Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - The WrapUp

Today we'll bid adieu to the 2010 Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime for the Holidays series. To send it off in style, I've put together a video featuring live recommendations from some additional authors as well as a look back at a selection of the photos included in the series. I hope you found some great ideas for gifts or for your own To Be Read stacks.

And if you have any final recommendations, leave them for us in the comments sections! Happy Holidays everyone...and Happy Reading!

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 25

Today I'm going to wrap up the photos for Crime Writers Caught Reading Crime - For the Holidays. I have two very special shots to share with you and then tomorrow we'll have a final wrap-up for the whole project.

First we'll start off with one of crime fiction's biggest fans and one of my best friends. Judy Bobalik is a former bookstore owner and a crime fiction aficionado. So her recommendation for CHRISTMAS AT THE MYSTERIOUS BOOKSHOP, edited by Otto Penzler, is not only fitting, it's spot on. Judy says,

"Perfect reading for the busy holiday season. You can savor one of the 17 stories between shopping, decorating and attending holiday parties."

And my friend Ginny Tata-Phillips, who writes the haiku books I've talked about here and also co-wrote DUFFY TO THE RESCUE with Tom Schreck sent me this picture. This picture represents how she met Tom, but also the generous spirit that they both exude in spades!

Ginny's husband, Rick, and a couple of his cohorts, who she dubbed "The 3 Stooges" reading the equally funny Duffy Dombroski series by Tom Schreck. Tom's Duffy Dombroski books went overseas to the Colonel while he was serving in Afghanistan.


I can't possibly think of a better way to end this series. Thank you, Ginny, for sharing this!

For those who are interested, you can find both Judy and Ginny on Facebook!

Do something nice for someone today and keep a smile in your heart! Happy Reading!

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 24

Brrr...not sure where you are, but we're getting a nasty snow storm now and our world is beginning to look a lot like Christmas...which reminds me that we're going to wrap up "Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - for the Holidays" this week.

S.J. Rozan's 10th book in her Lydia Chin/Bill Smith series, ON THE LINE, has been a hot recommendation this year. Earlier in the series, we had a glowing recommendation from author Michael Wiley, and today we have two equally great folks recommending this P.I. novel.

Reed Farrel Coleman, author of the Moe Prager series, is very succinct about his recommendation. Very simply:

"I'd read a grocery list if SJ Rozan's name was on it."

And what better image to represent the joy of holidays than this one with Megan Collings? Megan lent her name to ON THE LINE and is making sure she approves of its use! Brother Jake is also checking out her new notoriety.


At this rate of recommendation ON THE LINE should probably be under everyone's Christmas tree this year.

I have a couple more days of goodies lined up for this project, so I hope you'll check back. I know the hustle and bustle of the season is slowing a lot of us down and cutting into our free time. I truly appreciate your visits each and every day. Happy Reading!

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 23

Well, Chanukah is over and there's 15 days to Christmas. Kwanzaa and Boxing Day will follow that. Are you set? No? O.k., well here's another recommendation for you!

Meredith Cole, who released her second Lydia McKenzie novel this year, is offering up today's recommendation. She is rather fond of Laura Lippman's WHAT THE DEAD KNOW. Here's why she thinks WHAT THE DEAD KNOW would make a great holiday gift this year:

"I read Laura Lippman's series and enjoyed it, but her first standalone WHAT THE DEAD KNOW floored me. It's one of those books that you devour quickly, but can't stop thinking about afterwards. The book haunts you. It's a creepy story about two girls who disappeared one day in a shopping mall and were never seen again--until one day a woman shows up and claims to be one of the missing girls. It was inspired by a true story that happened near where my husband grew up. Lately I've found myself recommending the book to both men and women, some of them mystery readers, and everyone has had a similar reaction to my own. This book would make a wonderful gift."

An excellent choice from Meredith Cole. Thank you Meredith!

For my recommendation today, I'm choosing Michael Lister's DOUBLE EXPOSURE. This was one of my favorite reads of 2009. I have been enjoying Michael's John Jordan series for awhile now, but DOUBLE EXPOSURE was quite a departure from that series. He uses unique style, builds strong momentum and simply drives this suspense novel all the way to the final page.

That's it for this week, but I have some special tidbits to throw your way next week to wrap up the series and help you with any final gifts you might need to pick up.

