In contributing to Friday's Forgotten Book project I was confronted with my beginnings in Crime Fiction. THE BLACK HAND GANG was a children's book I read with my sister when I was 10 or 11. There is THE FIRM or DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS purchased the same day from the Walden Books in the mall. THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD? Over my head. Too young.
The book is A DRY WHITE TEAR by Stephen F. Wilcox. This was the first book in two series that Mr. Wilcox wrote. The hero of this and three other books written between 1989 and 1994 was T.S.W Sheridan. Mr Sheridan is a crime reporter who moves to the Finger Lakes area in upstate New York to investigate the murder of his Uncle. I have not read the book in twenty years, and I always flunked reading comprehension, but I still recall my very strong reaction to it. Not until this book had I encountered a character like Sheridan. Rough, but amiable. Cynical, but hopeful. Sheridan was the first fully realized person I had read in crime fiction, more importantly he was the first character in fiction I wanted to hang out with. He'd sneak me beer, he'd tell me fascinating stories about being a reporter in Manhattan. Sheridan would be my mentor to the larger world. I couldn't tell you about the plot... see the above about my reading comprehension. Still, I can recall the unmasking of the murderer. It was not stylized or grandiose it was ordinary, it felt like how this would happen. It was the authenticity of the events that struck me most. It was fiction yes, but it was the reality of the writing that mentored me into this beautifully dark genre.
On the plus side of the recent economic skid is this chart. This chart... well... charts the slide of the British Pound Sterling to our Americano Dollar. From nearly $2.00 in early August to what is today $1.60! For all of my youth the Pound basically converted to $1.50, but as The Hungry Detective's interest in English Premier League soccer grew so did the exchange rate. This made travel and the acquisition of UK released books nigh to impossible. Our cherished Billingham's, Booth's, Connolly's, Kernick's, McDermid's were all a heavy financial burden for this poor soul, and with shipping via the Royal Mail...Oof!
Luckily all of our UK related purchases are being made via The Book Depository. Is there any more magical collision of words than, 'Free Shipping'? Yes, there is 'Free Shipping Worldwide'.
In any case, the latest additions to the THD library have been R.J Ellory'sA Simple Act of Violence, and Tom Cain's The Survivor. THD would like to thank the horrible economy for this turn of events. The Hungry Detective also gives himself a shout out for paying off all his credit card debt last year to make these and future purchases possibly.
Just a couple things to mention. A) My computer has passed on into the great beyond to frolic with the Apple IIc of my childhood. More specifically the hard drive is longer... hard driving. Was the stupid, wasteful service plan purchased? Surprisingly yes it was. Do I want to be without my computer for the next 6-8 weeks? No.
The second thing? The Hungry Detective realizes a post is a bit overdue, so I'll take this rainy Saturday to write a few quick reviews.
The Bookman's Last Fling - John Dunning Here is a series for which I have a great affection. The series follows Cliff Janeway, a former cop turned bookseller. Mr. Dunning filled his first couple books with book collecting minutia that made for very fun reading... even if the mystery was nothing all that special. Books three and four of the series were distinct disappointments for me as Mr. Dunning abandoned much of the book collecting charm of the previous books. The mystery was at the fore, and sadly I was bored. The Last Fling is the fifth in the Janeway series, and it is a bit of return to form. A nice bit of book collecting detail combined with some fascinating reportage about horse racing. Mr. Dunning does a really good job with these elements, but again when it comes to the mystery there is little to hang your hat on.
The Overlook - Michael Connelly While nearly every one read this as a New York Times serialization, The Hungry Detective did not. The Hungry Detective does not read crime fiction off of a computer screen. So unless the Kindle comes with a steak of the month club attached we won't be buying that either. The Overlook is the kind of book that reminded me why Mr. Connelly is one of the best of the best. A writer so talented is really in danger of being taken for granted. The expectation of a 'great book' every time often means the merely 'very good book' is looked down upon as an inferior effort. What makes this a really great book for me is the return of Harry Bosch, Lone Wolf. Over the course of the last few books Bosch has been saddled with a partner that only serves to hinder him. The partner becomes a writer's devices to infuse tension into the story. With The Overlook, Mr. Connelly dispatches Bosch's new partner off screen almost immediately. Bosch is left virtually on his own against the FBI and Homeland Security. Former 'partner' Rachel Walling is back, but there is an antagonism there now that suits the story and Bosch so much better.
