Linda L. Richards and the Economy
Oline H. Cogdill

“In this economy…”

OK, so how many times a day do you hear this phrase from newscasters, friends, waiters, sales people or even just floating through your brain like some modern-day mantra.

Makes you wish you had the theme song to The Beverly Hillbillies instead of this terror-inducing phrase in your head.

Hopefully, “in this economy….” will not stop you from buying books, preferably mysteries, and mystery-oriented magazines.

richards_lindaSo it should come as no surprise how Linda L. Richards’ newest Kitty Pangborn novel Death Was in the Picture feels so contemporary, even though the novel is set in 1930.

But what’s a Great Depression between friends?

Richards’s heroine Kitty has to deal with some of the same financial situations that her readers do in reality.

Sure, the financially strapped hero/heroine is a staple of the mystery genre.

Very few sleuths are wealthy, unless they are a Lord or something.

But very few exist in an economy that we have now.

Can you say Bernie Madoff?

Kitty came from a fairly affluent family, but the 1929 crash hit her family hard. Her father committed suicide.

While she still lives in the family home, she takes in boarders to make ends meet.

richards_deathwasinpictureThe scenes in which Kitty saves money, trims little things here and there will hit home with many readers.

When she is given money by a client to buy new clothes, she’s both giddy with excitement and frightened by spending all that cash on just clothes, instead of, say, for food.

In Mystery Scene's Winter 2009 Issue (No. 108), Kevin Burton Smith presents an insightful article about Richards, delving into how she made the secretary to a private detective the lead character.

I, too, found this quite interesting. (By the way, here’s a link to my review of Death Was in the Picture.)

After all, most of us—well, we women readers anyway—knew that Effie Perrine, Della Street and Peggy (on Mannix) were the real reasons those private detectives were so successful.

Like many mystery writers, Linda L. Richards includes a lot of layers in her novels.

And like most historical mysteries, her plots are a mirror to contemporary times.

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, April 2009.

Teri Duerr
2011-01-25 21:35:57

“In this economy…”

OK, so how many times a day do you hear this phrase from newscasters, friends, waiters, sales people or even just floating through your brain like some modern-day mantra.

Makes you wish you had the theme song to The Beverly Hillbillies instead of this terror-inducing phrase in your head.

Hopefully, “in this economy….” will not stop you from buying books, preferably mysteries, and mystery-oriented magazines.

richards_lindaSo it should come as no surprise how Linda L. Richards’ newest Kitty Pangborn novel Death Was in the Picture feels so contemporary, even though the novel is set in 1930.

But what’s a Great Depression between friends?

Richards’s heroine Kitty has to deal with some of the same financial situations that her readers do in reality.

Sure, the financially strapped hero/heroine is a staple of the mystery genre.

Very few sleuths are wealthy, unless they are a Lord or something.

But very few exist in an economy that we have now.

Can you say Bernie Madoff?

Kitty came from a fairly affluent family, but the 1929 crash hit her family hard. Her father committed suicide.

While she still lives in the family home, she takes in boarders to make ends meet.

richards_deathwasinpictureThe scenes in which Kitty saves money, trims little things here and there will hit home with many readers.

When she is given money by a client to buy new clothes, she’s both giddy with excitement and frightened by spending all that cash on just clothes, instead of, say, for food.

In Mystery Scene's Winter 2009 Issue (No. 108), Kevin Burton Smith presents an insightful article about Richards, delving into how she made the secretary to a private detective the lead character.

I, too, found this quite interesting. (By the way, here’s a link to my review of Death Was in the Picture.)

After all, most of us—well, we women readers anyway—knew that Effie Perrine, Della Street and Peggy (on Mannix) were the real reasons those private detectives were so successful.

Like many mystery writers, Linda L. Richards includes a lot of layers in her novels.

And like most historical mysteries, her plots are a mirror to contemporary times.

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, April 2009.

Agatha Christie's Miss Marple
Oline H. Cogdill

With so many mysteries being published each year, it’s easy to get swept up with the current crop and forget the old masters.

So often I have thought about the works of Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Dorothy Sayers, and, my personal favorite, Ross Macdonald and realized that I just don’t have the time to revisit their works.

Truthfully, I barely have the time to read new works.

So Art Taylor’s ultra-cool story titled "Miss Jane Marple: Spinster Sleuth Extraordinaire" was especially interesting to me. (The story’s in Mystery Scene's Winter 2009 Issue.)

christie_agathaWhile I left Agatha Christie off that list above, I hadn’t forgotten about her.

I cut my mystery teeth on Christie’s work and her novels always have a special place in my heart.

But with all the attention on new authors, I tend to forget:

* What a wry old bird Miss Jane Marple was. True, a bit creepy, always watching her neighbors, living vicariously in a sense. But she was the epitome of a sleuth—eagle-eyed, thoughtful, insightful and not swayed by personalities.

* What a complex personality Miss Marple was. She didn’t trust people, but at the same time she was never unkind to anyone.

* What a great plotter Christie was. Those stories were dense with clues and plot points and characterizations. Some readers might find the writing in those stories a bit dated but they are not.

* Contemporary issues abound in Christie’s work. Sure, these stories were written in another century, but issues of classism, fidelity, family secrets never go out of style.

* And talk about relevance….Christie’s books also have been released as graphic novels. Do you think that would happen if these stories were too old-fashioned?

* Senior sleuths are a group that is often overlooked. Christie may have been the first to give a voice to the often invisible senior citizen. With so many 30 to 40something sleuths dominating the genre, it is a refreshing change to have a 70something show her intelligence.

My knowledge of Christie and Miss Marple are scant next to Kate, who is a true Christie expert, and to Art, whose article makes some interesting observations.

But when I was 9 or 10, I discovered Christie’s novels and they lead me to so many more wonderful authors. For that, I am always grateful to Christie and her troupe of characters.

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, April 2009.

Teri Duerr
2011-01-25 21:55:54

With so many mysteries being published each year, it’s easy to get swept up with the current crop and forget the old masters.

So often I have thought about the works of Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Dorothy Sayers, and, my personal favorite, Ross Macdonald and realized that I just don’t have the time to revisit their works.

Truthfully, I barely have the time to read new works.

So Art Taylor’s ultra-cool story titled "Miss Jane Marple: Spinster Sleuth Extraordinaire" was especially interesting to me. (The story’s in Mystery Scene's Winter 2009 Issue.)

christie_agathaWhile I left Agatha Christie off that list above, I hadn’t forgotten about her.

I cut my mystery teeth on Christie’s work and her novels always have a special place in my heart.

But with all the attention on new authors, I tend to forget:

* What a wry old bird Miss Jane Marple was. True, a bit creepy, always watching her neighbors, living vicariously in a sense. But she was the epitome of a sleuth—eagle-eyed, thoughtful, insightful and not swayed by personalities.

* What a complex personality Miss Marple was. She didn’t trust people, but at the same time she was never unkind to anyone.

* What a great plotter Christie was. Those stories were dense with clues and plot points and characterizations. Some readers might find the writing in those stories a bit dated but they are not.

* Contemporary issues abound in Christie’s work. Sure, these stories were written in another century, but issues of classism, fidelity, family secrets never go out of style.

* And talk about relevance….Christie’s books also have been released as graphic novels. Do you think that would happen if these stories were too old-fashioned?

* Senior sleuths are a group that is often overlooked. Christie may have been the first to give a voice to the often invisible senior citizen. With so many 30 to 40something sleuths dominating the genre, it is a refreshing change to have a 70something show her intelligence.

My knowledge of Christie and Miss Marple are scant next to Kate, who is a true Christie expert, and to Art, whose article makes some interesting observations.

But when I was 9 or 10, I discovered Christie’s novels and they lead me to so many more wonderful authors. For that, I am always grateful to Christie and her troupe of characters.

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, April 2009.

A Cookbook for Mystery Authors
Oline H. Cogdill

labrue_literaryfeastfamousauthorsHey, we all have to eat, right?

And mystery readers—and authors—are just as good cooks as anyone.

That’s why I was happy to hear about Literary Feast: The Famous Authors Cookbook, published by the King County Library System in Issaquah, Washington.

Like all libraries and their fund-raising arms, the King County Library System Foundation is always looking for new ways to raise money that will continue to bring literacy to its community.

Giving a child or an adult the incentive to read and use the library profits us all.

And mystery writers know that libraries buy books, lots of books, and have readers, lots of readers.

Literary Feast: The Famous Authors Cookbook features many mystery writers, both hard-boiled and cozy, as well as others.

Alexander McCall Smith, dressed in a kilt (!), contributes Mma. Potokwani’s Fruit Cake recipe.

J.A. Jance lends her Sugarloaf Café’s Sweet Rolls. Jance’s next book, Fire and Ice, comes out in July and features both J.P. Beaumont and Joanna Brady.

Elaine Viets offers a fruit smoothie; “mainly because I can’t cook,” she added.

Katherine Neville has Alexandra Solarin’s Boeuf Bourguignon.

Faye Kellerman offers Moon Music Ribs while Jonathan Kellerman gives a potent Midtown Manhattan.

Several years ago, I remember another cookbook that featured many mystery authors. I had a copy, used it for years and then lent it to someone and have never seen it since.

I won’t make the same mistake with this book.

Literary Feast: The Famous Authors Cookbook is $22.95 and proceeds go to the library’s literacy and reading programs.

More information is at thriftbooks.com.

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, May 2009.

Teri Duerr
2011-01-25 22:21:20

labrue_literaryfeastfamousauthorsHey, we all have to eat, right?

And mystery readers—and authors—are just as good cooks as anyone.

That’s why I was happy to hear about Literary Feast: The Famous Authors Cookbook, published by the King County Library System in Issaquah, Washington.

Like all libraries and their fund-raising arms, the King County Library System Foundation is always looking for new ways to raise money that will continue to bring literacy to its community.

Giving a child or an adult the incentive to read and use the library profits us all.

And mystery writers know that libraries buy books, lots of books, and have readers, lots of readers.

Literary Feast: The Famous Authors Cookbook features many mystery writers, both hard-boiled and cozy, as well as others.

Alexander McCall Smith, dressed in a kilt (!), contributes Mma. Potokwani’s Fruit Cake recipe.

J.A. Jance lends her Sugarloaf Café’s Sweet Rolls. Jance’s next book, Fire and Ice, comes out in July and features both J.P. Beaumont and Joanna Brady.

Elaine Viets offers a fruit smoothie; “mainly because I can’t cook,” she added.

Katherine Neville has Alexandra Solarin’s Boeuf Bourguignon.

Faye Kellerman offers Moon Music Ribs while Jonathan Kellerman gives a potent Midtown Manhattan.

Several years ago, I remember another cookbook that featured many mystery authors. I had a copy, used it for years and then lent it to someone and have never seen it since.

I won’t make the same mistake with this book.

Literary Feast: The Famous Authors Cookbook is $22.95 and proceeds go to the library’s literacy and reading programs.

More information is at thriftbooks.com.

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, May 2009.

Nevada Barr: at the Parks and St. Martin's
Oline H. Cogdill

barr_nevadaI caught just a snippet of the preview of Ken Burns’ latest documentary series for PBS: The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. The six-week series was filmed over the course of more than six years at some of nature’s most spectacular locales—from Acadia to Yosemite, Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon, the Everglades of Florida to the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska. The series looks breathtaking, showing America in all its glory. One of the people interviewed for the series is Nevada Barr, whose mystery series, of course, takes place at the myriad national parks. I only caught a snippet of her interview, but Barr is a champion of the national parks service, showing in vivid storytelling the beauty, history and importance of the parks. Her character Anna Pigeon is a National Park Ranger whose job takes her across the country. Barr is the winner of the Anthony, Agatha, and the French Prieu du Roman awards. barr_borderlineHer latest novel is Borderline and it takes place at Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas. I gave it a postive review for Mystery Scene. (Thanks, Kate, for assigning this to me.) Borderline is the 15th Anna Pigeon novel, and reached No. 7 on the New York Times best seller list. In other Nevada Barr news, the author is moving her series from her longtime publisher to Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press. Minotaur Books will publish the next three books featuring National Park Service law enforcement officer Anna Pigeon starting in 2010. I don’t have any idea how the publishing world works. I just review novels, interview authors and blog about the whole thing. But I think this is a real coup for Barr’s new publisher. She is one of those authors whose novels I truly look forward to reading. The real winner here, of course, is the reader. Looks like we’ll have more of Barr’s novels to enjoy.

