2011 Overall Favorite Reads

Wow! We've come to the end of yet another year. Next month I will celebrate four years of blogging. Doesn't seem possible at all. A lot of growing and changing have happened in those years. A lot of new friends and of course a lot of books! I love that we can share that common bond.

But, before I start getting too sentimental, let's concentrate on 2011. This year I read 98 books, which was four below last year's total of 102. I try to aim for 100 each year, but given all the wonderful busy-ness of this year, I'm not at all disappointed in that total.

Of the 98 books, 47 were audiobooks - so almost half.

There were 83 different authors in the 98 book mix, 51 were new-to-me authors and 14 were debut novels. 65 books were written by men, 3 were written by male/female duos and 30 were written by women.

Now for the hard part. Winnowing down my favorite 10, but here we go:

10. THE HANGING TREE (Bryan Gruley) - this book was released in Summer 2010, so I was a little late in reading it, but Gruley blows me away with each book and I'm very much looking forward to his next book in this series, SKELETON BOX, that comes out next summer. I won't be waiting long to read that one, rest assured. STARVATION LAKE was great and THE HANGING TREE was even better. Can't wait to see what awaits Gus next. (Touchstone)

9. EL GAVILAN (Craig McDonald) - Craig consistently writes great fiction and with EL GAVILAN he stretched his wings a bit. I love that this book shows both his versatility as a writer and his traditional strengths as well. I love that he drew me in with characters I couldn't decide if I loved or hated. (Tyrus Books)

8. LONG GONE (Alafair Burke) - with every book Alafair Burke grows as a story teller and in LONG GONE she veered off the path she's been so successful with to date. She blazed a new trail proving yet again that she's got writing chops, y'all! Spending time with her characters in the NYC she so expertly creates is a treat. LONG GONE is possible the sweetest treat yet. (Harper)

7. DOMINANCE (Will Lavender) - WATCH. THIS. MAN. He is flat-out amazing. And he's young and with luck we will be seeing a lot more from him. DOMINANCE is complex and puzzling and mysterious and brilliant. This book was so much fun to read. And Will Lavender is a new-to-me author this year. DOMINANCE is his second novel. (Simon & Schuster)

6. SATORI (Don Winslow) - the very first book I read in 2011 and back then I said, "this will be on my favorites list" and it is. I loved SATORI as a book by itself, having not read SHIBUMI beforehand. After I read SHIBUMI I realized further how astounding SATORI is. Winslow managed to stay true to Travanian's characters and still infuse his own style and technique. SATORI is a work of art. (Grand Central)

5. THE SURROGATE/CAGE OF BONES (Tania Carver) - I'm putting these together, not trying to cheat, but CAGE OF BONES is not yet released in the U.S. I read both books this year, THE SURROGATE being the debut novel from Tania Carver - which is the writing team of Martyn Waites and his wife, Linda. Martyn writes independently under his own name as well, so it's not really his debut, but semantics. Like Bryan Gruley, I see the Tania Carver books as starting out great and only getting better. For those of you who like dark suspense, this is an absolute DO NOT MISS series. I'm hooked. I have to jump back and read THE CREEPER (due out in the US in 2012) - the middle book in the series - but once I'm all caught up this is definitely a series I'll be waiting impatiently for each new installment. Martyn's just thankful that he's across the pond so I can't camp outside his house waiting for the next book! ;-) (Pegasus)

4. THE TWO DEATHS OF DANIEL HAYES (Marcus Sakey) - The fact that I get to be a high-powered, kick-ass lawyer in this book has nothing to do with it's appearance on this list. And you should not hold Marcus' questionable choice in character names against him. This is the most amazing of his books. It's smart, fast-paced, brilliant plot twists. It keeps you on your toes and while the momentum of the book drives you to turn pages faster and faster, you don't want it to end. It's just too much fun. And that's what reading should be. (Dutton)

3. HELL IS EMPTY (Craig Johnson) - Yes indeed, I am an evangelist for this series. I do indeed have a crush on Walt Longmire. And if I didn't adore Vic so much, I'd want to kick her butt! O.k., don't worry, I do realize these are fictional characters, but when you're caught up in the books, they're friends. Breaking open a new Walt Longmire is like taking a vacation to my favorite destination. Prior to HELL IS EMPTY, KINDNESS GOES UNPUNISHED stayed my favorite, stayed my favorite, stayed my favorite and then HELL IS EMPTY rocked my reading world. There are so many wonderful layers to this book and you can enjoy one, some or all. (Viking)

2. YOU'RE NEXT (Gregg Hurwitz) - This book is always the hardest one for me to articulate why I love. Not because it's for bad reasons but rather because it affected me so deeply. This is a book that still resonates with me months after finishing it. The relationships that Hurwitz created between his characters are pulchritudinous (yes, I did learn that word just for this book...nothing else seemed to embrace the magnitude of what I was trying to say). I don't know how Gregg can tops this one, and how the heck can I top pulchritudinous if he does? (St. Martins)

1. THE RIDGE (Michael Koryta) - I, of course, revealed this last week in the year end meme. Michael's approach to both his human and feline characters is stunning. The world he created is dark and haunting, but I so wanted to be there. THE RIDGE gets the top spot this year because Koryta did what few are ever able to with me - he enticed me to let go of the reality I cling to and willingly follow into his. With any luck, Koryta will never want to be a cult leader. I think I'm a goner if he does. (Little, Brown)

In year's past, I've had debut authors in my top favorite 10. This year I didn't, but not because there weren't excellent debut authors, those danged veterans were just showing their experience! Anyway, I wanted to recognize a few debut authors as my favorites for 2011:

Sara Henry released LEARNING TO SWIM this year. I look forward to watching her grow as a writer and experiencing her work.

James Barney released THE GENESIS KEY which I felt did a wonderful job blending science, religion and crime! (Harper)

And Daniel Palmer released DELIRIOUS and I was glued to it. I've actually had the chance to read his follow-up to DELIRIOUS which is still a thriller, but quite different in content, so I can already see his versatility as writer in this genre. Problem with getting to read those ahead is you have to wait longer for the next one to come. I'm sure I can keep busy in the interim, though! (Kensington)

I feel very blessed that I learned to love reading and can appreciate the wonder and magnificence. While it's a challenge to narrow down a list to 10 favorites, it's also a tremendous gift to have experienced all of these worlds and characters - friends. My heartfelt thanks go out to all the authors who have shared their talents.