And just as a little reminder, don't forget that this is supposed to be a season of love, a season of kindness and giving. Seems like in the rush and stress of everything, we forget that. Be kind to others. Do something nice for someone you don't know: hold the door, smile, say 'thank you.' Even those little gestures can mean a lot to people and they cost us nothing.

Happy Reading, Everyone!

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 22

I have two more recommendations for you this week and then some special additions for next week. I hope you've been able to find the perfect gift for the crime fiction readers on your holiday lists and beefed up your own TBR lists.

Today's recommendation comes from David Heinzmann, a Chicago Tribune journalist who broke into the fiction scene with his novel, A WORD TO THE WISE and will release his sophomore novel THROWAWAY GIRL next year. David is recommending a fellow Chicago writer, Libby Fischer Hellmann and her newest novel, SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE. David tells us:

"Set The Night On Fire is an engrossing mystery that illuminates a time when Chicago was home to some of the darker corners of America’s counterculture experience. Libby Hellmann’s characters come alive struggling to survive the terrifying consequences of deeds some would like to forget from that chaotic and politically charged time. I love mysteries with a strong and authentic sense of place, and Libby’s Chicago is the town I know—from the pancake house diners to the chill of looking out on the endless blue-gray of Lake Michigan from some shoreline mansion’s living room."

Perfect for the reader on your list who likes a bit of history with their mystery! Many thanks to David!

Another great choice for an acute sense of the time and place is Megan Abbott's QUEENPIN. Her gritty, tough female protagonist is distinctive and alluring. QUEENPIN earned its Edgar for good reason. If the reader on your list appreciates noir and hardboiled crime, this is a prime choice.

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 21

There are few people that I admire as much as today's author. Sophie Littlefield is not only one of the most talented women I know, she's funny and generous and smart as a whip. Sophie is one of the great cheerleaders of this genre, so it's my honor to have her here recommending for the holidays.

Of course, Sophie writes the Stella Hardesty adult crime fiction series. She is also the author of BANISHED, a young adult novel, and AFTERTIME, a dystopian novel due out in March of 2011. And in between all that she somehow manages to keep two teenagers, a husband and a young beagle in line. Whew! She also read RUT by Scott Phillips:

"RUT by Scott Phillips is the smartest dystopic novel I've read yet. It's part of a fascinating publishing experiment that combines individual giving with grass-roots book sharing - check out http://www.concordfreepress.com. And, I love the cover and I think it will look nice next to my collection of snowman Santa figurines."

Not only a great book, but a great distribution concept. We all talk about how important our friends' recommendations are to us when choosing a book, so what could be better!

And for my recommendation, Charlie Huston isn't doing anything fancy like Scott Phillips with his book distribution - that I know of anyway - but his book THE MYSTIC ARTS OF ERASING ALL SIGNS OF DEATH is simply magnificent. I was apprehensive at first, thinking, "I don't know if I can connect with this character." But it didn't take me long to make one of the strongest connections I've made with a character in some time. This was my first experience reading Charlie Huston, but as long as he continues to write at the level of MYSTIC ARTS, he's got a fan in me for life!

Happy Reading!

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 20

Those of you who visit the blog often know I think you should be reading Hilary Davidson's THE DAMAGE DONE. Well, so does the L.A. Times! And goodness what company's she's in. Despite this high honor, it hasn't lifted Hilary above making a recommendation for us.

Hilary is recommending Ken Bruen and his LONDON BOULEVARD for this holiday season. Here's why:

"Nothing against Colin Farrell, Keira Knightly, or Ray Winstone (Mr. Winstone is one of my favorite actors), but as exciting as the new "London Boulevard" movie might be, I think the Ken Bruen novel that inspired it a tough act to follow. His London Boulevard is a retelling of 1950's "Sunset Boulevard," but set in London's underworld and told through the eyes of a man just released from prison. Its ending is even more twisted than the Billy Wilder film — and I have a feeling that the Farrell-Knightly pairing is going to meet with a happier fate. But the black humor of Bruen's book makes it a perfect gift for crime-fiction fans and movie lovers."

Who can argue with that? Ken Bruen is definitely a must read for your crime fiction fan. If he/she hasn't yet experienced him, give them the gift of Bruen for the holidays!

