In Reference to Murder

March Book Signing Roundup

It's time for the latest monthly roundup of author events at mystery bookstores around the U.S. and Canada. If you live near one of the stores, be sure and catch these opportunities to meet a new or favorite mystery author and buy a book to be signed, supporting the independent mystery bookstores in the process. Be sure and check the web site links for all the book and event details, noting that schedules are subject to change.

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Book Carnival
Orange, CA

Author:  Sandi Ault
Title:  Wild Inferno
Event Time:  Wednesday, March 12, 6 p.m.

Author:  Laura Lippman
Title:  Another Thing To Fall
Event Time:  Saturday, March 15, 1 p.m

Author:  Steven M. Thomas
Title: Criminal Paradise
Event Time: Saturday, March 29, 1 p.m.

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Book 'Em
South Pasadena, CA

Author: April Smith
Title:  Judas Horse
Event Time:  Saturday, March 8, 2 p.m.

Author:  Sandi Ault
Title:  Wild Inferno
Event Time:  Thursday, March 13, 5 p.m.

Author:  Cara Black
Title:   Murder in the Rue de Paradis
Event Time: Sunday, March 16, 1 p.m.

Author:  Sue Ann Jaffarian
Title:  Thugs and Kisses
Event Time: Saturday, March 29, 2 p.m.

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Centuries and Sleuths
Forest Park, IL

Author: Christa Faust
Title:  Money Shot
Event Time:  Sunday, March 2, 2 p.m.

Authors:  Beverle Graves Myers
Title:  The Iron Tongue of Midnight
Event Time:  Tuesday, March 11, 7 p.m.

Authors: Laura Caudwell / Connie Fletcher / Marcus Sakey 
Title:  The Good Liar / Crime Scene: Inside the World of the Real CSIs / At the City's Edge
Event Time: Thursday, March 20, 7 p.m.

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High Crimes
Boulder, CO

Author:  Stephen White
Title:  Dead Time
Event Time: Tuesday, March 4, 7 p.m.

Authors:  Steve Hockensmith / Rhys Bowen / Peter May / Louise Ure (and others) 
Title: The Black Dove / Tell Me, Pretty Maiden / The Killing Room / TBA
Event Time:  Wednesday March 5, 7 p.m.

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M is for Mystery
San Mateo, CA

Author:  John Lescroart
Title:  Betrayal
Event Time: Saturday, March 1, 2 p.m.

Author: Steven M. Thomas
Title:   Criminal Paradise
Event Time: Tuesday, March 11, 7 p.m.

Author:  Brian Freeman
Title:  Stalked
Event Time: Thursday, March 13, 7 p.m.

Author:  Rhys Bowen
Title:  Tell Me, Pretty Maiden
Event Time: Saturday, March 15, 2 p.m.

Author:  Andrew Gross
Title:  The Dark Tide
Event Time: Saturday, March 22, 2 p.m.

Author:  Jodi Picoult
Title:  Change of Heart
Event Time: Saturday, March 29 (drop-by signing only)

Author:  Richard Price
Title:  Lush Life
Event Time: Saturday, March 29, 2 p.m.

Author:  Denise Mina
Title:  Slip of the Knife 
Event Time: Monday, March 31, 7 p.m.

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Murder by the Book
Denver, CO

Author:  C.J. Lyons
Title:  Lifelines
Event Time: Wednesday, March 5, 5 p.m.

Author:  Steve Hockensmith
Title:  The Black Dove
Event Time: Wednesday, March 5, 5 p.m.

Author:  Rhys Bowen
Title:   Tell Me, Pretty Maiden
Event Time: Wednesday, March 5, 5 p.m.

Author:  Louise Ure
Title:  The Fault Tree
Event Time: Thursday, March 6, 5 p.m.

Author:  Peter May
Title:   The Killing Room
Event Time: Thursday, March 6, 5 p.m.

