark humour.
Chris Mooney: Remembering Sarah
Fantastic novel about a man dealing with life after his young daughter goes missing. An interesting story full of complex characters and raw human emotion. Excellent.
T. Jefferson Parker: California Girl
Edgar (Best Novel) nominee doesn't disappoint. This book's two main strengths are the cast of interesting and complex characters, followed very closely by the twisting and turning storyline. Part family saga, part mystery, part slice of life of California in the 60s.
Robert Crais: The Forgotten Man
Elvis and Pike are back! The latest in this fantastic series is good (although not quite as good as earlier books). A little bit of the spark is missing, but it's still a fun read. It definitely left me wanting more, and I'm already looking forward to Crais' next book.
Mark Haskell Smith: Moist
What a wild ride! This book is fast-paced, darkly funny, and very colourful. The characters are slowly revealed to be much more complex than originally thought.
Alex Brett: Cold Dark Matter
This is a unique book that manages to both entertain and educate. The pace is good, and just
varied enough to keep the reader on his/her toes. The story has some great twists and turns, all leading up to a satisfying resolution. This is not only an interesting read but a very important read.
Peter Robinson: Strange Affair
This book has it all - great plot, characters (and character development), sense of place, suspense, dialogue, twists and turns, and atmosphere. It's a police procedural that will make you feel, cheer, shudder, and think.
Peter Moore Smith: Raveling
A young girl goes missing, and years later one of her brothers has a serious psychotic break. Are the event related? Gripping, wonderfully written novel. This story will suck you in, so get comfortable befor you start reading!
P. J. Tracy: Monkeewrench
This debut novel by P.J. Tracy (mother and daughter writing team of P.J. and Traci Lambrecht) has got it all: action, suspense, mystery, and a vivid cast of characters. Don't miss it!
S.J. ROZAN: Absent Friends
This book lives up to all its good buzz. The story focuses on a group of friends in the aftermath of September 11th, with flashbacks to their lives as children and young adults. It's heavy on character and has a real sense of setting. A must read!
Martha C. Lawrence: The Cold Heart of Capricorn
A detective with psychic abilities is asked by the police to help solve a series of rapes. With common sense, empathy for the victims, psychic insights and a big gun, Elizabeth Chase is on the case! Good story and likeable characters make this an enjoyable read. (2nd in the series)
