Crime Fiction Dossier

Tips for Ebook Authors

David J. Montgomery — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 08:36:40 -0400

I shared these tips recently on Twitter. I wrote them down as they came to me, based on the mistakes that I'm seeing people make. Please feel free to share your own tips in the comments section. Make sure your...

Worlds Collide: James Bond and the Vesper Martini

David J. Montgomery — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:51:31 -0400

Perhaps no one in thriller literature, or literature in general, is as associated with the Martini as James Bond. With just three short words he launched countless thousands of Martini drinkers off into the arms of Bacchus: "shaken, not stirred."...

Worlds Collide: Raymond Chandler and the Gimlet

David J. Montgomery — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:39:46 -0400

I recently started a website called Professor Cocktail that covers another passion of mine: fine spirits and cocktails. I've been writing a series of posts over there called "Worlds Collide" that deals with the intersection of my two major pursuits,...

Read This Book: "Headstone" by Ken Bruen

David J. Montgomery — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:58:08 -0400

I once called Ken Bruen "the dark poet of contemporary noir" (yes, I'm quoting myself -- sue me) and his latest novel, Headstone, confirms that his status is unchallenged. This is a fascinating, powerful and, yes, dark crime novel that...

Read This Book: "What a Wonderful World" by Paul Guyot

David J. Montgomery — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 16:17:54 -0400

When I read The Blue Religion, the short story anthology edited by Michael Connelly in which "What a Wonderful World" first appeared, I was especially impressed with a few of the stories. One of them was Connelly's, of course. Stories...

Social Media Etiquette for Writers

David J. Montgomery — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 14:06:08 -0400

The following is some of the annoying behavior I have observed by authors on various social media platforms. Maybe other people aren't bothered -- but I'm not known for being especially sensitive. So if you're getting on my nerves, chances...

Read This Book: "Getting Off" by Lawrence Block

David J. Montgomery — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:43:25 -0400

In over 50 years of publishing, Lawrence Block has written more great words than almost any writer you can think of. Terms like "master" and "legend" get thrown around to often -- but if you wanted to throw a couple...

Read This Book: "Buried Secrets" by Joseph Finder

David J. Montgomery — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 08:59:01 -0400

There's a special joy that comes from watching a master at the top of his game. Kasparov sitting over a chessboard. Heifetz playing the violin. LeBron winning a champion--well, scratch that last one. But you can add to the list...

Read This Book: "Plan B" by Joseph Finder

David J. Montgomery — Mon, 23 May 2011 13:46:53 -0400

This isn't a book -- it's a short story for the Kindle and other formats -- but you should read it anyway. It's free, and worth every penny. Joseph Finder is known for his best-selling novels, but occasionally he produces...

Read This Book: "A Drop of the Hard Stuff" by Lawrence Block

David J. Montgomery — Thu, 12 May 2011 13:18:43 -0400

If you're looking for a good mystery, you'll find none better than A Drop of the Hard Stuff by Lawrence Block. Block is the modern master of the PI novel and this is one of his best. It features a...