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, May 2009.

Teri Duerr
2011-01-26 18:29:56

barr_nevadaI caught just a snippet of the preview of Ken Burns’ latest documentary series for PBS: The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. The six-week series was filmed over the course of more than six years at some of nature’s most spectacular locales—from Acadia to Yosemite, Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon, the Everglades of Florida to the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska. The series looks breathtaking, showing America in all its glory. One of the people interviewed for the series is Nevada Barr, whose mystery series, of course, takes place at the myriad national parks. I only caught a snippet of her interview, but Barr is a champion of the national parks service, showing in vivid storytelling the beauty, history and importance of the parks. Her character Anna Pigeon is a National Park Ranger whose job takes her across the country. Barr is the winner of the Anthony, Agatha, and the French Prieu du Roman awards. barr_borderlineHer latest novel is Borderline and it takes place at Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas. I gave it a postive review for Mystery Scene. (Thanks, Kate, for assigning this to me.) Borderline is the 15th Anna Pigeon novel, and reached No. 7 on the New York Times best seller list. In other Nevada Barr news, the author is moving her series from her longtime publisher to Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press. Minotaur Books will publish the next three books featuring National Park Service law enforcement officer Anna Pigeon starting in 2010. I don’t have any idea how the publishing world works. I just review novels, interview authors and blog about the whole thing. But I think this is a real coup for Barr’s new publisher. She is one of those authors whose novels I truly look forward to reading. The real winner here, of course, is the reader. Looks like we’ll have more of Barr’s novels to enjoy.

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, May 2009.

Two Authors for Teenage Girls
Oline H. Cogdill

king_laurie2009
I wish Laurie R. King had been writing her Mary Russell novels when I was 13. That would be impossible since I have a sneaking suspicion we are around the same age. But I would have loved to have had a character like Mary Russell when I was around 13. Or 12. Or 15. Or any of those ages when I was devouring just about everything my hometown library had. I breezed through the most interesting books in the children’s library and by the time I was ready for more, there just didn’t seem to be anything that interested me. Most girls my age would have immediately latched onto Nancy Drew. I didn’t. I don’t know why, but I didn’t. Maybe my library didn’t have them. Maybe they just didn’t interest me (though I can’t imagine that). Maybe they were checked out at the time.

So instead I king_languageofbeesturned to Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, Mary Roberts Rhinehart. My mother was a big mystery fan and she had these wonderful hardcovers that were something like 59 cents. They were a wonderful introduction to mysteries. If only Mary Russell would have been around. This would have been not only a heroine I could admire but also someone around my age. Someone who could have been not just a character but also a friend. I would have read every one of Mary’s adventures, probably reread them and then started on Sherlock Holmes. Fortunately, Mary Russell is around for this generation and future generations of girls. I firmly believe that these novels will go the distance—that they will be read 30 years from now, and maybe beyond that. King’s Mary Russell novels were the first ones I recommended when a friend of my husband’s asked me for mysterybradley_sweetnessatthebottomofthepie suggestions for her 12-year-old. They also often are the first ones I recommend when women readers say they want something intelligent but not violent. (Actually, I have a lot of mystery authors whom I can recommend who fit that criteria.) King’s Mary Russell novels go across generations.

By the way, my profile of Laurie R. King is the cover of Mystery Scene's Spring 2009 Issue. She was a delight to chat with. Her latest Mary Russell is The Language of Bees. I also am going to start recommending The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. It’s about an 11-year-old aspiring chemist Flavia de Luce, a bright, lonely girl who just feels alienated from her family. Some of the books she reads and the quotes she references are not in the lexicon of most 21st century girls. But I think a bright child would enjoy the connection to Flavia. I think I would have. Tell me, do any of you have novels you read as a child or a young teen that are favorites?

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, May 2009.

Teri Duerr
2011-01-26 18:59:00

king_laurie2009
I wish Laurie R. King had been writing her Mary Russell novels when I was 13. That would be impossible since I have a sneaking suspicion we are around the same age. But I would have loved to have had a character like Mary Russell when I was around 13. Or 12. Or 15. Or any of those ages when I was devouring just about everything my hometown library had. I breezed through the most interesting books in the children’s library and by the time I was ready for more, there just didn’t seem to be anything that interested me. Most girls my age would have immediately latched onto Nancy Drew. I didn’t. I don’t know why, but I didn’t. Maybe my library didn’t have them. Maybe they just didn’t interest me (though I can’t imagine that). Maybe they were checked out at the time.

So instead I king_languageofbeesturned to Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, Mary Roberts Rhinehart. My mother was a big mystery fan and she had these wonderful hardcovers that were something like 59 cents. They were a wonderful introduction to mysteries. If only Mary Russell would have been around. This would have been not only a heroine I could admire but also someone around my age. Someone who could have been not just a character but also a friend. I would have read every one of Mary’s adventures, probably reread them and then started on Sherlock Holmes. Fortunately, Mary Russell is around for this generation and future generations of girls. I firmly believe that these novels will go the distance—that they will be read 30 years from now, and maybe beyond that. King’s Mary Russell novels were the first ones I recommended when a friend of my husband’s asked me for mysterybradley_sweetnessatthebottomofthepie suggestions for her 12-year-old. They also often are the first ones I recommend when women readers say they want something intelligent but not violent. (Actually, I have a lot of mystery authors whom I can recommend who fit that criteria.) King’s Mary Russell novels go across generations.

By the way, my profile of Laurie R. King is the cover of Mystery Scene's Spring 2009 Issue. She was a delight to chat with. Her latest Mary Russell is The Language of Bees. I also am going to start recommending The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley. It’s about an 11-year-old aspiring chemist Flavia de Luce, a bright, lonely girl who just feels alienated from her family. Some of the books she reads and the quotes she references are not in the lexicon of most 21st century girls. But I think a bright child would enjoy the connection to Flavia. I think I would have. Tell me, do any of you have novels you read as a child or a young teen that are favorites?

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, May 2009.

Sleuthfest Will Warm You Up
Oline Cogdill
altAs the northeast gets hit again with a snowstorm and the rest of the country is cold, we have a good way to keep warm.
That would be 2011 Sleuthfest.
Sleuthfest, sponsored by the Florida chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, begins March 3, 2011, with the Third Degree Workshop and continues March
4-6. Editors, agents, authors and forensic experts will be on hand to discuss writing.
And Fort Lauderdale in March is pretty darn nice. Even if we have a cold snap, it is a lovely time to come to South Florida.
Unlike other conferences, Sleuthfest is a writing conference, geared to aspiring writers and published authors. And fans are welcomed, too.
Registration is $255 for MWA members; for nonmembers, $275. The rate includes some meals. One-day attendance also is available. Information and registration is at www.sleuthfest.com.
This year's guests of honors are Meg Gardiner, author of “The Liar's Lullaby” and “The Dirty Secrets Club,” and multi-award winner Dennis Lehane, author of “Mystic River,” “Gone Baby Gone” and “Shutter Island.”

Gardiner won the 2009 Edgar award for Best Paperback Original for her novel “China Lake.” Lehane built his career with Boston private detectives Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro, who returned in his recent novel “Moonlight Mile.”
In addition, mystery authors S.J. Rozan, James W. Hall, Michael Koryta, Dana Cameron, Deborah Crombie, Lisa Unger, Julie Compton, Marcia Talley, and more will attend. Les Standiford and Joe Matthews will launch their nonfiction book "Bringing Adam Home: The Abduction That Changed America," about the Adam Walsh case.
Super User
2011-01-27 17:42:41
altAs the northeast gets hit again with a snowstorm and the rest of the country is cold, we have a good way to keep warm.
That would be 2011 Sleuthfest.
Sleuthfest, sponsored by the Florida chapter of the Mystery Writers of America, begins March 3, 2011, with the Third Degree Workshop and continues March
4-6. Editors, agents, authors and forensic experts will be on hand to discuss writing.
And Fort Lauderdale in March is pretty darn nice. Even if we have a cold snap, it is a lovely time to come to South Florida.
Unlike other conferences, Sleuthfest is a writing conference, geared to aspiring writers and published authors. And fans are welcomed, too.
Registration is $255 for MWA members; for nonmembers, $275. The rate includes some meals. One-day attendance also is available. Information and registration is at www.sleuthfest.com.
This year's guests of honors are Meg Gardiner, author of “The Liar's Lullaby” and “The Dirty Secrets Club,” and multi-award winner Dennis Lehane, author of “Mystic River,” “Gone Baby Gone” and “Shutter Island.”

Gardiner won the 2009 Edgar award for Best Paperback Original for her novel “China Lake.” Lehane built his career with Boston private detectives Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro, who returned in his recent novel “Moonlight Mile.”
In addition, mystery authors S.J. Rozan, James W. Hall, Michael Koryta, Dana Cameron, Deborah Crombie, Lisa Unger, Julie Compton, Marcia Talley, and more will attend. Les Standiford and Joe Matthews will launch their nonfiction book "Bringing Adam Home: The Abduction That Changed America," about the Adam Walsh case.
Traveling in Venice With Donna Leon; Starting With Ian Rankin's Edinburgh
Oline H. Cogdill

Ian Rankin and other crime fiction authors have said that if one wants to really understand a country look to its crime fiction. That’s certainly true as far as I am concerned. I feel I know Edinburgh from Scottish writer Rankin’s novels about John Rebus. The same is true of Michael Connelly’s and Denise Hamilton’s visions of Los Angeles; or John Lescroart’s San Francisco; or James W. Hall’s South Florida. The list goes on and on and on…So it seems logical to me that crime fiction would inspire tours of locales mentioned in the novels. Of course, these tours would sepeda_brunettisvenicehave to be tied to authors whose novels are so representative of a region. Like Ian Rankin. If you visit Edinburgh, you can find a walking tour has been set up to prowl the streets of Edinburgh mentioned in Rankin’s novels. “They take different routes each time, depending on how the guy feels,” Rankin told me during an interview last year for Mystery Scene. But usually each tour includes a stop at the Oxford Bar, where Rebus (and Rankin) has been known to frequent. Donna Leon's novels are so closely tied to Venice that she also has inspired many a tour of this lovely Italian city. Toni Sepeda is aleon_aboutface professor of literature and art history in Northern Italy. For years she has conducted tours of Venetian sites visited by Leon’s hero Commissario Guido Brunetti. The next stop is a tour book. Brunetti’s Venice: Walks With the City’s Best-Loved Detective, written by Sepeda with an introduction by Leon, has now been published by Grove Press. It’s $16.95 with 256 pages. Its publication coincides with that of Leon’s 18th novel, About Face. Brunetti’s Venice features description and history of the actual place mentioned in excerpts from Leon’s novels. The guide book looks rich in Venetian lore. My friend, Doreen, and her family are going to Venice this summer and are taking the guide Brunetti’s Venice with them. Maybe they will at least send me a postcard.

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, May 2009.

Teri Duerr
2011-01-27 18:09:05

Ian Rankin and other crime fiction authors have said that if one wants to really understand a country look to its crime fiction. That’s certainly true as far as I am concerned. I feel I know Edinburgh from Scottish writer Rankin’s novels about John Rebus. The same is true of Michael Connelly’s and Denise Hamilton’s visions of Los Angeles; or John Lescroart’s San Francisco; or James W. Hall’s South Florida. The list goes on and on and on…So it seems logical to me that crime fiction would inspire tours of locales mentioned in the novels. Of course, these tours would sepeda_brunettisvenicehave to be tied to authors whose novels are so representative of a region. Like Ian Rankin. If you visit Edinburgh, you can find a walking tour has been set up to prowl the streets of Edinburgh mentioned in Rankin’s novels. “They take different routes each time, depending on how the guy feels,” Rankin told me during an interview last year for Mystery Scene. But usually each tour includes a stop at the Oxford Bar, where Rebus (and Rankin) has been known to frequent. Donna Leon's novels are so closely tied to Venice that she also has inspired many a tour of this lovely Italian city. Toni Sepeda is aleon_aboutface professor of literature and art history in Northern Italy. For years she has conducted tours of Venetian sites visited by Leon’s hero Commissario Guido Brunetti. The next stop is a tour book. Brunetti’s Venice: Walks With the City’s Best-Loved Detective, written by Sepeda with an introduction by Leon, has now been published by Grove Press. It’s $16.95 with 256 pages. Its publication coincides with that of Leon’s 18th novel, About Face. Brunetti’s Venice features description and history of the actual place mentioned in excerpts from Leon’s novels. The guide book looks rich in Venetian lore. My friend, Doreen, and her family are going to Venice this summer and are taking the guide Brunetti’s Venice with them. Maybe they will at least send me a postcard.

