Dec 26, 2023 | Books, Commentary
In September 2022, I flew to Minneapolis to attend Bouchercon, the annual convention for the mystery and crime community. It was my first Bouchercon in a while. To my dismay, when I entered the convention hall I found that I hardly knew anyone in attendance. A new...
Mar 17, 2023 | Commentary
I’m happy to tell you that I’m editing the anthology “Brutal & Strange: Stories Inspired by the Songs of Elvis Costello.” We have an all-star lineup of mystery and crime writers: Raymond Benson, Mark Billingham. Peter Blauner, Mary Anna...
Feb 21, 2022 | Commentary
Storytelling of all kinds can influence authors and essayists. These are the films that influenced me most and why, listed by release date. The first four I saw originally on TV in my parents’ walk-up in Hoboken. “Double Indemnity” (1944) – In high school,...
Dec 17, 2020 | Commentary
Each year, even before the holiday is in full swing, the cavalcade of classic Christmas-themed movies begins and continues unabated through December 25. It’s such an American tradition that most people may not notice that some of these classic films are only loosely...