And many, many thanks to everyone who has entrusted me with books this year. I wish I was able to read every last one. And there are so many that I still intend to read. As things continue to change in my world, I hope that it offers me more opportunity to read and share and enjoy books with you all.

Thanks for hanging out with me this year! Let's do it again in 2012, o.k?

2011 Favorite Audiobooks

2011 has been an especially satisfying year for my audiobook listening experience. I believe there is an art to teaming the best narrator with each story. And that art is further enhanced when the narrator is on the same wave as the book's author. Then add in the magicians who do the editing. To create a great listening experience from a great book, there is a considerable amount of time, consideration and effort.

There have been many wonderful matches between great narrators and exceptional stories this year. I've listened to 47 audios and hope to add at least one more. Coming up with my favorite list was quite challenging. However, I do have to say that since I haven't had a chance to listen to HELL'S EMPTY on audiobook yet, that helped a teensy bit!

After much hemming and hawing and re-reading my reviews, I've come up with my favorite audiobooks of 2011:
 
10. FALLEN (written by Karin Slaughter; narrated by Shannon Cochran) - if I am completely honest, and when you get through my list you'll see I really have no choice but to be honest, I have a harder time listening to female narrators than I do male. Very rarely do I find a female narrator who does male characters justice in crime fiction, at least for my ear. Cochran is one of the best I've heard. And not only did she exhibit a wonderful range for the gender of the characters, she gave each character a distinct sound within the Southern dialect, which was not over-the-top ridiculous like many can be. It had been a little while since my last dance through Slaughter's fictional world and I'd forgotten how much I enjoy her characters. This audiobook was a delightful treat for me. Kudos to the AudioGo team that made FALLEN happen.

9. PORTRAIT OF A SPY (written by Daniel Silva; narrated by Simon Vance) - I haven't had a chance to review this one, yet, but last year I finally discovered Silva's Gabriel Allon series and I jumped at the chance to listen to the newest on audio this year. Vance achieved a great feat in delivering a convincing Gabriel for me. It's hard to do when I've read the character first and developed an image and sound in my brain. But I have to say, I prefered Vance's to my own. Harper Audio gets the nod for this great audibook.

8. THE ALIENIST (written by Caleb Carr; narrated by George Guidall) - I know everyone on the planet but me had read this book prior to 2011, but have you listened to George Guidall read it to you?  Guidall is a master at picking up subtle nuances and humor, which were vital in THE ALIENIST. And while I've listened to him bring Walt Longmire to life book after book, Guidall still manages to completely recreate himself for each character in each book, so there were no echos of Walt only the sounds of the world Carr depicted through his words. The masterminds at Recorded Books get an enthusiastic round of applause on THE ALIENIST.

7. THE PALE BLUE EYE (written by Louis Bayard; narrated by Charles Leggett) - This audiobook was an astounding combination of story and narrator. Leggett nailed Edgar Allen Poe and, boy, did he ever tap into Bayard's humor.  THE PALE BLUE EYE was entertainment at its finest. The folks at AudioGo (formerly BBC America) did Bayard's fine work justice.

6. CROOKED LETTER, CROOKED LETTER (written by Tom Franklin; narrated by Kevin Kenerly) - Books like CROOKED LETTER, CROOKED LETTER can present special challenges that result in the audio being either a phenomenal performance or a dreadful bomb. The sense of time and place, the depth of character, the range and intensity of theme. Kevin Kenerly nailed ALL of it. A tip of the hat to the Blackstone Audio folks for this exceptional production.

5.  A SIMPLE ACT OF VIOLENCE (written by R.J. Ellory; narrated by Kevin Kenerly) - Maybe I should start up Kenerly's fan club? As with CLCL, Kenerly takes the challenges of a richly complex novel and gives them pitch-perfect sound. The atmosphere is vital to this novel and it's obvious that Kenerly is keenly aware of its importance. The mystery is enhanced through his tempo. Both of these novels are ones I imagine narrators would be tempted to over-dramatize. He doesn't go down that road, and the results are hauntingly effective. Exquisite. Again, the Blackstone Audio crew are responsible for this great audiobook.

4. THE BOY IN THE SUITCASE (written by Lene Kaaberbøl & Agnete Friis; narrated by Katherine Kellgren) Kellgren does a such a superb job of setting the book's tone in this narration. Kaaberbøl & Friis have created female characters who are determined, yet struggling. They are simultaneously fearful and persistent. Kellgren motivates the audience to feel that internal conflict, which I feel is essential to comprehending the full extent of this novel. This is another one from those AudioGo pros!

3. FUN & GAMES/HELL & GONE (written by Duane Swierczynski; narrated by Pete Larkin) I paired these two books up because they share the same author, the same narrator and the same trilogy. Pete Larkin not only understood Swierczynski and his humor, he appreciated the work at every level. Larkin IS Charlie Hardie: the gruffness of Hardie's life experiences, the submission to fate, as well as Hardie's intuition, intelligence and curiosity. As I've mentioned before I think these audios are the perfect storm of audiobooks and Hachette Audio is the team responsible for making that storm happen.

2. SHIBUMI (written by Travanian; narrated by Joe Barrett) I was so pleasantly surprised with SHIBUMI. Too often a books I love are ravaged by over-eager narrators who makes the writing sound like a daytime drama. SHIBUMI has the content to possibly encourage that, but I should have had faith in one of my favorite narrators, Joe Barrett, who just does not ever over dramatize. Nicholai Hel would have no place in his world for drama. He's calm; he's in control; and he's at peace. Barrett exemplified both that and Trevanian's beautifully sensual, rich novel. He also nailed the esoteric essence of the novel. Thanks to Blackstone for making this one happen.  

1. GOOD GRACES (written by Lesley Kagen; narrated by Lesley Kagen) I battled with the order of these last three as I think they are all spectacular, but I decided on GOOD GRACES for the top spot because Lesley Kagen pulled every emotion possible from me in the course of this audiobook. I laughed at things I remembered during my childhood; I cried for honest mistakes that change your world; I raged at intolerance; and I melted from the innocence of youth. It was a perfect audiobook experience for me. Nice job AudioGo!

So that rounds out my favorite audiobooks for 2011. What was on YOUR list of favorites that you listened to this year?

Check back tomorrow for my final post - my favorite overall reads of 2011.

The Devil's Highway to the Buckeye State - Craig McDonald

Last week I posted my review of Craig McDonald's EL GAVILAN. I have a guest post as a special holiday treat from Craig today. I know I really enjoyed this piece as it's especially relevant to me where I live. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Happy Holidays!