Silence of the Grave - Arnaldur Indriđason It was great to Arnaldur Indridason in Baltimore. I was reminded of why I bought this author's, first book, Jar City. I read that book last year. I thought it was a well written, depressing masterpiece. Not the kind of book one picks up again soon. There is just an aching sadness that pervaded that book. The sadness is here again in Silence of the Grave, but it is somehow much more manageable this time around. The bleakness of domestic violence, familial discontent, and an intractable unknowable future are balanced in its character beautiful survival. I will not take so long to read this author's further work.
Back home, and the lawn has been mowed. Baltimore is already fading behind a haze of husband and home duties that piled up in my absence.
First and foremost let me extend my congratulations (...among the many) to Ruth Jordan and Judy Bobalik. Nothing but great things are being said about the work they did to put on the Baltimore Bouchercon.
As for the experience of The Hungry Detective, I am not really sure how to close this out. Great fun was had, and surprisingly not as many books were purchased. At least financial I feel good about the long weekend.
Perhaps it is best not to look back too much. Nostalgia is both a beautiful and stunting organism. I'll just wait for my FedEx to arrive and look forward Indianapolis. I'll close like I probably should. Here is what I bought.
The Amateur Spy - Dan Fesperman The Snake Stone - Jason Goodwin Scared to Live - Stephen Booth Mr. Timothy - Louis Bayard Voices - Arnaldur Indridason Trigger City - Sean Chercover Wicked City - Ace Atkins
This is the second awards ceremony that I have attended. The other one was 2007 Academy Awards. Slightly better seats for this one. I'll add some commentary on Monday. Columbus Day tomorrow means I have the day to recover.
Let me refer you to our picks... made all the way back in June.
Winners are in Red and bold. THD picks in Blue. I picked against Laura Lippman because why again? Oh yes, stupidity.
Best Novel Tin Roof Blowdown - James Lee Burke Bad Luck and Trouble - Lee Child The Watchman - Robert Crais Thunder Bay - William Kent Krueger What the Dead Know - Laura Lippman
Best First Novel Big City, Bad Blood - Sean Chercover In the Woods - Tana French The Spellman Files - Lisa Lutz Head Games - Craig McDonald The Blade Itself - Marcus Sakey
Best Paperback Original Queenpin - Megan Abbott Slide - Ken Bruen and Jason Starr Blood of Paradise - David Corbett Baby Shark's Beaumont Blues - Robert Fate A Thousand Bones - P.J. Parrish
Short Story Watch Your Step - Rhys Bowen (The Strand Magazine) Dear Dr. Watson - Steve Hockensmith (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine) How Stella Got Her Grave Back - Toni L.P. Kelner (Many Bloody Returns) Hardly Knew Her - Laura Lippman (Dead Man's Hand) Uncle - Daniel Woodrell ( A Hell of Woman: An Anthology of Female Noir)
Critical Work Arthur Conan Doyle: A Life in Letter - Jon Lellenberg The Essential Mystery Lists - Roger Sobin The Triumph of the Thiller: How Cops, Crooks, and Cannibals Captured Popular Fiction - Patrick Anderson Deviance in Contemporary Crime Fiction - Christiana Gregoriou Special Services Jon and Ruth Jordan - Crimespree Magazine Ali Karim - Shotz Magazine Maddy Van Hertbruggen - 4MA Sarah Weinman - Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind Judy Babalik - for being one of the best friends and supporters of mystery writers anywhere.
Web Site Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind - Sarah Weinman Rap Sheet/January Magazine - J Kingston Pierce Murderati - A Writer's Blog Stop You're Killing Me - Stan Ulrich and Lucinda Surber Crime Fiction Dossier - David Montgomery
The Shamus Awards were handed out tonight. Tickets were a cool $60. The Hungry Detective wishes we had enough money in the petty cash fund to afford a ticket. Banquets last for a couple hours.... but book purchases are forever!
More commentary later. Monday.
Winners in Red and bold. THD made some picks about a million months ago; they are in Blue.