O.k., I looked back and noticed that it has been far too long...like 9 days since I made a recommendation for a female author's work. If there weren't any deserving of being recognized, I wouldn't worry about it, but since there are gads of them, I need to rectify that situation.

Back at the beginning of this series, Rosemary Harris made a recommendation. Now I'm going to recommend her book THE BIG DIRT NAP. This is the middle book in her "Dirty Business" series about a Connecticut gardener, Paula Holliday. This is a smart, funny series with underlying themes and social issues that contribute to the depth. One of the elements I like most about this series is that Holliday is a strong, smart, realistic female. She isn't afraid to get her hands dirty and she isn't waiting for Prince Charming to come in and save the day.

So we've had about 40 recommendations so far and there are still a few more to come. We've definitely covered the continuum of crime fiction, so you should be able to find something for any kind of crime fiction fan on your list! If you think you haven't, though, check back for the ones we still have to offer you.

Happy Reading!

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 19

We're in the midst of Chanukah - Happy Chanukah to those celebrating - and we're inching up on Christmas. Kwanzaa and Boxing Day are also around the corner. Do you have everything you need? If not, we have more book recommendations. If you DO have everything you need, could you finish my shopping? No, just kidding. If you have everything you need for others, then it sounds like it's time to shop for YOU. We have more recommendations this week, so stay close.

Today's recommendation comes from Leighton Gage who pens the incredible Chief Inspector Mario Silva series, set in Brazil. Leighton's recommendation is ASSASSINS OF ATHENS by Jeffrey Siger. Here's why:

"Anytime is a good time to gift one of Jeffrey Siger’s books to a crime fiction lover, but I think his work has a special appeal during Northern hemisphere winters. And while you’re at it, pick up an extra copy for yourself. You’ll discover, if you don’t know it already, that Jeff has a very special talent for bearing readers away to the heat and sunshine of a summer in the Aegean. Just a few pages in, and you’re lazing around, smelling the souvlaki, listening to the sound of bouzoukis, and watching Jeff’s Inspector Andreas Kaldis work his tail off. No effort required on your part, just on Kaldis’s. My kind of recreation.

That said, there are better gifts than a Siger book for Christmas, Chanukah or Kwanzaa.

Personally, I can think of at least three: a Ferrari, a villa on Crete and a boxed set of all of his titles."

This freeze-baby can definitely use an escape to warm climates this time of year!

And my recommendation for today's post will be Gregg Hurwitz's THE CRIME WRITER. This is simply an incredible book for your thriller-lover. It still tops my all-time favorites list. Hurwitz's use of perspective, pacing and emotion make this an effective, heart-racing thriller.

Now you'll want to get out and finish up your shopping so you don't have a heart-racing finish for the holidays! Happy Reading!

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 18

I have to apologize for the lapse yesterday. I ended up being gone later than expected on Wednesday night and wasn't able to finish a post. But never fear, I'm back today with a new recommendation!

As the fates would have it, I'm presently reading Steve Hockensmith's collection of short stories called NAUGHTY:NINE TALES OF CHRISTMAS CRIME. So, I think it's befitting that he should be making our recommendation today. I'll talk more about NAUGHTY later because Steve's going to talk about THE PALE BLUE EYE today.

"How's this for stupid? My favorite book of 2010 has been sitting in my To Be Read pile since 2007. Why was I so reluctant to crack it open? I think it was the reviews. They were so damned good. And then there were all the award nominations. I'll admit it: I was intimidated. I started thinking of The Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard not as a mystery with an intriguing premise -- a young Edgar Allan Poe gets mixed up in a murder investigation while a cadet at West Point -- but as a work of High Art with which I would have to grapple one day. In other words, I stopped thinking of it as something that would be fun. But fun it is, with one of the most engaging, endearing and amusing first-person narrators I've come across in a long time. Oh, and he's tricky, too, that one. I like to think it's pretty hard to get a twist past me, but he did it -- to devastating effect. Is The Pale Blue Eye art? You bet. Is it entertainment? And how. Should you buy it for a bibliophile on your Christmas list? Absolutely -- and don't wait three years to do it!"

And I should add that Steve told me he's reading to the stuffed cat because he'll tell absolutely anyone about this book, it's that good. Well then, I guess I have to add this one to my list.

