In the traditional story arc, the heroic detective must sort through the clues to find the devious, unknown mastermind, solving whatever intricate puzzle the killer has set for him. But that’s not how actual serial-murder investigations take place. Not even close.
R.N. Morris supplies some background about his new historical mystery, “The Mannequin House,” which has already been released in Great Britain, and is scheduled for publication this spring in the United States.
Coming off the success of three novels set in his native Northern Ireland, Stuart Neville now transports readers south and back half a century to the Republic of Ireland, where homicide threatens to overshadow what could be one of the country’s proudest moments.
J. Kingston Pierce presents Christmas-related mysteries, the big-screen adaptation of Dashiell Hammett’s “The Glass Key”, the new table-computer-based crime-fiction periodical “Noir Magazine” and much more …
It’s December, so there is no surprise in the fact that various print and Web publications are releasing their “best of the year” book lists. The site Goodreads is up with its list, including e.g. William Landay’s “Defending Jacob” and Tana French’s “Broken Harbor”.
Not to be confused with Peter King’s 1998 novel of the same name, this book is Elkins’ 17th entry in his series featuring forensic anthropologist Gideon Oliver, aka The Skeleton Detective.
Author Collins is a master at integrating facts with his fiction, engineering encounters between his figure Heller and myriad famous figures–including burlesque dancer Sally Rand, who he first got cozy with in “True Crime” (1984).
Larry Hagman, known for only two roles: those of astronaut Major Tony Nelson in the sitcom “I Dream of Jeannie” and of oil magnate J.R. Ewing in “Dallas”, also guest-starred during the 1960s and ’70s on a variety of small-screen crime and detective series.
This time: 10 years since the premiere of “Die Another Day”; Curt Evans has a book devoted to Todd Downing’s tales, “Clues and Corpses”, “Unfaithful Wives” by Orrie Hitt in e-book form and much more.
Set during the waning years of America’s Prohibition era (1920-1933), Goldsborough’s tale finds the then 19-year-old, Ohio-born Archie having decamped to Gotham with hopes of expanding his realm of experience, only to wind up working as a night watchman …
One part of J. Kingston Pierce’s interview with Melanie McGrath was posted on the Kirkus Reviews Web site. But there was more material from the e-mail-discussion. You could read it on The Rap Sheet.
It’s hardly surprising that the new, 23rd James Bond film, “Skyfall”, should have “sold $87.8 million in tickets in the U.S. and Canada this weekend, breaking the previous 007 record of $67.5 million for 2008’s ‘Quantum of Solace’.” And of course: more news.
Scottish author Ian Rankin sent his long-running and persistently rebellious Edinburgh copper, Detective Inspector John Rebus, off into an unwelcome retirement in “Exit Music” (2007). Or at least, that’s what his many fans thought. But suddenly, Rebus back.
Allen Shadow (aka Allen Kovler) is a New York poet, songwriter, blogger and now author of the e-book “Hell City”, which Kirkus Reviews called “an entertaining mystery that borrows from the best in mystery and noir, while adding a heavy dose of modern paranoia.”
In “City of Saints”, Andrew Hunt – who was born in Salt Lake City but now teaches history in Ontario, Canada – uses the Moormeister homicide as the basis for a dramatic and elaborate mystery that, prior to its publication, won the 2011 Tony Hillerman Prize.
Taking another detour from his Matthew Shardlake Tudor detective series – as he did with the melancholy “Winter in Madrid” (2008) – Sansom gives us a what-if spy adventure set in 1952.
This time: Bouchercon 2012 ended on Sunday, the 2006 film “Casino Royale” was chosen in an international contest as the fan favorite among Bond movies and “What’s literature’s most frequently mentioned song?: “Hey Jude”. This and much more on “The Rap Sheet”.
During their exchange, Barclay – who lives in Ontario, Canada – explained to Ali Karim why the title of this new book underwent a change; why Bill Clinton figures into the narrative; the link between “Trust Your Eyes” and “Rear Window”.
In “The Paris Deadline”, Max Byrd offers up an alternately sparkling and suspenseful yarn with a mystery plot rooted amidst a loving re-creation of post-World War I Parisian life. Highly recommended.