Best Hardcover Head Games - Thomas B. Cavanagh Soul Patch - Reed Farrel Coleman The Color of Blood - Declan Hughes A Welcome Grave - Michael Koryta A Killer’s Kiss - William Lashner
Best Paperback Original Songs of Innocence - Richard Aleas Exit Strategy - Kelley Armstrong Stone Rain - Linwood Barclay Deadly Beloved - Max Allan Collins Blood of Paradise - David Corbett
Best First Novel The Cleaner - Brett Battles Keep It Real - Bill Bryan Big City, Bad Blood - Sean Chercover When One Man Dies - Dave White The Last Striptease - Michael Wiley
Best Short Story Kill The Cat - Loren D. Estleman (Detroit Noir) Trust Me - Loren Estleman (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine) Open Mike - James Nolan (New Orleans Noir) Hungry Enough - Cornelia Read (A Hell of a Woman) Room for Improvement - Marilyn Todd (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)
I have nearly 'Been Around the World' in the last two years. Brazil and India so the 8:30 panel on Saturday morning seemed a natural. The focus here was on writers who have chosen exotic locales or who are writing from exotic locales. All five of the authors, Charles Benoit, Jason Goodwin, Arnaldur Indridason, and Michael Stanley are guys I have either read or want to read. They all acquitted themselves very nicely. This was a panel where I got up to dash to the book room in search of books for all the authors I don't already own. I was especially drawn to Mr. Stanley and Mr. Goodwin. Mr Stanley is one half of the writing team that has authored A Carrion of Death. Mr. Goodwin writes about the declining days of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century. His first was the 2007 Edgar winner, The Janissary Tree.
(Arnaldur Indridoason)
The PI panel at 11:30 was one of the best I heard this weekend. The two things to be learned is that whether it is 1st person or 3rd person the PI novel is not dead, merely just taking a bit of a nap. Secondarily Ross Macdonald is required reading.
(Dave White)
I peeked in the on John Connolly and Mark Billingham interview for about a half hour before heading up to the room for some much needed rest. In the end Saturday turned into a bit of a lost day. Few panels attended, and even fewer books purchased. It was a day to soak it up without losing my mind.
50 Push-ups. 50! That is how many push-ups Laura Lippman did at the 8:30am 'Would I Lie to You' panel. Our five panelists, Mark Billingham, John Connolly, Ms. Lippman, Chris Mooney, and Karin Slaughter challenged a packed room to suss out the truth from the many colorful lies. Best of the bunch was the news that John Connolly wouldn't kick Daniel Day-Lewis out of bed.
(Mark Billingham)
The next panel was the TV panel which gave me an opportunity to see one of my favorite authors, Duane Swierczynski. It was a good panel with the highlight being Bill Cameron saying some very unkind things about John-Boy Walton.
(Duane Swierczynski)
The rest of the morning was spent with Megan Abbott and Eddie Muller discussing the current state of noir. It was a good to great panel that set the table by showing trailers from No Country for Old Men and The Black Dahlia. As the The Black Dahlia trailer played I was reminded just how rancid that film is/was/and continues to be. Bless their hearts, Eddie and Megan hated the movie too. Both discussed how overplayed the term 'noir' has become even to the extent that it is more a term for marketing departments than a discriptor for a genre.
This tired soldier took most of the afternoon off, although somehow a nap escaped The Hungry Detective. I bummed around the book room sure that most of the vendors had tired of my face. I picked up a couple things, but the gigantic purchase has yet to happen.
My amigo, Jared, hooked up with a high school buddy for dinner. I tagged along getting a little drunk on Jack and Ginger. Almost too tipsy as I considered buying a $600 Zenga suit. Back at the hotel I was able to congratulate Sean Chercover on his Shamus win as he returned to the hotel. Many parties were too be had on this Friday night (especially the Lee Child free for all), but sadly I turned in.
$9.95 per day. That is how much The Hungry Detective is paying for an internet connection. Oh dear. This just proves our commitment to those of you who foolishly decided not to attend.