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, May 2009.

Charles Todd's Next Adventure
Oline H. Cogdill

charlesandcarolinetodd
Caroline and Charles Todd; photo courtesy HarperCollins

For years, I have been a big fan of the Ian Rutledge series written by Charles Todd. Set in the post-World War I era, the series is steeped in the atmosphere of Britain during this time. More importantly, the series looks at a brilliant Scotland Yard detective who is still shell-shocked from his time during the Great War. Todd has kept the high standards in this series since it began with A Test of Wills in 1997. So I am quite interested to learn that Todd will be launching a new series with A Duty to the Dead, due out in August from HarperCollins. A Duty to the Dead will continue Todd’s look at the horrors of Word War I, this time through the eyes of Bess Crawford, a battlefield todd_dutytothedeadnurse. Todd is one of the handful of authors who have used the WWI background as a way of looking at society, survivors’ guilt and Britain during the first part of the 20th century. Todd wrote one previous standalone, The Murder Stone, about a young heiress in 1916 who returns to the rural estate where her powerful and beloved grandfather is dying of a stroke. Todd, the writing name for mother and son Charles and Caroline Todd, has made my annual list of the best mysteries for several years. Judging just from previous history, I think that readers will embrace Bess Crawford as they have Ian Rutledge. While some authors will write only one series—and carry it on for decades—I’m always enthusiastic when an author tries something new, especially when they return to their regular series. Sometimes it seems as if the author returns that regular series a little fresher, having had a nice and sometimes much needed vacation from their regular characters. I never want Michael Connelly to give up Harry Bosch, at least not for several years, but his breaks have only served to make his series even better. Connelly’s latest, The Scarecrow, comes out May 26. Harlan Coben's standalone thrillers put him on best sellers lists, but he still returns to Myron Bolitar now and then. Laura Lippman's standalones have been some of her best work, but I always like to see what’s going on with Tess Monaghan. Other authors such as Donna Andrews, Laurie King, Charlaine Harris—dear me, the list goes on and on—have given us two or even more series. The winner in all of this has been the reader. Do you have a favorite second series from an author?

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, May 2009.

Teri Duerr
2011-01-27 18:46:20

charlesandcarolinetodd
Caroline and Charles Todd; photo courtesy HarperCollins

For years, I have been a big fan of the Ian Rutledge series written by Charles Todd. Set in the post-World War I era, the series is steeped in the atmosphere of Britain during this time. More importantly, the series looks at a brilliant Scotland Yard detective who is still shell-shocked from his time during the Great War. Todd has kept the high standards in this series since it began with A Test of Wills in 1997. So I am quite interested to learn that Todd will be launching a new series with A Duty to the Dead, due out in August from HarperCollins. A Duty to the Dead will continue Todd’s look at the horrors of Word War I, this time through the eyes of Bess Crawford, a battlefield todd_dutytothedeadnurse. Todd is one of the handful of authors who have used the WWI background as a way of looking at society, survivors’ guilt and Britain during the first part of the 20th century. Todd wrote one previous standalone, The Murder Stone, about a young heiress in 1916 who returns to the rural estate where her powerful and beloved grandfather is dying of a stroke. Todd, the writing name for mother and son Charles and Caroline Todd, has made my annual list of the best mysteries for several years. Judging just from previous history, I think that readers will embrace Bess Crawford as they have Ian Rutledge. While some authors will write only one series—and carry it on for decades—I’m always enthusiastic when an author tries something new, especially when they return to their regular series. Sometimes it seems as if the author returns that regular series a little fresher, having had a nice and sometimes much needed vacation from their regular characters. I never want Michael Connelly to give up Harry Bosch, at least not for several years, but his breaks have only served to make his series even better. Connelly’s latest, The Scarecrow, comes out May 26. Harlan Coben's standalone thrillers put him on best sellers lists, but he still returns to Myron Bolitar now and then. Laura Lippman's standalones have been some of her best work, but I always like to see what’s going on with Tess Monaghan. Other authors such as Donna Andrews, Laurie King, Charlaine Harris—dear me, the list goes on and on—have given us two or even more series. The winner in all of this has been the reader. Do you have a favorite second series from an author?

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, May 2009.

When Mysteries and Theater Collide
Oline H. Cogdill

I know I am dating myself here, but the first play I saw that had a strong mystery element to it was Sleuth, during its first round on Broadway. It was in the year 19— (what, you think I am going to say?). It also was my first murderers1experience with Broadway and my first visit to New York City. Sleuth was an epiphany for me—allowing me to see that deft plotting and subtle clues could be translated to the stage. (At least that is what I believe I thought; I was pretty young at the time.) What Sleuth did was give me a lifelong respect for good mystery plays. Frankly, there are not a lot out there but the ones that succeed work well. (For the record, the musical Curtains worked; Agatha Christie’s long-running The Mousetrap does not.) So it was with much skepticism and a bit of apprehension that I attended a recent performance of Jeffrey Hatcher’s Murderers, at the nationally known Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida. Hatcher’s (Tuesdays With Morrie) Murderers is a sly trilogy about three people who never expected to become killers, but did. Murderers is set in a fictitious Sarasota retirement community, but the play can be appreciated no matter where you live. The three “murderers” are a 50something man who marries his girlfriend’s mother so the younger couple can avoid estate tax; a woman whose husband’s old love moves into their retirement community; and a manager at themurderers2 retirement community who hates the way some of the residents are treated. The three characters’ monologues are witty, reminiscent of the kind of tongue in cheek work that Donna Andrews, Elaine Viets, Jeffrey Cohen and Harley Jane Kozak write. The Asolo’s actors are first-class, and the play hinges on professional actors. Lesser talents would not get the nuances of Murderers. Mystery fans would find much to like in Murderers. If it is done in a regional theater near you, I would love to hear your comments. While I am not a theater critic, I am married to one who is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association, whose recent conference was in Sarasota, Florida. The conference is a wonderful excuse to sample an area’s best theater; in the past the conference has been held at Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Chicago, among other locales.

PHOTOS: Bryan Torfeh, top, Mercedes Herrero, bottom, in Murderers; Courtesy Asolo

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, May 2009.

Teri Duerr
2011-01-27 19:06:30

I know I am dating myself here, but the first play I saw that had a strong mystery element to it was Sleuth, during its first round on Broadway. It was in the year 19— (what, you think I am going to say?). It also was my first murderers1experience with Broadway and my first visit to New York City. Sleuth was an epiphany for me—allowing me to see that deft plotting and subtle clues could be translated to the stage. (At least that is what I believe I thought; I was pretty young at the time.) What Sleuth did was give me a lifelong respect for good mystery plays. Frankly, there are not a lot out there but the ones that succeed work well. (For the record, the musical Curtains worked; Agatha Christie’s long-running The Mousetrap does not.) So it was with much skepticism and a bit of apprehension that I attended a recent performance of Jeffrey Hatcher’s Murderers, at the nationally known Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida. Hatcher’s (Tuesdays With Morrie) Murderers is a sly trilogy about three people who never expected to become killers, but did. Murderers is set in a fictitious Sarasota retirement community, but the play can be appreciated no matter where you live. The three “murderers” are a 50something man who marries his girlfriend’s mother so the younger couple can avoid estate tax; a woman whose husband’s old love moves into their retirement community; and a manager at themurderers2 retirement community who hates the way some of the residents are treated. The three characters’ monologues are witty, reminiscent of the kind of tongue in cheek work that Donna Andrews, Elaine Viets, Jeffrey Cohen and Harley Jane Kozak write. The Asolo’s actors are first-class, and the play hinges on professional actors. Lesser talents would not get the nuances of Murderers. Mystery fans would find much to like in Murderers. If it is done in a regional theater near you, I would love to hear your comments. While I am not a theater critic, I am married to one who is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association, whose recent conference was in Sarasota, Florida. The conference is a wonderful excuse to sample an area’s best theater; in the past the conference has been held at Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Chicago, among other locales.

PHOTOS: Bryan Torfeh, top, Mercedes Herrero, bottom, in Murderers; Courtesy Asolo

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, May 2009.

Hawaii Five-0 Sing Along
Oline Cogdill
If you are like most people who are house bound because of the cold weather or tired of shoveling snow, then you are proaltbably dreaming of warmer weather.

Well, we know that isn't going to happen for a least a month or so.
And pay no attention to the fact that I live in Florida -- the only state that has not had snow this winter. Not that we are bragging or anything.

So here's something to warm you up -- the Hawaii Five-0 series, which airs 9 p.m. CST, 10 p.m. EST Mondays on CBS.

Just watching those warm waters, lovely beaches and sunshine will make you put on your swim suit now...of course, that would look a little silly with your hat, gloves, scarf and coat.

And because we all do need a bit of silliness sometimes, here's a comment and a song about Hawaii Five-0.
Hal Glatzer, author of Too Dead to Swing: It's good to have Hawaii 5-0 back again. The plots are still outlandish - real local crime is rather mundane - but the leading characters now are younger and more likely to crack wise; and as TV cop shows go, they have more "realistic" backstories. The producers kept Morton Stevens’ hard-driving theme music; so I did little Internet research and discovered that there are lyrics to it.
All together now . . . .
If you're feelin' lonely / You can come with me.
Feel my arms around you / Lay beside the sea.
We will think of somethin' to do.
Do it till it's perfect for you / And for me too.
You can come with me.
Who knew there were lyrics to that song! Thanks, Hal.
Photo: Scott Caan as Danny "Danno" Williams and Alex O'Loughlin as Steve McGarrett in Hawaii Five-0. CBS photo
Super User
2011-02-02 10:33:32
If you are like most people who are house bound because of the cold weather or tired of shoveling snow, then you are proaltbably dreaming of warmer weather.

Well, we know that isn't going to happen for a least a month or so.
And pay no attention to the fact that I live in Florida -- the only state that has not had snow this winter. Not that we are bragging or anything.

So here's something to warm you up -- the Hawaii Five-0 series, which airs 9 p.m. CST, 10 p.m. EST Mondays on CBS.

Just watching those warm waters, lovely beaches and sunshine will make you put on your swim suit now...of course, that would look a little silly with your hat, gloves, scarf and coat.

