You Have the Right to Six Words - Take 2!

It's Wednesday and time for more six-word memoirs from crime fiction's greatest writers. And you came to read the memoirs, not my rambling, so let's not waste any time.

Lisa Unger was my guest blogger yesterday for the release of her book DIE FOR YOU. In honor of that release, we'll start with recapping Lisa's six-word memoir from her July 2008 interview. Lisa is the best selling author of BEAUTIFUL LIES, SLIVER OF TRUTH, and BLACK OUT. Lisa's lived all over the world but now calls Florida home with her husband and daughter, Ocean. And all of her experiences lead her to this memoir:

Better than I could have imagined.

I'm still in awe of the fact that in August I interviewed the Scientific Director of the Department of Defense Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, Dr. Thomas Holland. Tom is also the author of the Kel McKelvey novels. Kel is the the Scientific Director of the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii (CILHI). He helps in identifying the remains of Americans from foreign wars. Both ONE DROP OF BLOOD and K.I.A. were on my list of top reads of 2008 for their dynamic characters, engaging plots and plot twists, and especially for their humor. Tom's sense of humor makes his memoir very fitting:

There should've been a goon squad.

As I type, remembering these two interviews, I have a smile on my face. What fun I had with these writers. If you didn't have a chance to see their interviews, I encourage you to take a gander back. In the mean time, let's add some more fun with two new memoirs.

John Lescroart (pronounced "less-kwah") is the best-selling author of the Dismas Hardy legal thriller series. His books have been translated into 16 languages in 75 countries. John waited fourteen years to submit his first manuscript, and then he did so at the urging of his wife. Within six weeks, he had two publishing offers for SUNBURN. While holding down a job as a word processing supervisor at a California law firm, John continued to write until he had a life-threatening scare of spinal meningitis that convinced him to quit his day job and work at writing full time. John Lescroart has published 19 novels with number 20, A PLAGUE OF SECRETS, set to release June 30th. With a life full of experiences like this, it's no wonder his six-word memoir is:

Married well. Loved my kids. Wrote.

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting the fourth author of today's six-word memoirs. Craig McDonald is the author of HEAD GAMES, which was nominated for both a Gumshoe and an Edgar Award in the category of Best First Novel AND was a Anthony Award finalist AND was short listed for a Crimespree Magazine Best First Novel award. But that simply isn't enough for Craig. He's also an award-winning journalist and written some non-fiction in addition to his most recently published novel, TOROS AND TORSOS. It's a no wonder that Laura Lippman says Craig is "wily, talented and—rarest of the rare—a true original." It's also no wonder that Craig's six-word memoir is

Born to write; writing to live.

Wow! Four more amazing crime fiction writers. I think I'm making it hard to keep up the quality...naaaaaaaaaaaa! We still have more amazing writers to hear from, so I'll see you back here. Same time, same place! You can come back before then, but we'll talk memoirs again next Wednesday. So glad you stopped today!

Happy Reading!

Authors on the Web

Happy Chinese New Year everyone. I learned today that I was born in the year of the tiger. The tiger's horoscope isn't great for 2009, but it isn't horrible either. I guess it's kind of like the state of the economy right now, I just have to hang on and weather what comes this year, huh?

The New York Times reviewed John Grisham's new book, which I will probably at some point read. The review makes it sound like it's good Grisham, but already-done Grisham. So, it isn't really high on the priority list.

So, I was reading this article today; yes, I'm a bit behind. The story of my life. Anyway, I was reading this article and wondering what folks thought about all the technology that is starting to be associated with books: the websites, blogs, book trailers, etc. I have to say that, personally, book trailers don't do a whole heck of a lot for me. Now, on the other hand, short movies that tell me a little more about the author or about the world of the character, those I like. For example, Linda Fairstein has done a couple movies now and she herself has taken the viewer on a little sight-seeing expedition of the settings in her Alex Cooper novels. I enjoyed that. Likewise, Robert Crais has also taken folks on a tour of Elvis Cole's LA, and he's done short interview-type movies where we learn a little more about him. But the trailers that have "actors" representing the characters. I don't care so much for those. It's kind of like having a movie spoil your imagination's creations. Know what I mean? For me the trailer is the book jacket...or maybe a sneak peak at Chapter 1.

