Fans of the hard-boiled detective genre and grittier comics will enjoy 'Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer.' The casual sexism and senseless brutality may offend modern sensibilities. But taken as a product of the time in which it was originally created, this is a beautiful adaption, keeping alive one of pulp fiction’s most distinctive characters.
Read More »‘Made to Kill’ is a pitch-perfect tribute to Raymond Chandler… with robots
'Made to Kill' is a pitch-perfect tribute to Raymond Chandler, but its unique premise builds on rather than merely imitates the work of the master. The novel zings along with spitfire dialogue and madcap action. This is a solid kickoff to a fun new series, and I look forward to reading the next Ray Electromatic Mystery.
Read More »‘The Girls She Left Behind’ is a mystery not to be left behind
Despite a stylistic tendency to interrupt the characters’ dialogue and conversations midstream with descriptions and observations, 'The Girls She Left Behind' is an engrossing and rapid read.
Read More »A day on the set of ‘The Murdoch Mysteries’: artistry, kindness & geekery abound
A visit on the set of 'Murdoch Mysteries' with young cancer survivors gave everyone a chance to geek out over history and science and revealed the depth of care the production team puts into not just their art but to their young fans as well.
Read More »‘A Borrowed Man’ could have used a real woman
For all of his talent and novel-writing experience, Gene Wolfe still struggles to write female characters. In 2015, this flaw is so distracting that it drowns the interesting things 'A Borrowed Man' has to say about important issues like slavery, population control, disability, pornography and resource depletion. Like his narrator, Gene Wolfe is sadly a writer living outside of his own time.
Read More »This is where J.K. Rowling’s ‘Career of Evil’ gets good, really good
Book 3 of the Cormoran Strike mystery novels is where this series truly starts getting good - really good. May J.K. Rowling's 'Career of Evil' flourish!
Read More »‘Joyland – Illustrated Edition’ is an attractive but unnecessary volume
With a gorgeous cover by Glen Orbik and 20+ illustrations, 'Joyland - Illustrated Edition' is an attractive volume. But it doesn't offer enough to justify buying if you already own the original edition.
Read More »REVIEW: ‘Lie in Wait’ is sure to be another bestseller for Eric Rickstad
'Lie in Wait' is a perfect mystery companion for the lengthening autumn nights and is almost certain to become another notch in Eric Rickstad’s bestseller belt.
Read More »REVIEW: Reading ‘Speaking in Bones’ qualifies as a cardio workout
'Speaking in Bones' takes Temperance Brennan deep into the spooky rural backwaters of America and is an ideal summer thriller that will leave you breathless
Read More »12 books for the geek days of summer 2015
Here are 12 great books to help you stay cool at the beach during the geek days of summer.
Read More »REVIEW: Rural Vermont is thick with dread and evil in ‘The Silent Girls’
'The Silent Girls' is the proverbial page-turner that not only mystery buffs will stay up late devouring but even literary snobs could probably appreciate.
Read More »REVIEW: Kathy Reichs is on top of her game in ‘Bones Never Lie’
No bones about it. The seventeenth novel in the popular Temperance Brennan series is superbly entertaining and packed with Reichs' usual penchant for scientific detail and accuracy.
Read More »12 book series to binge read during the holidays
With the paucity of new releases this month, we thought we'd toss out a list of some of our favorite book series that may have flown under your radar over the years. Because what bibliophile doesn't love a nice, meaty saga you can really sink your chops into, especially with the days growing short and the weather getting colder?
Read More »‘Gone Girl’ is everything we expect from David Fincher
While the twisted story of 'Gone Girl' takes some effective stabs at meaning, it's most enjoyed when looked at for what it is, a story.
Read More »‘A Brief History of Seven Killings’ stirs it up with brilliance
'A Brief History of Seven Killings' is serious literature that reads like a fast-paced mystery novel. James expertly threads together a couple dozen narrative threads to form an engaging and thought-provoking epic. This is a great book.
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