I just read THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, the big new bestseller in the mystery world, and I really admire it. Paula Hawkins has done an excellent job with her first crime novel, and she’s reaping big rewards: near-universal praise, the NY Times Bestseller List, a movie deal with Steven Spielberg. But her phenomenal success is coming at a price. Continue reading
Category Archives: Recommendations
Bloody Murder: Voices from the Margins
I didn’t attend Bouchercon this year, but I was there in spirit, thanks to a new program there and the kindness of a fellow writer. Continue reading
Good News For Billy Wilder Fans!
I’m a big fan of mystery and suspense films, and the great Billy Wilder directed several of my all-time favorites. In 1944, the energetic Austrian immigrant made his mark in Hollywood with Continue reading
Halloween Special: 5 Lesser-Known Horror Movies You Might Enjoy
I’m always making lists for my blog, but they’re usually in the best/greatest/most famous categories. If I were to list my five favorite horror fiilms, for example, they’d all be well-known titles. Everybody knows about Continue reading
The Two Faces of January: A Highsmith High
I just saw the new film version of Patricia Highsmith’s wonderful 1964 novel, The Two Faces of January, and Continue reading
Summer thrills: The Good Girl by Mary Kubica
Here’s another solid new suspense novel from a first-time author for your summer reading pleasure. It took me by surprise because A) it’s a first novel and B) I hadn’t heard a lot of talk about it before it arrived. But it’s definitely worth checking out. This is my Amazon review: Continue reading
A new version of an old favorite on DVD and Blu-Ray
A midsummer treat for all us movie geeks! The wonderful Criterion Collection has done it again, this time with one of my all-time favorite films–Peter Weir’s gorgeous 1975 masterpiece, PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK. Continue reading
The new Sam Cabot thriller!
Good news for everyone who loved last summer’s thriller, BLOOD OF THE LAMB by Sam Cabot: The second novel in the paranormal thriller series, SKIN OF THE WOLF, is here! Continue reading
My new novel is available for pre-order!
I’m very pleased to announce that my new novel, A Penny for the Hangman, is now available for pre-order. It will be published on October 7, 2014 by Random House’s new e-book imprint, Alibi Books. This is my first published novel in 14 years. It’s been a while, folks, but I’m sure glad to be back. Continue reading
Mary Stewart, 1916-2014
I’ve just learned of the passing of one of my favorite authors, Mary Stewart. She died May 9 at the age of 97. I wrote a blog entry on her a few weeks ago, when I reread her books for the umpteenth time. Continue reading