Now, websites and blogs, those I enjoy. I like learning more about the authors I read. I use the sites for reference, especially when I'm trying to figure out the order of books in a series. If I hear about an author from someone, I'll usually go look up his/her website. I also use the authors' sites to find out about their book releases, book tours, etc. And before someone says it, I'm merely a fan, not a stalker! ;)

But all in all, this technology is just another sign that the face of publishing as we know it is changing, evolving. Time had an article about just that thing. I guess it's inevitable, and we'll always try to fight change in one way or another - we humans are stubborn like that. I think as long as I'm alive there will still be good old fashioned books, which I'm grateful for. But eventually, it won't be the standard anymore, just like oral story telling still exists but it isn't the standard - at least not in our culture.

But, I digress, let's put the idea of ebooks and whatnot aside, what do YOU think about the book trailers and author websites and blogs? Any that you really like and would recommend people check out? Any really unique elements that you absolutely love? I have to say one of my favorite things are Craig Johnson's "post-its." Instead of a formal newsletter, Craig sends little "post-its" to your e-mail with updates and the most WONDERFUL anecdotes. Absolutely love it! And I love to follow Alafair's blog. She has great stuff to share, especially about her dog, Duffer! And Thomas Holland just has fun pictures at his site. They're hilarious. I love his sense of humor!

So, share with us. Let us know where the cool sites are! Happy Reading - in your books and on the web!

My Top 10 - Well Sort Of...

O.k., I've finished all the books I'm going to fit into 2008, so I'm at the point where I can establish my Top 10 List, er Top 11 List. It was hard, very hard. 2008 was a GREAT reading year for me. I ended up with fantastic recommendations from visitors here, other bloggers, authors, DorothyL. I managed to read or listen on audio book to 110 books by 78 different authors. I narrowed down 110 to a list of 20 that contended for these spots. I decided to help make my list easier to establish, it would be my top 10 CRIME FICTION books, so that eliminated The Book Thief and The Great Santini since they don't fit in the genre. Now I'm down to 18 and I loved them all. They all deserve accolades. And, truth be told, I couldn't actually get down to 10 books. So, I'm going to cheat a little bit. First, I threw in the towel at 11. I simply refuse to cut any more. And with two authors I read more than one book from the series and LOVED each of them. So, I'm grouping those. I know, I know...but since it's my list I can do it. Let's get to this list then:

11. The Crime Writer - Gregg Hurwitz. I'm wondering if this would have been higher on the list if I'd read it later in the year. However, I still can recall the thrill I got from reading it. I haven't connected as well with the other book I've been working on by him, but Crime Writer was a book that got your heart pumping!

10. Brother - James Fredericks. This was Fredericks' debut novel and I think there's going to be more really great stuff coming from him. Another heart-pounding action-packed book with great characters.

9. Angel's Tip - Alafair Burke. I'm slowly discovering more and more female crime fiction novelists that I enjoy, but Alafair is the only one who made the list this year. Ariana Franklin had two in the top 20, but Angel's Tip made the top 10. Ellie Hatcher is definitely one of my favorites and this book is so in tune with current events - "Ripped from the Headlines" dun! dun!


8. The Fourth Watcher - Timothy Hallinan. Since I am such a fan of character, I can't help but have The Fourth Watcher on this list. Tim is one of the masters when it comes to developing character. He makes use of every interaction, every conversation, just every opportunity. The richness of his characters make you want to just step into the book and join them...despite the chase that's going on!


7. One Drop of Blood and K.I.A. - Thomas Holland. I fell in love with Kel McKelvey from the first page of One Drop of Blood. And all the way to the end of the year, K.I.A. still is the book with my favorite ending. I adore Tom Holland's humor and the local color. The authenticity of the forensics mixed with the humanity of the characters is top-notch. I'm definitely ready for more Kel!


6. Shutter Island - Dennis Lehane. I don't know if much more needs to be said! ;) Dennis is just a genius in this genre. This psychological thriller had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, and it did not take me long to get through this book.

5. A Carrion Death - Michael Stanley. What a debut by this writing team! The setting, the characters, the complex plot. It is an all-around unique, gripping, challenging read.


4. Chasing Darkness - Robert Crais. Elvis rules. Enough said!


3. Envy the Night - Michael Koryta. He continues to improve with each publication, even though Tonight, I Said Goodbye was outstanding. I don't know where he's going to go to top himself now, but I'm not making any bets against him. Michael's characters are so real, the plots are multi-layered and his wit just tops it all off.