The Devil's Highway to the Buckeye State

—Craig McDonald

My new novel, El Gavilan, examines the effects of illegal immigration and a single murder on one Ohio town. Many of those undocumented workers came to the Buckeye State via a torturous path dubbed the Devil's Highway.

The Devil's Highway technically runs between northern Mexico, across the Sonoran Desert wastelands of blasted-out ironwood and saguaro, and on up into Arizona. It's considered the deadliest stretch of ground to cover for those who would flee Mexico to America, yet thousands try every year and many don't make it to the other side.

El Gavilan opens with a quote of unknown provenance: "Never attach more feeling to a thing than God does."

The poet Ofelia Zepeda said of the region through which the Devil's Highway runs, "You need a new kind of prayers to negotiate with this land."

I'd argue the Devil's Highway knows no true end. The ones who do reach the American portion of the borderlands don't always opt to live out their days in Arizona, California or Texas. They head in deeper, trekking further north to make their meager living at myriad Mexican food restaurants . . . by mowing lawns or picking fruit for half-minimum wages in Georgia or Michigan and all points in-between.

Like the Oakies chased from their homes by the Dust Bowl tragedy nearly a century before -- the destitute immortalized in John Steinbeck's novel, The Grapes of Wrath -- men and women fleeing Mexico for El Norte found their path hastened by the American highway system. Route 66, "The Mother Road," may not be doing so dandy these days, but the U.S. interstate system is cranking right along.

A recent immigration study puts a fine point on it: "Ohio has the nation's 10th largest highway network and is within a single-day drive for half of North America's population. Ohio contains 70 percent of the country's manufacturing capacity. The state links the Northeast and Midwest; thus, much business and cargo traffic passes through its borders on this well-developed highway network. Ohio's economy is primarily based in Agriculture and Industry."

In other words, and in any language: Ohio=Prosperity. (Or it used to; these days, Ohio is just about the hardest hit state economically outside of Michigan.)

But circa 2005, or thereabouts, before the housing bubble burst, my corner of Ohio was literally swamped with undocumented workers. Like drunken sailors, developers were plowing under acres of corn and soybeans and platting out vistas of cookie-cutter subdivisions constructed largely through the sweat and effort of illegal immigrants. The bastards trucked them in by the dozens in old Ford Aerostars to frame-out houses for chump change wages. (An exposed wall of one side of my garage—a house built circa 2000—is covered with Spanish writings scrawled in Sharpie).

The influx of undocumented, unassimilated workers changed the face of central Ohio, nearly overnight. As a journalist, I saw results some while before the average Ohio citizen maybe took notice. When the citizenry of central Ohio realized what was happening, handwringing ensued. Racial tensions rose, then spiked.

The impact on infrastructure and public services here in Ohio was profound.

The immigration report put it this way, by the numbers: "Seventy-two percent of the total population growth between 2000 and 2006 in Ohio was directly attributed to the immigrant population . . . The annual fiscal cost to Ohio taxpayers for emergency medical care, education and incarceration is currently $224 million and is estimated to rise to $372 million per year in 2010 and $627 million per year in 2020."

When the Great Recession hit, a number of undocumented workers ventured back across that dusty line, suddenly finding prospects more enticing in the Mexico they'd earlier fled than in the financially decimated wastelands of post-recession America.

My aim in El Gavilan was to take one family's immigrant experience, trace it up into Ohio, and then watch the ripples flare out when a member of that family falls prey to a seemingly racially motivated spasm of fatal violence.

But before the murder that fires the story of El Gavilan occurs, there is another scene of violence and loss, very near the start of the book:

El Gavilan opens with a tragic fire that claims more victims than necessary when first responders and Latino firebombing victims aren't speaking the same language. Failure to communicate literally kills. The scene is based on all too real firebombing in Ohio that occurred in a mostly Latino, non-English-speaking apartment enclave in what had formerly been a white, working class neighborhood.

The victims were part of a family who'd chased prosperity from central Mexico all the way to Ohio's Capital City -- braving and surviving the passage through the desert wastelands only to be taken down deeper along The Devil's Highway, taken down in Ohio, "the heart of it all," as our state's publicists like to phrase it.

© 2011 Craig McDonald, author of El Gavilan

Author Bio
Craig McDonald, author of El Gavilan, is an Edgar®-nominee and an award-winning journalist, editor and fiction writer. His short fiction has appeared in literary magazines, anthologies and several online crime fiction sites. His debut novel, Head Games, was published by Bleak House Books in September 2007. Head Games was selected as a 2008 Edgar®-nominee for Best First Novel by an American Author. Head Games was also a finalist for the Anthony, Gumshoe and Crimespree Magazineawards for best first novel. His nonfiction books include Art in the Blood, a collection of interviews with 20 major crime authors which appeared in 2006, and Rogue Males: Conversations and Confrontations About the Writing Life, a second collection of interviews published by Bleak House Books in 2009. McDonald was also a contributor to the NYT's nonfiction bestseller, Secrets of the Code. He recently won national awards for his profiles of crime novelists James Crumley, Daniel Woodrell, James Sallis and Elmore Leonard. His new novel, El Gavilan, is available from Tyrus Books.

For more information please visit http://www.craigmcdonaldbooks.com, and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter

GOOD GRACES - Lesley Kagen

First line: "That summer earned itself a place in the record books that's never been beat."

Lesley Kagen returns to Milwaukee and her O'Malley sisters - Troo and Sally - in the sequel to Whistling in the Dark. But, if like me, you are just discovering the wonderfulness that is Lesley Kagen, you needn't worry about reading Whistling in the Dark first. You'll likely want to return to it after experiencing the summer exploits of these "Irish twins" as they fret over a town bully who's escaped from reform school, a series of home invasions, a run-away orphan, their mother's annulment and the popular parish priest who just doesn't sit right with Sally. Narrated by Kagen, herself, the summer of 1959 comes alive through the eyes of Sally with a realism rarely, if ever, so astutely rendered by an adult.

Sally has been saddled with the responsibility of looking after Troo. Her father asked this of her shortly before he died of injuries from a car accident. The young, impressionable and devastated Sally promised her father, and she fully intends to live up to that promise. Only Troo is a hard one to keep pinned down and out of trouble. Troo is spirited and rebellious and regularly finding herself in hot water.

Kagen's characters are so profoundly drawn readers will likely recognize younger versions of themselves and friends they knew growing up. Kagen doesn't just pull readers into her story, she pulls them back into their own stories - to 'Ghost in the Graveyard,' penny candy, soda fountains and Breck girls. Making that kind of connection with a book turns the story into something far more memorable than simple entertainment.

