The Hungry Detective

Back to the B&N for some purchases. All of the overstock variety. I picked up Ace Atkins latest book, White Shadow . This I actually bought used. I have been reading Ace all the way back to his first, Crossroad Blues . This book is non-series and concerns events in 1950's Florida. I think. Ace is tops in my book, so I don't need much reason to buy anything he writes. Nick Travers is Ace's series character. Nick is a Blues Historian by day and righter of wrongs at night. These novels usually begin with Nick trying to dig up some facts on a long forgotten blues musician and in the process he discovers evil deeds. Murder, graft, the usual. Next...... about a decade ago there was this crazy fascination with the Hypermodern novel. Instantly collectible books that were virtually impossible to buy for a reasonable price just weeks after release. I have a larger piece I want to write about that topic, but long story short I bought Julia Spencer-Fleming's Out of the Deep I...

Readers of this blog will recall that KM and I traveled to Madison recently to see the live radio broadcast of Michaeal Feldman's Whad'Ya Know . KM took this photo. Sweet. I also want to encourage everyone listen to Whad'Ya Know on thier local NPR station . The live show goes out at 11am EST and 10am CST every Saturday. Of course your NPR stations needs to carry the show, but you get the idea.

I'm going to move on two of the bigger books of '06. Echo Park by the great Michael Connelly and Two Minute Warning by the equally talented Bob Crais . I am excited to read the Crais. All reports are that it is a nice return to form. I love Crais, but everything dating back to L.A. Requiem has left me wanting. Let me step outside of this minor bitch slap and say that minor Crais is still better than most everyone else's 'A' game. Still..... Why am I reading these two book? History has proven that I can probably knock both these books out by this time next week. Not an inspiring reason, but a good one.

A stated goal of 2007 is to read all the books I buy in 2007. Don't hold it against me if I buy book late in '07 and don't read before the witching hour. So one of the big early releases of 2007 is The Blade Itself. There is a great deal to like in this first novel by Marcus Sakey . It has gotten good reviews , with the worst thing being said about it is that it does not really break any new ground in the genre. True it does not break any new ground, but if that is the only negative thing to say then what is the point of saying it. A well told tale is a well told tale.... so leave it at that. Our lead.... hero is to strong... is Danny, a reformed thief who is drawn back into the life when his partner, Evan, is released from prison. Evan took the fall for a pawnshop heist gone wrong, and now he thinks he is owed one last score to settle this debt. Danny is less interested to say the least. The first third of book settles the 'how' Danny ultimately feels obligated to ...

I have been writing this blog for a bit now and I thought I would explain one of the reason why it even exists at all. I wanted a resource on the internets where I could go to find information on crime fiction. What's new? What's hot? What's collectible? Who are the undiscovered authors? What are the print runs for a specific novel? Etc. Information is all I have ever wanted. And I wanted that information without having to scavenge a dozen sites to answer less than half those questions. It always seemed to be the case that I found out about an author, a collectible book when I could no longer find it or worse afford to buy it. Of course this blog does none of that...... yet. Cue ominous music.... and perhaps an evil laugh or chuckle.

A complete list of the nominations is up. There are some good books in the big three.... some of which I have actually read. BEST NOVEL The Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin Gentleman and Players by Joanne Harris The Dead Hour by Denise Mina The Virgin of Small Plains by Nancy Pickard The Liberation Movements by Olen Steinhauer BEST FIRST NOVEL BY AN AMERICAN AUTHOR The Faithful Spy by Alex Berenson Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn King of Lies by John Hart Holmes on the Range by Steve Hockensmith A Field of Darkness by Cornelia Read BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL The Goodbye Kiss by Massimo Carlotto The Open Curtain by Brian Evenson Snakeskin Shamisen by Naomi Hirahara The Deep Blue Alibi by Paul Levine City of Tiny Lights by Patrick Neate The real find for me is a book not even on this list. Rather it is the book previously published by Louis Bayard . Mr. Timothy follows Tiny Tim, of A Christmas Carol fame, in his later years as he solves the murder of two t...

What am I looking forward to in 2007? Let me tell you..... Steve Hockensmith - On the Wrong Track His first was a good... not great... blend of historical, Holmes, and western fiction. Adrian Mckinty - The Bloomsday Dead His first book was flat out brilliant. This is the third book in the Michael Forsythe series. Need to read the the second in the series the The Dead Yard soon. 2005's Hidden River was pretty good as well. Marcus Sakey - The Blade Itself Some buzz here . I know nothing about the book other than it is coming out soon. Chris Grabenstein - Whack-A-Mole Highly entertaining series that has just the right touch of seriousness. Dennis Lehane - [Untitled Historical Boston Novel] I ain't holding my breath on this one. But man, I can't wait. Sean Chercover - Big City, Bad Blood Another Chicago author that is getting great reviews . It is also a reminder that I need to read Eugene Izzi. Robert Crais - The Watchman People! A Joe Pike novel. Mixed feelings about this...

