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July 2nd, 2020

Here’s the most crime fiction news per word on the web while I wait to see if the ice cream truck makes a visit to our street today. One can always hope…

Here are 3 crime fiction links, 2 quotes, and 1 question for this week:

3 LINKS

• Must read this week for crime fiction fans: The Guardian has a piece where many mystery and thriller authors talk about creating and living with their series characters including Child, Connelly, Locke, McDermid and more.
• NPR finds Moreno-Garcia’s MEXICAN GOTHIC a pitch perfect Gothic novel that will leave you wary long after the last page. About halfway through summer I almost always get a hankering for some spine-tingling horror.
  

• If you find yourself interested in Patricia Highsmith’s work, Book Riot has some thoughts about the best place to dive into her 22 novels and short stories.

2 QUOTES

Two quotes from Patricia Highsmith:

• “My imagination functions much better when I don’t have to speak to people.”
  

• “For neither life nor nature cares if justice is ever done or not.”
  

1 QUESTION

• Perhaps a controversial opinion but if forced to pick on Highsmith novel, I’d go with STRANGERS ON A TRAIN over RIPLEY. What is your favorite literary crime fiction novel?
  

Until next Thursday, happy reading,

Mike

Author the Max Strong thriller series

June 25th, 2020

Week two of summer school. I’ve successfully got both girls to at least start their summer reading. No issue on my end, I’ve already read Phantom Prey, The Janes, and Blue Heaven to start the season with a bang!

Let’s get to it. Here’s the most crime fiction news per word on the web.

Here are 3 crime fiction links, 2 quotes, and 1 question for this week:

3 LINKS

• A lot of ink this week for Ottessa Moshfegh’s new “mystery” novel. The NYTs looks at the new ‘old’ novel and finds a lot of internal sleuthing and a story that grows after you finish it.
  

• The Guardian has 50 suggestions for summer reading and while not broken out beyond fiction there are plenty of genre books included in the list.

• Crime Reads has a look at Stephen King’s attempts to meld mystery and noir with the supernatural.

2 QUOTES

Two quotes from King’s Bill Hodges trilogy:

• “Hodges has read there are wells in Iceland so deep you can drop a stone down them and never hear the splash. He thinks some human souls are like that.”
  

• “It’s easy—too easy—to either disbelieve or disregard someone you dislike.”
  

1 QUESTION

• I viscerally remember sweating in a beach chair and being unable to move until I finished reading Flynn’s Gone Girl. What is your most memorable summer beach read?
  

Until next Thursday, happy reading,

Mike

Author the Max Strong thriller series

June 18th, 2020

While quarantine isn’t over, doing the dual role of schoolmarm is! The kids are out for summer and I look forward to (limited) summer outings where I can flop down in a beach chair and read a book.

Let’s get to it. Here’s the most crime fiction news per word on the web.

Here are 3 crime fiction links, 2 quotes, and 1 question for this week:

3 LINKS

• MysteryTribune mines the current Netflix catalog for the 21 most visually striking crime films to watch. Good reminder to re-watch CAPE FEAR.
  

• At the LAT, Sarah Weinman warns if you know Jackson’s life you might not love the new film (based on a novel) SHIRLEY despite the excellent cinematography and acting.
  

• Well shoot, given HBO and Matthew Rhys’s involvement, I was really hoping this Perry Mason thing would work out. Sounds like it might be a little wobbly…
  

2 QUOTES

Two quotes from Shirley Jackson’s work:

• “Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones.”
  

• “Most people have never seen a ghost, and never want or expect to, but almost everyone will admit that sometimes they have a sneaking feeling that they just possibly could meet a ghost if they weren’t careful―if they were to turn a corner too suddenly, perhaps, or open their eyes too soon when they wake up at night, or go into a dark room without hesitating first.”
  

1 QUESTION

• How many books do you typically bring on your summer vacation?
  