Most readers are familiar with the eye rolls and sarcastic tones of the younger lots. We used those devices ourselves and have watched our children discover them as well. In her narration of Good Graces, Kagen gives voice to the growing pains of adolescence as well at the compassion of caring adults, the self-centered obsession of egotists, the all-consuming regret of the remorseful. And on top of everything else, she transports us back to 1959 Small-Town USA. The sights of a Fourth of July fireworks display, sounds of the playground, smells of picnics and zoos and summer camp, all rolled into an incredible listening experience.

The author's name listed as the audiobook's narrator often gives cause for dread, but in the case of Good Graces, I don't believe another narrator could have done even half as well as Kagen, a former radio DJ, commercial voice and television actress. All the nuances to which Kagen is so intimately attuned deliver their desired effects through her professional training and her obvious adoration of the world and its inhabitants she's created.

There is a richness to Kagen's writing, a richness that remembers the innocence and clarity of childhood:

"It's so hard to lose someone you love. Our hearts growl for Daddy the same way our tummies do when we're hungry. It must be even worse for Mr. Kenfield. I know my daddy's gone forever in the deep blue of the western sky. I'll never hear the sound of his voice again or feel his late-day whiskers on my cheek or spend time after supper curled up on his lap listening to his happy shouts when Hank Aaron hits a homer on the radio. But Mr. Kenfield's daughter is not dead. She's out there somewhere. I bet if my old neighbor had it to do all over again, he wouldn't have sent Dottie away to the unwed mothers' home the way the church told him to do."

And there's a warm humor that makes you laugh out loud and reminisce:

"'You've got the wrong idea about our church,' I tell Ethel. 'You've only been up there for funerals. You don't know how bad it can get.'

'Mmmmm...hmmmm.' In southern, that means, Go on, tell me more.

'You gotta starve yourself for hours before you receive Holy Communion.' Ethel would especially not like that part. She adores a big country breakfast with ham first thing every morning. She wouldn't like the taste of the body and blood of Christ. He's really bland. (I'm too nervous to bring this up to anybody who might know the answer, but isn't swallowing down Jesus kinda like being a cannibal?) 'And the nuns, they got ways of torturin' people that are worse than the Red Chinese.'"

Good Graces encapsulates all the elements of a good book by my reading standards: endearing characters, rich experiences, suspenseful plot elements, intelligent humor and sincerity. I can't believe it took me this long to discover Lesley Kagen's work, but I'm extremely thankful I finally did.

Good Graces is without a doubt, the audiobook highlight of my year. There simply wasn't a bad element to the production, not even a mediocre one. It is superb at every turn and I can't recommend it highly enough. This would be a fantastic audiobook for someone just considering the possibility of audiobooks for themselves.

Good Graces is available on audio download from AudioGo (ISBN: 978-1-609-98525-7) and in print from Dutton (ISBN: 978-0-525-95238-1)

EL GAVILAN - Craig McDonald

My review of EL GAVILAN is appearing here with permission from Shelf Awareness. This review appeared in Tuesday's Readers' edition. If you are not already subscribed to Shelf Awareness, you can do so here for free and have the twice-weekly newsletter delivered to your email.

First line: "Her grandmother was the first to die of thirst crossing the Sonoran Desert."


Craig McDonald veers from his Hector Lassiter series to tackle the timely issue of illegal immigration in the United States. Taking neither a pro nor con stance, McDonald probes the gray areas while illustrating the volatile effects of the rape-murder of a Mexican-American mother in small town Ohio.

El Gavilan follows three law men: Sheriff Able Hawk, Police Chief Tell Lyon and Sheriff Walt Pierce as they battle each other for the territorial rights in the rape-murder investigation. Each law enforcement officer has his own agenda and none wears an unsullied white hat. Through their actions, McDonald smudges the lines between right and wrong – is it really wrong if it’s done for the right reasons - leaving his readers with conflicting feelings about the characters. It’s this conflict that makes El Gavilan so irresistible. As Hawk, Lyon and Pierce delve into the investigation, the reader delves into his/her feelings for the characters. Love or hate them, you can’t help but invest in them.

In his previous novels, McDonald brought the past to life for readers. In El Gavilan, he crafts a fictitious small town as real as any on an Ohio map. The sights, sounds and even the smells reach from the pages to pull the reader into this world.

El Gavilan proves that Craig McDonald’s talents aren’t limited to the historical thriller novel, and we can only hope that he has many more opportunities to bring his stories to print.

El Gavilan is available in both trade paper (ISBN: 978-1-4405-3191-0) and in hardcover (ISBN: 978-1-4405-3194-1) from Tyrus Books.

SPEAK NO EVIL - Martyn Waites

First line: "A room."

In the fourth book of the Joe Donovan series, Donovan finds himself working with a child murderer to write her memoirs. Anne Marie is no ordinary child murderer, though. She committed her crime when she was a child herself, eleven years old. Now, years later, out of jail and trying to hold together some semblance of a normal life with her family, she's suffering blackouts. During one of these blackouts a young boy dies. With no where else to go, Anne Marie turns to Joe Donovan for help.

SPEAK NO EVIL is without a doubt the strongest book of the Joe Donovan series. That says a great deal considering my feelings about THE MERCY SEAT, the first book in the series. In SPEAK NO EVIL Martyn Waites gives us a front-row seat into Donovan's personal life that has previously been on the cusp of his character but not quite so central. Donovan's connection to his daughter and hers to him infuses him with a new dimension, which is further heightened by the parallel existence of Anne Marie and her son, Calvin.

The supporting cast in this series provide color to the very dark themes. Amar excels in technology and fashion; Jamal is the street-smart kid who's blossoming with the security and identity Donovan has cultivated in him. Peta, too, is becoming secure in her own skin. Watching these characters grow and bond throughout the series has been a large part of the enjoyment. In SPEAK NO EVIL the bonds that they've formed illustrate another level of the book's family theme.

Waites' dialogue flows naturally, seamlessly and at times very powerfully. In the Isis audio version, read by Waites himself, this is especially apparent as the audience becomes lost in the story, watching through the mind's picture, the life of a tortured woman unfold before them...the conflict of a young girl dealing with her separated parents...the drive of a young man, trying to prove his abilities. And Waites' subtle humor worms its way in every now and again as he voices the lives he's created on paper. I dare you not to care about them.

SPEAK NO EVIL is an emotionally intense, physically thrilling novel that is ramped up several notches in Waites' narration on the audiobook. You'll give your heart a workout experiencing it. The series is growing better with each book and I can't wait to see what comes next.