And because we all do need a bit of silliness sometimes, here's a comment and a song about Hawaii Five-0.
Hal Glatzer, author of Too Dead to Swing: It's good to have Hawaii 5-0 back again. The plots are still outlandish - real local crime is rather mundane - but the leading characters now are younger and more likely to crack wise; and as TV cop shows go, they have more "realistic" backstories. The producers kept Morton Stevens’ hard-driving theme music; so I did little Internet research and discovered that there are lyrics to it.
All together now . . . .
If you're feelin' lonely / You can come with me.
Feel my arms around you / Lay beside the sea.
We will think of somethin' to do.
Do it till it's perfect for you / And for me too.
You can come with me.
Who knew there were lyrics to that song! Thanks, Hal.
Photo: Scott Caan as Danny "Danno" Williams and Alex O'Loughlin as Steve McGarrett in Hawaii Five-0. CBS photo
Agatha Christie Always in Style
Oline H. Cogdill

poirot
David Suchet as Hercule Poirot and Zoë Wanamaker as Ariadne Oliver in "Mrs. McGinty’s Dead"; Courtesy PBS

Could Agatha Christie be the hottest new author to be discovered by readers? It kind of seems so. And Mystery Scene magazine is in the thick of this new look at Christie. Through July 26, PBS is airing Six by Agatha, a half-dozen whodunits by the famed British author, left. Starting the week of July 5, Mystery Scene Editor in Chief and co-publisher Kate Stine will be answering questions at the Barnes and Noble Agatha Christie TV discussion. Kate’s knowledge of Agatha Christie reaches beyond her role at Mystery Scene. For about five years she was the director of the Agatha Christie Society. Kate will be answering questions during the week of July 5 as part of the teaming up with PBS' Masterpiece Mystery. And BN.com is to give the viewers and readers access to experts connected to each of their programs. If you sign up for the Masterpiece e-newsletter for program alerts, you can be entered to win a set of Six by Agatha books. Kate should offer some thoughtful and entertaining background on Agatha Christie. If you want more info about Six by Agatha, visit PBS’ Christie site. It’s stocked with extras such as an interview with David Suchet, who plays Hercule Poirot, as well as interviews on “The Female Detective” with authors Sue Grafton, Faye Kellerman, and Tess Gerritsen. There also are bits of trivia such as the fact that David Suchet (last seen as Van Helsing in the 2007 Masterpiece production of Dracula) has appeared in his signature role as the suave Belgian detective Poirot in a staggering 61 episodes over the last 20 years. For those who are counting, that means there are just 10 more adaptations to go before Suchet completes the canon. And let’s not forget Miss Marple. Julia McKenzie, who takes over the iconic role of supersleuth Miss Marple, may look familiar to Masterpiece viewers. She played Mrs. Forrester (the widow unusually devoted to her beloved cow Bessie) in last year’s production of Cranford. Here’s what the upcoming episodes of Six by Agatha will include: Hercule Poirot: “Mrs. McGinty’s Dead”; Miss Marple, Series IV: “A Pocket Full of Rye"; “Murder is Easy”; “They Do it With Mirrors”; “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?”

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, June 2009.

Teri Duerr
2011-01-27 19:27:23

poirot
David Suchet as Hercule Poirot and Zoë Wanamaker as Ariadne Oliver in "Mrs. McGinty’s Dead"; Courtesy PBS

Could Agatha Christie be the hottest new author to be discovered by readers? It kind of seems so. And Mystery Scene magazine is in the thick of this new look at Christie. Through July 26, PBS is airing Six by Agatha, a half-dozen whodunits by the famed British author, left. Starting the week of July 5, Mystery Scene Editor in Chief and co-publisher Kate Stine will be answering questions at the Barnes and Noble Agatha Christie TV discussion. Kate’s knowledge of Agatha Christie reaches beyond her role at Mystery Scene. For about five years she was the director of the Agatha Christie Society. Kate will be answering questions during the week of July 5 as part of the teaming up with PBS' Masterpiece Mystery. And BN.com is to give the viewers and readers access to experts connected to each of their programs. If you sign up for the Masterpiece e-newsletter for program alerts, you can be entered to win a set of Six by Agatha books. Kate should offer some thoughtful and entertaining background on Agatha Christie. If you want more info about Six by Agatha, visit PBS’ Christie site. It’s stocked with extras such as an interview with David Suchet, who plays Hercule Poirot, as well as interviews on “The Female Detective” with authors Sue Grafton, Faye Kellerman, and Tess Gerritsen. There also are bits of trivia such as the fact that David Suchet (last seen as Van Helsing in the 2007 Masterpiece production of Dracula) has appeared in his signature role as the suave Belgian detective Poirot in a staggering 61 episodes over the last 20 years. For those who are counting, that means there are just 10 more adaptations to go before Suchet completes the canon. And let’s not forget Miss Marple. Julia McKenzie, who takes over the iconic role of supersleuth Miss Marple, may look familiar to Masterpiece viewers. She played Mrs. Forrester (the widow unusually devoted to her beloved cow Bessie) in last year’s production of Cranford. Here’s what the upcoming episodes of Six by Agatha will include: Hercule Poirot: “Mrs. McGinty’s Dead”; Miss Marple, Series IV: “A Pocket Full of Rye"; “Murder is Easy”; “They Do it With Mirrors”; “Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?”

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, June 2009.

Dennis Lehane, Dicaprio on Shutter Island
Oline H. Cogdill

Shutter_Island


One upcoming film I am looking forward to is Shutter Island, based on Dennis Lehane's novel. It’s due in national theaters Oct. 2, just in time for lots of discussions at Bouchercon.

Again, the previews look wonderful. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio and the film is directed by Martin Scorsese. Need I say more?

Set in the 1950s, Shutter Island is about two U.S. marshals who are called to investigate the disappearance of an inmate from a hospital for the criminally insane on a remote island off the coast of Massachusetts.

lehane_dennisShutter Island was totally unlike any of Lehane’s previous fiction and, if I remember correctly, readers were very mixed on it—either loving it or hating it.

I loved it and named it the top mystery of 2003 for the annual list I compile for the Sun-Sentinel.

Quoting myself, I stated that “Lehane takes still a different route in his seventh novel, Shutter Island, an unconventional psychological suspense tale with elements of an espionage thriller, a noir novel and even the locked-room mystery. It shares strong roots with the best of psychological cinema such as The Manchurian Candidate, The Wicker Man, Gaslight and The Game.”

Again, these previews look terrific. Take a look for yourself.

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, June 2009.

Teri Duerr
2011-01-27 19:52:00

Shutter_Island


One upcoming film I am looking forward to is Shutter Island, based on Dennis Lehane's novel. It’s due in national theaters Oct. 2, just in time for lots of discussions at Bouchercon.

Again, the previews look wonderful. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio and the film is directed by Martin Scorsese. Need I say more?

Set in the 1950s, Shutter Island is about two U.S. marshals who are called to investigate the disappearance of an inmate from a hospital for the criminally insane on a remote island off the coast of Massachusetts.

lehane_dennisShutter Island was totally unlike any of Lehane’s previous fiction and, if I remember correctly, readers were very mixed on it—either loving it or hating it.

I loved it and named it the top mystery of 2003 for the annual list I compile for the Sun-Sentinel.

Quoting myself, I stated that “Lehane takes still a different route in his seventh novel, Shutter Island, an unconventional psychological suspense tale with elements of an espionage thriller, a noir novel and even the locked-room mystery. It shares strong roots with the best of psychological cinema such as The Manchurian Candidate, The Wicker Man, Gaslight and The Game.”

Again, these previews look terrific. Take a look for yourself.

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, June 2009.

Johnny Depp, Public Enemies at the Movies
Oline H. Cogdill

publicenemies
Depp in Public Enemies; Courtesy Universal

A few years ago my husband I stopped going to the movies. It wasn’t that we disliked movies. Just the opposite, in fact. We both love movies and often quote some of the finest films in certain situations. Films like Animal House, Sunset Boulevard, any James Bond flick, What’s Up, Doc, and myriad other classics. It’s just that live theater took a priority in our lives. The last film we saw was Every Little Step, which was about the casting of A Chorus Line. Now we go for special films, or to join one of our godchildren. But one upcoming film has got my attention and I am really looking forward to venturing to the local movieplex. Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp as John Dillinger, is set to open July 1 across the country. Directed by Michael Mann, the previews to Public Enemies look terrific. Here, see for yourself. Briefly, Public Enemies shows how the FBI hunted notorious American gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd during a booming crime wave in the 1930s. It also stars Christian Bale as FBI agent Melvin Purvis, Stephen Graham as Baby Face Nelson and Channing Tatum as Pretty Boy Floyd. Billy Crudup as J. Edgar Hoover is certainly an interesting choice. From the previews I’ve seen, Depp should carry this film. Ever since 21 Jump Street, Depp has proven himself to be a real actor who immerses himself into each role. Watch him in Ed Wood as he becomes this mediocre filmmaker who’s naïve, totally unaware of his own limitations and yet so in love with the movies. He embodies everyone who truly is passionate about something yet lacks talent. Or take Sweeney Todd, a totally different approach from the Stephen Sondheim theatrical musical. Yet onscreen, Sweeney Todd works because Depp understands the source material.

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, June 2009.

Teri Duerr
2011-01-27 20:07:22

publicenemies
Depp in Public Enemies; Courtesy Universal

A few years ago my husband I stopped going to the movies. It wasn’t that we disliked movies. Just the opposite, in fact. We both love movies and often quote some of the finest films in certain situations. Films like Animal House, Sunset Boulevard, any James Bond flick, What’s Up, Doc, and myriad other classics. It’s just that live theater took a priority in our lives. The last film we saw was Every Little Step, which was about the casting of A Chorus Line. Now we go for special films, or to join one of our godchildren. But one upcoming film has got my attention and I am really looking forward to venturing to the local movieplex. Public Enemies, starring Johnny Depp as John Dillinger, is set to open July 1 across the country. Directed by Michael Mann, the previews to Public Enemies look terrific. Here, see for yourself. Briefly, Public Enemies shows how the FBI hunted notorious American gangsters John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd during a booming crime wave in the 1930s. It also stars Christian Bale as FBI agent Melvin Purvis, Stephen Graham as Baby Face Nelson and Channing Tatum as Pretty Boy Floyd. Billy Crudup as J. Edgar Hoover is certainly an interesting choice. From the previews I’ve seen, Depp should carry this film. Ever since 21 Jump Street, Depp has proven himself to be a real actor who immerses himself into each role. Watch him in Ed Wood as he becomes this mediocre filmmaker who’s naïve, totally unaware of his own limitations and yet so in love with the movies. He embodies everyone who truly is passionate about something yet lacks talent. Or take Sweeney Todd, a totally different approach from the Stephen Sondheim theatrical musical. Yet onscreen, Sweeney Todd works because Depp understands the source material.

This article was originally published on the Mystery Scene Blog, June 2009.

Laughing With Tim Dorsey, Others
Oline Cogdill
alt"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

That quote has been around for decades, maybe even centuries. Yet no one seems to agree on who actually said it.
Aside from being a line said by Peter O’Toole in the movie My Favorite Year, that line also has been attributed to Edmund Kean, Edmund Gwenn, and Donald Crisp. It could also be one of those phrases that no one said but has become part of our lexicon.

What is true, though, is comedy is hard.

Finding the mesh of humor to appeal to a wide range of people isn't easy. Each of us has a different sensibility. What's funny to me, may not be funny to you. And visa versa.

Comedy is even harder in mysteries.

I've been thinking a lot about humor in mysteries after just finishing Tim Dorsey's recent novel, Electric Barracuda. Dorsey is the Three Stooges of the mystery world, mixing slapstick, politically incorrect humor and wild escapades into what could be called a novel. The plots are outlandish and the characters unbelievable.
Yet for me, they work.

Still, Dorsey's humor isn't for everyone and that's all right.

The mystery genre is blessed with a number of very funny mystery writers. What makes these novels work is the fact that the authors take care to keep the seriousness of the murder serious but find the humor in the absurd behavior of people.

I like different kinds of humor.
Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series never fails to make me laugh. Yeah, the plots are the same and Stephanie is still the same person she was when Evanovich began that series with One for the Money. The latest is Sizzling Sixteen and I hope Evanvich can keep that series going for another 16 novels.

Donna Andrews, Elaine Viets and Nancy Martin write funny. Paul Levine also writes funny with his Solomon vs Lord series. And let's also add in Toni Kelner and Steven Forman. Harlan Coben has that perfect mix of humor and seriousness with his Myron Bolitar series.

I know I am forgetting some very funny writers. Who are your favorites?
Super User
2011-02-06 10:12:33
alt"Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

That quote has been around for decades, maybe even centuries. Yet no one seems to agree on who actually said it.
Aside from being a line said by Peter O’Toole in the movie My Favorite Year, that line also has been attributed to Edmund Kean, Edmund Gwenn, and Donald Crisp. It could also be one of those phrases that no one said but has become part of our lexicon.

What is true, though, is comedy is hard.

Finding the mesh of humor to appeal to a wide range of people isn't easy. Each of us has a different sensibility. What's funny to me, may not be funny to you. And visa versa.

