I finished the latest Max book today. It was more of a struggle than maybe all the others combined. Or maybe they all feel that way after you send it off for others to read. Either way, there is only one way to finish a book: word by word.

That’s the secret.

If you added up all the time wasted searching for shortcuts and trying to hack the process, the hard work could have been done or well under way.

Word by word.

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

3 LINKS

• The NYTs has a profile and some background on Alan Ritchson with REACHER premiering Friday. No arguments from me on the physique, but the second thing you notice about Reacher is that he’s smart (‘Sherlock Homeless’) and confident. TBD on that one.
  
  
• The Washington Post looks at THE CHRISTIE AFFAIR, a new book once again trying to probe into Agatha Christie’s 11 days disappearance in 1926.
  
  
• Laura Lippman talks shop with Crime Reads on the dangers of making writing too precious, the benefits of walking, the ups and downs of social media, and reading to write.
  

2 QUOTES

Quotes Laura Lippman this week:

• “Reading was not a fallback position for her but an ideal state of being.”
  
  
• “There’s always time to read. Don’t trust a writer who doesn’t read. It’s like eating food prepared by a cook who doesn’t eat.”
  

1 QUESTION

• Did you like the Tom Cruise Reacher movies? I actually thought both movies were very well done, especially the first one. I just don’t really consider them Reacher movies.

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Until next Thursday, happy reading,

Mike

Author the Max Strong thriller series