Author:  Sandi Ault
Title:   Wild Inferno
Event Time: Thursday, March 6, 5 p.m.

Author:  Cara Black
Title:  Murder in the Rue de Paradis
Event Time: Friday, March 7,  5 p.m.

Author:  Libby Hellman
Title:  Easy Innocence
Event Time: Friday, March 7, 5 p.m.

Author:  Stephen White
Title:  Dead Time
Event Time: Tuesday, March 11, 5:30 p.m.

Author:  Linda Fairstein
Title:   Killer Heat
Event Time: Saturday, March 15, 12 noon

Author:  Mario Acevedo
Title:  The Undead Kama Sutra
Event Time:  Wednesday, March 26, 5 p.m.

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Murder by the Book
Houston, TX

Author:  Lillian Stewart Carl
Title:  The Burning Glass 
Event Time:   Saturday, March 1, 3:00 p.m.

Author:  Peter May
Titles:   The Critic
Event Time:   Monday, March 3, 6:30 p.m. at the store

Author:  Peter May
Title:   The Critic
Event Time:  Tuesday, March 4, 6:30 p.m. At Alliance Francaise. 

Author:  Bill Crider
Title:  Of All Sad Words
Event Time:   Saturday, March 8, 4:30 p.m.

Author:  Reed Farrel Coleman
Title:  Empty Ever After 
Event Time:  Monday, March 10, 6:30 p.m.

Author:   Cara Black
Title:  Murder in the Rue de Paradis
Event Time:  Tuesday, March 11, 6:00 p.m. (wine reception following)

Author:  T. Jefferson Parker
Title:  L. A. Outlaws
Event Time:   Wednesday, March 12, 6:30 p.m.

Author: John Banville (writing as Benjamin Black)
Title:   The Silver Swan
Event Time: Thursday, March 13, 6:30 p.m. 

Author:  Louise Penny
Title:   The Cruelest Month
Event Time: Friday, March 14, 6:00 p.m.

Author:  Barbara Colley
Title:  Wash and Die 
Event Time:  Saturday, March 15, 4:30 p.m.

Author:   Mark Schweizer
Title:  The Mezzo Wore Mink
Event Time: Tuesday, March 18, 6:30 p.m.

Author:  Lisa Lutz
Title:   Curse of the Spellmans
Event Time: Wednesday, March 19, 6:30 p.m.

Author:  Andrew Gross
Title:   The Dark Tide
Event Time:Thursday, March 20, 6:30 p.m.

Author:  Charlie Stella
Title:  Mafiya 
Event Time:Saturday, March 22, 5:00 p.m.

Authors:  James O. Born / Randy Wayne White
Title:   TBA / Black Widow
Event Time: Thursday, March 27, 6 p.m.

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Murder on the Beach
Delray Beach, FL

Authors: Maggie Sefton / Deb Baker
Title:   Killer Stitch / Dolly Departed
Event Time:  Monday, March 3, 7 p.m. 

Author:   Steve Alten
Title:  The Shell Game
Event Time:  Wednesday, March 12, 7 p.m.

Author:  Cynthia Smith
Title:  Noblesse Oblige
Event Time:  Thursday, March 13, 7 p.m.

Author:  Kathryn Miller Haines
Title:  War Against Miss Winter
Event Time: Friday, March 14, 7 p.m.

Author:   Rhonda Pollero
Title:  Knock 'Em Dead 
Event Time:  Sunday, March 16, 7 p.m.

Author:  Randy Wayne White
Title:  Black Widow
Event Time: Wednesday, March 26, 7 p.m.

Author:  Randy Rawls
Title:  Jeb's Deception
Event Time: Friday, March 28, 7 p.m.

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Mysteries to Die For
Thousand Oaks, CA

Author:   Melinda Wells
Title:  Killer Mousse 
Event Time: Saturday, March 1, 1 p.m. 