Comedy is even harder in mysteries.

I've been thinking a lot about humor in mysteries after just finishing Tim Dorsey's recent novel, Electric Barracuda. Dorsey is the Three Stooges of the mystery world, mixing slapstick, politically incorrect humor and wild escapades into what could be called a novel. The plots are outlandish and the characters unbelievable.
Yet for me, they work.

Still, Dorsey's humor isn't for everyone and that's all right.

The mystery genre is blessed with a number of very funny mystery writers. What makes these novels work is the fact that the authors take care to keep the seriousness of the murder serious but find the humor in the absurd behavior of people.

I like different kinds of humor.
Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series never fails to make me laugh. Yeah, the plots are the same and Stephanie is still the same person she was when Evanovich began that series with One for the Money. The latest is Sizzling Sixteen and I hope Evanvich can keep that series going for another 16 novels.

Donna Andrews, Elaine Viets and Nancy Martin write funny. Paul Levine also writes funny with his Solomon vs Lord series. And let's also add in Toni Kelner and Steven Forman. Harlan Coben has that perfect mix of humor and seriousness with his Myron Bolitar series.

I know I am forgetting some very funny writers. Who are your favorites?
Daniel Woodrell's Oscar Nod
Oline Cogdill
altAs a movie buff, I am always interested in the Oscars. I can't help it, but I will watch the Academy Awards presentations every year, no matter how absurd or guady the show is.
As a mystery reader, I am most interested in the four nominations garnered by Winter's Bone. Winter's Bone has been nominated for best picture, best adapted screenplay, best supporting actress for Jennifer Lawrence and best supporting actor for John Hawkes.
I hope the attention to this small, lovely film brings more attention to its source material -- the novel by Daniel Woodrell.
Woodrell often has been called the "poet of the Ozarks," which fits. Woodrell writes about an area seldom shown in fiction -- the Missouri Ozarks. His characters are poor with hard-scrabble lives where violence, dysfunction and homemade drugs often enter the picture. His novels also are filled with hope and show how people can overcome anything.
Woodrell also is a beautiful writer whose prose is indeed akin to poetry.
Tomato Red, his sixth novel, won the 1999 PEN USA award for Fiction, and his second novel, Woe To Live On, was adapted for the 1999 film Ride with the Devil, directed by Ang Lee.
One of my favorite Woodrell novel is The Death of Sweet Mister, an uncomfortable look at a young mother, her brutal boyfriends and her impressionable son.
See the film, but also read the novels
Photo: Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's Bone.
Super User
2011-01-30 16:01:16
altAs a movie buff, I am always interested in the Oscars. I can't help it, but I will watch the Academy Awards presentations every year, no matter how absurd or guady the show is.
As a mystery reader, I am most interested in the four nominations garnered by Winter's Bone. Winter's Bone has been nominated for best picture, best adapted screenplay, best supporting actress for Jennifer Lawrence and best supporting actor for John Hawkes.
I hope the attention to this small, lovely film brings more attention to its source material -- the novel by Daniel Woodrell.
Woodrell often has been called the "poet of the Ozarks," which fits. Woodrell writes about an area seldom shown in fiction -- the Missouri Ozarks. His characters are poor with hard-scrabble lives where violence, dysfunction and homemade drugs often enter the picture. His novels also are filled with hope and show how people can overcome anything.
Woodrell also is a beautiful writer whose prose is indeed akin to poetry.
Tomato Red, his sixth novel, won the 1999 PEN USA award for Fiction, and his second novel, Woe To Live On, was adapted for the 1999 film Ride with the Devil, directed by Ang Lee.
One of my favorite Woodrell novel is The Death of Sweet Mister, an uncomfortable look at a young mother, her brutal boyfriends and her impressionable son.
See the film, but also read the novels
Photo: Jennifer Lawrence in Winter's Bone.
Remembering Andy, Anne, Shelly, Lesley, Ben & Jill
Lawrence Block

block_lawrence01

Lawrence Block owns up to a career of pseudonymous offspring, now out in ebook form.

By the time you get to read this, 40 or more hitherto out–of–print books of mine will be available in ebook form, courtesy of Open Road Integrated Media. When you add in the 50 or so ebooks already available from HarperCollins, well, that’s a lot of books.

More, in point of fact, than you’ll find on the ad card of my latest hardcover. The ad card is that page in the front of the book that lists the author’s other books, and lately mine has run onto a second page. You’d think it would be complete, but here’s the thing: it’s not.

And those 40–plus Open Road titles include quite a few you won’t find on my ad card. The new books (or newly–acknowledged, let us say, since some of them are a half–century old) are books which appeared originally under pen names. Some of those pen names were a fairly open secret, to collectors and specialists, of not to the general reading public. One or two were not.

In their new ebook existence, their covers will bear both my name and the pen name. So you’ll be able to read Carla, by Lawrence Block writing as Sheldon Lord. Or Thirty, by Lawrence Block writing as Jill Emerson. Or Gigolo Johnny Wells, by Lawrence Block writing as Andrew Shaw. Or—

I think you get the idea.

***

I can explain.

And I think the best way to do so may be in the form of a self–interview. That’s the sort of interview with which I’m most comfortable; when an embarrassing question comes alone, I have only myself to blame.

So let’s begin:

Why use pen names in the first place?

Various reasons. The first time I ever used a pen name it was handed to me. I had two stories in a single issue of either Trapped or Guilty, a pair of alternating bimonthly crime fiction magazines edited. When the magazine hit the stands, one story was by Lawrence Block, the other by B.L. Lawrence. (The editor, one W.W. Scott, rose to heights occasionally; Dan Sontup sold there regularly, and his alter–ego was Topsun Daniels. You can’t make this stuff up—except, clearly, W.W. Scott could.)

Sometimes I used pen names because I was being cute. The first Paul Kavanagh book had a narrator/protagonist with that name, and the book purported to be true. Same thing with the four Chip Harrison titles. Years ago, when the Harrison and Kavanagh titles were reprinted, I put my own name on them.

But most of the pseudonymous books bore pen names because the work on which they appeared was generically second–rate. Soft–core erotic novels for Nightstand and Midwood and Beacon and Berkley. Lesbian fiction. I mean, who would put his own name on a book for Beacon? (Well, Charles Willeford would. But not I.)

So these books were crap, right? So why bring them out now?

Hey, I’m as surprised as you are. For years I used to say that the one comforting thing about my early work was that it had not been printed on acid–free paper. God speed the acid, I said.

You seem to have changed your mind.

Yes, but not overnight. The first shift came some years ago, when the tag team duo of Ed Gorman and Bill Schafer convinced me into consenting to the reprinting of a book I’d called Cinderella Sims, which Nightstand published as $20 Lust. I’d conceived of it as a Gold Medal crime novel, lost enthusiasm for it along the way, and finished it up as that month’s entry for Bill Hamling at Nightstand. Ed and Bill thought it was a good book, and I gave in finally, and the book came out as a handsome hardcover volume from Subterranean Press and got a surprisingly generous reception from reviewers. My agent sold it in France, and they liked it just fine over there.

block_openroadtitles01Then Charles Ardai reprinted a pair of my Gold Medal titles at Hard Case Crime, and asked what else I had, and I dug up A Diet of Treacle, Lucky at Cards, and Killing Castro. The first two were Sheldon Lord books at Beacon, the third a book for Monarch by a pen name no one knew about, Lee Duncan. (His only book.) I got to put my original titles on the first two (instead of Pads Are For Passion and The Sex Shuffle) and Charles came up with a distinct improvement on Monarch’s Fidel Castro Assassinated, and again the critics were gentle. Vintage Lawrence Block, they said, when he was at the height of his powers, before the long slow heartbreaking decline.

They didn’t say that.

Maybe not in so many words. You had to read between the lines.

So you suddenly decided the work was good enough after all?

It’s possible I just relaxed my standards. When Evan Hunter asked what I thought about letting Charles reprint his Matt Cordell stories, I told him I remembered those stories fondly, and they were better than he thought. Anyway, I said, my own working principle was that, when faced with two courses of action, I pick the one that brings money into my house.

In other words, it all comes down to money.

I’m not going to pretend it’s not a factor. But so is age.

I often think of an observation my mother made. “The one good thing about growing old,” she said, “is that every year there are a few more things I just don’t give a shit about.” She was perhaps seven years younger at the time than I am now, and I have to say she got that one right. If I wrote something, why pretend I didn’t? Because someone might think less of me for it? Well, so what? I may have cared once. I don’t seem to care any longer.

block_openroadtitles02And who am I to say what’s good or bad? I’ve always liked the books I wrote as Jill Emerson, and was delighted to have the chance to bring out Threesome when Jim Seels and Bill Schafer proposed so doing. That book was a structural tour–de–force, and I’m still proud of it, so why not republish it? And why not bring out Jill’s six other books as well?

Consider Campus Tramp. It was Andrew Shaw’s first book, written in the summer of 1959, and it became a cult classic at Antioch College, where it was thought to be rather more of a roman a clef than it in fact was. When Creeping Hemlock Press wanted to reprint it, I was okay with it. I was troubled to hear that an old high school friend of mine was reading it; then he emailed me, full of praise for the book, and I decided it was time to quit judging my own work. Maybe he was just being nice. That occurred to me. And it’s certainly possible, because he’s a decent and well–mannered fellow. But I decided I’d rather believe he was sincere.

You believe what you want to believe, don’t you?

You betcha.

And now you’ve got 40 books that you’re suddenly willing to believe are good?

Well, some of them have always borne my name, like Deadly Honeymoon and After the First Death. And then there are the ones I’ve already acknowledged—the Hard Case titles, and the Paul Kavanagh and Chip Harrisons. But there are several Andrew Shaw and Sheldon Lord titles I never thought I’d acknowledge, and then there’s my first–ever book, Strange Are the Ways of Love by Lesley Evans, and there’s a romantic espionage title that absolutely nobody knows I wrote— Oh?

Passport to Peril, by Anne Campbell Clarke. Set in the West of Ireland in the 1960s. The heroine is an American folksinger, hunting songs for her next album, who finds herself an unwitting pawn in a game of international intrigue. In an Andrew Shaw book she’d be a checker, getting jumped left and right.

I’ll let that pass without comment.

It’s the least you can do.

Would I be way off the mark if I guessed that you’ve been thinking about all these works a lot lately?

It could hardly be otherwise. See, for each of the Open Road ebooks, I wrote an original afterword. These run from 800 to 2000 words, so in all I wrote the equivalent of a book’s worth of end notes.

block_openroadtitles03They made you do this? Are you out of your mind? No publisher would dare ask a writer to do that kind of work for free.

No, silly, it was my idea.

And you’re calling me silly?

Point taken. It was, as I said, my idea, and the good people at Open Road thought it was a fine one, so there was nothing for it. I had to get to work. I spent a couple of weeks on it, and Memory Lane turned out to be potted with pitholes and...

Say what?

Pitted with potholes, I mean. It was a bumpy ride, but I fastened my seatbelt and went the distance. In a sense, I was writing a memoir on the installment plan, and it took me to some curious places. I wound up being far more candid than I expected to be.

Do tell.

Well, see, that’s the thing. I did tell. And yes, some day those afterwords might become a book in themselves. Or not. We’ll see.

Anyway, one thing led to another. One of the Jill Emerson titles is A Madwoman’s Diary, and in the course of writing about it I remembered its origin. The plot was based on a psychosexual case history in a book by John Warren Wells. That’s a pen name I used on collections of psychosexual case histories.

Which you drew from a shrink’s files?

No, which I fabricated. I made up the case histories, and one of them sort of stayed in my mind, and I decided it would make an interesting novel.

So you plagiarized yourself.

I prefer to think of it as recycling. But here I was, writing about John Warren Wells, which is something I never do, and it got me thinking.

You’re not going to bring those back, are you?

I might. I wouldn’t put it past me. We’ll see whether people turn out to be interested in the books of mine that Open Road already has.

Forty, I think you said.

Well, 40–plus. And there’ll be some more in a few months, because Charles Ardai and Bill Schafer teamed up to combine two of my books in Hard Case Crime #69, Sheldon Lord’s 69 Barrow Street and Ben Christopher’s Strange Embrace.

