The Hungry Detective

 Over the Thanksgiving holiday I read...well finished... three books. TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY by John le Carré, THE MAID by Nita Prose and STATION ELEVEN by Emily St. John Mandel. There was a moment when I thought I could catch my reading goal of 40 books. That was.....foolish. [ Editor's Note: I can recommend all 3 books, immensely enjoyable in their own ways. ]  However, December reading died on the vine and alas I only made 28. The last official read of 2022 was Mark Billingham's THE MURDER BOOK. I was remined yet again that the Thorne books are pound for pound the best series running. I started EVERY CLOAK ROLLED IN BLOOD by James Lee Burke but did not finish it until after the 1st. Silver lining....it will pad the 2023 reading numbers. How was the book you might ask? JLB has ascended criticism in my mind so....  After that I moved on to THE ISLAND by Adrian McKinty. I was less enamored with this book than his last. It was some tough sledding through the fir...

Not at Bouchercon this year and it is a bummer. There was a long layoff between my attendance at Indianapolis in 2009 and Long Beach last year. Of course being there reminded me of all things I love about Crime Fiction and Bouchercon. It is a great place to be among something I dearly love. What is troubling as I look over Bouchercon past, present, and future is the startlingly few West coast B'Cons. Before Long Beach last year the last West coast B'Con was San Francisco in 2010.  After Raleigh this year we are looking at New Orleans, Toronto, and St. Petersburg. After that there is a bid for Dallas in 2019, before we get a to possible Sacramento B'Con in 2020.  Dating back to 2000 West Coast Bouchercons are a bit of rare bird. Long Beach in 2014, SF in 2010, Las Vegas in 2003. Thats it. Add Sacramento in 2020 and that is four Bouchercons in 20 years. Maybe that's just the way it shakes out. The very early years of B'Con are on the West Coast, so this i...

I have spent more time then I care to admit watching 'Book Haul' videos on YouTube recently. If you don't know these are videos that almost exclusively feature young women who display recent purchases that focus heavily on YA fiction. Fascinating. I'm not going to do a video because I just don't have that kind of energy. But I do like talking about books, so here is what I bought at Bouchercon 2014. Justice Hall - Laurie R. King  - Bantam I lost this book when The Hungry Detective moved Headquarters. The book got inexplicably crushed. This is the first book I have had to repurchase. Let it be the last.... [Editor's Note: Maybe you should wait until the end of this post before you make this claim]. Japantown - Barry Lancet - Simon and Schuster A book and author I identified for purchase before I went to the show. It is a thriller which gives me a bit of a pause. I've burned out on thrillers over the last couple years. On the plus...

It is late on Sunday. A long, fun weekend and honestly I am exhausted. My recap of the 2014 Long Beach Bouchercon could wait until tomorrow. But why put off today what you will probably have to complete tomorrow or the next day. [Editor's Note: Probably?] I had good luck with the panels this year. It amazes me that you throw a bunch of authors in a room and more often then not the panel works. I found myself in a number of panels this year where I either knew nothing of the author or only what I could glean while doing Amazon searchers for their books in the five minutes before the panel started. It works when it feels like it should fail more often. I do know that I have become selective in the panels I choose to attend. There was at least one panel session on Thursday and Friday I did not attend. There was only one panel that was a bust from the get go. For those little traumas I have long learned to follow the adage of life being too short. A quick, quiet exit is smart f...

Hello and welcome to The Hungry Detective panel picks for the 2014 Long Beach Bouchercon. In years past I would pick one panel for each session. This time around I'm going to pick 2-3 for each day. Some of these I will make, and some of these I will be in a line to get books signed. It has been a few years since my last Bouchercon, and I am excited to return. Safe travels if you are making the journey to Southern California. THURSDAY: The Hungry Detective is now based in the greater Los Angles area. A scheduling error will cause me to miss most of Saturday. However, I will be there for all of Thursday, and I am thankful for the 11:30 am start because I am going to have to take the subway to Long Beach. 11:30-12:30 Regency C No More Badge: Crime Solvers Who've Left the Badge Behind George Easter (Moderator), Paul Doiron, David Housewright, John Lutz, Sean Lynch I like cops. I like detectives. I like detectives that used to be cops because something horrible...