Since Steve reached back a few years for his recommendation, I decided to do the same for mine today. I'm going back a little further than three years, but my recommendation is from the man I consider one of, if not THE, greatest living American writer - James Lee Burke. I will heartily recommend all his works, but my favorite is still LAST CAR TO ELYSIAN FIELDS. It is part of the Dave Robicheaux series and exhibits all of the finest characteristics of Burke's writing...on steroids! The beauty of nature contrasted starkly by the ugliness of man. A world of both incredible love and devastating hate. Powerful, beautiful, haunting, poetic. It simply doesn't get any better.

What are we down to? 21 more shopping days? What are you waiting for? Oh, and don't forget! Tomorrow is "Take Your Child to the Bookstore" day. If you actually need a formal day, then get out there tomorrow. Otherwise, take Junior EVERY day! Happy Reading!

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 17

We've had quite a few books recommended over the past month that are new to me. Today's book recommendation, however, is one I know well and highly endorse as well. Sara Henry is preparing to release her already highly acclaimed debut novel, LEARNING TO SWIM, in February. Today however she's here to recommend Reed Farrel Coleman's 2010 Moe Prager novel, INNOCENT MONSTER.

And here's what Sara has to say,

"This is me pretending to read Reed Farrel Coleman's INNOCENT MONSTER (who reads standing up in a bookstore? OK, many of us do, but not usually in the middle of the store). You don't have to be a crime writing fan to appreciate Coleman's finely tuned writing and what Booklist calls the main character's "bone-deep world weariness and mordant sense of humor." There's a lot within these pages: lost love, estranged family, ghosts of the past, dead dreams, a kidnapped 11-year-old art prodigy, a hard look at the art world and the parents who capitalized on the child's fame, a protagonist who's risking much to mend his relationship with his own adult daughter, and a smattering of hope. You won't forget these characters or this story when you close the book."

Very well said! Thank you, Sara.

My recommendation today will be bestowed on another debut thriller writer. Keith Thompson broke onto the fiction front this year with an incredible spy thriller called ONCE A SPY. You may recall this book from my earlier review. Since I'm not typically a big spy thriller fan, it takes a special kind of book to hook me. Thompson's premise was fresh and fun and unique. He blends humor, sincerity and drama into the thrill ride. ONCE A SPY was definitely one of my favorite reads from 2010 and I highly recommend it for any crime fiction fan. I'm looking forward to the follow-up, TWICE A SPY, due out next year.

Check back tomorrow. If you're still working on your holiday shopping, we have even more recommendations. If you're done shopping, stop by to pad your TBR list! Happy Reading!

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 16

Today's recommendation comes from Beth Groundwater who is known for her Claire Hanover gift basket mystery series. And in 2011 she's adding to her bibliography with the beginning her new series, DEADLY CURRENTS. Beth really knows how to enjoy her reading time, as you can tell from her photo below.

Beth is recommending Nancy Pickard's novel, THE SCENT OF RAIN AND LIGHTNING. Here's why Beth thinks this book would make a great holiday gift:

"I absolutely loved Nancy Pickard's The Virgin of Small Plains, but The Scent of Rain and Lightning is even better. Nancy is a magician at making you feel what her characters are feeling and at weaving enough suspense into her writing that you just know something dreadful is going to happen on the next page, and you have to get to it to find out what. Nancy's mysteries transcends their genre into mainstream, almost literary, fiction because of the beautiful prose, the spot-on descriptions of the Kansas cowboy country setting and life, the complexity and depth of the characters, and the masterful way they're plotted."

Who can argue with that? I happen to know that Beth is off on a photo safari - I'm very jealous - so it was great of her to make time to send in a recommendation. And obviously, this is a recommendation that comes from the heart! Many thanks Beth! Hope you're getting fabulous photos!

Today my recommendation is an amazing debut. John Verdon knocked it out of the park with THINK OF A NUMBER. The suspense, the plot concept, the characters. This was an incredible book and he'll have a challenge to raise the bar on this book! I gave this book to my dad a couple months ago and he's just now getting to it in his TBR pile but he said to me this morning, "I just started THINK OF A NUMBER and it is really good." So you have votes from the both of us on this one!

Hope your holiday shopping is going off relatively painlessly. I've finished my gift for the blogger exchange and am ready to get it in the mail. Hope my Secret Santee likes it!

Happy Reading!