Ben Christopher? Where’d he come from?

It was a name Don Westlake and I each used once, for tie–ins. He used it in a lead story for 77 Sunset Strip Magazine, and I used it on this one book, which started out to be a tie–in with the Johnny Midnight TV series. Anyway, Ben and Sheldon teamed up for this one.

And they’re publishing them back to back?

More like belly–to–belly. Remember the old Ace double volumes? And I wrote an afterword for each of them, and after the book’s been out for a few months, they’ll both morph into Open Road ebooks.

You have no shame.

I know.

Seriously, you should be ashamed of yourself.

How can I? You just said—

I know what I said. How is it that you’re able to participate in a self-interview and piss off the person asking the questions?

That’s a good question.

Teri Duerr
2011-02-01 17:16:14

block_lawrence01Lawrence Block owns up to a career of pseudonymous offspring, now out in ebook form.

Romancing the Con
Twist Phelan

Finding true love at a mystery convention.

Match.com, eHarmony.com, SugarDaddies.com... MysteryCon.com? On a per capita basis, mystery conventions are putting Internet dating sites to shame. At last count, at least four couples have found wedded bliss after first encounters at friendly gatherings of mystery fans.

Did their eyes meet at a less-than-scintillating panel? In line for an author signing? Across the room at the hotel bar? Read on for the answers, presented in roundtable format, to these and other questions about discovering true love at a crime convention.

But first, an introduction to the love-crossed couples:

couples1

Tasha Alexander & Andrew Grant (Authors) Teresa & Joseph Scarpato, Jr.
Met: Bouchercon 2008 To be married in 2010* (Book Reviewer - Joseph, and mystery fan)
*Married in the spring of 2010 Met: Bouchercon1998 Married: 2004

couples2

Ruth & Jon Jordan Kate Stine & Brian Skupin
(Publishers, CrimeSpree Magazine) (Publishers, Mystery Scene Magazine)
Met: Bouchercon 1999 Married: 2000 Met: Magna Cum Murder 1999 Married: 2000

Describe your first encounter.

Kate & Brian
K: I was on a panel about book reviewing at Magna Cum Murder and Brian was in the audience. Afterward, I walked up and asked if he had seen the conference organizer, Kathryn Kennison. There was no reason to think that he had, but as a single woman my policy was always to direct questions to the tall, good-looking stranger in the crowd first.

Ruth & Jon
R: We were in the hall of the convention center and struck up a conversation about all the people we’d met and how great the writers were to us. Then Ian Rankin came down the hall, slapped Jon on the butt and told us we were going to the bar.

Teresa & Joseph
T: Joe had posted to DorothyL, the listerv for mystery fans, that he’d be at the Mystery Review booth in the dealers’ room and encouraged everyone to stop by and say hi. A friend of mine was dying to meet Joe (she found him hilarious on DorothyL), so we went to the dealer’s room to meet Joe and Bob (one “O”) Smith. They were both quite funny, but there was something about Joe that made me want to see him again. I guess you could say it was love at first sight for me.

Tasha & Andrew
T: I was sitting at a table with J.D. Rhoades and a group of friends on the first night of Bouchercon. I was planning on making it an early night until I looked up and saw Andrew leaning against the bar a few feet away from me. I sidled over to him at once and introduced myself. We didn’t stop talking until long after the bar closed for the evening. The next morning, we went to a shooting range, where Zoe and Andy Sharp taught us everything we know about handling guns. It was an excellent first date.
A: I was in Baltimore for my first Bouchercon. In fact, my first book convention of any kind.... I thought the hotel bar would be the ideal place to begin, but when I saw the number of people in there I was horrified. There were hundreds. Maybe thousands. They all clearly knew each other. Walking up to complete strangers and introducing yourself doesn’t come easily to the English, so I decided to walk to the far end of the room then make my way back, talking to as many people as possible on the way. I stood at the entrance, took a deep breath and launched into the place, clear in my mission. I took two steps. Saw Tasha. And changed my plan.... My drink had only just arrived when, as if in answer to a prayer, she came over to talk to me. How kind, I thought. She can see I’m new here and that I don’t know anyone, so she’s being friendly. It was only later I discovered she had other motives.

What was his or her first romantic gesture?

Kate & Brian
K: Brian sent me a charming letter—a sure way to an editor’s heart. Still, I wasn’t certain his intentions were romantic until he suggested flying over from England for our first date—which was at the Malice Domestic Convention in Washington.
B: We had a long distance relationship for some time after we met. Kate sent me a care package of things she thought I would be interested in: music, a locked room mystery to read, that kind of thing. She was very perceptive.

pen_and_heartRuth & Jon
R: He sent me an envelope of magazine clippings and photos all to do with happiness and friendship, about a hundred in all, with a note that said, “When I think of you, I see...”
J: She sent me Miracle Whip and a mini-jukebox.

Teresa & Joseph
T: Joe’s not really that romantic. This doesn’t bother me. He makes up for it in so many other ways.

J: I didn’t know she was interested in me until after Bouchercon, when she emailed me a short story she had written and asked for my comments on it. That began an ongoing email relationship and a long-distance one at that, with her living in Atlanta and me in Boston. Eventually, she came up to visit.

Tasha & Andrew
T: Andrew is, without question, the Master of the Grand Romantic Gesture. The first one he made was flying eight thousand miles roundtrip only a few weeks after Bouchercon to come see me. This was rapidly followed up by the Most Romantic First Kiss Ever, on Fullerton Beach with a magnificent view of the Chicago skyline.
A: Tasha knew that my fortieth birthday hadn’t been celebrated in the most ideal circumstances, so on my second visit to Chicago she turned back the calendar and recreated the whole event—with a very different outcome! How did he or she propose?

Kate & Brian
K: Brian was working in the UK and I came over on a business trip. (I was consulting for Agatha Christie, Ltd. at the time.) He booked us on the Eurostar train to Paris and did a classic, on-bended-knee proposal in the Tuilleries Garden. He was such a stylish boyfriend; now he’s a stylish husband.

pizzaamoreRuth & Jon
R: We were in the grocery store, in front of the frozen pizzas. A plump and cheerful-looking woman tried to sneak by. Jon said to her, “I think she needs to marry me, don’t you?” The woman giggled and said, “Child, you sure do got to marry this man.” My ring came out of the quarter machine at the front of the store.

Teresa & Joseph
T: He didn’t. I found out he wanted to get married at a party for his brother. We arrived at the party and almost immediately, his brother’s wife and his sister came running over to me all smiles and wanting to see my ring. I had no idea what they were talking about. Then Joe’s brother joined us. He introduced me to some of the other guests as his brother’s fiancée. I told Joe’s brother to stop joking around; he looked at me, a little confused, but continued introducing me as Joe’s fiancée. After the party, we were at home watching TV. I finally muted the sound, turned to him, and asked, “Are we getting married?” He responded, “We can if you want to.” And that was that.

Tasha & Andrew
T: Both of us had come through extremely difficult divorces, and each of us assumed the other would never consider getting married again. However, in the midst of one of our long, long conversations while curled up on the couch, it became clear that the opposite was true. Neither of us had a problem with marriage as an institution, just marriages that involved the wrong people being together. We talked about it, and all of a sudden I said, “Did we just get engaged?” and he said, “YES!” The next morning, we went to Tiffany, where we learned they put you in a lovely private room and give you champagne when you buy an engagement ring.

How do you balance work and romance?

Kate & Brian
K: Brian actually works for a consulting company while I work full-time on Mystery Scene, so our collaboration is part-time. The only time it gets a little fraught is when the “What’s Happening With?” interview is running very late.
B: We’re lucky—a lot of the things we enjoy doing for fun, such as attending conventions and keeping up with mystery books, movies, and TV shows, are also things we need to do for work.

Ruth & Jon
R: Our day lives our very different and our time schedules are opposite of each other, so during our time together we try to do special things for one another.
J: Precariously. We make time for non-work stuff. We also share a lot of interests.

Teresa & Joseph
T: I work from home on occasion.
J: Weekends, holidays and vacations are best.

Tasha & Andrew
T: The beauty of both of us being writers is that we can work together, which means lots of extra time together, which we love. It’s wonderful to have someone who intimately understands the writing process right there to discuss a tricky plot point or a character who’s giving you trouble. And when you’re having one of those terrible days when it seems the only thing to do is beat your head against the wall, you suddenly find yourself much more pleasantly distracted.
A: Work and romance go hand in hand, because we get to spend our working days together as well as our free time.

If your spouse wanted to ferret out some secret about you, what fictional detective would best represent his or her investigatory process?

Kate and Brian
K: Brian is an easygoing guy who is also quite shrewd. I think of him as kind of a younger, cuter Columbo.
B: Julia Larwood from Sarah Caudwell’s books.

Ruth & Jon
R: Jon’s a fairly traditional bloke. He’d start off like McBain’s Ollie, slogging through the case, then realize he had just the person for the job and become Nero Wolfe to someone’s Archie or maybe Saul; I’d like to think it would take Saul to ferret out one of my secrets.
J: Ruth is Rebus.

alexander_andonlytodeceiveTeresa & Joseph
T: Hercule Poirot.
J: Her favorite mystery author at the moment is Louise Penny, so probably her detective, Chief Inspector Gamache.

Tasha and Andrew
T: Andrew has the intellect of Holmes, the meticulous nature of Poirot, is as dashing as Peter Wimsey, and as cool as Sam Spade.
A: The only fictional detective who could possibly match Tasha’s wit, charm, and intelligence would be Lady Emily Hargreaves.

Any words of advice for those looking for love at a mystery conference?

Ruth & Jon
R: Good luck! If you meet someone at a Bouchercon, you know you both love mysteries. Not a bad start.
J: Don’t look for it. It finds you.

Teresa & Joseph
T: If you see someone you’re interested in, pursue him or her. However, if that someone is taken, leave him or her alone! There is a woman who pursues Joe every time she sees him at Bouchercon, no matter how many times he tells her he’s not interested. She completely ignores me, even if I’m standing there. I think it’s funny; I know Joe won’t respond.
J: Don’t look for it. Let it find you.

Tasha & Andrew
T: I think looking for love is always a mistake. You’ve got to have reached the point in your life where you are truly happy to be on your own—when you’re more concerned with being yourself and following the path that’s right for you than you are with trying to impress someone. It’s when you’re in this mode that you’re showing people who you really are—and this is the time when you’ll attract someone who likes the real you, not some polished up, looking for love version. It’s foolproof, really, so long as you’re both at that point and both being completely honest.
A: It seems to me that true love is a kind of conundrum—you can only find it when you’re not looking for it. Sorry!

Kate & Brian
K: Walk up to the most intriguing person in sight and ask if he or she knows where Kathryn Kennison is. It worked for me.
B: Go with the tried and true: Head for the bar.

Twist Phelan is the author of the critically-acclaimed Pinnacle Peak mystery series (Poisoned Pen Press), and short stories for various anthologies. She is currently at work on a thriller. Twist met her sweetheart the old-fashioned way: via the Internet.

Originally published in Mystery Scene #113.

Teri Duerr
2011-02-04 20:08:08

tasha-and-alex Four couples share stories of finding true love at a mystery convention.

Get Justified -- Again
Oline Cogdill
altThe mystery genre is loaded with thousands of gripping novels, poignant characters and solid plots.

Yet when it comes to TV and movies, very few of those wonderful novels make it to the big or little screen intact. The exceptions are so good that they become timeless classics -- Mystic River, L.A. Confidential, The Grifters, Get Shorty, Jackie Brown and a few others.

Add to that list Justified, which makes its return Feb. 9 on FX. It will air on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Justified's first season is available on DVD.

Justified is based on a Leonard short story about U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens, an old-fashioned Kentucky lawman who is a deeply flawed good man. He knows what he is. A relentless lawman, quick on the draw and usually justified in his shooting.
On the personal side, Givens' is incapable of being faithful but he's so darned charming few women can stay mad at him. However, those charms don't work on criminals and he has more than his share of enemies, which will heat up even more during this season.
What makes Justified work -- and I am so looking forward to this second season -- is that the screenwriters cull Leonard's pitch perfect dialogue. Leonard has always been able to say so much with so few words. He makes the dialogue look simple, but it's loaded with depth.