Likely not the final schedule, but lots to peruse with the release  of the Long Beach Bouchercon panels. The Hungry Detective will be there Thursday PM to Sunday. I'll miss all the panels on Thursday, but I'll catch up with the authors I'll miss later in the weekend. I think I'm destined to take it pretty easy the days I am there. Four Bouchercons later, I've learned my limits. I will bring a lot fewer books to sign. Right it now it stands at 30 books. a misleading number because two authors account for half that number.  About a week out I'll write a 'best of panels' post for the whole weekend.

Jared and I drove away from Indianapolis four years ago. At this point we had attended the last three out of four Bouchercons. We were pros. San Francisco was financially our of reach, but St Louis was a year away, so maybe. Soon Cleveland and Albany would virtually be in our backyard. We attended none of them.  St. Louis was just far enough away. Cleveland rolled around right around the time I was trying to get out of town, and Albany is now a whole country away. Its been a bummer. The place is fun and it was always great to spend some time with my pal. So finally, Long Beach. I get to fill our a registration form. Make a hotel reservation. Awkwardly try to met authors. Go into the book room. Spend a lot of money. Ya know, fun stuff. Save your money Jared. Your kids can go to public school one more year...

Anthony Award nominations peeked their head out the other day. It is a good mix of old guard and fresh young faces. Especially happy to see the awards limited to five this year. I know in the past other awards have been given, but I like the look of the Big Five. Classy. Award will be given at the 2012 Bouchercon in Cleveland Ohio. Congratulations to all of the nominees. Best Novel THE END OF EVERYTHING -   Megan Abbott   -  Reagan Arthur/Little, Brown HURT MACHINE - Reed Farrel Coleman - Tyrus THE DROP - Michael Connelly - Little, Brown A TRICK OF LIGHT - Louise Penny - Minotaur ONE WAS A SOLDIER -  Julia Spencer-Fleming -  Thomas Dunne/Minotaur Best First Novel  LEARNING TO SWIM -  Sara J. Henry - Crown NAZARETH CHILD -   Darrell James - Midnight Ink ALL CRY CHAOS -  Leonard Rosen - The Permanent Press WHO DO, VOODOO?  - Rochelle Staab - Berkley Prime Crime THE INFORMATIONIST -   Taylor Stevens - Crown PURGATOR...

Let me tell you that writing these post while NOT actually being in attendance is a super bummer. I am consoled by the fact the EXPIRATION DATE and the general awesomeness of Duane Swierczynski has been rewarded. Woot! Full list of nominees are here . THD congratulates all of the winners and nominees. Best Novel BURY YOUR DEAD - Louise Penny - Minotaur Best First Novel DAMAGE DONE - Hilary Davidson - Forge Best Paperback Original EXPIRATION DATE - Duane Swierczynski - Minotaur Best Short Story  “SWING SHIFT,” by Dana Cameron (from Crimes by Moonlight , edited by Charlaine Harris; Berkley) Best Graphic Novel THE CHILL - Jason Starr - Vertigo Crime Best Critical /Non-Fiction:   AGATHA CHRISTIE'S SECRET NOTEBOOKS: 50 YEARS OF MYSTERIES IN THE MAKING -  John Curran (Harper) Best Web Site/Blog: Stop, You’re Killing Me!, edited by Stan Ulrich and Lucinda Surber