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 15

I hope everyone enjoyed a delightful Thanksgiving. I know my long weekend was especially wonderful and full of great reading. With the Thankfully Reading weekend I finished THE SILENCED by Brett Battles, THE SENTRY by Robert Crais and NAUGHT: NINE TALES OF CHRISTMAS CRIME by Steve Hockensmith. You'll have to wait a little while to hear about the first two, but count on hearing about NAUGHTY very soon. It's an e-book of all the Christmas short stories Steve has written.

And now we're back to Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime for the Holidays. I always look forward to Duane Swierczynski participating in projects here on the blog because he's so stinking fun! This time is no different. Duane is preparing to launch a fun trilogy, starting with FUN AND GAMES, with the new Mulholland imprint from Little, Brown while he's still basking in the greatness of his last release EXPIRATION DATE from Minotaur. And that's all when he's not working on the comic book end of things.

Duane's recommendation for a holiday gift, especially for your noir enthusiasts, is THE BIG BLACK LIZARD BOOK OF BLACK MASK STORIES. Duane says,

"THE BIG BLACK LIZARD BOOK OF BLACK MASK STORIES, edited by Otto Penzler, is going to everyone on my 'nice' list this year. I can imagine nothing more pleasurable than thumbing through its Bible-thin yet action-splattered pages on a lazy Xmas morn, idly sipping scotch and shooting ornaments off the tree with an air rifle. (Silent night my ass!)"

How do you follow that up? Seriously? Thanks Daune! I just love that he gets excited about my wacky projects, don't you?

Alright, so I can't compete with Duane, but I'll offer up my next recommendation, regardless. If you spend much time around this blog, you know I'm a huge fan of Marcus Sakey's work. He's simply a master at this craft and I feel fortunate to be able to devour the fruits of his labors. (I apologize that was a terrible metaphor, wasn't it? Yeesh!) Well, regardless, I get to read his books; what a thrill. His most recent release, THE AMATEURS, came out last summer and it challenges readers to think about just what they'd do when up against a wall. How far would you go? Fast paced thriller, great characters the reader can identify with, nasty villains. Everything you could ask for in crime fiction. I listened to this one on audio and thought it was well done, so it's also a good option for the audio fans on your list.

We still have some more authors ready to share their recommendations. I'm sure you're in full holiday-buying swing, so take advantage of the insight and give a great gift this year. Happy Reading!

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 14

Today's holiday gift recommendation comes from C.J. West and his beautiful Wheaten Terrier, Bella. Besides being the author of The End of Marking Time, C.J. hosts a blog talk radio show where you'll find interviews with a number of the authors featured on Jen's Book Thoughts. And C.J. is recommending one of those authors for your holiday list today: Dennis Palumbo and his new Daniel Rinaldi mystery, MIRROR IMAGE.
According to C.J.:

"I was intrigued by Dennis Palumbo at Bouchercon By the Bay. He's a psychologist for writers with some fascinating advice and insight into what our creative struggles mean for us and for our work. His latest mystery, Mirror Image, had me so captivated by page four that I knew I needed to have him on my show."

I'm glad to have C.J.'s recommendation as Dennis Palumbo is a new author to me. At least sort of. I enjoyed a television show Dennis use to write for - "Welcome Back Kotter." Ew! Ew! Ew!

So, I guess it is my turn to recommend again. Never fear, though, I WON'T run out of recommendations. Today I'm going to dig back a little bit and recommend one of my favorite forensic science mystery writers. Thomas Holland published two books with his protagonist Kel McKelvy. Personally, I'm heartbroken that there haven't been anymore books in this series to date. The first book is called ONE DROP OF BLOOD and it was followed up by KIA. Both deal with forensic science in the military. They are powerful books with a perfect balance of humor. Neither is a story you will easily forget. Even though there hasn't been another book published since KIA in 2008, it's still one of my most recommended series. For your CSI/BONES/NCIS fans, this is a GREAT series.

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 13

We seem to be having a Chicago theme going here. Yesterday we had Sean Chercover's recommendation of Kevin Guilfoile and today another Chicago native is joining the mix. Libby Fischer Hellmann is the author of SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE as well as the Georgia Davis series and the Ellie Foreman series. Her recommendation is from a series set in Paris, Cara Black's Aimee Leduc series.

