Thoughts as my novel debut approaches

As the Sept. 12 release date for "The Bloody Black Flag" draws near, I am simultaneously excited and humbled. To prevent a swelled head, I keep reminding myself I'd several things. First and foremost, there are people who write better than I do but who do not yet have a book deal. I am damned …

“The Bookseller,” by Mark Pryor: Several Books in One

Imagine a Venn diagram, with the following circles: private eye story, spy novel, cerebral mystery and police procedural. The area where all those circles intersect is where you would find "The Bookseller," by Mark Pryor. Set in Paris, the novel offers intrigue with a smattering of action, and veers through all those Venn circles mentioned …

“One True Sentence,” by Craig McDonald: Murder and sex in the City of Lights

Looking for a riveting stew of murder, sex, history and literature? "One True Sentence," by Craig McDonald, offers that and a lot more. The novel, part of a series featuring writer Hector Lassiter, is set in Paris during the 1920s. Lassiter, who writes stories for crime magazine Black Mask while pondering more literary ambitions, is …

“The Devil To Pay,” by Ellery Queen

A good old-fashioned whodunit of the type seldom written today

Pssst! Hey! Wanna free pirate murder mystery?

Want to win a free advance reading copy of my novel, "The Bloody Black Flag?" If you log your books on Goodreads.com, you have a chance to win an ARC. Just look up my book, sign up for the giveaway and wait a week or so for the results. 15 lucky people will receive a …

Beware of false pirates …

I ran across a goofy website claiming to offer my upcoming book for pre-order. The text promoting my novel was so laughably bad I doubt anyone who has ever read a book would be fooled by it, but I am posting here nonetheless to let potential buyers know there are some bogus sites out there. …

“Blade of the Samurai,” by Susan Spann: History and Murder

Historical mysteries offer the reader a great deal.  A good mystery novel features a solid plot, unique characters and, usually, a sense of justice. But a good historical mystery offers one thing more: a chance to vicariously experience another time and place. Today's case in point is "Blade of the Samurai," by Susan Spann. Spann's …