Author:   Joanne Fluke
Title:  Carrot Cake Murder
Event Time:  Sunday, March 2, 2-4 p.m. LAUNCH PARTY!

Author:   R.T. Jordan
Title:  Final Curtain
Event Time: Saturday, March 8, 1 p.m.

Author:  Laura Lippman
Title:  Another Thing to Fall
Event Time:  Friday, March 14, 2pm STOCK SIGNING

Author:  Cara Black
Title:  Murder in the Rue de Paradis
Event Time: Saturday, March 15, 12 noon

Author:   Sandi Ault
Title:  Wild Inferno
Event Time:  Saturday, March 15, 2 p.m.

Author:   Steven M. Thomas
Title:  Criminal Paradise
Event Time:  Saturday, March 22, 1 p.m.

Author:  Kken Kuhlken
Title:  Vagabond Virgins
Event Time:  Saturday, March 22, 3 p.m.

Author:   Lisa Lutz
Title:  Curse of the Spellmans
Event Time:  Wednesday, March 26, 1 p.m.

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Mysterious Bookshop
New York, NY

Author:   Heywood Gould
Title:  Leading Lady
Event Time: Thursday, March 6th, 6:30-8 pm (reading)

Author:  Reed Farrel Coleman
Title:  Empty Ever After
Event Time:  Thursday, March 20th, 6:30-8 pm (reading)

Author:  Paul LaRosa and Erin Moriarty
Title:  Death of a Dream
Event Time: Tuesday, March 25th, 6:30-8 pm (reading)

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Mysterious Galaxy
San Diego, CA

Author: Joanne Fluke 
Title:  Carrot Cake Murder
Event Time: Saturday, March 8, 3 p.m.

Author: Sandi Ault
Title:  Wild Inferno
Event Time:  Tuesday, March 11, 5 p.m.

Author:  Christopher Rice
Title:  Blind Fall
Event Time:  Wednesday, March 12, 7 p.m.

Author:  Steven Thomas
Title:   Criminal Paradise
Event Time: Saturday, March 15, 2 p.m.

Author:  Laura Lippman
Title:  Another Thing to Fall
Event Time: Sunday, March 16, 11:30 a.m.

Author: Lisa Lutz
Title:  Curse of the Spellmans
Event Time: Friday, March 28, 7 p.m.

Author:  Joseph Wambaugh
Title:  Hollywood Crows
Event Time: Saturday, March 29, 2 p.m.

Author:  Raymond E. Feist
Title:   Wrath of a Mad God
Event Time:  Sunday, March 30, 2 p.m.

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Mystery Bookstore
Los Angeles, CA

Author: Alex Berenson
Title:  The Ghost War
Event Time:  Monday, March 3, 6:30 p.m.

Author:  Laura Lippman
Title:   Another Thing to Fall
Event Time:  Friday, March 14, 12 noon

Author:  Cara Black
Title:   Murder in the Rue de Paradis
Event Time:  Saturday, March 15, 4 p.m.

Author:  Steven M. Thomas 
Title:  Criminal Paradise
Event Time:  Saturday, March 22, 4 p.m.

Author:  Lisa Lutz
Title:   Curse of the Spellmans
Event Time:  Tuesday, March 25, 12 noon

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Mystery Company
Carmel, IN

Author:  Phil Dunlap
Title:  Blood on the Rimrock
Event Time:  Saturday, March 8, 2 p.m.

Author: Reed Farrel Coleman
Title:  Empty After Ever
Event Time:  Wednesday, March 12, 7 p.m.

Author:  S.D. Tooley, Mary Welk & Luisa Buehler
Title: various (see site link)
Event Time:  Sunday, March 16, 2 p.m.

Author: Terence Faherty
Title:  Short story workshop (see site for more details)
Event Time: Wednesday, March 19, 7 p.m.

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Mystery Lovers Bookshop
Oakmond, PA

Author: Nancy Martin
Title:  Murder Melts in Your Mouth
Event Time:   Sunday, March 9, 2008, starting at 1 p.m.

