INTERVIEWS
I, CSI
Philadelphia City Paper, October 5-11 2006
Profile of Jonathan McGoran aka D.H. Dublin, whose debut novel BODY TRACE starts a new forensic-style series based in Philadelphia.
Magical Mystery Tour:
Philadelphia City Paper, Sept 22-28, 2005.
Profile of multiple-bestselling writer Jennifer Weiner as she makes her debut foray into the mystery world with GOODNIGHT NOBODY.
The Idiosyncratic Interview: Alexander McCall Smith
Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind, October 2004.
The bestselling author of numerous novels (most notably the #1 Ladies' Detective Agency series) and I chat about his many lives as an academic, a writer of books for children and adults (and where they converge and diverge), why he's about to curb his traveling addiction, and what's next in the academic and fiction world.
An Interview with John Williams
Plots With Guns, #30, Summer 2004.
Cardiff-based crime writer answers my question about his novels, his crime consultant gig with Serpent's Tail, and the state of noir fiction in the UK and US.
The Idiosyncratic Interview: Michael Connelly
Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind, July 2004.
A lengthy Q&A with the bestselling author of the Harry Bosch novels, touching upon his career, the writing process, and the two interviews he really wishes he'd never given.
Q&A with Mark Billingham (print-only)
Crime Spree Magazine, vol. 1, issue 1, June 2004.
I ask one of crime fiction's rising stars all sorts of serious and silly questions.
COLUMNS AND ARTICLES:
Blogged and Burned
Writer's Digest, January/February 2007.
Short feature about the perils of writers spouting off on their blogs.
What is this thing called 'blog'?
Penguin Most Wanted, July 2006.
Reflections on blogging, the crime fiction community, and my attempts at advice for those who dare to try their hands at the blog format.
Thriller, Incorporated
Publishers Weekly, 15 May 2006.
Feature article (with additional reporting by Ron Hogan) on the International Thriller Writers, the 60th anniversary of the Edgar Awards, and why rumors of a rivalry between ITW and MWA are greatly exaggerated.
The Newest Four Letter Word in Mystery (print-only)
The Adventure of the Missing Detective: And 25 of the Year's Finest Crime and Mystery Stories! (Carroll & Graf, December 2005)
A fairly lengthy essay on the ever-growing trend of blogging by mystery writers.
So You Want to Write Pulp Fiction
MBToolbox, mediabistro.com, 2 March 2005.
Primer on small press and short fiction markets for budding noir fiction writers.
An Appreciation of Ross Thomas (print-only)
Crime Spree, issue #4, January-February 2005.
Profile of thriller writer Ross Thomas, one of the best in the business and perhaps my all-time favorite mystery writer.
How to Move to Canada (Bush: Overall Strategy)
Philadelphia City Paper, Nov 4-10, 2004.
Humor piece on the steps Americans should take to pull up stakes and move North after the contentious 2004 election.
Mystery Writers Who Blog: The latest trend examined.(print-only)
Mystery Scene, #86, Fall 2004.
Feature article on weblogs and those crime writers on the bandwagon, with quotes from Roger L. Simon, Laura Lippman, Lee Goldberg, S.J. Rozan, and others.
It's All Greek to Mystery
January Magazine, August 2004.
Roundup of mystery novels set in Ancient and contemporary Greece, to coincide with the Summer Olympics in Athens.
An Unsung Heroine
Bookslut, February 2004.
Profile of noir writer Dorothy B. Hughes.
Looking Back to Look Ahead
Bookslut, January 2004.
Roundup of prominent and promising titles of the first half of 2004.
An Introduction
Bookslut, December 2003.
My inaugural column as the (very short-lived) Mystery Strumpet columnist.
The 1st Harrogate Crime Festival: A Report
Deadly Pleasures Online edition, August 2003.
A bird's eye view of the inaugural year of what is fast becoming the premier crime fiction festival in the UK.
Books n' Bytes Columnist
Books 'n Bytes, October-December 2002.
First attempts to write on a semi-regular basis, which capture my sentiments at the time.
Confessions of a Self-Styled "Writer Groupie."
Tart City, Spring 2001.
My first published piece, a tongue-in-cheek (no, really) look at the evolution from passive fan into well, something else.
BOOK REVIEWS
Crime fiction columnist, The Baltimore Sun
September 2004-present. Reviews five new releases per month for the paper.
Pulp fiction classics reissued
Review of David Markson's EPITAPH FOR A TRAMP and EPITAPH FOR A DEAD BEAT. The Los Angeles Times, 28 January 2007.
Caustic PI is back in another Hollywood Whodunit
Review of David Hiltbrand's DYING TO BE FAMOUS. The Philadelphia Inquirer, 25 January 2007.
