Lisa Scottoline
by Jon L. Breen
Lisa Scottoline draws on both her training as a lawyer and her Italian-American heritage for her novels starring the all-female firm of Rosario & Associates.

"Dazzling Debuts"
by Dick Adler
Bloated best-sellers and bone-weary series stars sent this writer in search of fresh new voices. He's returned with an extraordinarily diverse array of first novelists with just one thing in common: talent.

The Possibilities of Happiness: A Chat with Alexander McCall Smith
by Charles L.P. Silet
At the recent Book Expo America, even the jaded publishing types were lining up to meet the author of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. If you've read any of his delightful Botswana mysteries then you understand. If not, then enter the world of Mma Precious Ramotswe.

"Waddling in Dwight was a Delight"
by Sue Owens Wright
In which our intrepid correspondent braves hundreds of, well, waddling basset hounds in search of literary inspiration.

"The Real Deal: An interview with James Swain"
by Tom Nolan
A celebrated card expert himself, Swain's tales of casino cheats and scam artists have hit the literary jackpot.

"Americans in Paris"
by Brad Spurgeon
French mystery readers put the most popular U.S. writers at the top of their own bestseller lists - but they still love noir.

"Collecting Dell Map Backs"
by Gary Lovisi
The Dell Map Backs of the 1940s and 50s were something special. It wasn't only their content; as excellent as that often was; they were, quite simply, beautiful books.

More Contents of Issue #80