Author: John Banville (writing as Benjamin Black)
Title:  The Silver Swan
Event Time:  Saturday, March 15, 2008, coffee & crime breakfast, starting at 10 a.m.

Author: Joanne Fluke
Title:  Carrot Cake Murder
Event Time:   Saturday, March 29, 2008, Coffee & Crime breakfast, starting at 10 a.m.

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Mystery Loves Company
Baltimore and Oxford, MD

Author:  Laura Lippman
Title:  Another Thing to Fall 
Event Time: Tuesday, March 11, 8:00 a.m, breakfast at Spoons Restaurant

Authors: Cara Black and Libby Fischer Hellman 
Title: various
Event Time:  Monday, March 31, 7 p.m. (Baltimore County Pikesville Library)

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Once Upon a Crime Books
Minneappolis, MN

Author: Christopher Valen
Title:   White Tombs
Event Time: Saturday, March 1, 12:00-2:00 p.m., Launch Reception/Signing

Author:  Laura Childs
Title:  The Silver Needle Murder
Event Time:  Saturday, March 8, 12 noon

Author:  Carrie Bebris
Title:  Mr. & Mrs. Darcy mystery series
Event Time:  Saturday, March 8 (signing stock)

Author:  Peter May
Title:  The Critic and Killing Room
Event Time: Tuesday, March 11, 7 p.m., wine reception

Author:  Reed Farrel Coleman
Title:  Empty Ever After: A Moe Prager Mystery
Event Time: Saturday, March 15, 12:00-2 p.m.

Authors:  Judy Borger, Carl Brookins, Laura Childs, Anthony Neil Smith, and many others
Title:  Sixth Annual Write of Spring Festival 
Event Time:  Saturday, March 22, 12 noon to 4 p.m.

Author:  Jo Dereske
Title:  Miss Zukas mystery series
Event Time: Wednesday, March 26, signing stock

Author:  Libby Fischer Hellmann
Title:  Easy Innocence
Event Time: Thursday, March 27, 7 p.m.

Author:  Laura Lippman
Title:  Another Thing to Fall 
Event Time: Saturday, March 29, 4 p.m.

Author:  Joanne Fluke
Title:  Carrot Cake Murder
Event Time: Monday, March 31, 7 p.m.

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Poisoned Pen
Scottsdale, AZ

Author:  John Lescroart
Title:  Betrayal
Event Time: Mar 03, 7 p.m.    

Author:  Rhys Bowen / Steve Hockensmith
Title:  Tell Me, Pretty Maiden / The Black Dove
Event Time:  Mar 04, 7 p.m.    

Author:  John Banville (writing as Benjamin Black)
Title:  Silver Swan
Event Time: Mar 09, 7 p.m.

Authors:  Cara Black / Libby Fischer Hellmann / Sharan Newman
Title:  Murder in the Rue de Paradis / Chicago Blues & Easy Innocence / The Shanghai Tunnel
Event Time:  Mar 10, 7 p.m.

Author:   Reed Farrel Coleman
Title:  Easy Ever After
Event Time:  Mar 11, 7 p.m.

Author:   Betty Webb
Title:  Desert Cut
Event Time:  Mar 12, 7 p.m.

Author:   Louise Penny
Title:  Cruelest Month
Event Time: Mar 13, 7 p.m.

Author:   Stephanie Barron
Title:   Discussing and signing Flaw in the Blood
Event Time: Mar 15, 2008  11:00 am  to 12:15 pm at Peoria Public Library; 2pm at Poisoned Pen

Author:  Linda Fairstein
Title:  Killer Heat
Event Time: Mar 18, 7 p.m.

Author:   Laura Lippman
Title:  Another Thing to Fall
Event Time: Mar 20, 1 pm (and 7 p.m. at local Barnes and Noble)

Author:   Lisa Lutz
Title:  Curse of the Spellmans
Event Time: Mar 24, 7 p.m.