Over to the B&N this evening to see what I could see. Not looking for anything in particular, but given some of my Milwaukee scouting I knew that a few things had come to the overstock/bargain racks. A few things I did not buy were James O. Born's Shock Wave . Bought it at the Madison B'Con. Would have been happy to save about $20, but I am much happier to have James signature. Also pasted on Jonathon King' s A Killing Night . Here is an author that I would love to get into, but for one reason or another it never happened. Suppose I could try and back build his books, but his first book The Blue Edge of Midnight could set me back a little at this point. George Pelecanos's The Night Gardener was also available. Could of saved a little cash there too. One of the big debuts from last year was Brian Freeman's Immoral . Still I recommend all of these authors. So what did I buy? Grab a seat Broseph 'cuz I am about to drop some crime fiction buying wisdom. Dr...

As the title reads; final purchases. Went over to MysteryOne on Thursday. I was looking to buy three books and I ended up w/ four... or three and a paperback. Two books were bought before I even walked in the door. The Blonde by Duane Swierczynski and Big City, Bad Blood by Sean Chercover . Glad to finally have Duane's book. Monkey? Off my back. The other book? It is on my 2007 list that at this point I might not even publish. The other hardback was Arnaldur Indridason's first US release, Jar City . I'll be honest, I picked it up because it has become hugely collectible. We will see. And last and who knows maybe least, I picked up The Drummer by Anthony Neil Smith. Described as Heavy Metal Noir, this is a paperback original. I know nothing about this book. It was signed and $14 so there you go. This book was put out by Two Dollar Radio Movement . They are a young publisher. Started in 2005. I wish them all the luck in the world I have a soft spot for independent book pub...

It would seem in my Treasures of the $5.34 Savings entry I gave the impression that I was the one who made the listed purchases. KM informs that I did not, and that she did. The editor of The Hungry Detective regrets this error. As for additions I was in Rockford, Illinois this afternoon. Scanning the overstocks I found Jeffrey Deaver's The Twelfth Card . I've seen it in Rochester so I'll wait until I get back, although I could save a little on the tax. I almost left the store when I remembered Adrian McKinty has a young adult mystery out. The Lighthouse Land is the first in a proposed trilogy. Interesting? I hope so. I know nothing about it, but this guy is dynamite! Yes I used an exclamation mark, he is that good. Read everything he writes. NOW!

Due to Blogger weirdness my Year End post publishes from the date of creation not the date of of publication.... which would be today. Look for it.

KM and I were in Madison Wisconsin, yesterday. We saw Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know. Mazel Tov! Lots of fun. The program was broadcast from the Lecture Hall at the Monona Terrace . The building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright way, way, way back in the 40's or 50's. It was not built until the 90's. There is a pretty big debate in how close... or far... it is from FLW intentions. The Lecture Hall is small theater of 350 seats. Only about 125 or 150 seats were filled. The lack of a full house can make for uncomfortable surroundings, but that was not the case at all. It was cozy and inviting. KM and I will make a point of returning the next time we are in town. I took a photo with Michael. I'll load the picture when we are back in Rochester. We ate at Gino's for lunch. Delicious lasagna. KM talked me into going over to Booked for Murder . I didn't have directions and it was only by chance that we crossed University on our way out of Madison. So we t...

I'm heading home to Wisconsin in a few days. Handful of days w/my folks and a few in Milwaukee. KM and I will head to Madison on Saturday for WhadYa Know . We both love Michael Feldman's NPR show, plus it never fails to remind us of home every Saturday morning. I don't know if I will have a chance to head over to Booked for Murder . Booked for Murder is a big and bright store that I have never warmed to. Terrible to say, but Mystery One in Milwaukee is somehow more suited to my tastes. Perhaps it is my approach. I usually visit Booked having already spent my cash at Mystery One. I can entice my parents into getting me a book but at 35 it is unseemly. Trust me it is unseemly. I'm still working on my best of 2006. Which I guess should be called read in 2006 as few of the books I read last year were released actually released last year. I also have Most Anticipated of 2007. I finished Pistol Poets last night and I am on to Michael Robotham's Suspect.

Day after Christmas I used some Christmas money to buy the Cussler's Treasure of Khan. Looks like I bought some Christmas cards and a 2007 Get Fuzzy Calendar. I also renewed my B&N membership. Membership is too strong a word for what I paid $25.00. I paid money for a discount card. I don't really see the benefits until I spend $250.00 dollars this year. So even though I spent 69.79, the $5.34 counted for last year not this year. I'm sure I spent more than $250 at B&N last year, so recouping is not a problem. But believe me when I say if Rochester had a viable independent bookstore I would make use of it. I talked about Khan a few weeks ago, so I won't go on here. I'll write about when I read it... some time in 2007.