One of my books got a poor review this week. That’s fine. Every writer or person that puts something out into the world gets it. It comes with the territory. Typically, I’ve found, it’s not usually about the merits of the book or film or piece of art, it’s usually simply a matter of a poor fit for the consumer.

Still, I sometimes do wonder about people that spend the time to really vent and post a poor review. Personally, I’ve given up on that. My time is better spent promoting good ideas than tearing down bad ones.

The best thing that can happen to a bad idea is that it is forgotten. The best thing that can happen to a good idea is that it is shared.

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

3 LINKS

• It’s almost November, which means almost time for another Reacher book, CrimeReads checks in with the brothers on their collaboration the second time, border towns, first person, and the pandemic.
  
  
• BookList highlights its top 10 picks for mystery and thrillers on audio this year. Definitely agree with ONE BY ONE and Bathurst always delivers Gamache.
  
  
• Someone’s always listening. You’d think they would have learned that lesson by now. The New Yorker looks at the unexpected (and eager) audience for certain true crime podcasts.

2 QUOTES

In honor of Halloween this weekend, two from Edgar Allan Poe:

• “Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.”
  
• “I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity.”

1 QUESTION

• I always enjoy the Gamache books on audio. This year I also really enjoyed Whitehead’s Harlem Shuffle. Do you listen to mysteries on audio? What was your favorite (new or old) this year?

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Until next Thursday, happy reading,

Mike

Author the Max Strong thriller series