2. The Cold Dish - Craig Johnson. Of my 11 authors on this list, 7 were new to me this year. Craig was one of the new ones. And boy am I glad I discovered his work. Walt, Vic, Henry, and Lucien light up the book. Their depth and dimension jut out from the pages hung against a magnificent setting. This book is poetry in action.

1. Tilt-A-Whirl, Mad Mouse, Whack-A-Mole, and Mind Scrambler - Chris Grabenstein. Chris's John Ceepak series was the only series this year that had me reading one book right after the other. I simply did not want to leave the world of John Ceepak and Danny Boyle. The only book I didn't read in 2008 is Hell Hole, the one that was published in 2008 - however! I have it and I will be getting to it soon. I discovered so many great authors and books this year, but the John Ceepak series (in a very tight race with Walt Longmire) is my find of the year. I have truly LOVED reading these books. The experience I have while in the land of Sea Haven - or where ever the duo may be - is what reading is all about for me. These characters, much like Elvis and Joe or Lincoln Perry, knock around inside my head for a long time after I finish reading a book - they become a part of me. And for me, that's the sign of a masterpiece!

I hope your 2008 was as good a reading year as mine was. Here is a blog where some authors, including RC are talking about their top 3 books read this year. Three? Oh, no way could I have just picked three!

I'll be back later this week with my reviews for my last two books of '08 and some thoughts for '09. If I don't see ya before, have a very Happy New Year!

Happy Reading!

MY Halloween Treat!

I didn't even get dressed up today, but I received the BEST treat EVER in my Halloween bag...actually I guess I received it in my Halloween mailbox. This is what I came home to today:

And what makes it the BEST treat EVER, you ask? Well of course this does:

Yes, indeed it does. My very own, personalized, signed copy of K.I.A. It has already taken its coveted spot on the Shelf of Honor. I'm giddy again!!

I was just looking over my list of books that I've read so far this year because it's getting close to time to narrow down my top 10 of 2008; K.I.A. is still very high on that list. The ending is still THE best ending of any book I've read this year. If you didn't have a chance to see my review of K.I.A., you can see it here. And if you didn't see my interview with Tom Holland, what the heck is wrong with you?? Just kidding; you can see that here - it's one NOT to be missed.

Tom and Mary, thank you so much. This book really means a lot to me. Mary, I lied! It didn't make my whole week, it made my whole October! And Tom, giddy won't even begin to describe me when I have the opportunity to meet you in person. It's wonderful. Thank you both! I'm over the moon!

All The Way From Hawaii...

I bring you Thomas Holland! I am so incredibly excited to have this interview to share with you all. I put a letter in the U.S. postal mail to Dr. Holland, having no idea if it was even going to the right place. So, when I had an e-mail pop up from him in my inbox one day, it took everything inside me to contain myself and maintain my "professional composure" since I was at work. What I really wanted to do was jump around and scream like I'd won the lottery.

And why, you ask, was I so excited about this e-mail that said he would be happy to answer my questions for this interview? Because he is an absolutely astounding writer, and it always gives me great pleasure to share such writers with fellow book lovers.

When I was reading the "Acknowledgements" section in One Drop of Blood, Dr. Holland says that few people knew he was writing the book. But included in the few people were the "slew of literary agents who rejected the manuscript with constructive criticism such as 'unimaginative,' 'boring,' 'trite,' and (my favorite) 'don't make me get a restraining order because I will.'" If THEIR supervisors know they said these things about One Drop of Blood, I surely hope they've been fired by now because they obviously have no idea what they are talking about. This book was so far from "unimaginative" and "boring" - not even in the same hemisphere with those adjectives. I was hooked and entertained from page one! And both One Drop of Blood and K.I.A. are in contention for my Top 10 list of books read in 2008 because they are "witty," "suspenseful," "exciting," "creative," "unique" and "fun." K.I.A. has one of the best endings I've read all summer. "TOP NOTCH!"

Both books center around Dr. Kel McKelvey, the Scientific Director of the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii (CILHI). Dr. Holland held this position until CILHI was changed/renamed; now he is the Scientific Director of the Department of Defense Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command. Their mission is to "recover and identify America's war dead." I won't go into too much more because Dr. Holland is going to share more details with us in the interview.

I know you are going to LOVE this interview as much as I do, so without further ado, here he is...Thomas Holland!

