Armchair travel is one of the pleasures of reading. Recently I discovered two books set in Nigeria, a country I know almost nothing about. It is the seventh most populous country in the world, an oil rich nation with a GDP of $568 billion. Over half its citizens live in poverty. By coincidence, the storiesContinue reading “Lagos, Lagos”
Tag Archives: Suspense
For The Defense
There is a subset of suspense in which a protagonist is asked to solve a crime involving someone they know. Often this is the premise for an amateur sleuth: a loyal friend is motivated to do a separate investigation when the police seem stalled. There are also books where the protagonist is a defense attorneyContinue reading “For The Defense”
Window Gazing
The picture perfect age of social media has resulted in a literary backlash of sorts. There is a plethora of books centered on pulling back the curtain on all the curation to reveal the dark side of domestic perfection. I’m not sure that any character is as widely used these days as the casual stalker.Continue reading “Window Gazing”
The Long Con
There is a subset of suspense featuring a long con plot. Simply put, a long con is an attempt to manipulate someone over an extended period of time, usually for financial gain. In theory, it takes a more diabolical person to pull this off because the set up to the crime involves getting to knowContinue reading “The Long Con”
Execute This
Without question, many intriguing premises collapse in the execution. A gripping opening gives way to flat characterization, unnecessary subplots, or a sluggish midsection. Fabulous twists don’t hold up to scrutiny when the culprit is revealed. Although the killer is a surprise, his motivation is implausible. If you read in the mystery/suspense genre, you know whatContinue reading “Execute This”
In Praise Of Premises
There are two essential parts of a good suspense book: premise and execution. A good story masters both. The premise is the elevator pitch: a brief, bare-bones sketch that hooks the reader from the opening pages. The execution is the final product, comprised of pace, characterization, twists, internal logic, and believability. It is much easierContinue reading “In Praise Of Premises”
Location, Location, Location
I have never been to Baltimore, but I seem to cross paths with it a lot. I have read many whimsical Anne Tyler novels set there, where the worst that can happen is a divorce. On the other end of the spectrum, I have heard plenty about Woodland High and Leakin Park on Serial. ThisContinue reading “Location, Location, Location”
Hidden Worlds
From time to time, I find myself drawn to stories of Orthodox Judaism. Something about the austere customs and ancient theology appeals to me. I would guess I am not alone in this as there are multiple titles to select from, both fiction and memoir. Movies, too. Tova Mirvis was raised in an Orthodox familyContinue reading “Hidden Worlds”
Ready to Retire
Writers borrow heavily from each other. There is nothing new under the sun, after all. There is a tipping point, though, where some language and ideas are overused. I notice this especially in the suspense category. So in the interest of keeping things sparkly, I have compiled a watch list of sorts. The ideas hereContinue reading “Ready to Retire”
Emily the Strange
I love to be transported by a novel, both to foreign places and unfamiliar psychological spaces. Alexis Schaitkin’s Saint X does both. An affluent couple take their two daughters for a New Year’s vacation to a tropical island. The older girl, a Princeton first year, attracts the attention of many men, both locals and visitorsContinue reading “Emily the Strange”
Books Smitten 