Occasionally this will happen

Oh dear......

Two weeks? Really? Ugh. Well I have been busy. Finally got a around to reading a Brian Wiprud book. Killed a graphic novel I haven meaning to read for about 6 months. And I moved on to a new book. So I have been productive..... just not with the blog.

This short... and believe me temporary break... comes on the heals of two film bloggers ceasing operations. One ripped off the band-aid by saying "All things must pass...I’m outta here..." It got me to thinking that at some point in the future, this blog will stop. My world tilted slightly off axis for a moment. A conversation with a blogging buddy, Jared Case, led me to predict that this blog won't be around in five years, likely less. This bit of information depressed me to no end for a day or two, until I decided I couldn't be bothered. I wouldn't worry about updating the blog for a bit and just enjoy the spring weather.

The Anatomy of Deception - Review

Along with his wife, Lawrence Goldstone has written a number of highly enjoyable nonfiction works about collecting rare books. The Anatomy of Deception is Mr. Goldstone's foray into Crime Fiction writing. Not surprising given the authors PhD in Constitutional studies the period detail as it pertains to Philadelphia is the best part of this book. As a recent tourist in that city, THD found Goldstone's ability to conjure the images of 1880's Philadelphia to be wonderfully transportative prose.

This is the section where should add some small recap of the plot. I generally feel that is what the inside of a dust jacket is for, but let us not break with convention. Dr. Ephraim Carroll is a young doctor under the tutelage of Dr. William Osler. Osler shepherds a number of Doctors and Philly Hospital and when one of them turns up dead young Carroll is drawn into the underbelly of Philadelphia (low & high) society.

The who-done-it aspects of the book are not much to trumpet here which is to say that it is efficient if unspectacular. Where Goldstone turns his attention is the moral ambiguity of the whole situation, namely Doctors who perform abortions and Doctors who take drugs. What is right and what is wrong? Who is served better by facilitating these men and their activities even if there is collateral damage. This is a highly reductive take on what the book is trying to explore. However, I think this take gets to the root of the book, and from my point of view it certainly provided the most interesting reading where the plot/narrative were concerned.

This is a good bit of historical crime fiction. The devil is in the details and Mr. Goldstone gets them right in spades. I should mention many of these characters are real life people which I am sure adds to the flavor of the book... that is if you are up on your late 19th early 20th century medical history.

...on occasion I buy books.

I see that April 2nd marked the last time that THD filed a report on our purchasing habits. The Editorial staff was just remarking how they did not seem to miss this staple of the blog. Let's be honest I am only too aware of how boring or perhaps tedious it is to read what some other person has bought. Yet this information was included for content sake of the blog. THD does not read fast enough to include frequent reviews and salient Crime fiction news is covered ably by my brethren to the extent that including it in my blog has all to often seemed like stealing. My fall back position on this topic has been that I am bringing authors you may have not heard of to the fore. So lets 'git' to it.

The Ghost - Robert Harris
I have only read one of this author's previous books. It was Archangel. I was in Norway, about 45 miles or kilometers from the Polar Circle. Yeah, this was a weird time in my life. Minus his ancient Roman books he is an author I always wanted make a consistent read. Saw the HBO version of Fatherland and I have a soft spot for the film Enigma..... which reminds me that I have read that book too. Norway really did put the zap on my brain. Anyway, I picked this book up because of the thinly veiled Tony Blair connection.

Child 44 - Tom Rob Smith
This was on my Spring Preview list so this is not a surprise purchase. Gonna read this soon. Maybe next. Or not. Reading and Summer do not really work so well. I generally carry-on a bizarre love-hate relationship with my lawn in the summer months. This is the best reviewed book of the year so far, I think. I have yet to read the NY Times review, but I am including it here because when Maslin reviewed movies I tended to enjoy them.

Little Faith - Michael Simon
Just got this author's second a little while ago. Happy to have the third. THD has gone on record saying that we loved his first, Dirty Sally. More problematic is that Body Scissors has been next on my to be read pile for a bout three book. Oops!

TheTin Roof Blow Down - Close Case - Burke, et al.
On a list of authors THD needs to read is Alafair Burke. THD owns her first three books, but new purchases and general laziness have kept THD from cracking one of them open. I'll need to remedy that very soon. As for Papa Burke, I am sure others can prove me wrong but The Tin Roof Blow Down was probably the best reviewed book of the last year. Why did I wait so long to get this book?

So what has THD learned, other than the fact that UK author's are not interested in an easily found web address? We learned that...... hmmmmmmmm.....

Edgar Report 2008

The Edgars got handed out last night and once again THD was not in attendance. Forgive the quick digression because it is one that I feel that I have made before.

At this point in the life of the internet and the invaluable tool it has become for all things Crime Fiction, I am incredulous that that the MWA can't post video highlights of the Award Ceremony. I don't need the whole show (although I'd be cool with that too), just the winner and the little speech they may provide would be wonderful content for the MWA website. I'll take the less cynical route and write that this probably has been discussed and shot down to due certain rights and author release issues.

Excuse me for a moment while I get off my high horse and take off these chaps. Ok. All better.

I've listed the four the categories that I covered in depth on Sunday. Winners are in red. The Complete list of winners is here.

Best Novel
Christine Falls by Benjamin Black
Priest by Ken Bruen
The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
Soul Patch by Reed Farrel Coleman
Down River by John Hart

John was nominated last year in the Best First Novel Category so he seems to have Edgar's number. And it was for this reason I had Down River as the second favorite. However, I thought if Soul Patch was not going to win voters would turn to Priest, but then again what do I know if I can't even trust my own odds.

Best First Novel by an American Author
Missing Witness by Gordon Campbell
In the Woods by Tana French
Snitch Jacket by Christopher Goffard
Head Games by Craig McDonald
Pyres by Derek Nikitas

On Sunday I wrote that the In the Woods seemed the safe bet and as luck would have it I was right. I think I also gave the slight impression that the only reason it was nominated was that the book had a healthy PR push. I do think this book received the largest push, but it also received some pretty wonderful reviews.

Best Paperback Original
Queenpin by Megan Abbott
Blood of Paradise by David Corbett
Cruel Poetry by Vicki Hendricks
Robbie's Wife by Russell Hill
Who is Conrad Hirst? by Kevin Wignall

I felt this was the strongest of all of the categories, and the toughest call. I am happy that Queenpin won, but I am also really bummed that Corbett or Wignall missed out in this category.

Best Motion Picture Screen Play
Eastern Promises, Screenplay by Steven Knight
The Lookout, Screenplay by Scott Frank
Michael Clayton, Screenplay by Tony Gilroy
No Country for Old Men, Screenplay by Coen Bros., based on the book by Cormac McCarthy
Zodiac, Screenplay by James Vanderbilt, based on the book by Robert Graysmith

I felt the No Country juggernaut would pick this award up as well, but no Tony Gilroy for Michael Clayton are this year's recipient. I wanted Zodiac, but I am hardly disappointed that Michael Clayton picked up this award. If memory serves Zodiac was No. 3 on my Top ten and Michael Clayton was No. 4.

I successfully picked Young Adult and Young Juvenile. And in the close but no cigar category, I wanted to pick Reclaiming History for Best Fact Crime, but felt the book was just not timely.

Congratulations to all the winners. Enjoy your moment in the sun!

Finally, I just want to thank The Rap Sheet for the plug earlier in the week. It is always fun to see my Google analytic numbers spike!

Edgar Awards - Tonight

Noms are here.
THD picks are here.
Live blooging here.
I'll be here.

Good Luck to all the nominees.