“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 Ironsmith,” by Nicholas Guild: An outstanding historical novel

This new novel from Nicholas Guild is a damned good read -- at once a deeply intriguing historical novel and a keep-the-pages-turning tale of intrigue and suspense. The novel is set in the area of Galilee, Capernaum and Jerusalem in the days just before the New Testament documents came to be. The protagonist is Noah, …

Review: “The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein” by Peter Ackroyd

I really wanted to like this book. My fiction reading has slowed to a snail's pace, and I thought this book might get me back into it in a big way. I am a fan of Mary Shelley's excellent "Frankenstein," a fabulous blend of Gothic horror, science fiction and weighty themes. I thought a new …

Jerry Coyne, evolution and the beasts that would devour our heroes … …

I just finished reading "Why Evolution is True," by University of Chicago Professor Jerry A. Coyne — and I highly recommend it. This outstanding book was written as an answer to those who say "there is no evidence for evolution," and as such you'll find it mentioned anywhere the science education culture wars are fought. …

“Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus”

I spend more time in my car than I really like, and I divide the road time between plotting fiction in my head, listening to music, listening to NPR or talk radio — and sometimes listening to those things I keep calling "Books on Tape" even though they are on discs. I tend to listen …