Q. Was writing always an ambition of yours? If not, what prompted you to create Kel?

Tom: Lord, no. I was a fine art major as an undergrad and an anthropology major in graduate school. Writing was not anywhere on my "to-do" list as a grown-up. But then I moved to Hawaii...

One of the things about living in Hawaii is that you're a long way from anywhere - from everywhere, actually. A few years ago, I was traveling back and forth from Hawaii to Bosnia and Iraq on a frequent basis, and the total one-way transit time from Hawaii to the other side of the world is about 49 hours. You quickly burn through any books you brought along, and in desperation I started buying whatever was available in airport book shops. As an avid reader, you know that the selection available in the airport leaves much to be desired, and when I returned home from one of these odysseys, I mentioned to my wife that I'd just read several awful, awful books and casually said, "I think I can write a book this bad." She blessed my heart - she's one of those southern women who bless people's hearts with the same well-meaning intent that you might put down a wounded dog - and informed me that she had all the confidence in the world that if I put my mind to it, that I could indeed write a book every bit as awful as the one I'd just finished. Armed with that ringing support, I took her advice, and the next trip I made to Bosnia, I took my laptop and instead of reading a bad novel, I wrote one: One Drop of Blood.

What prompted Kel? Hmmmm, I guess I get a bit tired of seeing and reading depictions of forensic scientists as wearing lab coats, working in a lab filled with high-tech gadgets (though no one ever seems to have enough money to buy light bulbs, since the labs are always dark and they have to examine everything with flashlights), and being "cool" people with tattoos, body piercings, and torrid love interests. The reality is that there's a great deal of bumbling that actually is involved with what we do. We solve problems; we assemble complex jigsaw puzzles. Think of how many times you try the wrong piece in a puzzle, or how many times you erase your entry in a crossword - that's what forensic science is - a lot of dead ends before the final "Ah-Ha" moment. I wanted a character that made mistakes, got all wooled up in administrative red tape, and who - at the end of the day - was forced to make decisions, moral and ethical decisions, that he was ill trained to make and less well equipped to understand. That's the forensic field that I know, and it's not one you see too often. (Maybe for good reason.)

Q. Do you dislike the phone the way Kel does?

Tom: The ability to be out of touch is a rapidly vanishing act - and we'll all rue its loss. I see people constantly on their cell phones, and I think, Who the hell are they talking to all the time? I can't imagine wanting to talk to someone so badly (my wife, bless her heart, excepted, of course) that I can't wait until I get out of the crosswalk before I call them. Of course the fact that 90% of the calls I get anymore take the form of problems being plopped into my lap doesn't help my attitude. I can't remember the last time Publisher's Sweepstakes called.

Q. Are there more capers in the works for Kel?

Tom: Capers? That sounds exciting. I'm not sure that Kel would describe anything he does as a caper. Actually, I just finished a third McKelvey book - Holy Ghost. It reunites Kel and Levine, the FBI agent from One Drop of Blood, back in Arkansas. Several years ago, I ran across a book describing the death of a German POW at a prison camp in Oklahoma. Within the prison, the German POWs organized a vigilante group - called the Helige Geist (Holy Ghost) - that tried to make sure that each prisoner stayed loyal to the Nazi ideal. In this case they beat a fellow prisoner to death. A trial ensued and five of these "Ghosts" were convicted and subsequently executed, but what really caught my attention was a footnote in the book that pointed out that this was not an isolated event - that another prisoner had been murdered at the POW camp in Fort Smith, Arkansas. That's my home town. As events would have it, the old military base at Fort Smith is being turned over to the city and state for their use. That got me thinking about what would happen if a skeleton turned up while the area was being developed for fast-food restaurants and strip malls. I combined the bits and pieces of cases we've had in the lab. We'll see where it goes.

Q. Obviously your job influences your writing. How much of Kel's exploits are based on experience and how much is a figment of your imagination?

Tom: It's all based on my experience working in the business of forensic science. My imagination is so pathetic, I couldn't possibly make this stuff up. That said, I'm not Kel. For one thing, I like to think I'm smarter. It usually takes him until page 300 or so before he figures out what's going on. I can usually guess the ending by page 200 - give or take a chapter.