Sean Doolittle(L) - Sean Chercover(R)
My biggest highlight of the day was meeting Ace Atkins. Here is a guy who I have read from the beginning. THD is definitely in for his historical based novel on Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle. Title of that book will be Devil's Garden. A close second in the highlight department was shaking hands with Sean Chercover. I told Sean that he provided me with my most surreal moment of the year when he phoned me at work. He thanked me for posting the Trigger City widget then, and I was happy to thank him for the ARC now .
Jason Pinter
The book room. Two years ago in Madison I didn't have a plan. This year I had a plan. It was an ill conceived one. Based in Rochester, New York means The Hungry Detective just does not see this kind of quantity or quality of books. I could spend $1000 without batting an eyelash, and this is just for the new books. There is a copy of George Pelecanos's Nick's Trip, that has already given me serious pause. Perhaps that copy of Down By the River Where the Dead Men Go will suffice.
Barry Eisler
Book purchases are strictly my concern though. Another highlight was hearing that Sean Doolittle has new book, Safer, coming in early 2009. Barry Eisler will also release his latest, Fault Line, in the Spring. The Hungry Detective was also happy to met Jason Pinter, who much like the others has a book for March.
Toward the end of the evening was the Opening Ceremony Reception. The room was packed to what seemed fire capacity. There was something genuinely thrilling to see all those people who have dedicated themselves in whatever way to this wonderful field. Guests of Honor were introduced and a multitude of awards were delivered to a number of grateful writers. It was a good start to what is already a great weekend.
I'll have some commentary about the winners later. For tonight just the award recipients.
Winners are in Red and bold. The Hungry Detective made some picks awhile ago; those picks in Blue.
Best Novel Soul Patch by Reed Farrel Coleman The Unquiet, by John Connolly Down River, by John Hart Dirty Martini, by J.A. Konrath What the Dead Know, by Laura Lippman Red Cat by Peter Spiegelman
Best First Novel Missing Witness, by Gordon Campbell Big City, Bad Blood, by Sean Chercover In the Woods, by Tana French The Spellman Files, by Lisa Lutz The Collaborator of Bethlehem, by Matt Beynon Rees The Blade Itself by Marcus Sakey
Best British Crime Novel A Quiet Belief in Angels, by R.J. Ellroy Pig Island, by Mo Hayder One Under, by Graham Hurley The Death List, by Paul Johnston The 50/50 Killer, by Steve Mosby Damnation Falls, by Edward Wright
Best Paperback Original: Queenpin by Megan Abbott Black Widow Agency, by Felicia Donovan Choke Point, by Jay MacLarty The Mark, by Jason Pinter Wash This Blood Clean from My Hand, by Fred Vargas Who is Conrad Hirst? by Kevin Wignall
Best Thriller: No Time For Goodbyes by Linwood Barclay The Cleaner, by Brett Battles The Watchman by Robert Crais Volk’s Game, by Brent Ghelfi Silence, by Thomas Perry Midnight Rambler, by Jim Swain
Yesterday we posted what we thought were the best of the panel offerings for the first two days of the Baltimore Bouchercon. Below are our selections for Saturday and Sunday. Let's continue
Saturday 8:30a-9:30p BEEN AROUND THE WORLD (Puff Daddy) Travel the globe with Janet and Friends. Janet Rudolph(M), Charles Benoit, Jason Goodwin, Arnaldur Indridason, Michael Stanley. (International E)
How often can you say you met someone from Iceland? Buy the works of Arnaldur Indridason and be able to say yes to that question. Charles Benoit is probably one of the better authors you are not reading.
Saturday 10a-11a YESTERDAY'S NEWPAPERS (Eddie Rambeau) Reporters in fact and fiction. Bryan Gilmer(M), Rebecca Drake, Jack Getze, Marion Moore Hill, Bob Morris, L.J. Sellers (International A)
Reporters make great amateur sleuths. I don't know any of the panelist, but I am excited to hear what they have to say.
Saturday 11:30a-12:30p
MURDERWHAT FUN (shy calr)Why we love writing Crime Fiction. Rhys Bowen(M), John Billheimer, Alafair Burke, Chris Grabenstein, Tom Schrek. (International E)
Another tough choice. Being here means you will miss Mark Billingham, Declan Hughes, Linwood Barclay, Max Allan Collins. Perhaps the second toughest panel choice of the week.
