Mark Stevens's Blog, page 50
September 8, 2012
Q & A With John Galligan – “The Blood Knot”
The Clinch Knot set a high bar for reading enjoyment. I said I’d read more of John Galligan’s books and I’m glad I did. Review below. If Galligan keeps this up, looks like he has a long way to go—there … Continue reading →
August 26, 2012
Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö – “The Laughing Policeman”
There is no one hero. Yes, Martin Beck is the driver, the most determined. He does the most brooding. He—mostly—puts the pieces together. But I was struck by the teamwork in The Laughing Policeman and what I suspect is more … Continue reading →
August 19, 2012
Q & A with Richard Pierce – “Dead Men”
“Dead Men” is a love story wrapped in an adventure story injected with a healthy jolt of history. The story revolves around the aftermath of the race between Brit Robert Falcon Scott and his bid to beat Norwegian Roald Amundsen … Continue reading →
August 5, 2012
Q & A with Peter Heller – “The Dog Stars”
Denver’s own Peter Heller, following a string of adventure-packed non-fiction books (chasing Japanese whale hunters, kayaking remote whitewater in Asia, and learning to surf) has his first novel out. The Dog Stars is a post-apocalyptic story about life, death, living, … Continue reading →
July 30, 2012
Walt Longmire & Leadership – “As the Crow Flies”
In my mind, Craig Johnson and Tony Hillerman are equals. The plots, the humor, the touch, the Western landscapes, the intelligence, the fascinating interactions across cultural boundaries. It’s easy to imagine Joe Leaphorn and Walt Longmire swapping stories. It’s equally … Continue reading →
July 14, 2012
Ian Rankin – “The Impossible Dead”
The Impossible Dead is a solid, beefy mystery with Scottish atmosphere and slow-burn tension in ample supply. Ian Rankin makes writing these stories together look so easy—he’s such a genuine, non-flashy storyteller—but the effect is like some kind of trick. … Continue reading →
July 7, 2012
Susan Orlean – “Rin Tin TIn”
Dogs. What a concept. For dog lovers, it’s impossible to think about life or routines without them. Sixty-six million dogs in the United States today—but our dog is the only one that counts. He does that, she does this. They … Continue reading →
June 24, 2012
Karin Slaughter – “Triptych”
Gravitas. Substance, weightiness. Heft. At a recent writing workshop, a mystery editor listed Karin Slaughter as one of the authors she reads and enjoys. “There’s something kind of warped going on there,” she said. “She’s very good.” Triptych carries the … Continue reading →
June 13, 2012
Cheryl Strayed – “Wild”
“I was in the midst of such reverie when I skidded on pebbles and fell, landing on the hard trail facedown with a force that took my breath away. I lay unmoving for a good minute, from both the searing … Continue reading →
June 3, 2012
Mo Hayder – “Gone”
One line of Gone sums it up beautifully: “Everything about this case had the dank, fetid smell of defeat about it.” Gone piles it on, piles it up. And the case does get fetid, almost quite literally. Subterranean funky. A … Continue reading →
