The Hungry Detective

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1. Heaven's Prisoners - James Lee Burke Still number one, and with good reason. There are just too many gaps in my JLB collection for comfort. I am hoping to to pick this up at the big California Antiquarian Book Fair this week in Pasadena. If I can grab this book the fair will be a success for me. 2. Down By the River Where the Dead Men Go - George Pelecanos With recent purchases I was able to pick off A Firing Offense and Nick's Trip, two picks that will now never make this list. Let's see how long this book last on the list. I am a big advocate for buying something just so that I can stop thinking about it. This does not cover all occasions hence the reason why I do not have a Xbox. 3. The Beekeeper's Apprentice - Laurie R. King I am somewhat pinning my hopes on the Long Beach Bouchercon to pull the trigger on this book. The dealer room should have a few to choose from and if past BCons have proven anything most people are not looking to buy expen...

(Photo above is definition of awesomeness, also I stole the image form the Polis Books website) The return of 'Awesome' Dave White ! The Return of Jackson Donne! Read. This. Guy. Hurry February. Hurry....

(Photo above is evidence of corrected behavior) Dear Adrien McKinty -- I could use the excuse that gutless American publishers have kept me from purchasing your books over the last few years. They did not. Amazon UK is both a blessing and a curse in this case. I could tell you that I have experienced an ennui about Crime Fiction over the last three years. I could also tell you an equally convoluted story about priorities and lessons of adulthood that are still mysterious even at the age of 42. I'll spare you as I am certain that it would bore you as quickly as it does me at this point.      So, let me write that I recently bought three of your books, and that I think of DEAD I MAY WELL BE so often. All my very best to you in the New Year, Dan  The Hungry Detective

A good mail day that should be classified as great. These three book are big for me. I stared at them so often only to put them back on shelves and walk away. I no longer have to do that. I own them. They belong to me. They are a completion of a thought that began long ago with the words "One day I will..." Today is that day.

Alan Furst Night Soldiers Dark Star The World at Night Red Gold Spies of Balkan Mission to Paris Alan Furst is a tough get. Only occasionally do his books show up in stores or shows. When they do it's the early work from the late 70's early 80's or The Polish Officer. My guess is The Polish Officer was the publishers push to put Mr. Furst in the same public consciousness as John Le Carre. Anyway Red Gold was mercifully priced at $25. I would have paid double, but I would not have been happy about it.

Here is my Top Five list. This is not a hard and fast list. The full list is 30 books, and of those these are the ones I would be the most excited to acquire. 1. Heaven's Prisoners - James Lee Burke Second Dave Robicheaux book and surprisingly not that bad of a movie. I picked up Neon Rain a long time ago and have failed on many occasions to pull the trigger on this one. This all comes down to cost and availability. The book has always been around $175-$200 for as long as I can remember. Secondarily the book is usually a pretty easy find at a show, because the modern fiction dealer will usually carry it as their nod to the genre. Still I need to do this soon. The cheaper price point means I'll probably pick this up before Lullaby Town.  2. Lullaby Town - Robert Crais 'Scarce third novel by author' is the phrase most associated with this novel. Something about libraries buying up much of the first edition. I want to say I used to know. It is far a...