Author:   Joanne Fluke
Title:  Carrot Cake Murder
Event Time: Mar 25, 7 p.m.

Author:   James O. Born /  Roger M Sobin
Title:  Burn Zone / Essential Mystery Lists
Event Time: Mar 26, 7 p.m.

Author:   Randy Wayne White
Title:   Black Widow
Event Time: Mar 28, 7 p.m.

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Seattle Mystery Bookshop
Seattle, WA

Author:  Sharan Newman
Title:  The Shanghai Tunnel 
Event Time:  Saturday, March 1, noon

Author:  Steven M. Thomas
Title:  Criminal Paradise 
Event Time: Monday, March 10, noon

Author:  Joshilyn Jackson
Title:  The Girl Who Stopped Swimming
Event Time:  Tuesday, March 11, noon,

Author:  Mary Daheim
Title:    The Alpine Traitor
Event Time:  Thursday, March 13, noon

Author: Brian Freeman
Title:  Stalked
Event Time:  Saturday, March 15, noon

Authors:  Laura Lippman / Joanne Fluke 
Title:  Another Thing to Fall / Carrot Cake Murder
Event Time:  Tuesday, March 18, noon

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Uncle Edgar's Mystery Bookstore
Minneapolis, MN

Author:  David W. Wixon
Title:  Antagonist, A Childe Cycle Novel
Event Time: Saturday, March 8, 1-2 p.m. 

Author:  Laura Lippman
Title:  Another Thing to Fall
Event Time: Saturday, March 29, noon to 1 p.m.

Author:  Kim Harrison
Title:  The Outlaw Demon Wails
Event Time: Sunday, March 30, 1 to 2 p.m.

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New Novels Coming in March

From vampire detectives to Laura Lippman, as usual there is a nice variety of new releases coming to a book store near you in March, arranged here alphabetically by author:

• The Undead Kama Sutra by Mario Acevedo (March 11, 2008).  Felix Gomez, Latino vampire detective extraordinaire, returns in this third entry in the humorous, satiric series.
• Turn Up the Heat: A Gourmet Girl Mystery (Gourmet Girl Mysteries) by Susan Conant and Jessica Conant-Park (March 4, 2008). Murder's on the menu at Simmer, a popular Boston restaurant, in the third cozy to feature gourmet girl Chloe Parker from daughter-and-mother writing team Conant-Park and Conant
• No One Heard Her Scream by Jordan Dane (March 25, 2008). In this debut from Dane, San Antonio Det. Rebecca Montgomery fears the worst when her little sister, Danielle, is abducted during summer break on the Texas Gulf's South Padre Island.
• Killer Heat by Linda Fairstein (March 11, 2008). 10th legal thriller to feature alter ego Alex Cooper.
• The Dreaming Void by Peter F. Hamilton (March 25, 2008).  Featuring characters from the bestselling "Judas Unchained," this novel begins a new trilogy set in a far future
• Death Walked In: A Death on Demand Mystery (Death on Demand Mysteries) by Carolyn Hart (March 25, 2008)
• Chasin' the Wind (A Mad Mick Murphy Mystery) by Michael Haskins (March 19, 2008).
• Murder in the Park (Ellie Quicke Mysteries) by Veronica Heley (March 1, 2008). Feisty widow Ellie Quicke has a lot to worry about in the ninth entry in Heley's contemporary cozy series set in a nameless town outside London.
• Dunston Falls by Al Lamanda (March 19, 2008). Lamanda's debut novel features Sheriff David Peck, a former Baltimore homicide detective.
• Demons Are a Ghoul's Best Friend (Ghost Hunter Mysteries, Book 2) by Victoria Laurie (March 4, 2008).  Victoria Laurie's follow-up to "What's a Ghoul to Do?" in her new Ghost Hunter Mystery series Northelm Boarding School on Lake Placid
• In the Key of Death by Robert S. Levinson (March 19, 2008) a thriller which looks inside the look at the Los Angeles music industry.
• Another Thing to Fall (Tess Monaghan Mysteries) by Laura Lippman (March 11, 2008). Hollywood comes to Baltimore in bestseller Lippman's assured 10th PI Tess Monaghan caper
• Curse of the Spellmans: A Novel by Lisa Lutz (Hardcover - Mar 11, 2008). Another installment in the series featuring the shenanigans of the Spellman family
• Miss Julia Paints the Town by Ann B. Ross (March 27, 2008). Julia Springer Murdoch has survived widowhood, scandals and her share of delightfully harebrained adventures in eight previous Miss Julia outings.
• Island Life by Michael W. Sherer (March 19, 2008). Sherer takes a break from his Emerson Ward series (Death Is No Bargain, etc.) with this stand-alone mystery thriller set on an island near Seattle.
• Black Widow by Randy Wayne White (March 18, 2008).  Revenge becomes very personal for Doc Ford.