But Leonard has never skimped on action. Justified's second season begins about two hours after the first season ended so expect plenty of fire power.

Leonard currently is working on a full-length novel about U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens.
Photo: Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens in Justified. FX photo
Super User
2011-02-09 10:46:09
altThe mystery genre is loaded with thousands of gripping novels, poignant characters and solid plots.

Yet when it comes to TV and movies, very few of those wonderful novels make it to the big or little screen intact. The exceptions are so good that they become timeless classics -- Mystic River, L.A. Confidential, The Grifters, Get Shorty, Jackie Brown and a few others.

Add to that list Justified, which makes its return Feb. 9 on FX. It will air on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Justified's first season is available on DVD.

Justified is based on a Leonard short story about U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens, an old-fashioned Kentucky lawman who is a deeply flawed good man. He knows what he is. A relentless lawman, quick on the draw and usually justified in his shooting.
On the personal side, Givens' is incapable of being faithful but he's so darned charming few women can stay mad at him. However, those charms don't work on criminals and he has more than his share of enemies, which will heat up even more during this season.
What makes Justified work -- and I am so looking forward to this second season -- is that the screenwriters cull Leonard's pitch perfect dialogue. Leonard has always been able to say so much with so few words. He makes the dialogue look simple, but it's loaded with depth.

But Leonard has never skimped on action. Justified's second season begins about two hours after the first season ended so expect plenty of fire power.

Leonard currently is working on a full-length novel about U.S. Marshall Raylan Givens.
Photo: Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens in Justified. FX photo
Baltimore Poe House in Danger
Oline Cogdill
altHe's considered the father of American detective fiction. And now his home is in danger.
Because of a tight budget, the Edgar Allan Poe House in Baltimore is no longer receiving city funding to keep the historic landmark going. That amounts to about $80,000 a year to pay for the curator's salary, a security system, utilities and supplies.
Actually, the Poe House hasn't received any money from the city's general fund since last summer. It has been operating thanks to money that the curator, Jeff Jerome, has raised through the years. Now Baltimore is saying that the Poe House must be self-sustaining by 2012 or it will close.
Poe lived in the cramped three-room row house that's now in a dicey neighborhood with his aunt, cousins and grandmother from 1832-1835, before he became famous for his macabre tales. He never lived in Baltimore again, but he died in the city and and is buried in Baltimore. Poe houses also are in Philadelphia and New York, and other cities.

Landmarks such as the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum in Baltimore are part of our history and should be preserved and open to visitors. While it cannot be torn down because of its historical designation, a vacant house is an open invitation to vandals.
These are tough economic times we live in and every city has had to make uncomfortable cutbacks.
Baltimore alone has had several historic venues such as the Peale Museum and the H.L. Mencken House either go close completely to visitors or open sporadically. Other cities also are shuttering libraries, museums, historical landmarks. Many members of DorothyL have been discussing the closing of the Poe House, showing how mystery readers are united.
There's a petition to sign to keep open the Poe House at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-the-poe-house-and-museum-in-baltimore/.
Currently, more than 2,400 people have signed it. Sign the petition but also send money if you can. If 80,000 peole sent in $2 or $3 each, that would be enough to keep it running for a couple of years.
Photo: The Baltimore Poe House and Museum
Super User
2011-02-13 10:12:19
altHe's considered the father of American detective fiction. And now his home is in danger.
Because of a tight budget, the Edgar Allan Poe House in Baltimore is no longer receiving city funding to keep the historic landmark going. That amounts to about $80,000 a year to pay for the curator's salary, a security system, utilities and supplies.
Actually, the Poe House hasn't received any money from the city's general fund since last summer. It has been operating thanks to money that the curator, Jeff Jerome, has raised through the years. Now Baltimore is saying that the Poe House must be self-sustaining by 2012 or it will close.
Poe lived in the cramped three-room row house that's now in a dicey neighborhood with his aunt, cousins and grandmother from 1832-1835, before he became famous for his macabre tales. He never lived in Baltimore again, but he died in the city and and is buried in Baltimore. Poe houses also are in Philadelphia and New York, and other cities.

Landmarks such as the Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum in Baltimore are part of our history and should be preserved and open to visitors. While it cannot be torn down because of its historical designation, a vacant house is an open invitation to vandals.
These are tough economic times we live in and every city has had to make uncomfortable cutbacks.
Baltimore alone has had several historic venues such as the Peale Museum and the H.L. Mencken House either go close completely to visitors or open sporadically. Other cities also are shuttering libraries, museums, historical landmarks. Many members of DorothyL have been discussing the closing of the Poe House, showing how mystery readers are united.
There's a petition to sign to keep open the Poe House at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-the-poe-house-and-museum-in-baltimore/.
Currently, more than 2,400 people have signed it. Sign the petition but also send money if you can. If 80,000 peole sent in $2 or $3 each, that would be enough to keep it running for a couple of years.
Photo: The Baltimore Poe House and Museum
How Much Sex and Violence Is Too Much
Oline Cogdill
altI've been thinking a lot about sex and violence lately.
Oh, please. Get your mind out of the gutter.
I've been thinking about this topic because I am part of a panel this weekend for the Florida chapter of the Mystery Writers of America. The exact title of the panel is "Love & Murder;" but we all know what that means.
Florida author Deborah Sharp, right, who is putting together the panel, has come up with some good questions for the speakers, who include P.J. Parrish (Kristy Montee) and Linda Conrad.
Do authors use too much sex and violence?
I read a crazy amount of mysteries every year. You don't even want to know how many as it would seem, well, crazy.
The good news is I believe that most authors use violence only when needed to get a point across or to add to the heart-stopping action. Some authors such as Jacqueline Winspear, Laura Lippman and Harlan Coben use violence very sparingly, making it organic to the story.
The bad news is that some authors seem to feel that if the body count isn't high, the readership won't be either. These are the mysteries that set my teeth on edge, that succumb to the cliches of the genre and follow what I call the Fair Game syndrome. And I am talking about the 1995 movie with Cindy Crawford, which seemed to have a death in every scene.
When an author believes that he or she has to have more, more, more, then chances are the story is just not there and the author needs to sit back and think long and hard about the type of story he or she wants to write.
The use of violence also parallels the use of sex in mysteries. Too much just doesn't work.
I'd like to know readers' views on the issue of sex and violence. What do you think?
Super User
2011-02-16 10:41:34
altI've been thinking a lot about sex and violence lately.
Oh, please. Get your mind out of the gutter.
I've been thinking about this topic because I am part of a panel this weekend for the Florida chapter of the Mystery Writers of America. The exact title of the panel is "Love & Murder;" but we all know what that means.
Florida author Deborah Sharp, right, who is putting together the panel, has come up with some good questions for the speakers, who include P.J. Parrish (Kristy Montee) and Linda Conrad.
Do authors use too much sex and violence?
I read a crazy amount of mysteries every year. You don't even want to know how many as it would seem, well, crazy.
The good news is I believe that most authors use violence only when needed to get a point across or to add to the heart-stopping action. Some authors such as Jacqueline Winspear, Laura Lippman and Harlan Coben use violence very sparingly, making it organic to the story.
The bad news is that some authors seem to feel that if the body count isn't high, the readership won't be either. These are the mysteries that set my teeth on edge, that succumb to the cliches of the genre and follow what I call the Fair Game syndrome. And I am talking about the 1995 movie with Cindy Crawford, which seemed to have a death in every scene.
When an author believes that he or she has to have more, more, more, then chances are the story is just not there and the author needs to sit back and think long and hard about the type of story he or she wants to write.
The use of violence also parallels the use of sex in mysteries. Too much just doesn't work.
I'd like to know readers' views on the issue of sex and violence. What do you think?
Agatha Award Nominees Announced
Oline Cogdill
Last month we had the nominees for the Edgar Awards; now it's time for Malice Domestic's Agatha Award nominees.

Malice Domestic 23 will be April 29-May 1 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Bethesda, MD. The Agatha Awards will be given out during the Agatha Awards banquet to be held on Saturday, April 30.
 
Congratulations to all the nominees.
 
2010 Agatha Award Nominees

Best Novel:
Stork Raving Mad by Donna Andrews (Minotaur)
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny (Minotaur)
The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard (Ballantine)
Drive Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Mira)
Truly, Madly by Heather Webber (St. Martin's Paperbacks)

Best First Novel:
The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery Aames (Berkley)
Murder at the PTA by Laura Alden (Signet)
Maid of Murder by Amanda Flower (Five Star/Gale)
Full Mortality by Sasscer Hill (Wildside Press)
Diamonds for the Dead by Alan Orloff (Midnight Ink)
 
Best Nonfiction:
The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum (Penguin)
Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks: 50 Years of Mysteries in the Making by John Curran (Harper)
Sherlock Holmes for Dummies by Stephen Doyle & David A. Crowder (For Dummies)
Have Faith in Your Kitchen by Katherine Hall Page (Orchises Press)
Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous with American History by Yunte Huang (W.W. Norton & Co.)
 
Best Short Story:
"Swing Shift" by Dana Cameron, Crimes by Moonlight (Berkley)
"Size Matters" by Sheila Connolly, Thin Ice (Level Best Books)
"Volunteer of the Year" by Barb Goffman, Chesapeake Crimes: They Had it Comin' (Wildside Press)
"So Much in Common" by Mary Jane Maffini, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine - Sept./Oct. 2010
"The Green Cross" by Liz Zelvin, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine - August 2010
 
Best Children's/Young Adult:
Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer by John Grisham (Dutton Children's)
Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus by R. L. LaFevers (Houghton Mifflin)
The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y. S. Lee (Candlewick)
Virals by Kathy Reichs (Razorbill)
The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith (Atheneum) 
 
Super User
2011-02-18 01:27:24
Last month we had the nominees for the Edgar Awards; now it's time for Malice Domestic's Agatha Award nominees.

Malice Domestic 23 will be April 29-May 1 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Bethesda, MD. The Agatha Awards will be given out during the Agatha Awards banquet to be held on Saturday, April 30.
 
Congratulations to all the nominees.
 
2010 Agatha Award Nominees

Best Novel:
Stork Raving Mad by Donna Andrews (Minotaur)
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny (Minotaur)
The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard (Ballantine)
Drive Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Mira)
Truly, Madly by Heather Webber (St. Martin's Paperbacks)

Best First Novel:
The Long Quiche Goodbye by Avery Aames (Berkley)
Murder at the PTA by Laura Alden (Signet)
Maid of Murder by Amanda Flower (Five Star/Gale)
Full Mortality by Sasscer Hill (Wildside Press)
Diamonds for the Dead by Alan Orloff (Midnight Ink)
 
Best Nonfiction:
The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum (Penguin)
Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks: 50 Years of Mysteries in the Making by John Curran (Harper)
Sherlock Holmes for Dummies by Stephen Doyle & David A. Crowder (For Dummies)
Have Faith in Your Kitchen by Katherine Hall Page (Orchises Press)
Charlie Chan: The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous with American History by Yunte Huang (W.W. Norton & Co.)
 
Best Short Story:
"Swing Shift" by Dana Cameron, Crimes by Moonlight (Berkley)
"Size Matters" by Sheila Connolly, Thin Ice (Level Best Books)
"Volunteer of the Year" by Barb Goffman, Chesapeake Crimes: They Had it Comin' (Wildside Press)
"So Much in Common" by Mary Jane Maffini, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine - Sept./Oct. 2010
"The Green Cross" by Liz Zelvin, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine - August 2010
 
Best Children's/Young Adult:
Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer by John Grisham (Dutton Children's)
Theodosia and the Eyes of Horus by R. L. LaFevers (Houghton Mifflin)
The Agency: A Spy in the House by Y. S. Lee (Candlewick)
Virals by Kathy Reichs (Razorbill)
The Other Side of Dark by Sarah Smith (Atheneum) 
 
Lots to Learn at Sleuthfest
Oline Cogdill
alt
 
When Sleuthfest first began, it was among a handful of conferences across the country.
 