Q. Which writers, if any, have influenced your writing style?

Tom: Faulkner. I like the lazy circularity of his sentences. If anything captures the South, it's the way that his sentences roll on and on and loop back upon themselves and seem constantly to be straying from the point. Having said that, I can't stand reading him. He can't ever get to the point, and when he does, you've forgotten why you wanted to get there in the first place. Is that a contradiction?

Hemingway. I like the directness; the no-nonsense way of getting to the point. Having said that, I can't stand reading him. His words are too direct and have no magic. Okay, that's two contradictions.

Mark Twain. Could anyone understand the English language better? Certainly, no one could be funnier. I'll go with Mark Twain.

Q. Have you personally read anything in the last six months that you would recommend to people who enjoy your work?

Tom: Hmmmmm, I read a great deal of technical material. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone not sitting on death row looking for a way to make the time go slower.

In terms of what I read in airports, when I'm not writing, there're a few names that I'll pick up without even reading the synopsis on the back cover: John Connolly, Lee Childs, Nelson DeMille, John Sandford, Dennis Lehane, Harlan Coben - but then everyone picks them up without reading the cover. Of course I have to plug fellow University of Missouri Alums - James Lee Burke and Jeffery Deaver - though I have to admit that I've stopped reading Deaver. Having worked some less-than-pleasant cases in my career, my interest in reading books involving torture has waned.

I make a habit of reading To Kill a Mockingbird every so often. Can't go wrong with that no matter what your interest are.

I'm sure all these folks would prefer to spit on me than acknowledge me as a writer - but, hey, they probably aren't much in the way of forensic scientists...

Q. Between writing and all your job responsibilities as the Scientific Director of the Department of Defense Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, do you have time for any hobbies or outside interests?

Tom: Writing is my hobby. When my sons were smaller, and when I had more energy, I was involved in Boy Scouts - hiking, camping... Over time, given some of the places work sends me, my enthusiasm for camping out has diminished. I'm a big proponent of flush toilets.

Q. Your job with the DoD Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command must include some depressing experiences as well as rewarding experiences. What's been a unique experience that you can share with readers?

Tom: On the contrary, it's the most uplifting experience I can imagine. I often say that it's the best job I can imagine having. It has all the intellectual satisfaction of solving some of the most-complex puzzles imaginable - we identified the Vietnam Unknown Soldier from Arlington, for example - but with the added emotional satisfaction of healing (in some cases) decades-old wounds for the families of these men.

Unique experiences? They all are. The WWI soldier killed in 1918, the WWII single-seat aircraft crash with two people in it (one turned out to be a Red Cross nurse), men lost at Pearl Harbor - some of the first of the war, the last man shot down in Vietnam. Each is a fascinating story. Two, however, always stand out in my mind. One involved a pilot shot down in Vietnam. We needed DNA testing to resolve his
identity but faced the problem that he had been adopted at birth and no one knew who his biological parents were. We eventually were able to solve the case by using a locket of his hair from his first haircut in 1927. It had been saved by his adoptive mother and passed on in a scrapbook to his widow. Another case, also from Vietnam, was solved when we obtained DNA reference material from the only viable source - love letters that he'd written to his wife from Vietnam in 1965. Those two cases, to me, capture the essence of what we do. I've always thought that nothing could be more fitting than to use these two acts of love and tenderness - a baby's first haircut and a young husband's letters to his wife - to bind up the awful wounds of war.

You can't possibly make up a fictional story that captures the wonder of my job.

Q. You don't need to name names, but was there ever an actual inspiration for "Col. Botch-It"? Someone who made you want to submit your resume?

Tom: "Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental." That's what the lawyers say. Having said that, oh yeah, I get talked in off the ledge fairly regularly. One of the things I've come to appreciate working for the federal government is the mandatory waiting period to buy a handgun.

Q. And the last question: There is a book out called Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. What would be YOUR six-word memoir?

Tom: One of my father's favorite expressions dealing with ridiculous situations (and difficult people) was, "There ought to be a goon squad." I guess I'd rephrase it as, "There should've been a goon squad."

What an absolutely fascinating, and funny, guy! Anyone who counts Mark Twain as an influence and regularly reads To Kill a Mockingbird is tops in my book! This Q&A was so much fun for me. Thank you SO MUCH, Tom! I know your time is limited, so the fact that you spent some of it answering my questions humbles me.