For more of the new hardcover, trade paperback, and paperback releases, as well as reissues, check out the following sites from The Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore and Books N Bytes.

A Word From Our Mascot

Our mascot, thumbster, has been a little tired of sitting on the sidelines lately, so he requested I post a note about the latest fingerprinting technology, something mystery writers might find useful for procedurals.  The portable fingerprinting machine seems to be gaining in popularity with law enforcement agencies, with several models including the BlueCheck fingerprint scanner made by Cogent Systems which uses Bluetooth communications technology. Cogent is the same company that manufactuers the LiveScan booking terminals, used by many police departments, prisons, and jails, to collect prints to send to the FBI's AFIS (Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System).   

Another up-and-coming technology useful to crime scene investigation is the portable handheld DNA scanner. This in still in development for the most part (see an early prototype above and an article on a work in progress here) but it holds out the promise of making it possible to help reduce the current time delay which occurs with most DNA samples due to the notorious lab backlog. New York City Mayor Bloomberg recently announced a “six-figure prize” for inventing a device that would allow the Police Department to more quickly and thoroughly analyze DNA at the scene of a crime. Other applications could include on-site testing for dangerous biological agents and even making it possible to spot the DNA of nasty diseases in a matter of minutes instead of days.

Special nod to Lee Lofland and Sandra Parshall for some of the above links.

Break Out the Cake

Today is the birthday of Elizabeth George, who might want to hold off celebrating until May, which is when her next Inspector Lynley book will be released, titled Careless in Red. Lynley, of course, is the protagonist of eleven of George's novels which have been adapted for television by the BBC (played by Nathaniel Parker and Sharon Small, seen above). Showing that even successful authors have to rely on the old standby, the book tour, George will be making 22 stops from Vermont to southern California in 6 weeks. Hope someone got her a good set of luggage.

 

Speaking of things British (i.e., Inspector Lynley, since George herself is American), Mills and Boon, Harlequin Enterpises’ British subsidiary, will launch Black Star Crime in August, a new series featuring thrillers and crime fiction. After one hundred years of publishing romance, Mills and Boon plans to release five crime and thriller titles every two months in all crime fiction subgenres.

Lisa Scottoline, author of Lady Killer and many other novels, was a guest on public radio's Kojo Nnamdi Show today. As their blurb eloquently states, “She was a unemployed single mother living off credit when she wrote her first book. Today, she's a New York Times bestselling author of page-turning thrillers and a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Mystery writer Lisa Scottoline talks about the writing process, getting published, portraying strong women, and helping lawyers rethink concepts of justice.”

What's in a Name?