Lost in the Middle East
Review of Richard North Patterson's EXILE. The Washington Post, 25 January 2007.
The Faceless Foe
Review of Robert Wilson's THE HIDDEN ASSASSINS. The Washington Post, 24 December 2006.
Clever crime fiction with French twist
Review of Fred Vargas' SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR. The Philadelphia Inquirer, 3 December 2006.
Witty Encyclopedia of mortal ends
Review of Michael Largo's FINAL EXITS. The Philadelphia Inquirer, 30 October 2006.
Case of more is not better
Review of Elizabeth George's WHAT CAME BEFORE HE SHOT HER. Newsday, 29 October 2006.
Officer graps for reality in unsettling times
Review of Jess Walter's THE ZERO. The Philadelphia Inquirer, 1 October 2006.
Dennis Lehane's short cuts
Review of Dennis Lehane's CORONADO. The Boston Phoenix, 1 September 2006.
Bookends: Crime Fiction
Review of Denise Mina's THE DEAD HOUR and Kathy Reichs' BREAK NO BONES. Newsday, 23 July 2006.
By any name, Oates still probing the female psyche
Review of Joyce Carol Oates (aka Lauren Kelly's) BLOOD MASK. The Philadelphia Inquirer, 4 June 2006.
Shocking violence and mysterious loyalties make for frighteningly believable narrative
Review of Alex Berenson's THE FAITHFUL SPY. The Baltimore Sun, 21 May 2006.
Novelization does a killer good
Review of John Boyne's CRIPPEN. The Philadelphia Inquirer, 19 March 2006.
Gypsy Rose Lee's murder mystery is frothy, and fascinating
Review of Gypsy Rose Lee's THE G-STRING MURDERS. The Philadelphia Inquirer, 15 January 2006.
With Grafton's latest, S is for 'So-So'
Review of Sue Grafton's S IS FOR SILENCE. The Baltimore Sun, 18 December 2005.
Secrets, lies and obsessions
Review of Scott Turow's ORDINARY HEROES. The Baltimore Sun, 6 November 2005.
It's evident that story is lacking in forensic experts' debut novels
Review of Michael Baden & Linda Kenney's REMAINS SILENT and Elizabeth Becka's TRACE EVIDENCE. The Baltimore Sun, 4 September 2005.
Gunslingers, Bank robbers, and one well-told story
Review of Elmore Leonard's THE HOT KID. The Baltimore Sun, 14 May 2005.
The New Switcheroo
Review of Shel Silverstein's RUNNY BABBIT: A BILLY SOOK. Popmatters, 19 April 2005.
Smut and Glory
Review of Lydia Millet's EVERYONE'S PRETTY. Washington Post Book World, 20 February 2005.
Nicholson's 'Society': Big ideas, good story
Review of William Nicholson's THE SOCIETY OF OTHERS. The Baltimore Sun, 23 January 2005.
Fun, Fun, Fun
Review of Alexander McCall Smith's von Igelfeld trilogy, The Globe and Mail, 18 December 2004.
Rendell's 'Rottweiler' Could Use Sharper Teeth
Review of Ruth Rendell's THE ROTTWEILER. The Baltimore Sun, 12 December 2004.
The Scoop of a Lifetime
Review of Dan Fesperman's THE WARLORD'S SON. January Magazine, July 2004.
A Diva Readies For Her Close-Up
Review of Adam Braver's DIVINE SARAH. Popmatters, 13 July 2004.
You Can Run, But Can You Hide?
Review of Norman Green's WAY PAST LEGAL. Popmatters, 26 May 2004.
Ireland lays itself bare, revealing humanity.
Review of Eugene McCabe's HEAVEN LIES ABOUT US. Denver Post, 22 May 2004.
A Case of Rape?
Review of Linda Fairstein's THE KILLS. The Washington Post, 14 March 2004.
Finding Their Place
Review of Laurie Lynn Drummond's ANYTHING YOU SAY CAN AND WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU. January Magazine, February 2004.
Battle Fatigue
Review of Dan Fesperman's THE SMALL BOAT OF GREAT SORROWS. January Magazine, October 2003.
First Rate
Review of William Landay's MISSION FLATS. January Magazine, September 2003.
No Laughing Matter
Review of Rupert Holmes' WHERE THE TRUTH LIES. January Magazine, June 2003.
River City Jam
Review of Alafair Burke's JUDGMENT CALLS. January Magazine, June 2003.
Muscovy Dick
Review of Boris Akunin's THE WINTER QUEEN. January Magazine, May 2003.
Clare and Present Danger
Review of Julia Spencer-Fleming's A FOUNTAIN FILLED WITH BLOOD. January Magazine, April 2003.
Trouble in Mind
Review of Anthony O'Neill's THE LAMPLIGHTER. January Magazine, March 2003.
