Yet Another Crime Fiction Blog

Introduction

One False Move (1991), a movie directed by Carl Franklin that stars Billy Bob Thornton (he co-wrote the screenplay), Cynda Williams and Bill Paxton, is one of my favorite movies. Have any of you seen it? This is a movie that doesn’t waste any time getting your attention for the first few minutes in. The premise: a drug deal goes bad and six people are murdered in the city of Los Angeles.

The film mostly follows the police officers as they track down the killers to a small rural town in Arkansas. Bill Paxton plays the small town sheriff there who enthusiastically welcomes the LA cops who fly down ahead to catch the dangerous trio who are making their way there. This is a major case for Dale Dixon (Bill Paxton’s character), who in his six years of being sheriff, has never had to use his gun. But Dale is star struck by the LA cops from the big bad city, often looking up to them as if they are heroes (and they are far from it). This film is well acted and directed and has a big secret towards the end. There is some humor within the story to lighten up the mood. Overall this film is one that I re-watch on a occasion and enjoy recommending to people.

I tapped Maili who offered to put together a list of other noir-like movies that would be of interest to fans like me who enjoyed One False Move. She knows everything about film (s). *g* Her list begins after the break. And please, don’t hesitate to share your thoughts or add recommendations. We would love to hear from you! Continue Reading…

As the year draws to a close, I thought it would be neat to highlight some of the new writers I’ve discovered in 2011. For some writers on this list, it only took one book to make me a fan. This list mostly consists of Scandinavian writers which is fitting considering that this is my area of interest. All of these writers are good at writing about social commentary, excellent at characterizations, descriptive settings and giving the reader a good sense of time and place. While there are other writers I’ve read this year, this list is of writers who stood out to me in 2011:

Colin Cotterill – this author blew me away with his stories about a seventy year old coroner living in 1970′s Laos under the newly established socialist regime. The first book in the series is THE CORONER’S LUNCH (2004). The series has some paranormal elements in them because the lead protagonist, Dr. Siri Paiboun is housing the spirit of a thousand-year old shaman. He’s also able to see dead people even though he’s not able to speak to them. Often the dead consist of people who were murdered. As the series progresses though, those elements are not used very much. I got a chance to meet Mr. Cotterill at a book-signing this year and I’ve read all of his books with the exception of his latest, just released Dr. Siri novel, SLASH AND BURN (2011).

Patricia Melo – what can I say about this writer? I was fascinated with the story she wrote, set in Brazil, about a former contract killer who was in hiding for ten years and then he resurfaces to attend his aunt’s funeral. He discovers that his girlfriend has taken off with his daughter and he decides to track them down. That is the main plot of LOST WORLD (2009), the sequel to THE KILLER (1999). The story is very gritty and and very, very dark. He goes through many adventures and faces many obstacles until he reaches his destination point. The story is very atmospheric with an anti-hero who is rather complex. I have since went on to procure many of her earlier titles like THE KILLER and INFERNO (2003) that are in print only. LOST WORLD is digitized but is geo restricted for US customers at Amazon.

Continue Reading…

Update: Seems I needed to preface this post with a comment of sorts: I did this list to inform readers of the great mystery writers out there. I got this idea from another reader. I do not mean to assume that you haven’t read any of these writers and if you do GREAT! Wonderful! If you haven’t then you really should. That is all. It is understood that this is my opinion and you have every right to agree or disagree. Thanks.

1. Colin Cotterill. You should have guessed he’d be first if you follow this blog at all. He’s a British writer residing in Southeast Asia. He writes a series of books set in 1970′s communist Laos that features Dr. Siri Paiboun who is the national coroner (and the only coroner for the country). He’s in his seventies and considers himself a disenchanted party member and a cynic. The first book is The Coroner’s Lunch and there are presently 7 books available as I write this with another title, Slash & Burn, due out this fall in the US / UK. I enjoy this series because they are brilliantly written, solidly plotted and feature quirky, cynical, well-developed characters and have plots that are full of political intrigue, suspense and satire with the added touch of the supernatural.

2. Johan Theorin – this author hails from Sweden and sets his books in and around the island of Öland, off the coast of The Baltic Sea. The first book in the planned quartet is Echoes From the Dead. I fell in love with his writing with The Darkest Room, a very atmospheric story with the hints of supernatural elements. The books are loosely connected but can stand alone. The third book, The Quarry, just released in the UK only at the time of this writing. My copy is on the way.

3. Christa Faust - loved Money Shot, which features an ex-porn star who runs her own adult modeling agency. In Money Shot, she gets wrung through hell that leaves her life a mess and she goes on the rampage for revenge. Many of us are anxiously waiting for the sequel, Choke Hold that is due out this fall. If you like strong characters – especially in a female role then check out this author. The porn industry serves as the backdrop and the story itself is a fast paced adrenaline rush to the end.