Having attended B'Con three times now, it is always with some regret that I have not ponyed up the extra fee to attend the Shamus Awards dinner. I suppose it should give me motivation for future Bouchercon attendance. Full list of nominees are here . Congratulations to the winners and the nominees. Best Hardcover P.I. Novel NO MERCY - Lori Armstrong - Touchstone Best First P.I. Novel: IN SEARCH OF MERCY - Michael Ayoob - Minotaur Best Paperback Original P.I. Novel:   ASIA HAND - Christopher G. Moore - Grove/Atlantic Best P.I. Short Story:   “THE LAMB WAS SURE TO GO,” - Gar Anthony Haywood - AHMM , November 2010

The Barry Awards were handed out last night at the St. Louis Bouchercon. Winners of the Barry's are voted on by the readers of Deadly Pleasures magazine. Mr. Hamilton picks up another Best Novel award. While I did not connect with the book, praise for THE LOCK ARTIST has been universal.  THE POACHER'S SON was a recent read for me. It is phenomenal, really quite good. Glad to see it found some love. The full list of nominees are here . Best Novel THE LOCK ARTIST - Steve Hamilton - Minotaur Books Best First Novel THE POACHER'S SON -  Paul Doiron - Minotaur Books Best British Novel THE WOOD CUTTER - Reginald Hill - HarperCollins  Best Paperback Original FEVER AT THE BONE - Val McDermid - Harper Best Thriller 13 HOURS - Deon Meyer - Grove Atlantic Best Short Story “THE LIST” - Loren D. Estleman - EQMM, May 2010

If I could go, this is where you would find me. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 8:30 A.M. – 9:30 A.M.   1st Pick THE NAMES OF ANGELS-Majestic D Talking classics in crime fiction Jason Pinter (M), Bruce DeSilva, Carl Brookins, Matthew C. Funk, Andrew Grant, Scott Phillips   2nd Pick NIGHT CHILLS-Majestic A,B,C Making things go bump in the night. Monette Draper (M), Dakota Banks, Angie Fox, Sarah Glenn, M.R. Sellars, Jason Starr 10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.  1st Pick A QUESTION OF DEATH-Majestic A,B,C How important is whodunit? Peter Rozovsky (M), Gianrico Carofiglio, Agnete Friis, Borge Hellstrom, Lene Kaaberbol, Anders Roslund   2nd Pick FRENZY-Majestic D The endurance of Hitchcock Daniel Hale (M), Maria Alexander, Eric Beetner, Terry Faherty, Tracy Kiely, Todd Ritter, Martyn Waites 11:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.   1st Pick WHEN THE WIND BLOWS-Majestic A,B,C Crime fiction in a western setting Scott Montgomery (M),...

The St. Louis B'Con panels have been announced. Amazingly the Con is only 37 days away. Gotta imagine that St. Louis in September could still be hotter than balls.  When September rolls around I'll post my selections for the most intriguing panels for every session for the entire run of the Con. Anyway, here is the link . If you have the means... go!

Somewhat hot on the heals of the Edgar Nominations are the Barry Noms. And while the Edgar's will be announced at the end of April the Barry Awards will not given until the St. Louis Bouchercon in September! Yikes. The Hungry Detective congratulates all of the nominees.  Best Novel NOWHERE TO RUN - C. J. Box - Putnam CROOKED LETTER, CROOKED LETTER - Tom Franklin - Morrow THE LOCK ARTIST - Steve Hamilton - Minotaur MOONLIGHT MILE - Dennis Lehane - Morrow BURY YOUR DEAD - Louise Penny - Minotaur SAVAGES - Don Winslow - Simon & Schuster Best First Novel GUTSHOT STRAIGHT - Lou Berney - Morrow ROGUE ISLAND - Bruce DeSilva - Forge THE POACHER'S SON - Paul Doiron - Minotaur SHERLOCKIAN - Graham Moore - Twelve THE HOLY THIEF - William Ryan - Minotaur ONCE A SPY - Keith Thomson - Doubleday Best British Novel STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG - Kate Atkinson - Doubleday BLOOD HARVEST - S. J. Bolton - Bantam Press THE WHISPERS - John Connolly - Hodder ...

