Names in Crime Fiction
Time for a quarterly review of crime fiction 2007. This year’s first 90 days have produced some notable releases from newcomers and veterans alike. Marcus Sakey’s debut THE BLADE ITSELF attracted a lot of ink including a pair of NYT reviews. Not to be overlooked are Killer Year compadres Sean Chercover, Sandra Ruttan, Patry Francis and Toni McGee Causey. Let’s not forget RN Morris’ A GENTLE AX or Donald E. Westlake’s WHAT’S SO FUNNY?
John Banville wrote CHRISTINE FALLS under the name Benjamin Black. Banville is the latest example of a growing trend, literary writers gentrifying the back streets of commercial fiction. This is meaningful to dedicated readers but a non-event for those baffled souls grazing the edges of the literary world looking for something to read. Your reporter is skeptical on the one hand since forays from the literati ala Lethem or Michael Chabon have produced second rate work ie MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN and THE WONDER BOYS. These guys are like a raid from the health department on your favorite Chinese place, they shut the place down for a week and there’s no Moo Shoo Pork.
Tomorrow we’ll discuss how to shop for the good stuff at your local indy bookstore. Here’s a hint: get past the New Release table as quickly as possible. Make that your last stop. Annie Bloom’s in Portland has their mysteries hidden behind a wall to the right after the cashier’s station. You can find it, I know you can.
March 28th, 2007 at 8:25 am
Scoot on by the New Releases as recommended, but if you happen to be in a Barnes & Noble rather than an indy, take a gander at the New Mystery shelf. A half-dozen copies of RN Morris’ GENTLE AXE were spotted there yesterday.
Of course, up in Seattle a reader could live indefinitely without ever entering a B&N or a Borders. But, then, you guys live in a part of the world where people don’t move their lips when they read. I miss it. Sure, it’s a bit damp, but that help keep the riff-raff out.
March 28th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
I liked Marcus’s debut as I mentioned on my blog today. I am still waiting for Sandra Ruttan’s and Robert Brownes to arrive.