That was about 20 years ago and the world -- and especially the mystery fiction world -- has changed.
 
Now there are so many regional conferences that it's hard to keep track of them all.
 
What hasn't changed is that Sleuthfest is still one of the few conferences that is geared for writers, not fans. Of course, fans are always welcomed, but Sleuthfest is mainly for writers -- published and unpublished. It is one of the few conferences that has panels for writing and for crime scene detection. 
 
Sleuthfest begins March 3,  with the workshop Third Degree Thursday and continues March 4-6. Editors, agents, authors and forensic experts will be on hand to discuss writing.
 
And did I mention that Sleuthfest is in Fort Lauderdale. In March? And the organizers can pretty much guarantee it won't snow.
 
Registration is $255 for MWA members; $275 for nonmembers. The rate includes some meals. One-day attendance also is available. Information and registration is at www.sleuthfest.com.
 
As in years past, Sleuthfest will have two guests of honor. Edgar winner Meg Gardiner, author of “The Liar's Lullaby” and “The Dirty Secrets Club,” will be the Friday guest. Multi-award winner Dennis Lehane, author of “Mystic River,” “Gone Baby Gone” and “Shutter Island,” will be the guest of honor Saturday.
 
Sleuthfest will feature other authors. S.J. Rozan will be the spotlight speaker during the Third Degree Thursday.
 
Les Standiford and Joe Matthews will discuss their nonfiction book Bringing Adam Home: The Abduction That Changed America, about the Adam Walsh case.
 
In addition, mystery authors James W. Hall, Michael Koryta, Dana Cameron, Deborah Crombie, Lisa Unger, Julie Compton, Marcia Talley, PJ Parrish, Lisa Black, Lisa Unger, Toni Kelner, James Benn, Lori Roy, Wallace Stroby, Michael Palmer, Daniel Palmer, Jonathon King, Elaine Viets and more will attend.
 
Super User
2011-03-01 10:48:29
alt
 
When Sleuthfest first began, it was among a handful of conferences across the country.
 
That was about 20 years ago and the world -- and especially the mystery fiction world -- has changed.
 
Now there are so many regional conferences that it's hard to keep track of them all.
 
What hasn't changed is that Sleuthfest is still one of the few conferences that is geared for writers, not fans. Of course, fans are always welcomed, but Sleuthfest is mainly for writers -- published and unpublished. It is one of the few conferences that has panels for writing and for crime scene detection. 
 
Sleuthfest begins March 3,  with the workshop Third Degree Thursday and continues March 4-6. Editors, agents, authors and forensic experts will be on hand to discuss writing.
 
And did I mention that Sleuthfest is in Fort Lauderdale. In March? And the organizers can pretty much guarantee it won't snow.
 
Registration is $255 for MWA members; $275 for nonmembers. The rate includes some meals. One-day attendance also is available. Information and registration is at www.sleuthfest.com.
 
As in years past, Sleuthfest will have two guests of honor. Edgar winner Meg Gardiner, author of “The Liar's Lullaby” and “The Dirty Secrets Club,” will be the Friday guest. Multi-award winner Dennis Lehane, author of “Mystic River,” “Gone Baby Gone” and “Shutter Island,” will be the guest of honor Saturday.
 
Sleuthfest will feature other authors. S.J. Rozan will be the spotlight speaker during the Third Degree Thursday.
 
Les Standiford and Joe Matthews will discuss their nonfiction book Bringing Adam Home: The Abduction That Changed America, about the Adam Walsh case.
 
In addition, mystery authors James W. Hall, Michael Koryta, Dana Cameron, Deborah Crombie, Lisa Unger, Julie Compton, Marcia Talley, PJ Parrish, Lisa Black, Lisa Unger, Toni Kelner, James Benn, Lori Roy, Wallace Stroby, Michael Palmer, Daniel Palmer, Jonathon King, Elaine Viets and more will attend.
 
Online With Mystery Writers
Oline Cogdill
title
Back in 1991, Paul Levine's novel Night Vision followed attorney Jake Lassiter who was caught up in the murder investigation of three women who belonged to Compu-Mate, an electronic network whose members talk dirty to one another.
Back in 1994, Julie Smith wrote about a loosely connected group who had an active virtual life on TOWN, a computer bulletin board. That novel, New Orleans Beat, followed Smith's New Orleans detective Skip Langdon investigating what seems to be the accidental death of a man who fell off a ladder at home. The investigation takes a turn when Skip learns that members of TOWN suspect their friend was murdered because he had recently posted about flashbacks to his father's death 25 years before.
Back then, when I reviewed these two novels, the idea of an online community seemed as remote to me as, well, the idea that everyone would carry cell phones.

The internet was a tool I barely was aware of. I didn't even have my own computer then. I would never have thought my work, my friends, my spare time would be consumed by the Internet. I didn't have any idea of the power the Internet would have.
But mystery writers certainly were aware of the Internet's power. Now, so many authors are using the Internet as a major part of their plots.
Here's just a few I've come across recently:
J.A. Jance's latest Ali Reynolds mystery, Fatal Error, concerns man who meets and proposes to women over the Internet. The problem is that he's juggling several women at a time, one of whom may have snapped and killed him. Jance has said that Fatal Error was inspired by one of her friends, who thought she had a serious relationship with a man she “met” online, but then found out he was carrying on in a similar fashion with countless other women.
Daniel Palmer's Delirious revolves around Charlie Giles, the inventor of a new digital-entertainment system for automobiles. Charlie's life unravels when compromising emails and web sites are found on his company computer. A sophisticated hacker is out to destroy him.

In April, Hallie Ephron will publish Come and Find Me in which a young woman retreats to her virtual life following the death of her husband. Unable to cope with the world, she lives in her own world online.
Super User
2011-03-06 10:04:24
title
Back in 1991, Paul Levine's novel Night Vision followed attorney Jake Lassiter who was caught up in the murder investigation of three women who belonged to Compu-Mate, an electronic network whose members talk dirty to one another.
Back in 1994, Julie Smith wrote about a loosely connected group who had an active virtual life on TOWN, a computer bulletin board. That novel, New Orleans Beat, followed Smith's New Orleans detective Skip Langdon investigating what seems to be the accidental death of a man who fell off a ladder at home. The investigation takes a turn when Skip learns that members of TOWN suspect their friend was murdered because he had recently posted about flashbacks to his father's death 25 years before.
Back then, when I reviewed these two novels, the idea of an online community seemed as remote to me as, well, the idea that everyone would carry cell phones.

The internet was a tool I barely was aware of. I didn't even have my own computer then. I would never have thought my work, my friends, my spare time would be consumed by the Internet. I didn't have any idea of the power the Internet would have.
But mystery writers certainly were aware of the Internet's power. Now, so many authors are using the Internet as a major part of their plots.
Here's just a few I've come across recently:
J.A. Jance's latest Ali Reynolds mystery, Fatal Error, concerns man who meets and proposes to women over the Internet. The problem is that he's juggling several women at a time, one of whom may have snapped and killed him. Jance has said that Fatal Error was inspired by one of her friends, who thought she had a serious relationship with a man she “met” online, but then found out he was carrying on in a similar fashion with countless other women.
Daniel Palmer's Delirious revolves around Charlie Giles, the inventor of a new digital-entertainment system for automobiles. Charlie's life unravels when compromising emails and web sites are found on his company computer. A sophisticated hacker is out to destroy him.

In April, Hallie Ephron will publish Come and Find Me in which a young woman retreats to her virtual life following the death of her husband. Unable to cope with the world, she lives in her own world online.
L.A. Times Book Prize Nominees
Oline Cogdill
altFor the past three years, I have had the honor to be a judge for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the mystery/thriller category.

This has been the best experience I have ever had being a judge. That's mainly because of the other judges with whom I served—Sarah Weinman and Dick Lochte.
The three of us were focused on choosing the best novels we could.

altWe started with an incredibly long list that we kept narrowing down and narrowing down. That's good news because it means the three of us thought that 2010 was a very good year for mysteries.

Too many times judges let their egos get away from them and they focus on their own agendas, not on the nominees .

I can say proudly that never happened with the three of us. I would serve as a judge anywhere, anytime with Sarah and Dick.
So here is what you really want to know:

altThe 2010 Los Angeles Times Book Prizes will be awarded April 29, 2011, in a ceremony at the Los Angeles Times building.
Mystery/Thriller category nominees:

Tom Franklin, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter (William Morrow)

Tana French, Faithful Place (Viking)
french_faithfulplace
stanley_cityofdragonsLaura Lippman, I’d Know You Anywhere (William Morrow)
Stuart Neville, Collusion (SoHo Press) (Neville is featured in the latest issue of Mystery Scene)
Kelli Stanley, City of Dragons (Minotaur Books/A Thomas Dunne Book)
Congratulations to the nominees.
Super User
2011-02-23 10:44:03
altFor the past three years, I have had the honor to be a judge for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the mystery/thriller category.

This has been the best experience I have ever had being a judge. That's mainly because of the other judges with whom I served—Sarah Weinman and Dick Lochte.
The three of us were focused on choosing the best novels we could.

altWe started with an incredibly long list that we kept narrowing down and narrowing down. That's good news because it means the three of us thought that 2010 was a very good year for mysteries.

Too many times judges let their egos get away from them and they focus on their own agendas, not on the nominees .

I can say proudly that never happened with the three of us. I would serve as a judge anywhere, anytime with Sarah and Dick.
So here is what you really want to know:

altThe 2010 Los Angeles Times Book Prizes will be awarded April 29, 2011, in a ceremony at the Los Angeles Times building.
Mystery/Thriller category nominees:

Tom Franklin, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter (William Morrow)

Tana French, Faithful Place (Viking)
french_faithfulplace
stanley_cityofdragonsLaura Lippman, I’d Know You Anywhere (William Morrow)
Stuart Neville, Collusion (SoHo Press) (Neville is featured in the latest issue of Mystery Scene)
Kelli Stanley, City of Dragons (Minotaur Books/A Thomas Dunne Book)
Congratulations to the nominees.
Death of a Chimney Sweep Contest

M.C. Beaton, Death of a Chimney Sweep

10 CHANCES TO WIN

DEATH OF A CHIMNEY SWEEP by M.C. BEATON

Join police constable Hamish Macbeth as he stokes the ashes of murder!

Learn more about this M.C. Beaton from Grand Central Publishing/Hachette at: M.C. Beaton at Hachette Books.

{aicontactsafeform pf=4|use_css=1}

Offer Terms and Conditions

A free copy of the book DEATH OF A CHIMNEY SWEEP by M.C. Beaton will be sent to 10 eligible respondents drawn at random. ARV of book: $24.99 US. Offer available to legal residents of the US only who have reached the age of majority in their state/province/territory of residence. Limit one book per household. Offer ends March 25, 2011 , 11:59 p.m. (ET). Winners will be announced April 1, 2011 and notified by Grand Central Publishing/Hachette directly.
Personal information is collected in accordance with Mystery Scene Magazine’s privacy policy.
Brian Skupin
2011-02-24 22:26:33

M.C. Beaton, Death of a Chimney Sweep

10 CHANCES TO WIN

DEATH OF A CHIMNEY SWEEP by M.C. BEATON

Join police constable Hamish Macbeth as he stokes the ashes of murder!

Learn more about this M.C. Beaton from Grand Central Publishing/Hachette at: M.C. Beaton at Hachette Books.

{aicontactsafeform pf=4|use_css=1}

Offer Terms and Conditions

A free copy of the book DEATH OF A CHIMNEY SWEEP by M.C. Beaton will be sent to 10 eligible respondents drawn at random. ARV of book: $24.99 US. Offer available to legal residents of the US only who have reached the age of majority in their state/province/territory of residence. Limit one book per household. Offer ends March 25, 2011 , 11:59 p.m. (ET). Winners will be announced April 1, 2011 and notified by Grand Central Publishing/Hachette directly.
Personal information is collected in accordance with Mystery Scene Magazine’s privacy policy.