Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 11
Gar Anthony Haywood is one of my treasured discoveries of 2010. I had the opportunity to read his new novel, CEMETERY ROAD (which I recommended on Day 4). Afterward I went out to track down his backlist. He's an amazingly talented writer, so I'm beyond thrilled to have him making today's holiday recommendation. Not only is he making the recommendation, but he put a great deal of thought into his choice and came up with Ace Adkins' DEVIL'S GARDEN. Gar says,
"I absolutely love Ace Atkins's DEVIL'S GARDEN. As you know, it took me a while to figure out what book I wanted to promote, and this one won the prize. It's a great read."
Thanks Gar, I'm putting it on my list right now. To go along with Gar's recommendation, today I'll add a recommendation from my favorite female crime writer, Alafair Burke. Alafair didn't have a book release in 2009, so when 212 came out this year, I snatched it up immediately. Alafair's characters are outstanding, but she's especially talented at balancing her female characters. They are strong but not butch. Feminine but not prissy. They are human and funny and quirky. 212 is her best contribution to the genre so far - and she just keeps getting better!
1 comments:
DEVIL'S GARDEN is mildly interesting. Truth is stranger than fiction, and far more interesting, and for this reason I recommend that if you are not familiar with Roscoe ("Fatty") Arbuckle (and I wasn't), then read an account of the 3 trials in Wikipedia first before reading DEVIL'S GARDEN.
I have nothing against Ace Atkins; I might like his novel about Phenix City Ala in the 1950's better, since I am a Georgia girl.
DEVIL'S GARDEN is very informative about prohibition, and Hearst style journalism, and, to a lesser extent, Dashiell Hammett. Arbuckle's troubles may never have happened if modern day forensics were available then.
Would it spoil it if I told you what Devil's Garden is? It's revealed in the last couple pages of the book.
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