James Sallis
James Sallis (born December 21, 1944 in Helena, Arkansas, United States) is an Americancrime writer, poet, critic, musicologist and musician, best known for his series of novels featuring the detective character Lew Griffin and set in New Orleans, and for his 2005 novel Drive, which was adapted into a 2011 film of the same name.
Film – Drive starring Ryan Gosling
-
On the Bookshelf – Recent Reads
On the Bookshelf – Recent Reads
Authors, many without websites or first time published, from and about locations around the world.
Irish family saga over decades up to 2008 recession – Paul Murray – The Bee Sting
Paul Murray’s The Bee Sting, an irresistibly funny, wise, and thought-provoking tour de force about family, fortune, and the struggle to be a good person when the world is falling apart. Told by four family menbers, father mother, daughter, son, each a voice in conflict with the moment. Over 500 pages. Stay the course.
Another first book makes lasting impression – Amanda Peters – The Berry Pickers
An amazingly perfect use of the device where the reader is shown where the story will go, but is often brought near tears on the way. The story of two families, two cultures, and both love and heartbreak throughout a lifetime. An especially good read.
What happened when Dorothy returned to Kansas? – Gordon McAlpine – After Oz
With the release of “Wicked” on film, Dorothy is once again topical and Oz again a fantasy destination. This novel, the authors last before his untimely passing, suggests what may have happened in the days and months after the tornado that whisked the young girl away and back again.
Fantasy author delivers a terrific crime thriller – Dave Dobson – What Grows From the Dead
North Carolina college professor, improv comic, and writer provides an ensemble cast supporting an unlikely hero who has hit bottom in life and career, only to find he had inherited little from his mom except trouble.
New book about an old city – Ruth Reichl – The Paris Novel
Novelist and food writer takes us to Paris in the 1980’s with a young woman needing to find herself (not a cliche, but a charming rendition and tour guide.) Book Club book, gourmet treat, and travel instigator. Already looking at flights.
American Literary Icon who passed away in 2023 – Russell Banks – American Spirits
An American treasure whose stories focus on the locales and people in the Adirondacks of upstate New York. Check out this recent PBS video tribute and a 1995 feature on CBS Sunday Morning which gives an interesting perspective on what young people cared about…30 years ago.
From the 1990’s – Henning Mankell – Faceless Killers
Terrific series taking place in Southern Sweden and featuring Wallender, a main character played deftly on the PBS series by Kenenth Branaugh.
New book from old favorite – Tim O’Brien — America Fantastica
An American Master returns: the author of The Things They Carried and In the Lake of the Woods delivers his first new novel in two decades.
First time author – Nilima Roa — A Disappearance in Fiji
What is told as a mystery is really an amazing history lesson of British colonialism, and Indian and native culture in the Fiji Islands off the coast of Australia in 1914.
-
David Rosenfelt
Location – New Jersey
David Rosenfelt
David Rosenfelt is an author who has written nineteen novels and three TV movies. His main character in most of his mystery books is Andy Carpenter, attorney and dog lover. Wikipedia
More recently David has added a new character series, Doug Brock, N.J. State Police Homicide Detective suffering from memory loss. Both series take place around Rosenfelt’s home town, Paterson, N.J.
In 1995, he and his wife started the “Tara Foundation” which has saved almost 4,000 dogs. He is a dog lover and supports more than two dozen dogs.
Dogtripping is a non-fiction chronicle of moving across the country from California to Maine with over twenty dogs.
-
Timothy Hallinan
Locations-Bangkok & Los Angeles
Timothy Hallinan
Latest in the Poke Rafferty Series —
Edgar, Shamus, Macavity and Lefty nominee Timothy Hallinan has written twenty-one published novels, all thrillers and mysteries, all critically praised. He currently writes two series, one set in Los Angeles and the other in Bangkok, and in 2017 he also revived his earlier series, written in the 1990s about the overeducated slacker private eye Simeon Grist. The new book, the first since 1995, is “Pulped.”
His 2014 Junior Bender novel, “Herbie’s Game,” won the Lefty Award for Best Comic Crime Novel of the year. His 2010 Poke Rafferty Bangkok novel, “The Queen of Patpong,” was nominated for the Edgar as Best Mystery of the Year.
The Junior Bender mysteries chronicle the adventures of a burglar who moonlights as a private eye for crooks. Six titles have been published to date, and “Herbie’s Game” (2015) won the Lefty Award for Best Comic Crime Novel. The other titles in the series are “Crashed,” “Little Elvises,” “The Fame Thief,” “King Maybe,” and “Fields Where They Lay,” which was on many “Best Books of 2016” lists. Coming in 2018 is “Nighttown.”
The Junior Bender books are presently in development as a primetime television series.
In 2007, the first of his Edgar-nominated Poke Rafferty Bangkok thrillers, “A Nail Through the Heart”, was published. “Hallinan scores big-time,” said Kirkus Reviews, which went on to call the book “dark, often funny, and ultimately enthralling.” “Nail” was named one of the top mysteries of the year by The Japan Times.
Rafferty’s Bangkok adventures have continued with “The Fourth Watcher,” “Breathing Water,” “The Queen of Patpong,” “The Fear Artist,” “For the Dead,” and “The Hot Countries.” Coming in 2017 is “Fools’ River.”
In the 1990s he wrote six mysteries featuring the erudite private eye Simeon Grist, beginning with “The Four Last Things,” which made several Ten Best lists, including that of The Drood Review. The other books in the series were well reviewed, and several of them were optioned for motion pictures. The series is now regarded as a cult favorite and is being revived, in one sense of the word, with “Pulped.”
He has also edited two books. “Shaken: Stories for Japan” contained original stories by top mystery writers and raised more then $100,000 for tsunami relief efforts, with every penny going straight to Japan. “Making Story: 21 Writers and How They Plot” contained practical ideas on plotting by well-known mystery and thriller writers.
Hallinan divides his time between Los Angeles and Southeast Asia, the setting for his Poke Rafferty novels. (Amazon)In addition to the Lefty, the Edgar, and the Macavity, Hallinan’s books have been nominated for the Shamus and Nero award.