SPEAK NO EVIL is available in the US in hardcover (ISBN: 978-1605980966) from Pegasus Books and on audio (ISBN: 978-0753142608) from Isis Audio.

A SIMPLE ACT OF VIOLENCE - R.J. Ellory

First line: "She stands in the kitchen, and for a moment she holds her breath."

Someone is killing people in a most horrendous fashion, beating them viciously before death and leaving them with a blank tag tied with ribbon to their neck and the scent of lavender in the room. Detective Robert Miller was the poor sap who caught the first victim, so this serial case is his. But as he delves further and further into the victims and the clues, the pieces of the puzzle don't seem to fit, as if they're parts from different puzzles. The victims don't really exist and all the murders don't line up exactly right. But when Miller's investigation is pulled from him and his career is threatened, he's come too far to let go and back down.

With the use of alternating points of view: third person omniscient and first person with an unknown narrator, R. J. Ellory (A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGLES) exquisitely builds tension and suspense throughout the over 400-page novel. He works in much the same way eerie music works in a suspenseful movie - you know something is coming, you may even be guessing what it is, but it still scares the devil out of you when it arrives. Kevin Kenerly is Blackstone Audio's reader for A SIMPLE ACT OF VIOLENCE and his narration of this work adds to the tension and suspense that Ellory has created with words.

Ellory's books continually give lessons in creating atmosphere, atmosphere that blends beautifully into the backdrop of the plot and works on the reader without interrupting the course of events. This is especially present in A SIMPLE ACT OF VIOLENCE as Ellory constructs the heinous crimes of the novel and simultaneously illustrates the blooming of a relationship that withstands it all. Kenerly seems to have a firm grasp of Ellory's atmosphere, bringing it out through volume and tone. Ellory's juxtaposition of the horror and the beauty combined with Kenerly's well-balanced energy is what leaves the reader breathless and awed. Kenerly doesn't over dramatize, which would be devastating to this novel. He infuses just the right amount of fervor when it's called for.

The characters of Ellory's novels are flawed humans, often with heavy baggage and history. A SIMPLE ACT OF VIOLENCE is no different and let's face it, perfect characters would be boring. But Ellory is able to show all of his characters in full dimension, which often leads to increased suspense. When you've connected with each of the characters, how can you view any of them as the black-hearted villain? Which melds beautifully into the themes of corruption and susceptibility to it.

Finally, winding its tendrils through every aspect of the novel, is Ellory's amazing use of language. Just as the juxtaposition exists in the plot, a juxtaposition exists in the dark subject matter and the beauty of the language. Case in point:

"It was like a line from a song. There was a cadence and a rhythm to it that made it difficult to forget. It started somewhere in Miller's mind, and once it had started it just seemed to keep on going. Like the flat-nose .22s the Mafia used. Sufficient punch to get it through the skull, insufficient to make its way out again, and that dime's-worth of lead just battered and ricocheted around inside, banging off the internal walls of some poor sucker's head until their brain was chicken soup. The thought went like that, and he wanted it to stop."

The image is harsh and brutal and sublimely clear, just like the images haunting Miller. And in the same book you find:

"I could feel her sadness and loss and heartache and loneliness all tightly bound together. I wanted to untie it all, spread it out and see what was there and decide which to keep and which to cast aside."

or

"A vast silence. Chest fit to burst, but holding it all inside until we mustered sufficient stillness to fold into one another like the pattern of a fingerprint."

Ellory doesn't write about cheerful, sunny topics and themes, but his language spreads a beauty over pain and corruption and you simply can't get enough of it. Kenerly reads A SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS with an acute awareness of the effect Ellory's language has on the subject matter. And it is, quite honestly, what makes you want to drive a little further out of your way, so you can listen to "just a little bit more."

A SIMPLE ACT OF VIOLENCE is available in the U.S. in hardcover (ISBN:  978-159020318)  from Overlook Press and on audio from Blackstone Audio (ISBN: 978-1455122462).

Crime Fiction's Sexiest Authors of 2011 - Part 2

As I mentioned on Wednesday with Part 1 of this project, I started mulling over this idea when I read the post You Know You're an English Major If... and saw the identifier, "You consider authors to be sex symbols." And with People Magazine having their Sexiest Male issue and Salon.com weighing in on their Sexiest choices, I decided now would be a good time to bring my own choices to the blog.

However, I'm going to veer a bit from People and Salon because I'm also choosing the Sexiest Women of Crime Fiction. To make my choices here, I thought about those women I'd love to be. Who have characteristics I admire and yes, even envy...but not in a bad way, I promise.

So, mirroring the categories for the men, here are my choices for Crime Fiction's Sexiest Women. Note, I asked the ladies to send me a very unsexy picture to use with this project, and while I think they all still look quite sexy, many of them had fun with this. So here we go...enjoy!

SEXIEST WRITER-ATHLETE

Curlers are the new sexy, right?

I just can't imagine not choosing Christa Faust for this category. Some might argue the athlete part of the category since she's not running marathons or boxing or whatnot, but gosh darn it she keeps herself in shape and I'd much rather run into a marathon runner in a dark alley than a pissed off Christa Faust! Just kidding. Beyond those model good looks, she's a genuinely wonderful person. I admit to having been completely intimidated until I met her. And now I'm just thrilled to know her. She's wicked smart and self-confident and funny. And she's an amazing mama to Noir Dog, Butch.

Christa has a new book due out in February featuring a lesbian PI called BUTCH FATALE; DYKE DICK IN DOUBLE-D DOUBLE CROSS.  The much anticipated follow-up to her multiple-award nominee MONEY SHOT is CHOKE HOLD and now out from Hard Case Crime.

SEXIEST TRIPLE-SERIES WRITER

Sophie takes beauty tips from Junior

I don't know how Sophie Littlefield has time to do all that she does! She's raising kids and a dog, taking care of a home, mentoring other writers, and actively publishing THREE series - a crime series, a dystopian series and a YA series. Her writing reflects her wit and spirit, and you need only spend two minutes around her to experience the charm.

Sophie's drive and determination resulted in success in an extremely competitive field. Her talent with words and character netted her an Anthony Award. But it's Sophie's kindness and generosity that have won her the respect of her peers. It's also won her a spot on this list!

Sophie's new book in her dystopian series, HORIZON, is due out in January. And next June will bring the fourth book in her Stella Hardesty series, A BAD DAY FOR MERCY.

SEXIEST AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR

Hey! Really? Me? No way!