Until next Thursday, happy reading,

Mike

Author the Max Strong thriller series

June 11th, 2020

After a week of reflection, I’m still frustrated and angry by so much of what is happening in the world, but feeling a little more optimistic that things have reached an inflection point and meaningful change might result.

Let’s get to it. Here’s the most crime fiction news per word on the web.

Here are 3 crime fiction links, 2 quotes, and 1 question for this week:

3 LINKS

• Attica Locke picks her 5 favorite southern noir novels for Waterstones. I can vouch for 4 of the 5 having read them in the past. Great picks. CROOKED LETTER, CROOKED LETTER remains a regular recommendation for me.
  

• Mystery Tribune looks back at CJ Box’s award-winning debut BLUE HEAVEN. Box remains a big hole in my crime reading. I rectified Deaver earlier this year. Maybe Box next. Our local library re-opened yesterday!
  

• Unexpected but wonderful essay by Donna Tart in the New York Times on her reverence and eventual friendship with the late TRUE GRIT author Charles Portis. Too many good lines. Good read it. In this quarantine age, maybe crank calls will make a comeback…
  

2 QUOTES

Two quotes from Charles Portis:

• “You must pay for everything in this world one way and another. There is nothing free except the Grace of God. You cannot earn that or deserve it.”
  

• “I don’t think about you at all when your mouth is closed.”
  

1 QUESTION

• I’m just about done with Michael Connelly’s FAIR WARNING and I’m looking forward to getting my hands on Lucy Foley’s GUEST LIST. What book is at the top of your summer beach read list?
  

Until next Thursday, happy reading,

Mike

Author the Max Strong thriller series

May 28th, 2020

Last week, I was feeling chipper and optimistic. This week I’m feeling tired and uninspired. So goes the quarantine. Sometimes the only way through is to just keep going. I’m going to walk the dog, go for a run, and then write some words. That usually is a good antidote to what ails me.

Alright, let’s get to it. Here’s the most crime fiction news per word on the web.

Here are 3 crime fiction links, 2 quotes, and 1 question for this week:

3 LINKS

• MysteryTribune has a video conversation between Gregg Hurwitz and David Baldacci about the writing life and Baldacci’s latest Memory Man novel. Two writers that definitely know how to mine the commercial fiction genre. Worth a listen/watch.
  

• After Mina, Rankin, and McDermid, my reading CV is woefully short on Scottish thriller writers. The Guardian has a top 10 list that might help rectify the situation. 

• CrimeReads looks at the three 90s movie adaptations that really put Elmore Leonard into the mainstream. Just re-watched OUT OF SIGHT. Still holds up, might be my favorite Dutch-inspired film.
  

2 QUOTES

Two Dutch quotes from OUT OF SIGHT:

• “Foley had never seen a prison where you could walk right up to the fence without getting shot.”
  

• “I know a guy who walks into a bank with a little glass bottle. He tells everyone it’s nitroglycerin. He scores some money off the teller, walks out. On his way out, the bottle breaks, he slips on it and knocks himself out. The “nitro” was Canola oil. I know more f**ked-up bank robbers than ones who know what they’re doing. I doubt if one in twenty could tell you where the dye pack is. Most bank robbers are morons.“

1 QUESTION

• Are you a Raylan or a Sisco fan? Western or crime? What is your favorite Elmore Leonard book?
  

Until next Thursday, happy reading,

Mike

Author the Max Strong thriller series

May 21, 2020

The sun is out and it’s getting warmer. It all has me feeling optimistic. So, as we finish up week 10, I say ‘Bring it on!’ I’ve got plans to step up and make something of this moment however stressful, chaotic and weird. What other choice do we have? It’s the only part of this that I can control.

Ok, let’s get to it. Here’s the most crime fiction news per word on the web.

Here are 3 crime fiction links, 2 quotes, and 1 question for this week:

3 LINKS

• This made for a good and unexpected listen. AmazonLive’s author series (something I didn’t know existed) had a moderated conversation between David Baldacci and Michael Connelly.
  