And I was overjoyed to hear that a new McKelvey novel is on the way...and it's set in Fort Smith, Arkansas!! I have family in that area, too! I doubt Tom and I would need six degrees of separation - Ft. Smith is a rather small place! While we're all waiting for that third book to come out, check out the first two: One Drop of Blood and K.I.A. And also check out Tom's website. The "Photographs" link is a must see!

I'll share release news on Holy Ghost as soon as I hear about it. Until then, Happy Reading!!

Giddy as a School Girl?

That's me...I'm giddy as school girl. Which is odd because even as a school girl I wasn't giddy. BUT, I have an interview coming up that I'm absolutely THRILLED about. I think I should be on the ground bowing because "I am not worthy!"

Tomorrow, please join me for an interview with the newest addition to my favorite authors list, Dr. Thomas Holland, the creator of Kel McKelvey. Trust me, you do NOT want to miss this interview!

I'M SO EXCITED!!!

K.I.A. - Thomas Holland

In Thomas Holland's second installment of the Dr. Kel McKelvey series, an American soldier who served during the Vietnam era is believed to have deserted the army just shy of finishing his tour in Vietnam. In 1984, political pressure causes the army to classify him as K.I.A.

When a recovery team believes they have found his remains, the Vietnam government is reluctant to release them; they aren't convinced these are the remains of Jimmy Lee Tenkiller. And when those same remains make it to Dr. Kel McKelvey's lab at Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii (CILHI), it's confirmed they are NOT Jimmy Lee Tenkiller's remains. So, whose remains are they?

At the same time, Shuck Deveroux is personally requested by General Anderson to take charge of a murder investigation at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. But this is more than an ordinary murder; it's the a scalping of a Vietnamese man.

Kel and Shuck cross paths on their respective investigations and learn the two cases are linked. So, they put their skills together to figure out what is going on. Meanwhile, more Vietnamese men end up dead, scalped. The links between Jimmy Lee Tenkiller and these Vietnamese men, all of whom were former officers in the South Vietnamese Army, date back to the Vietnam War. So, why is all of this happening now?

I have one word to share with you about this book - WOW! Thomas Holland sure does have a talent when it comes to writing. I really took a liking to Kel in One Drop of Blood, and my feelings about this character haven't changed. I will admit that he had his Southern heritage going for him right off the bat. Kel is from Western Arkansas, where most of my father's family hails from. I smile just hearing the dialect in his dialogue. It's a beautiful sound. And the Southern colloquialisms are just so funny. Shuck contributes quite a few of his own in this book. For example, when Shuck is speaking to General Anderson about a possible lead, the General asks him if he thinks this lead is connected to Kel's case, and Shuck answers him, "Well now, don't know that I'd hunt that dog just yet, it's probably another dead end." Rather funny way to reply to the general, I'd think.

Another element of Kel's character that I love is his aversion to the telephone. I love this characteristic because I share this aversion with him.

Kel sat at his desk looking at the telephone, steeling himself as if he was preparing to walk on a bed of hot coals. It was bordering on something clinical. Phobia? Dysfunction? Whatever it was, he approached making telephone calls with the same degree of reflexive dread that he reserved for answering them. His palms had actually started to moisten.

I do believe I can relate to that feeling! And Kel's most endearing quality to me is his quick wit. Holland had me laughing heartily almost right off the bat when Kel is a meeting with his boss, Colonel Boschet (a.k.a. "Colonel Botch-It").

'And how about you, Doctor McKelvey? Do I look like a moron to you?'

Les tried to stop Kel but reacted too slowly. He barely had time to mutter, 'Oh, crap.'

Kel leaned forward to better peer around Neep's intervening shoulder. 'No sir, Colonel. I think by definition, morons have to have an IQ over forty-nine. I suspect you're more in the imbecile range.'

Now Kel has some pretty good job security, but isn't there a boss you've had that you would LOVE to say that to? I love intelligent humor from the characters in my crime fiction novels!

The plot in this story is absolutely phenomenal. It's tight, concise; no unnecessary fluff. Each character, each event plays an essential part in the overall story. And the plot twists are stellar. I like Holland's effect of ending a chapter leaving the reader knowing that what he/she initially thought was going to happen, isn't really the direction the plot is going after all, and at the same time, the reader doesn't know now what IS going to happen. You find yourself saying, "just one more chapter" so many times because you have to find out just where Holland is taking you next.