 I had to do an eenie, meanie, miney, moe for this category because all of these sexy writers are award winners. But Megan Abbott wins out for this one. The Edgar-award-winning author will never fade from my memory because the first time we met in person she said, "You read Bob Crais, right? Can we talk about his books today?" And I've adored her ever since! No, really, Megan is incredibly talented, original and funny. Her books have dark themes but I've never seen Megan when she wasn't bright and energized. I've also never seen Megan speak down to anyone or act as though she doesn't have time for them. Watching her with her fans, she exudes an authentic appreciation of their support and their conversation.

Megan's newest novel, THE END OF EVERYTHING, is garnering a tremendous amount of attention and well deserved accolades. I doubt this one will be overlooked for awards in the coming months.

SEXIEST WRITER UNDER 40

I'd like to thank the Academy for this sexy award....

None of the women on this list even come close to looking their ages and doesn't that just make you grumble? But how can you grumble at someone as charming and endearing and gracious as Hilary Davidson? Some people in the world you say a silent prayer of thanks to God (or whomever) for bequeathing them talent like Hilary's. You say thanks because they so richly deserve that talent and appreciate it and do wonderful things with it. Hilary is one of those people. And human characteristics don't get any sexier than that.

Hilary's debut novel, THE DAMAGE DONE, won the Anthony Award and Crimespree Award for best first novel. Her second novel, THE NEXT ONE TO FALL, is due out on Valentine's Day.

SEXIEST WRITER ON TV

Watch out! Hank will uncover your secrets!

Hank Phillippi Ryan just wins awards where ever she goes. She's won more Emmy's than she can count on fingers AND toes for her hard-hitting investigative reporting for NBC. And those awards all have to share space with the Anthony, the Macavity and the Agatha Awards for her equally amazing writing.

What really made me positive Hank belonged on my list was her astounding compassion and kindness. And if you ever hear her talk about her husband, now there's the fairy tale romance - true love.

I had communicated with Hank before the first time I met her in person...in Indianapolis...at Bouchercon. I showed her the scrapbook page with her memoir she submitted and she teared up. I had no intention of making her cry, but boy what a gift she gave me to appreciate it that much. Hank has a heart of gold, and I just think that's sexy beyond compare.

Hank is branching out from her wildly successful Charlotte McNally series next year to publish the first in a new suspense series, THE OTHER WOMAN.

O.k., the final spot on my list goes to....

JEN'S SEXIEST FEMALE WRITER ALIVE

The reigning queen!

Alafair Burke! It would be far easier for me to say what isn't sexy about Alafair because I couldn't give you anything. I admire her tremendously and consider her one of my heroes. She's smart, clever  and full of life. She's generous, kind and true. Her ability to laugh at herself is endearing and rare. There aren't many people who can do that with ease. And that allows others to be at ease around Alafair. She's human. And DAMN that's just sexy!

I, of course, adore Alafair's love of her French bulldog, Duffer. She takes him to day care, dresses him for Halloween, and collects the home videos of his life.

She doesn't dress her husband for Halloween, but she does treasure him and their life together. 

Years ago now I went to meet Alafair because I was enamored with her writing. I was rewarded with a woman I now admire as so much more than an author. And I don't want to make this sound like I admire her because she's perfect; I don't think that would be real. I do think she's stunning and beautiful inside and out, but I admire Alafair because she's challenged herself throughout her life. She's accomplished so much in a short time and still aspires to accomplish more; I can't wait to see where she is 40 years from now. I aspire to be that happy in my own skin, and I find it quite sexy.

Alafair released her first stand alone novel this year with LONG GONE. She also publishes a series with Assistant Prosecutor Samantha Kincaid and a series with NYC Police Detective Ellie Hatcher.

There you have it! My choices for the Sexiest Women of Crime Fiction in 2011. Now you can weigh in. Who do you think I left off the list? There are many, of course, so I can't wait to hear your choices.


As with Wednesday's group, this post is meant to be fun. I whole-heartedly mean what I've written about the authors, and I received their permission to include them in the post. I hope you've enjoyed it.

Crime Fiction's Sexiest Authors of 2011

This blog post has been in the works for almost a year now. The seed was planted waaaaaay back in January when my attention was pointed to this post called You Know You're an English Major If...Probably about a third of the way down the list, you'll notice the entry, "You consider authors to be sex symbols."

I reckon I have to admit to being in that camp. I do think it's sexy to be smart and creative and funny, so with People Magazine releasing their Sexiest People issue, and Salon.com weighing in on their Sexiest Men, I thought it was high time I got my post ready for public consumption. And I'm all about gender equality, so come back on Friday for the ladies' turn.

People puts the honorees into categories, and I've done the same. I have 5 honorees and a "Sexiest Man Alive." So here we go:

THE SEXIEST WRITER-ATHLETE 

Those shorts are sexy, Tom!

Tom Schreck runs, boxes, plays basketball...I don't think swimming in the hot tub counts, but that's o.k. He is a black belt in karate even though he gave up "wearing pajamas" to wear robes. Other factors that contribute to Tom being on this list are his sense of humor, his kindness, and his love of animals.

Tom writes the Duffy Dombrowski series, the fourth of which, VEGAS KNOCKOUT, will be out from Thomas and Mercer in May.

SEXIEST TRIPLE-SERIES WRITER

New Reeds, old Reeds, they're all Great Reeds!

At least right now there are three. Since he's a long way from retirement, we don't know how many series Reed Farrel Coleman will ultimately end up with. Reed seems to work in 3s. He's won the Shamus Award three times - as well as three other awards: the Barry, the Macavity and the Anthony; he has three series: Moe Prager, Joe Serpe/Bob Healy, Dylan Klein; and he's published in three formats: novel, short story and poem.

Reed is gregarious; he wields his sarcastic wit as effectively as his pen; and he's always up on the latest hair styles! In all seriousness, when I first met Reed in person, I was more than a little intimidated. But it took round about 30 seconds to know he's one of the nicest people you'll have the chance to meet.

This year Reed releases two new books. GUN CHURCH is an audiobook original, and you'll be hearing more about that soon. And HURT MACHINE is the latest Moe Prager novel, due out next month.

SEXIEST AWARD-WINNING WRITER

King of the...Pier?

Self-confidence is sexy, right? Well, Brad Parks has plenty of that! And did you know Brad won the 2010 Shamus award?! The cockiness is part of the facade Brad sports (well, maybe not all facade..) but under that is a supportive, generous, funny individual with a grand imagination and love of life.

