Picks of the Week

MONEY SHOT, by Christa Faust

(originally posted on January 24, 2008)

Pulp fiction can be enjoyed even if the believability factor is off, but there was no such issue whatsoever with this book, and especially Angel Dare. I believed her candor and honesty. I believed her well-adjusted attitude about the porn business. And I believed her transformation into an ass-kicking heroine forced to make brutal choices time and time again. MONEY SHOT is entertaining and all that neo-pulp should be, but its ring of authenticity also makes it quite a bit more than that.

ROGUE MALE, by Geoffrey Household

(originally posted on January 24, 2008)

I'm not sure why it took me so long to get around to this obvious thriller classic, but now that I have I know I will be rereading it every so often. This slim, taut novel has more suspense, more action and more terror than many books triple the length, and the philosophical meditations are subtle but forceful. You really can't be a thriller reader or writer without including this book in your diet.