Saturday 1:30p-2:30p BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN (Albert King) Protagonists that walk the line. Robin Hathaway(M),
Sean Doolittle, R.J. Ellroy, J.D. Rhoades, Steve Thayer. (International E)
I'll be honest and say we should all be over listening to Charles Ardai interviewing Lawrence Block, but if you wanna second choice, here ye' go.
Saturday 3p-4p Toastmaster Mark Billingham in a conversation with John Connolly (International E)
Lets start to wind it down a bit. Ease into that Saturday afternoon nap we are all dying for.
Saturday 4:30p-5:30p BEER FOR MY HORSES (Toby Keith) The all about beer panel. Blake Crouch (barkeep), Lori Armstrong, Victor Gischler, J.A. Konrath, Scott Phillips (International E)
Can you believe you are attending a panel inspired in part by a Toby Keith song? Yikes what is next; voting for McCain/Pallin. I think I am going to be sick.
Sunday 8:30a-930a CALL ME WHEN YOU'RE SOBER (Buddha Lounge Ensemble) Sunday hangover. Declan Hughes(M), Declan Burke, Stuart MacBride, Martyn Waites (International D)
Wash your mouth out with some Scoop and splash some on your clothes for good measure; you just maybe the freshest smelling person in the room. This many accents this early on the last day is likely to cause some freakouts.
Sunday 10a-11a American Guest of Honor Laura Lippman interviewed by Michael Koryta (International D)
That gentle snoring you hear is you. Wake Up!
Holy Cow! Done! Now it is time to sit back and enjoy the Anthony Awards Brunch. The Hungry Detective will be posting (cross your fingers) daily from Baltimore. We are going to try and put something together between the end of the day and sleep.
The Hungry Detective wishes everyone safe travels.
Over the last few days my friend, Jared Case, has been posting what he will be doing at the Baltimore Bouchercon starting on Thursday. If you decide to stalk Jared he will probably be the one in the Blue Jays cap.
The Toronto Blue Jays? The baseball team? Yeah I know. I don't get it either.
What The Hungry Detective is offering is not a blow by blow account of our movements while we are in Baltimore, but our picks for the best panels on all four days. This post contains our selections for Thursday and Friday. While tomorrows post will look forward to Saturday and Sunday.
Thursday 8:30a-9:30a ROCKIN' ROBIN (The Hollies) Rocking the house with Robin. Robin Burcell(M), James O. Born, Sean Chercover, Vincent O'Neil, Julia Spencer Fleming. (International D)
If this is your first Bouchercon experience go to Bouchercon 101 (International A). It will calm the nerves, otherwise the above is THD approved.
Thursday 10a-11a GET UP (I FEEL LIKE BEING A) SEX MACHINE (James Brown) Does sex really sell books? Ted Hertel(M), Lori Armstrong, Mary Burton, Meg Chittenden, David Corbett (International D)
You won't have to get up out of your seat from the previous panel. Unless you want to see me try and get a bunch of books signed during the break? Always entertaining.
Thursday 11:30a-12:30p LIKE A HURRICANE (Neil Young) Three guys talking. Ace Atkins, Lee Child, William Kent Krueger. (International D)
Even I am surprised that the International D is throwing a shutout here. If you are here you are missing a ton of great authors I won't even depress you by listing them all.
Thursday 1:30p-2:30p REMEMBER WHAT I TOLD YOU TO FORGET (Taveres) Our favorite mistakes. Jan Brogan(M), Stephen Booth, Dana Cameron, Jason Pinter, Mark Sullivan (International C)
This panel promises that even authors you love can make mistakes. Come to point; stay to laugh at them.
Thursday 3p-4p
CONCRETE JUNGLE(Bob Marley & the Wailers) Urban or rural does the setting change the writing? Reed Farrel Coleman(M), Thomas H. Cook, Steve Hamilton, David Hewson, Laura Lippman (International D)
Get your first glimpse of hometown gal Laura Lippman, plus the beloved Reed Farrel Coleman.