Brad writes the Carter Ross mystery series. His third installment, THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, will be out in March from Minotaur Books.

SEXIEST WRITER UNDER 30

"I've got it all up here."

O.k., so most folks grumble when they discover that Michael Koryta is as wildly talented and polished as he is and he hasn't celebrated his 30th birthday yet. But, I just look at it this way, I should be able to enjoy his new books all the way until they spread my ashes. Right? If you ever listen to Michael talk about his craft all you can hear is passion. And I completely love that he works with the Exotic Cat Preserve to rescue the great creatures. He's smart and witty and deserves his place on the list.

Michael's latest novel, THE RIDGE, was released this past summer. He informed us via Twitter that his next book will be a Vampire kitten/PI novel hybrid - I'm just kidding. He did say that but in jest. He's returning to a classic crime novel, but I don't have release date for that.

SEXIEST WRITER ON TV

The hat shadow is covering the five o'clock shadow.

Since the commercial is now showing, I can say the winner of this category is Marcus Sakey. And no, his hair played no role in the decision. When I first met Marcus' wife g.g. she explained that we all have dreams and aspirations in life, Marcus' are just usually higher than most. That was when he was training to climb Mt. Rainier. Marcus is full of life and always ready for the next challenge. This year that challenge was a television series called Hidden City, scheduled to begin airing next month.

One of the "extras" to Marcus' character that boosted him onto this list was his ability to make people feel like SUPERSTARS, no matter how ordinary. Look at me...I went from author groupie to high powered lawyer in less than 300 pages!

Marcus' latest release is THE TWO DEATHS OF DANIEL HAYES. He's hard at work on his new novel, but obviously had to take time out for that television thing! I'll have more about that at a later date.

And drum roll please....

JEN'S SEXIEST MALE WRITER ALIVE

Gregg Hurwitz! My first chance to meet Gregg in person was my first visit to L.A. for the book festival back in 2009. I had already discovered THE CRIME WRITER and was so excited to meet him. He hung out and talked with Michael Alatorre and I for quite a good spell, told us how he met his wife, made us laugh, obviously left a lasting impression. And on top of that, before I got home there was an email in my inbox saying "it was nice to meet you."

Since that I've learned what a great pet parent he is as he often talks about taking Simba to the dog park, having Simba at his feet while he writes, visiting Simba on his trips home during book tour. And of course his daughters! He's such a proud papa and his adoration of his girls simply radiates from him.

Gregg is smart, funny, talented - his skill range goes from Shakespeare to The Penguin to V. He's generous and kind - he tolerates me and there's no restraining order...yet. And I'm pretty certain he could get anyone to do his bidding with that 100 watt smile.

I can't remember the last time I was asked for a book recommendation and one of Gregg's books wasn't on the top of my list. For this book nerd, that's as sexy as it gets. Move over Bradley Cooper, ya ain't got nothin' on Gregg!

As with anyone's choice in a topic like this, there will be much dissension among the ranks. So it's your turn. Who would be on YOUR list? And let's keep the conversations family appropriate, please!

Remember, the ladies will get their turn on Friday! Have a great Thanksgiving and Happy Reading.



**Note: this post is meant to be fun. I sincerely mean what I've written about the authors, but I contacted each author to get his/her permission to use them in this post. I did not want to include anyone who would be uncomfortable or feel awkward about being mentioned. I hope you've enjoyed it.

THE END OF EVERYTHING - Megan Abbott

First line: "She, light-streaky out of the corner of my eye."

The depth of talent that Megan Abbott possesses is indeed enviable. But given the fact that her readers are able to reap the benefits of her talents, I think we can forgo the envy and celebrate her works instead. The most recent work to celebrate is a bit of a change for Abbott. THE END OF EVERYTHING is a modern novel set in the Midwest told through the voice of thirteen-year-old Lizzie Hood. When Lizzie's best friend and next door neighbor Evie Verver disappears one afternoon, the entire community is sent into a state of panic and Lizzie finds her childhood stolen as swiftly as her best friend.

Abbott's novel is narrated on audio by Emily Bauer who brings not only Lizzie's teenage voice to life, but also the sights and sounds and rich flavors of Abbott's small Michigan town. The sensual nature of THE END OF EVERYTHING transports readers back to their own childhood:

"...I know Evie's cartwheels, the way she floated through them, like moving through molasses, smooth and dawdling and tongue-sweet, why, that's how it was."

Lizzie's experiences thankfully differ from most teen-agers in losing her best friend. But there are still strong similarities to the average teen in her fairy tale ideas of love, her hero-worship of Mr. Verver, and her unadulterated devotion to her friendship with Evie. Bauer articulates Lizzie's characteristics in such a way that we never question why a child would make such choices, instead we find them to be the natural choices. We're no longer logical, careful adults; we're the innocent naive child again.

Megan Abbott is forging new territory with every novel she pens. THE END OF EVERYTHING has taken her to new heights and it has taken the crime fiction genre to new heights. Not only does she examine the crime of kidnapping but she examines the crime of a stolen soul, ripped from its unsuspecting owner who struggles to make sense of her loss. This is a beautiful novel and a terrifying novel. A gentle, sensual novel and a dark, violent novel. It will lovingly haunt the reader who finds that the end comes far too soon.

Emily Bauer taps into Abbott's world seamlessly making this audiobook a chilling treat. I wouldn't recommend missing this one.

THE END OF EVERYTHING is available in hardcover (ISBN: 978-0-316-09779-6) from Reagan Arthur Books and on audio (ISBN: 978-1-441-78171-0) from Blackstone Audio.

V is for Vengeance - Sue Grafton

This review appeared in Tuesday's Shelf Awareness for Readers and is appearing now with permission from the folks at Shelf Awareness.

First line: "Phillip Lanahan drove to Vegas in his 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet, a snappy little red car his parents had given him two months before, when he graduated from Princeton."


In her twenty-second outing with P.I. Kinsey Milhone, Sue Grafton brings back all the quirky, loveable characteristics of her protagonist while ramping up the intensity of Kinsey’s experiences.

There are few authors who can open a novel with a gruesome murder and flawlessly transition to her heroine shopping for underwear without losing credibility, but that’s precisely the way Grafton begins V is for Vengeance. And in Kinsey’s world, even shopping for underwear can’t be easy. She observes a woman shoplifting and notifies the store employee. When the shoplifter is arrested and then apparently commits suicide, Kinsey finds herself investigating the woman’s death on behalf of her fiancé. As hidden details of the woman’s life are uncovered, Kinsey comes face-to-face with her own mortality and discovers her work on this investigation may very well be a threat to her own life.