Libby is recommending MURDER IN THE PALAIS ROYAL this holiday because

"It's winter in the US -- cold, dreary, and boring. Wouldn't we rather be in Paris? Well, giving someone MURDER IN THE PALAIS ROYAL for the holidays is the next best thing. PALAIS ROYAL picks up where the first Aimee LeDuc novel ends: Aimee is being framed by people who may want payback for her work in MURDER IN THE MARAIS. A wonderful addition to the series, PALAIS ROYAL is meticulously plotted and researched, beautifully written, and full of suspense."

Wonderful action and adventure with a great lady P.I. in Paris, France. Now there's a fine recommendation!

A sleuth I enjoyed curling up with...or rather a pair of them...were found in Steve Hockensmith's HOLMES ON THE RANGE series, which begins with the book of that title. The humor, sense of place and wonderfully colorful characters make this a fun series. The way Hockensmith blends the Sherlock Holmes stories into the American "Old West" motif is creative and clever. For the reader on your list who likes to laugh - and think - HOLMES ON THE RANGE is a great holiday choice.

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 12

To kick off Thanksgiving week, we have another superb crime fiction writer making a recommendation. We are all thankful that Sean Chercover contributes to this genre. TRIGGER CITY was his last publication and rumor has it, his next novel is not far off.

For this holiday season, Sean is recommending Kevin Guilfoile's 2010 release, THE THOUSAND. Here's why:

"Kevin Guilfoile's THE THOUSAND is a blistering conspiracy thriller, and on that score alone, it is a winner. But it's also a Tilt-A-Whirl for the intellect. Kevin likes to play with Big Ideas, and I love the way his brain works. I can't recommend THE THOUSAND highly enough."

High praise! Kevin's concepts are indeed big ideas meant to challenge the way the reader thinks, regardless of how he/she already thinks. Great choice, Sean. I'm looking forward to reading this one.

My recommendation will follow the big idea lead and go to Craig McDonald's PRINT THE LEGEND. This is the third release in Craig's Hector Lassiter series, but this is a series that actually has no set order to it. All the books are interlocking in the timeline of Lassiter's life; they don't follow one right after the other like traditional series do. Craig's story arc for the series spans amazing elements of history, breaking most any genre "rule" he can find. This is a series unlike any other and it is artistically brilliant.

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!

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 10

Sheila Lowe is usually busy looking at people's handwriting. Her forensic work as a handwriting expert has translated into her Claudia Rose series. But today she's looking at Tami Hoag's latest book, DEEPER THAN THE DEAD.

Why is Sheila recommending this book above all others this holiday season?

"Tami Hoag writes such terrific novels of suspense that I will commit to reading her next book, whatever it may be. Ever since a bookstore owner friend of mine recommended A Thin Dark Line, I have looked forward to diving into everything Tami has produced. My all-time favorite is Ashes to Ashes, whose ending actually had me shaking. The characters she creates are so well drawn, their dialogue so real, the plotting so intricate, that in addition to enjoying reading her books, as a mystery writer, I do my best to study and learn from them. That’s not as easy as it sounds. Tami’s writing quickly hooks me into the story and I forget about studying. So that’s why I was reading her latest book, Deeper Than the Dead, and I hope you will, too."

As for my recommendation on Day 10, I want to offer up a book that will undoubtedly make my favorite reads list this year, A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS by R.J. Ellory. QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS was published in the U.S. in 2009. I listened to it this year on audio. Both the audio and the narration are chillingly beautiful. The language, the setting, the characters, they all seep into your spirit and you become a part of the story. If you missed my review, you can see it here. I have been recommending this book to everyone since I read it and I think it would make a magnificent gift.

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 9

And we're back to Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - for the holidays. My apologies for the lapse there. We'll just have to go a little longer into December is all. I hope you are finding some great gift ideas. This weekend we'll also talk about some ideas that are crime fiction related but not necessarily the books themselves, so be sure to stop by for that.