The last point I want to mention about K.I.A. is Holland's use of language. There aren't a lot of writers that really WOW me with their use of language, but Holland has made that distinguished list. There is often a stereotype associated with Southern dialect and colloquialisms. But Kel uses both of these in his dialogue and you as the reader, still respect Kel as an intelligent, educated, competent professional. Holland beautifully breaks the stereotype and uses those devices to his benefit.

Some other sections that stuck out to me in Holland's use of language and devices:

Over the last several years the U.S. - Socialist Republic of Vietnam Joint Forensic Reviews had become something of a formality, an exercise in the First Principle of Bureaucratic Inertia: that a procedure put in place will remain in place long after anyone involved can remember why.

There doesn't tend to be an overwhelming amount of anthropological science in Holland's books. These are more plot focused, but I do love the way he works science into the framework, even in places you might not expect it to be.

At the same time, the books aren't overwhelmed by only allusions to science. He presents two different viewpoints of the sound of the Vietnamese language. Ed Milligan, a Staff Sergeant investigating possible locations of American soldiers killed in Vietnam, heard "chickens clucking", whereas Caroline Thompson, an anthropologist heard "music." There's a lot of intrigue in those different perceptions.

This book was just an absolutely wonderful read; from plot to character to language, it's extremely well written and just fun.

More New Authors...

for me anyway. I finished reading the Mystery Writers of America short story collection, The Blue Religion, and Thomas Holland's One Drop of Blood.

The Blue Religion is a collection of police procedural short stories. When I started reading, I knew four authors who contributed to the collection. Now, having finished reading, I've added several of these authors to my "to read" list.

T. Jefferson Parker was true to form with his "Skinhead Central". I found a sly smile on my face as I finished up his story. Parker has a way of reminding you that there are bad things all around us; so when we find the "good" things, they seem so much greater.

Michael Connelly edited the collection and contributed a short story with his beloved Harry Bosch, "Father's Day". I almost expected to hear the Law & Order "dun dun!" because this story was a "ripped from the headlines" plot. You can't help but love Harry.

Alafair Burke's short story "Winning" was outstanding. When I first started the story, I was a bit jolted by the plot. I simply wasn't expecting it. But, I loved how she made use of gender stereotypes and blurred the lines by the conclusion of the story. This is one talented writer whether it be in short form or novel-length.

James O. Born contributed a story entitled "The Drought". I read one of Born's full novels and wasn't overly impressed, but this short story was probably one of my favorites in the book. I thought his main character, Ben, had a lot of dimension to him. I enjoyed the conflict both internal and external in his character.

And finally, "Burying Mr. Henry" was my favorite story of the book. I had not heard of Polly Nelson before this short story, and she's actually only published a few other short stories, but this was an O.Henry-caliber story. The characters were colorful, as was the setting. I hope we see more from Polly Nelson

Novels consume the biggest percentage of my reading time, but it was an enjoyable experience to take a break and indulge in these short stories. Kind of a form of instant gratification almost.

Thomas Holland's crime fiction novel, One Drop of Blood, involves Kel, an anthropologist from the Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii (CILHI) and Mike Levine, a black-sheep FBI agent from New York City. The two characters find themselves in small-town east Arkansas trying to solve their respective cases that seem to be somehow intertwined. Kel has unidentified remains from Vietnam that don't match either of the possible men they could be, but the DNA from the remains connect to an unsolved, 40-year-old murder case that Levine is investigating.

I thought this book was absolutely outstanding. I listened to it on audiobook, read by Patrick Lawlor. He was phenomenal. I believe he is my favorite audiobook reader to date. He truly made the book come alive. He handled the subtle innuendos well; he nailed the dialects; and he somehow managed to make his female characters sound realistic and not like a male in drag.

The regional colloquialisms in this novel were hysterical. And the dynamics of all the characters were exceptionally well developed. His characters were human, and that I admire above all else in a good story. The interaction between Kel and Levine contributed to the humor of the story, but it also contributed to the realism. No character was completely lovable or completely detestable. They were real people with quirks and flaws and strengths.

The setting was so realistic, I almost found myself scratching jigger bites, too.

Holland made me laugh, he tugged at my heart strings, and he kept me guessing. I did figure a few details out early, but there were plenty of surprises awaiting me throughout the well-focused plot. I don't recall any elements throughout this novel that I felt could have been safely eliminated without harming the story.

I am DEFINITELY looking forward to Thomas Holland's next book.