Thomas Pluck's Blog, page 20

Show Me a Hero (and I’ll give you a tragedy)- episodes 1 and 2

I’m enjoying the hell out of David Simon and Paul Haggis’s new miniseries, Show Me a Hero. I recapped and reviewed the first two episodes for Criminal Element. (They are showing them in pairs). This is gripping and important television, about recent and nearly forgotten history that is especially prescient right now.

It is based on a book by Lisa Belkin of the same name:

Tagged: Criminal Element, David Simon, Television

A Hot Night in Hub City

My next reading will be on Saturday, August 29th at Noir at the Bar New Jersey, at Tumulty’s pub in New Brunswick. Hosted by Jen Conley and Mark Krajnak, look at that great lineup (and poster, by Chuck Regan). Come join us. I’ll be hitting Destination Dogs before the show,

Tagged: New Jersey, Noir

Noir at the Bar NYC: August 9th 2015

The next Noir at the Bar NYC will be held on August 9th, hosted by me and Todd Robinson, with readings by:

Laura K Curtis

Jordan Harper

RG Belsky

Tom Callahan

Vincent Zandri

Scott Adlerberg

Eryk Pruitt

Angel Colon

Wallace Stroby

come join us for a night of crime fiction!

Tagged: Noir

True Detective S2E7: Everything is F*cking! (Sung to “Everything is Awesome”)

My take on the next to last episode of True Detective Season 2 is up at Criminal Element.

I had the same issues with the final two episodes of the first season, when they scramble to tie everything up. Ask for ten or thirteen episodes next time…

The majority of the detecting is sitting around looking at photos and land deeds

The writing gets even worse, with a forced sex scene between Ray and Ani, and an escort sneering, “Everything is fucking!” Which made me think of…

Only one more to go. 90 minutes. At least Frank ordered an arsenal for a shootout…

Tagged: Criminal Element, True Detective

True Detective S2e6: “Church in Ruins” – 10lbs of story in a 5lb bag?

Antigone finally gets to use her knives! That’s the best part of this incredibly compact episode. My full take on “Church in Ruins” at Criminal Element.

“We need to talk.” Yes, we do… True Detective S2E5: “Other Lives”

I think at this point, I’m watching so you don’t have to. There’s not the same discussion there was for season one. I’m told there’s a lively discussion on Reddit, but I don’t use that site. There’s also a lot less to discuss; the mystery is gone, there’s no Yellow King, the closest we have is Panticapaeum institute and there’s little of it, except that Mayor Chessani, Elliot Bezzerides, and Dr. Pitlor were all part of it and they’re powerful creeps now.

My recap at Criminal Element for True Detective S2E5: “Other Lives.”

True Detective 2.04: “Down Will Come”

My recap of last night’s episode of True Detective, “Down Will Come” is up at Criminal Element.

Tagged: Criminal Element, True Detective

Thrillerfest Finale: Debut Authors and Awards

My post on Thrillerfest day two, featuring the debut authors breakfast and the Thriller Awards, is up at Criminal Element.

Tagged: Thrillerfest

Thrillerfest Day One

My recap of Thrillerfest Day One is up at Criminal Element. Greg Iles and Charlaine Harris were interviewed, it was a good time.

Tagged: Thrillerfest

Craftfest day two

My recap of Craftfest day two at NYC Thrillerfest is up at

Criminal Element

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That’s FBI agent Jeff McCrehan checking IDs at the bar.

Tagged: Thrillerfest