Grafton’s Alphabet Series is a rare series that continues to show momentum after more than 20 books. V is for Vengeance is entertaining, while still making your heart race with a thriller’s anticipation. Kinsey Milhone remains a unique protagonist in the P.I. genre, while Grafton continues to surround her with dimensional supporting characters and antagonists. Readers can’t help but invest in the entire cast, turning pages swiftly to reveal their fates.

Grafton most assuredly still has her stride. Series fans won’t be disappointed and newcomers can pick up V without any knowledge of the previous 21 books. Another winner for the matriarch of the P.I. novel.

V is for Vengeance is available from Marian Wood Book/Putnam in hardcover (ISBN: 978-0399157868) and on unabridged audio (ASIN: B0067EYTDM) from Random House Audio, narrated by Judy Kaye.

Books Are the Markers of Your Life

"Books are the Markers of Your Life" was one of the most poignant statements I heard during Murder & Mayhem in Muskego this year and I thought it a fitting title for this post.

Yet another wonderful convention hosted by the Muskego Library with mucho support from Jon and Ruth Jordan.

This weekend is always filled with wonderful fun. The program starts out with an informal meet and greet session on Friday night. There's usually one panel that takes place and this year, Dana Kaye moderated John Connolly, Marcus Sakey, Duane Swierczynski and Dana Cameron. If you haven't seen any of these people in person, they are all incredibly funny and together it was wonderful entertainment. Dana ended up putting her feet up and just relaxing while the panelists did all the work!

Meanwhile, the other authors were all looking on from the audience.

During lunch on Saturday, one of the women sitting at the table commented on how accessible the authors are at M&M. She had hoped to see an author at Bouchercon but said author was always surrounded by people, but she didn't run into that issue at this convention. And I think that's a big reason so many people enjoy this weekend. It's a hidden gem.

Speaking of Saturday, the panels started off with excitement as the moderator, Alison Janssen-Dasho, was M.I.A. However, Reed Farrel Coleman surprised the conference goers by being present - he wasn't on the author list this year. So, Reed filled in on the "Playing Fair With the Reader" panel until Alison arrived. Also on this panel were Joelle Charbonneau, Alison Gaylen, Gar Anthony Haywood and Andrew Grant. In this panel we learned that Alison Gaylin feels every character should have a part of the author in them, thereby allowing the reader to understand motivation. Joelle keeps a running document about her characters and as they develop in the writing process she adds to the document. And Gar was in Annie Get Your Gun in junior high school! Unfortunately, he didn't sing for us.

The other panel before lunch highlighted historical writers: "My Generation: Mysteries of the Past." Sadly Tony Hayes and Tasha Alexander were unable to make the festivities, so Andrew Grant sat in as moderator and Reed filled in again, since his books are somewhat historical. Not quite as historical as Jeri Westerson and Kelli Stanely, but it worked out well nonetheless. Kelli talked about enjoying her ability to enter the dark elements of a time period we like to romanticize now. And Jeri emphasized the need to be sensible to the time and its people. Kelli's bit of advice in this panel is for writers to learn to self-edit. Which was not a signal to do away with outside editors but rather to complement their work with your own editing.

Following lunch, my panel took the stage. We were titled: "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere: Writing Without Borders." I was so excited to be moderating Megan Abbott, Martyn Waites, Hilary Davidson and Sean Chercover. They were funny and energetic and no one killed me when I asked them to pick their theme songs.

Martyn told us about his experiences writing with his wife. He types because he's faster and she tells him what to type. However, he isn't permitted to help with her job as a costume designer! And in the series he writes alone, he was so proud of himself for "creating" the idea of an information brokerage until an ex-girlfriend called him and threatened to sue him if he was stealing her idea as she'd just started an information brokerage as her job.

We learned Megan doesn't like to write about sex and body parts. No matter what, she can't help but think about her mother reading what she writes.

Sean opted to set his books in Chicago over a Canadian location because he had experience as a P.I. in Chicago and there are more people in the U.S....thereby, more people to buy and read his books!

Hilary shared with us her tendency to get so caught up in the world she's writing in, she can't find her friend's apartment or cross the street without assistance. 

As you can see these four talented writers were both entertaining and informative. It was such a pleasure to moderate this panel with them.

After us the panel "We're Not Going to Take It: Breaking Out of the Traditional" took the stage. Meanwhile, Tom gave boxing lessons.

This panel was led by moderator Jennifer Jordan with authors Gary Phillips (who does NOT need a microphone by the way), Stephanie Pintoff (who does), Duane Swierczynski, and F. Paul Wilson. This panel discussed Father Knox's Decalogue: The Ten Rules of (Golden Age) Detective Fiction. The panel came to the conclusion that "Father Knox is full of shit."

The final panel of the day was "Who Are You? Characters CAn Make or Break a Story" featuring Tom Schreck as the moderator, Dana Cameron, Gar Anthony Haywood, Jess Loury and Marcus Sakey.

Jess Loury recommended not over-planning. characters. And Gar said he starts off by deciding what he doesn't want his characters to be. Marcus doesn't start with a superman-type character because then the action has to be more elaborate and exaggerated and that can quickly become silly. As did this panel when Tom began talking about his farting dogs.

The actual conference was wrapped up with Ruth Jordan's interview of John Connolly. And John is the one who gets the credit for talking about books as markers of your life. He emphasized the continued value of print books...and not by disparaging electronic books but by saying that what we choose to keep in print still tells a story about us individually. He spoke specifically to a beat-up paperback he had that was a marker of a relationship earlier in his life.

When John spoke about Irish crime fiction specifically he said that it's a way for Irish writers to connect with their history.

And he also recommended that writers never underestimate the power of the chip on your shoulder.

A truly spectacular day that continued with dinner and time with the authors. This wonderful picture I'm having framed!

I also have a few new pictures to add to the Most Wanted wall, so look for those soon (I hope).

I want to send out a very special thank you to everyone who took the time to stop and tell me they enjoyed the panel or that they read the blog. In person I'm sometimes so overwhelmed by these kindnesses that I don't know how to appropriately express how much that means to me. I hope you know, you make my heart smile. Thank you so much for that gift.

I'm always sad when Muskego is over. It's such a bonding time for me and the whole fan-girl experience hasn't lessened one iota. If you have the opportunity I highly recommend you attend a Murder & Mayhem in Muskego. Even if you think you don't have the opportunity, MAKE it. This weekend is well worth it.

Happy Reading!