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For those who don’t know him, Ken Bruen’s a brilliant, lyrical crime novelist who I first came to know during my first Edgar Award ceremony back in 2004. Both of us having lost, we obviously chose to drink ourselves senseless in Manhattan. As everyone else gradually disappeared, heading off to their hotel rooms, the two of us survived until four in the morning, talking nonstop. A wonderfully self-abusive night I’ll not soon forget. (Hat-tip to Seth Marko on this.)

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I just learned from my publisher, St Martin’s, that I’m going to be in Los Angeles this April for a panel at the LA Times Festival of Books.Early days, so I don’t know which panel, or who I’ll be chatting with, but I expect it to be a blast.

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

A cool piece from a friend, Adam LeBor, on the state of the thriller in the literary world. I missed it when it came out, but am glad I caught up to the piece. Enjoy.

I spy, with my literary eye

In keeping with the Tinker Tailor theme, Salon asked a number of espionage aficionados—and me—for to answer a few questions about Cold War spy fiction and the current state of the genre. My two cents are at the very bottom.Note the freakishly similar opening sentences shared by me and Charles Cumming…

The state of the post-Cold War spy novel - Salon.com

The contest of a lifetime!

St. Martin's Press: The "An American Spy" Advance Readers' Edition Sweepstakes

Book with a Face

I’ve just set up a page on Facebook, and once I figure out how to do it I’ll run a feed from the page to here.

I’m working with St Martin’s on this, so in the coming months they’ll help me make the place interesting. One thing I know it will involve is a contest or two to win a copy of An American Spy before it hits the bookstores…which will make you smarter, fresh-cheeked, and far more attractive to the opposite sex.

So go check it out already!

I was stunned today to learn (a day later than most) that Dick Adler, legendary book reviewer, has passed away. This is a tremendous loss for mystery & thriller fiction, as he was an astute yet generous lover of the genre. Early on in my own career he took to the pages of the Chicago Tribune to say wonderfully kind things about my work, and for that I have always been grateful. We never met, j

The Rap Sheet: Dick Adler Passes Away

The Crooked Road

I just heard from Janet Hutchings over at Dell, publishers of the fine periodical Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, and learned that a story I published with them a few years ago, “Investment in Vevey,” is part of a new ebook anthology they’ve put out, called The Crooked Road: Ellery Queen Presents Stories of Grifters, Gangsters, Hit Men, and Other Career Crooks.

Terrific line-up, including the Bruen, Lawrence Block, Florence Mayberry, Doug Allyn, and many more. I’m ordering my copy now. I suggest you do the same.

In Zoran Drvenkar’s novel, four friends whose profession is making apologies acquire a client who is a killer. (And in case I wasn’t clear in the review, it’s a brilliant book. Go get yourself a copy.)

My new review in the NYTBR: A Thriller, With Apologies

Well, lightning has struck. Last night in Atlantic City, the North American Branch of the International Association of Crime Writers awarded me the Hammett Prize. Sadly, I couldn’t make it to the ceremony, but my speech was delivered by my agent in the Northeast.

Terrific news, as the Hammett is such an admired award, with a perpetually great list of nominees, but also because this is the ninth or tenth award I’ve been shortlisted for, and the first I’ve won!

Great news, indeed. And thanks again to International Association of Crime Writers!

UPDATE: If you don’t believe me, go to a trusted source for verification…