We are now rapidly approaching the midpoint of 2021 and with that I have compiled my list of the five best books I have read so far. 5. A good memoir is like a leisurely conversation with a spellbinding friend. A good short memoir is like a too brief catch up with the same spellbindingContinue reading “The Half List (2021)”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
The Most Likely Suspect
When creating a mystery, you need a compelling premise, five or six plausible culprits, and a few twists along the way. The basic elements of the genre haven’t changed much since the first detective story was published in 1841. When it comes to secondary elements, the recipe can be tweaked a bit. It used toContinue reading “The Most Likely Suspect”
The Suspense Formula
In a standard murder mystery, an inciting incident – an unnatural death -happens early on. The detective – amateur or professional – is introduced to investigate the crime, usually in the form of meeting potential culprits and trying to discern their means and motive. There is usually some escalating dramatic tension as the detective pursuesContinue reading “The Suspense Formula”
Who Are You?
Recently a Twitter war erupted over the following rejection letter, which was sent to an author named Tallie Rose from a small publisher. The letter is remarkable for two reasons. First, based on a cold reading of a manuscript, the editor assumed that the author had no personal experience with the topics she was writingContinue reading “Who Are You?”
The Unreliable Journal
When it comes to journal excerpts in contemporary suspense, readers should be skeptical. Like the now expected unreliable narrator, journal entries are a device for the author to mess with perceived reality. The first time I encountered this was not in suspense but in literary fiction. In 2010, Louise Erdrich published Shadow Tag, a compellingContinue reading “The Unreliable Journal”
The Scourge
After the past year, the opioid crisis has fallen away from headlines. Alas, it is still very real, killing over 80,000 people in 2020. Since 1999, over 800,000 Americans have died from drug overdoses, 70% of them related to opioids. As Beth Macy details in Dopesick, poppy-derived opiates are nothing new. Morphine and heroin wereContinue reading “The Scourge”
The One And Done
Given the untenable number of books I own, I have instituted a few reading rules. The first I call the one and done. If you’ve ever done any online dating, you have probably heard the term: it refers to a common occurrence when there is not enough chemistry to merit seeing each other again. InContinue reading “The One And Done”
An Affair To Forget
My introduction to adultery was a very public affair. In the ’80s, rumors swirled that the fairy tale marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana was on the rocks. There were allegations, a separation, and finally an interview in 1995 watched by millions. “I don’t want a divorce,” Diana said. “(But) there are three ofContinue reading “An Affair To Forget”
I Like Her, I Like Her Not
One of the open debates in current reading times – in everything from casual book club conversations to literary agent circles – is how unlikeable a protagonist can be. The old-school rules instruct us that a story centers around a hero who undergoes a journey from innocence to experience. The antagonist is a supporting character,Continue reading “I Like Her, I Like Her Not”
How To Date A Book
Of the recent trends with books and reading, few charm me more than the idea of going on a blind date with a book. Bookshops and libraries have embraced this idea, setting up hopeful readers with potential matches. All it takes is a willing heart and a short commitment of time. How does it work?Continue reading “How To Date A Book”
Books Smitten 