4. Ken Bruen – Irish writer with a devoted following (and I’m one of them). Mysteries are set in Galway and speak of social strife, the bad economy, the scandal of the church and religious zealotry among others. His endings are usually cliffhangers and are quite shocking. The series I’m reading follow Jack Taylor, an ex Guard with a drinking problem and the usual hang-ups that come with that: solitary lifestyle with few friends and days of binges and black-outs. The first book is The Guards. A quick word about his writing: it’s spare and poetic in style and prose. He loves to quote other writers and I’ve gotten most of my recommendations from him (like Ed McBain and James Sallis).

5. Indridason, Arnaldur – mysteries are set in Iceland and features the divorced, chain-smoking Reykjavi­k detective Erlendur. What makes this series great? Erlendur. Just Erlendur. He’s the main draw for me next to the writing of course. He has baggage and those are my favorite kind of characters. The first book in the series is Jar City (or Tainted Blood wherever you’re at).

Also, on my side-bar are writers who I think are exceptional that I left off this list. I’ve linked to their websites . Asa Larsson’s website is not in English and as far as I know she doesn’t have a US version of her website available. Looks like she needs to work on that though. I will admit to not liking Colin Cotterill’s website as it doesn’t seem to reflect the serious side of his writing which I must admit is very satirical of the communist government but it is very rather politically dense and informative.

On the personal side, I’m still reading Echoes From the Dead and that’s because I’ve been busy and this is a long ass book.

U.S. titles for bestselling mystery novels [hardcover] for week ending May 7, 2011 at the time of this writing:

#1 Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris (Southern Vampire Mystery)
#2 10th Anniversary by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro (ugh)
#3 The Sixth Man by David Baldacci (never read him and don’t plan to)
#4 The Sixth Kill by Robert B. Parker (final Spencer novel)
#5 I’ll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins Clark

The complete list is here (NYT) Read any of these? I’ll say that I don’t put much stock in these lists as they are politically generated. Obviously for me there’s a huge disconnect between me and the general reading public and always has been (and this is nothing new).

The U.S. takes forever to get stuff over here. So, I browse the UK Amazon catalog for authors I already read to see what they have coming down the pike. I found the following titles of possible interest:

French crime fiction writer, Fred Vargas (trs by Sian Reynolds) – An Uncertain Place (digital available in UK only) – this is the sixth book in the Commissaire Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg series. None of her books are available digitally in the U.S. yet. Just print. Let’s work on that okay?

Swedish writer, Johan Theorin has a new mystery coming out in the UK, The Quarry (June 23rd). I might have to break down and buy this in print if it’s not digitized. Enjoyed The Darkest Room very much. This author writes atmospheric stories with a hint of ghostly elements in them. Continue Reading…

It’s the weekend and this is a short list of all the US titles I am looking forward to reading. All are authors I’ve read and enjoyed in the past. Working on a UK crime fiction list for 2011 that I’m looking forward to reading as well.

Choke Hold by Christa Faust is due out Oct 2011. It will be available in digital as well as print. Woot! The prequel is Money Shot. An ex-Porn star strikes back at those who ruined her life. In Money Shot, the action is just about non-stop. The denouement was realistic, too. I’m curious to know what’s next on her agenda after the events in the last book

Misery Bay by Steven Hamilton – this title is apart of the Alex McKnight series, due out June 7th. The protagonist is a former cop turned sometime private investigator and is set near the border of Canada and Michigan. The series is more character driven and suspenseful which is what I like about it. Mystery is probably the weakest element in the series. My favorite: Blood Is the Sky. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. First book in the series is A Cold Day In Paradise.

Thieves Get Rich, Saints Get Shot: A Novel by Jodi Compton due out July 19th. Sequel to Hailey’s War. Compton also wrote two books featuring Detective Sarah Pribek set in Minneapolis. The series has been abandoned but the two books are: The 37th Hour and Sympathy Between Humans. Wonderful writer, again, her mysteries tend to be character driven. Ignore the 2 or 3 star reviews, thanks.

The Fifth Witness by Michael Connelly due out April 5th – I’m so behind in this series featuring Mickey Haller who was first introduced in The Lincoln Lawyer. I’m not a big legal thriller fan but I do enjoy Connelly’s brand of legal thrillers. There’s now a movie version. His Harry Bosch series is excellent as well. I recently read where the author stated that Billy Burke embodies the physical look of Harry Bosch

Other titles coming out that’s on my might read list: Lethal by Sandra Brown, due out September 20th. Can you say…sticker shock? The digital format for this book is set at $14.99. Can’t afford that, sorry. I just hope my library will be buying it. I’ll get it from there or go for a used copy. In fact, I still have two of hers to read anyway. Why do I like Sandra Brown? Her plots seem to challenge believability and her characters tend to be unlikable but dammit, her books are very readable. Entertaining.

I see Karen Rose has a new paperback coming out June 7th, You Belong To Me. If you haven’t read Karen Rose you should. She’s a solid romantic suspense writer. Readers do complain about the violence but she seems to be really good at balancing romance with mystery without shirking on either.

In the fall we have a new Laura Griffin set for August 30th release, titled Snapped. I’ve yet to read her work. I do own two titles and hope to read them this year. Then we have a new Julie Garwood romantic suspense, Her Ideal Man August 9th. I obtained a Netgalley e-ARC of this one and plan to read it.

Are there any titles you’re looking forward to reading?