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