• Crime Reads lays out your summer reading with the most anticipated mystery, thriller and suspense titles of the next three months. I love going through lists like this. As an addicted reader, it’s like going through the old Sears toy catalog before Christmas.

• The Guardian looks into whether Agatha Christie may have been influenced by an earlier published Norwegian story for THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD.
  

2 QUOTES

One of my personal favorites, Michael Connelly, has a new Jack McEvoy book out next week, so 2 Connelly quotes for this week’s newsletter:

• “There is no client as scary as an innocent man.”  ― Michael Connelly, The Lincoln Lawyer

• “Everybody counts, or nobody counts.” ― Michael Connelly

1 QUESTION

• Are you a Michael Connelly fan? What is your favorite series that he writes? What is your favorite Bosch book?
  

Until next Thursday, happy reading,

Mike

Author the Max Strong thriller series

May 14th, 2020

Have you run out of books or shows yet? I’m pretty sure I’ll never run out of books that I want to read. That would be a sad day.

I’m still going through ups and down, sometimes within the same day, or hour, but I’m trying to stay positive.

On to the main event, here’s the most crime fiction news per word on the web.

Here are 3 crime fiction links, 2 quotes, and 1 question for this week:

3 LINKS

• If you’ve managed to blast through the 70+ books Agatha Christie wrote during her life (well kudos to you!), BookRiot has some ideas of other similar crime fiction authors you might try
  

• More book recommendations if you find yourself struggling to find something to read: CrimeReads is continuing its quarantine reading mystery and thriller recommendations from readers. Lots of interesting and lesser known picks to peruse.

• Finally, USAT finds 25 escapist, feel good reads for the quarantine. Hard to hit crime fiction with those criteria but BAD DAY FOR SUNSHINE makes the list, along with some vampires and magical children.
  

2 QUOTES

Quotes about books this week:

• “I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” – Jane Austen in Pride and Prejudice

• “When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes.” – Erasmus

1 QUESTION

• What is the one book you’d recommend to someone that really should read while they are stuck in quarantine?
  

Until next Thursday, happy reading,

Mike

Author the Max Strong thriller series

May 7th, 2020

Are you struggling to exercise, get work done, do something creative? It’s OK. Don’t panic. Take a deep breath and give yourself a break. This is an odd time and a return to normal doesn’t exactly seem right around the corner.

If ripping through a to-do list or keeping up a running streak is what you want to do, and it’s helping keep your sanity, then keep at it. But if you’re not feeling inspired, please don’t feel bad or beat yourself up over it. No one knows how to best handle this situation. Don’t get tied up in what others are doing. All you can do is what you can do—and whatever it is right now, that’s enough.

On to the main event, here’s the most crime fiction news per word on the web.

Here are 3 crime fiction links, 2 quotes, and 1 question for this week:

3 LINKS

• This bit of news was sort of surprising: CBS passed on the David Kelley-penned series adaptation of Michael Connelly’s THE LINCOLN LAWYER. Wouldn’t be a surprise to see this pop up elsewhere. Um, Amazon?
  

• At the New York Times, you can check out the essential guide to picking your first Stephen King book if you’ve never cracked any of his covers. As a King fan, I can get behind most of these choices.

• ICYMI – the 2020 Edgar winners were (virtually) announced. Congrats go out to Elly Griffiths for best novel and Angie Kim for best first, plus all the rest of the winners. Really enjoyed MIRACLE CREEK.
  

2 QUOTES

In honor of the 2020 Edgar Awards, 2 quotes from the man himself:

• “I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him.” —The Tell-Tale Heart

• “I was never really insane, except on occasions where my heart was touched.” —a letter to Maria Clemm

1 QUESTION

• What is your favorite Edgar Allan Poe story or poem?
  

Until next Thursday, happy reading,

Mike

Author the Max Strong thriller series