Crime Fiction Dossier

ThrillerFest Panel: David Morrell on Point of View

David J. Montgomery — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:31:45 -0400

I attended a CraftFest panel yesterday, as part of the warm up for ThrillerFest. Thriller writer David Morrell talked about point of view, that element of the craft that has bedeviled so many writers. David Morrell has been in the...

My latest Chicago Sun-Times round-up column

David J. Montgomery — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:58:30 -0400

My latest round-up column is in this morning's Chicago Sun-Times. It includes reviews of the following books: George Pelecanos - The Way Home Travis Thrasher - Ghostwriter Attica Locke - Black Water Rising Dennis Tafoya - Dope Thief Ken Bruen...

Latest Daily Beast review: Janet Evanovich's "Finger Lickin' Fifteen"

David J. Montgomery — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:42:05 -0400

Back again so soon! My new review is up on The Daily Beast: Janet Evanovich's Finger Lickin' Fifteen. This was a fun one to write. Fun book, too.

Latest Daily Beast review: Gregg Hurwitz' "Trust No One"

David J. Montgomery — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 08:35:13 -0400

My latest review is up on The Daily Beast. The book is Gregg Hurwitz' Trust No One, one of the best thrillers I've read in a long time. I first read this a year ago in an early galley form...

Review of Michael Connelly's "The Scarecrow"

David J. Montgomery — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 08:43:10 -0400

I forgot to check the Sun-Times' website last weekend and it turns out my review of Michael Connelly's The Scarecrow finally ran. It seems like the book section has been having some space problems recently, thus the delay in this...

Edward Gilbreth, RIP

David J. Montgomery — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 09:39:09 -0400

Ed Gilbreth, the man who held the post of mystery critic for the Chicago Sun-Times before me, has died at 76. The Trib has a nice obituary in today's paper. I never met Ed, nor knew him in any way....

Who is the best thriller writer working today?

David J. Montgomery — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:16:14 -0400

I've been thinking about this question for a while now... Who is the best thriller author working today? For historical reference purposes, my favorite thriller writer of all-time is Ross Thomas. But who's the best who's still writing? I've come...

Latest Daily Beast review: Lisa Gardner's "The Neighbor"

David J. Montgomery — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:04:06 -0400

My weekly column is up at The Daily Beast: a review of Lisa Gardner's The Neighbor, in stores on Tuesday (6/16). Gardner is a great example of an author who has improved significantly over time. I didn't care much for...

Welcome to The Daily Beast

David J. Montgomery — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:00:37 -0400

I have some exciting news to share with you all...I have joined The Daily Beast, Tina Brown's web magazine, as a critic and will be writing a weekly column about thriller/mystery fiction. I will still be contributing to the Chicago...

Summer reading picks

David J. Montgomery — Sun, 31 May 2009 17:49:46 -0400

The Chicago Sun-Times' critics give their summer reading picks in this morning's paper. My recommendation: Joseph Finder's Vanished. Also on the list are The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson and Free Agent by Jeremy Duns.