The California Review recently posted an article about oddly-named sleuths in detective fiction, basically pointing out that many detectives’ names are carefully chosen by their creators to send signals to the reader. Mentioned were DI Rebus and Inspector Morse, both with names suggesting decoding or unscrambling; Harry Bosch who reminds readers of “the landscapes of his medieval namesake” in the lurid LA underworld; Jack Frost (aging, widowed, whose bleak humor is the warmest thing about him), named after the old English goblin supposed to inhabit the winter landscape, and many others, including Hercule Poirot and Lord Peter Wimsey.

I prefer the more subtle approach, and since I'm a fan of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch, I like to think about the connections between the Netherlandish painter and his artworks which depict sin and human moral failings. But what are your favorite protagonists’ names? Do they suggest insights into the character or setting? Or is it simply the quirkiness of the name that appeals?

It looks like Nora Roberts may be the last recipient of the Quill Award, unless another sponsor is found. Publishers Weekly’s parent company, Reed Business Information, has announced plans to suspend support of the Quill Awards program. No doubt this has to do with the fact that Reed's parent company announced it will sell the business division, which includes not oly PW but the Library Journal, as well.

   

Where There is Smoke...

On the Sisters in Crime newsgroup lately, there was a discussion about how to write arson investigations into crime fiction. One good site which was suggested is InterFire Online, the self-described “complete resource for fire services, fire insurers, law enforcement and others whose duties involve arson investigation, fire investigation safety and fire scene training.” There is indeed a wealth of information there, such as their Mythunderstandings section. Myth #2 — “The area of greatest damage and the lowest point of burning is always the area of origin.” Turns out, that's not always true because it doesn't take into account the critical role of ventilation and fuel load in determining damage patterns. The site also has an online training center with interactive tutorials.

Two mystery authors who both feature arson investigators and have ties to the field are Suzanne Chazin (The Fourth Angel and Flashover) who is a member of the International Association of Arson Investigators (and has unusual access to the inner workings of the FDNY seeing as how her husband is a high-ranking chief and twenty-year veteran of the department), and Earl Emerson, who is a lieutenant with the Seattle Fire Department  and the author of many suspense novels featuring firefighters.

There are some new releases that feature arson as part of the plot. James Patterson's latest Women's Murder Club title, 7th Heaven (his “co-writer” this time is Maxine Paetro), which deals with a series of arsons in a wealthy community; Marcus Sakey’s second crime novel coming out this month, At the City’s Edge, has Jason Palmer, recently home from Iraq, finding Chicago in an uproar from corruption, racial strife, gang warfare and arson; and Stephen Booth’s Scared To Live (May 2008) in which the answers to arson and assassination take Det. Sgt. Diane Fry and Det. Constable Ben Cooper from Derbyshire to the other side of Europe.

If you just can’t get enough of arson-related crime fiction, check out this list from the Overbooked web site, and for more arson links, check out the Forensics section under The List on this blog.

Bookstore-itis

I love bookstores. I really do. Although sometimes, I think it's more of a love-hate relationship, simply because I go inside a bookstore and feel positively overwhelmed. I want to read, if not all of the books, a large percentage of them. I'm completely sympathetic with the bookworm character Burgess Meredith epitomized in the Twilight Zone episode who is actually a bit relieved after a planetary holocaust gives him all the time in the world to read (I won't spoil the ending, though). Of course, I'm not hoping for an apocalypse so I can read more, but simply trying to work books in as often as I can.

Apparently, Vermonters are folks after my own heart, because they have some of the highest reading rates in the country. As a recent article in Vermont Life indicates,

They "lead the nation in the number of libraries; bookmobiles roam the state like ice-cream vendors in everything from private cars to retired school buses. At a time when reading is falling off nationwide, Vermont's library attendance is growing. According to Vermont's Department of Libraries, participation in reading programs for all ages is up 67 percent in the last 10 years."

The cold winters certainly help, but other cold-weather states don't boast reading rates quite like that. Authors are appreciated, too, as the article goes on to state,

“When Stephen King visited UVM a few years ago as part of the Burlington Book Festival, he drew a record crowd; a few years later E. L. Doctorow was welcomed at Champlain College like a rock star. When Joyce Carol Oates stepped up to the microphone at Burlington's Waterfront Theatre last year, it was standing room only.” (Something to think about for writers planning their book tours, perhaps?)

