Advice to Writers (And Readers)

"If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or the tools to write."

~ Stephen King, Best Selling Author

A Rule Against Murder (2008)

A Rule Against Murder by Louise Penny

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Since first discovering Louise Penny's Bury Your Dead, I have become addicted to her Chief Inspector Gamache series. Although they can be read out of order, I love the forward progression and recurring characters she has created. It is always a delight to visit in Three Pines. It feels like going home to a place you know even though you know something bad (and exciting) is going to happen.

A Rule Against Murder is book number four in a brief list of seven titles ending with last year's Trick of the Light. Even though Penny has amassed a rightfully earned number of awards for all her books, it appears her craftsmanship has gotten better and better.

The setting in A Rule Against Murder follows Gamache and his wife to an isolated, luxurious resort just over the mountains from Three Pines. They are celebrating their anniversary where they spent their honeymoon years earlier. Unfortunately a wealthy and entitled family has occupied much of the lodge. That combined with a storm that leaves behind a dead body eventually reveals an intricate past and unexpected connections.

Her eighth book, The Beautiful Mystery will be available in both the U.S. and Canada on August 28th. Needless to say, there are a continually growing devoted group of readers who can't wait. One of them is me!

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Blurb Rules: A guide to the art and artifice of writing blurbs for books.

Thrilling, pertinent, and insightful comments on how to write book blurbs. Too bad I didn't know about these rules sooner. Thank you to the Barnes and Noble Review for Blurb Rules by Daniel Menaker.

Bad Things Happen (2010)

Bad Things Happen by Harry Dolan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was immediately caught in the web woven by author Harry Dolan and his mysterious character David Loogan. The writing and the storytelling are both deceptive in their simplicity. For literate mystery readers everywhere, discovering this new series is a delight.

Set in the college town of Ann Arbor, it was fun to recognize landmarks and locations used in the book. But that is only secondary to the characters, descriptions, and twists and turns in the plot that kept me up past my bedtime. Sophisticated and witty, I can't wait to read Very Bad Men.


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Wish I Could Write Reviews Like This

New Death Threats Against Salman Rushdie

I've never read the Satanic Verses, but apparently there are some very passionate people in the world who object to the words he put to paper. A quarter of a century after publication, militant Muslims have once again threatened Salman Rushdie's life. Read the CNN article HERE.

Check out the Edgar Nominees if you are so inclined. The winners of the 2012 Edgars, given by the Mystery Writers of America, will be announced on April 26th. Individual categories include: Novel, First Novel, Paperback Original, Fact Crime, Juvenile, Young Adult, Play, TV Story, and more. Grand Master this year is Martha Grimes! Check out the intro to her website. It's quite interesting!