Today's recommendation comes from the recent Shamus-award-winning author, Brad Parks. FACES OF THE GONE, Brad's debut novel was awarded the Shamus for Best First Novel last month in San Francisco. And if he wasn't busy enough being a panelist on my Bouchercon panel, winning his award and taking Shamus up and down the Embarcadero, he found time to kick his feet up and indulge in his recommendation, Bryan Gruley's THE HANGING TREE. This is what Brad had to say about it:

"Don't get me wrong, Bryan Gruley is a big, dumb hockey goon. But he's also a big, dumb hockey goon with an absolutely magical writing touch and a keen insight into small towns and the secrets they hide. For me, the only danger of jumping into THE HANGING TREE was that I sort of lost track of time... even in the book room at Bouchercon by the Bay."

Very nice, Brad! Thanks.

In honor of my time spent with Ridley Pearson this past weekend, I'm going to recommend his most recent installment in the Walt Fleming series, IN HARM'S WAY, which brought both Walt Fleming and Lou Boldt together. Pearson keeps his characters real and his pacing fast. Plus there's the added bonus of Beatrice, the dog. The Sun Valley setting in Idaho makes for intriguing plot lines with glaring clashes between the "haves" and the "have nots." Excellent series.

O.k., we are back on track and will have more fun tomorrow, so check back for the next round of recommendations. See you then. Happy Reading!

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 8

Canadian native Vicki Delany has two different series to her name as well as several stand alone novels. NEGATIVE IMAGE is her most recent addition to the Smith & Winters series. Despite juggling both series, Vicki still has time to read other crime writers, including fellow Canadian Mary Jane Maffini.

Vicki recommends Mary Jane's LAW AND DISORDER as a great holiday gift this year because:

"Law and Disorder is by one of Canada's funniest authors, Mary Jane Maffini. The book is set in Canada's capital city of Ottawa, a good gift for the travelers on your list. Also for your lawyer friends - lawyer jokes abound."

If you have a cozy mystery fan on your list who has a penchant for a bit of an edge, I highly recommend Karen Olson's Tattoo Shop Mysteries. This is a definite favorite of mine and it begins with THE MISSING INK. The third and most recent addition to the series is one I'll be talking about soon, DRIVEN TO INK. These books are unique, the characters are quirky and individual. The capers are just plain fun. Plus, I don't buy books for their cover art, but if I did, this is a series I'd buy for it's book jackets. Love them!

More fun to come tomorrow. Check back and be sure to leave more room on your wish list! Happy Reading.

Crime Writers Caught Recommending Crime - Day 7

We are cooking now! I've been especially thrilled to have new folks joining us for this project and I have another new face to introduce. Eric Beetner has done a lot of screenwriting, but this past year he co-wrote his first book, ONE TOO MANY BLOWS TO THE HEAD*, and is preparing to release his second book in 2011. Eric was sly on his recommendation - he managed to sneak two in. So you end up with double the fun today.

Eric is recommending both Victor Gischler's THE DEPUTY and John Rector's THE COLD KISS. Here's what Eric has to say for himself and these two novels:

"As you can tell I chose to capture myself in the act of re-reading two of my favorite books this year, trying to decide which to recommend. I truly can't choose just one. Both The Cold Kiss and The Deputy pass my strictest test – would I let my Mother read it? Usually Victor Gischler would not pass this test as his stuff is too violent, too crazy, too rocket-fueled but The Deputy had just the right amount of restraint. A simple story simply told. Also a perfect description of The Cold Kiss, John Rector's debut. A perfectly crafted midwest noir The Cold Kiss is one of those tell anyone and everyone books. Both were complete page-turners and both should make great gifts for the hardest boiled down to fans of simple, riveting crime stories about people in over their heads."

You can tell Eric is going to make a great crime writer...he has trouble with the rules! Just kidding. Thank you so much for your contributions, Eric!

I'm going to make my contribution correlate a bit more with Eric's novel. ONE TOO MANY BLOWS TO THE HEAD deals with boxing, and one of my favorite all around fun series to read is Tom Schreck's Duffy Dumbrowski series. It's smart, funny, and you just can't be Al, the Muslim Basset hound. Schreck likes to weave conspiracy into his novels, and he really challenges his readers to think about the possibilities. But one of my favorite elements of this series is Schreck's thoughtful portrayal of all the characters. He doesn't make excuses for the characters, but he also doesn't portray them in their stereotypical roles. Again, he makes you think about the human element of every character - even the dogs! So, today's recommendation from me is OUT COLD.

Happy Reading!


*ONE TOO MANY BLOWS TO THE HEAD can be ordered from your favorite independent bookstore.