Thursday 4:30p-5:30p DOWN IN THE HOLE (Tom Waits) Authors discuss their love of The Wire and Homicide. Brian Azzarello(M), Harry Hunsicker, Scott Phillips, Peter Robinson, Wallace Stroby. (International B)
Well, you are in Baltimore. Learn more about the two best television programs of the last 20 years.
Friday 8:30a-9:30a SIX DAYS ON THE ROAD (Dave Dudley) Zoe Sharp(M), Glynn Marsh Alam, Barry Eisler, N.M. Kelby, Jonatha Santlofer, Marcia Talley (International B)
Sharp and Eisler are pretty entertaining to listen too. Reason enough to get up.
Friday 10a-11a WATCHING THE DETECTIVES (Elvis Costello) Did watching too much TV actually help? Sean Chercover(M), Bill Cameron, Libby Fischer Hellmann, Harry Hunsicker, Duane Swierczynski (International E)
This is the killer session. Man this this a hard pick. Besides all of the great people speaking there is a Chicago panel that has neither Sean Chercover or Marcus Sakey. Ballsy.
Friday 11:30a-12:30p THE KILLING MOON (Echo & The Bunnymen) Noir for the new century. Megan Abbott & Eddie Muller (Pratt)
Let's slow it down with a little one-on-one action. Hey baby what room you staying in?
Friday 1:30p-2:30p CATCH A RISING STAR (Jim Roberts) Best first novelists. Margaret Maron(M), Sean Chercover, Lisa Lutz, Craig McDonald, Marcus Sakey (International D)
Room International D we meet again. All of the Anthony noms for Best First Novel are scheduled to appear.
Friday 3p-4p COME AND TALK TO ME (Peter Gabriel) Thee goddesses talking. Rhys Bown, Louise Penny, Deborah Crombie (International E)
Listen and learn from three of the best in the business.
Friday 4:30p-5:30p A SINGER MUST DIE (Leonard Cohen) Books that have a lasting impact. Jennifer Jordan(M), John Connolly, Christa Faust, Russell McClean, Nathan Singer, Martyn Waits (International B)
Killer group. Love the accents. 'Nuff said.
Two days down. two to go. The Hungry Detective's best bets for the first two days. I'll be there for some of them, resting my eyes for others. What ever panels you decide to attend, just know that you are about to have one of the best weekends of your life.
The Hungry Detective is closing in on two years of blogging. I started this blog because I wanted to involve myself in the 'wonder' that is Crime Fiction.
The secret reason I started this blog is(...clears throat, leans in, and whispers his Old Grand-Dad breath into your ear...) I wanted free books! Not the most high-minded of ideals, but honesty should be valued for something, right?
So I got my first 'free' book a few weeks ago. Trigger City by Sean Chercover. Mr. Chercover was kind enough to send me an ARC. Cheers to you Sean. I owe you a moderately priced beverage of your choice at next week's Baltimore B'Con.
And oh, the book is fantastic. Trigger City continues the adventures of Chicago PI, Ray Dudgeon. Big City, Bad Blood was the first in this series and if you have been paying attention that books is up for a bunch of awards. I hope it snags a couple of them. Trigger City is the second in the series and is just as good if not better. Wonderfully paced, I stretched out the reading of this book to almost a week. I just did not want it to end. Mr. Chercover has received this comparison before, but his work is reminiscent of Michael Connelly around the time of The Concrete Blonde and The Last Coyote, particularly The Last Coyote. When I think about that book I remember the overwhelming sense of sadness that permeates the story.
That sense of sadness is here in Trigger City, and it is wonderful. The sense of loss and the sense of things that never will be is heartbreaking in Trigger City. As a reader I will carry these 'fictional' events and people with me for a long time, and that is something truly special. The 'dead body' of most crime fiction is only the means to start off the action. Here, with Trigger City, death hangs over this book reminding you that with its arrival something is irrevocably lost. Only the reader is richer for its coming. This is the best book of the year.
Trigger City will be in stores, just ten days from now. My fingers are crossed that there will be a copy or two available in Baltimore.
In contributing to Friday's Forgotten Book project I was confronted with my beginnings in Crime Fiction. THE BLACK HAND GANG was a children's book I read with my sister when I was 10 or 11. There is THE FIRM or DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS purchased the same day from the Walden Books in the mall. THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD? Over my head. Too young.