Vermont also has its share of native writers, including crime fiction authors, as I mentioned in a previous blog posting after a 24-hour roundtrip on Amtrak visiting relatives. So thanks, Vermont, for helping to keep the printed word alive in your support of the book.

From the good news to the sad, Cynthia Nye, owner of High Crimes Mystery Bookshop, Boulder, Colorado,  plans to close her bricks-and-mortar store in March and sell online, the Daily Camera  reported.  "I think it's been slowly building over the last six months," Nye said of the combination of economic downturn, diminishing foot traffic and smaller sales. "You get two or three bad months and that's all you can take." 

Forward and Back

Ordinarily, I like to post items that are more of a—well, uplifting nature. Or at least, news, resources, and tips that will hopefully be helpful to readers and writers of crime fiction. However, the business of publishing can be such a fickle one, it can help writers, I think, to be able to see the big picture and understand exactly what they might be facing, not so much as to discourage them, but to provide a little dose of reality. That's why I thought this blog entry from mystery writer Kate Flora was particularly useful, if not a tad depressing, although there is a little humor, too, as when she writes “I have never yet given a talk to a school group without being asked if I am rich.” Still, as she says at the end, “...there’s one final truth and that is that for most of us, writing isn’t a choice. It’s a compulsion. We could no more stop writing than we could start now and hold our breaths forever.”

Bottom line is, write, write, write...

Monk and Poirot are Berry Good

Three-time Emmy winner Tony Shalhoub will be stopping by the Official Monk Site to Chat Live with fans before the Monk Season Finale on Friday, February 22 at 8 p.m. From the official newsletter for USA Network comes this regarding the finale, “Monk believes he is getting closer to solving the murder of his wife Trudy, but the clues only lead to trouble. When he investigates further, things turn deadly. As Monk becomes the prime suspect in a murder, he has to outrun a small town sheriff and plan his escape. Did somebody frame Monk? Can he survive as a fugitive on the run? Watch the first episode of Monk's two-part season finale, ‘Mr. Monk Is On The Run.’”  In other Monk news, NBC will being airing the series in its “repurposed” (e.g. writers’ strike inspired) slot on March 2nd.

On the heels of an announcement from Geraldine McEwan last month that she was leaving her role of Miss Marple on the ITV television crime series, comes gossip that David Suchet is leaving his TV role as the quintessential Hercule Poirot. Suchet, however, was quick to deny the rumor, saying “Fans needn't worry. I want to finish the remaining eight stories before I hang up my spats as Poirot.”

WETA-TV’s “Author, Author” series today featured an interview with Steve Berry, author of the Venetian Betrayal. The show also included a contest to win one of ten free copies of the book, which you can read about here.

Bookselling Comedy and Tragedy

MSNBC posted a blog recently, titled “10 Ways to Save Money on Books,” which basically tells people how to avoid buying books.  Although I'm sympathetic with folks who want to be more thrifty, somehow I don't think book-buying is what generally breaks the bank (with the exception of the author of that blog who was spending $3,000 on books annually). Seems to me if you love books, putting publishing companies and bookstores out of business isn't the way to show that love.

On a friendlier note, something that had me doing a little happy dance, was an anecdote from Shelf Awareness, a comment overheard at the Harry W. Schwartz Bookshop in Mequon, Wisconsin.  A 10-year-old boy took a deep breath upon entering the store and said, “Ah, the smell of pure print.”  The moment “made me smile along with the customers and booksellers who saw and heard him,” Pattie Cox of Schwartz wrote, adding that Monday was the boy's birthday, and his parents had  brought him to the store for a treat. What a lucky, lucky little boy. And Happy Birthday to you!