The Hungry Detective has made the decision to group all of his predictions into one uber-prediction post for the multiple award ceremonies that will be occurring during the Bouchercon weekend. I'm not getting too adventurous with my picks. After doing this for a couple years I have learned that when I get creative with my 'picks' I only look like an idiot. I'm predicting the Barry, Macavity, PWA Shamus, and Anthony Awards. First up the Shamus Awards. The full list of nominations is here . Best Hardcover P.I. Novel THE SILENT HOUR - Michael Koryta - Minotaur   Best First P.I. Novel CHINATOWN ANGEL - A.E. Roman - Minotaur Best Paperback Original P.I. Novel: VENGEANCE ROAD - Rick Mofina - Mira Best P.I. Short Story: • “BLAZIN' ON BROADWAY” - Gary Phillips from Phoenix Noir, edited by Patrick Millikin; Akashic   Next? How about the Barry Awards? Full list of nominations is here . Best Novel: THE LAST CHILD -  John Hart - Minotaur Best First ...

Our picks for Thursday and Friday went up yesterday. Today I'll look at Saturday and the shorten Sunday panels. I am super jealous of anyone who will be in San Francisco. Saturday 8:30am - 9:30pm LETTERS FROM THE GRAVE The Endurance of Sherlock Holmes Les Klinger(M), Steve Hockensmith, Laurie King, Michael Kurland, Graham Moore Holmes, Hockensmith, King. Done. Saturday 10:00am - 11:00am Denise Mina interviewed by Val McDermid No competition for this panel, but it would not matter if there was. I dig both these writers, and need to read more from both of them. Saturday 11:30am - 12:30pm INNOCENT NO MORE East coast/ west cost Authors discuss attraction/differences of the coasts. F. Paul Wilson(M), Naomi Hirahara, Walter Mosley, S.J. Rozan, Brett Battles Walter Mosley is at the core of why I read Crime Fiction. I'll hate to miss 'The Drop' with Billingham, Connolly, et. al., but Mr. Mosely is fundamental to why I read. Saturday1:30pm - 2:30pm GUEST OF HONOR LEE C...

The program for this year's San Francisco Bouchercon has been released. Loyal readers... if there are any of you left... know that for the past two years I have picked what I think is the best of the panels during the run of the 'Con. This is in no way to disparage any of the other panels. Every panel is a good one. Normally the picks coincide with what The Hungry Detective anticipates on seeing himself.  But this year it is not to be. I am already breathless for Bouchercon 2011 in St Louis. This post is in two parts. Today I'll cover Thursday and Friday. I'll cover Saturday and Sunday in a follow up post  in the next day or so. Also look for my predictions for the many awards that will be presented during the run of the 'Con. Those probably won't appear until the Tuesday or Wednesday before Bouchercon begins. Thursday 10am - 11am MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED Our favorite books – fan/reviewer panel Ali Karim(M), Chris Aldrich, Sarah Byrne, Janet Rudolph, An...

Anthony nominations appeared on Friday. Sorry for the delay. All sorts of non-THD things happened on Friday and Saturday to delay me getting this post up in a timely fashion. Sunday, well I was just being lazy. My only concern with the list is the number of repeat Edgar nominees. One in PBO, two for Best Novel, three for Best First Novel, Four for Short Story and Nonfiction. A good book is a good book. And,I am not saying these aren't worthy nominees, just lacking a bit in imagination. Surprisingly, I have read a good number of them. I'll probably be able to pick of a few more between now and when the awards are handed out at the San Francisco B'Con . Which, unfortunately, I'll be passing up this year. Boo. There is a word that describes having to pay $269 dollars a night for a room, but this is a family blog.... The Hungry Detective extends their congratulations to all of the nominees and wishes them the best of luck. BEST NOVEL THE LAST CHILD - John Hart   - Mino...