Post-Bouchercon review time.

A lot of new friends and a few recommendations later, I’m swamped with more books on my plate than ever before. But how can I complain? It only gets better and better. On to the reviews!

Bar Scars by Nik Korpon

Nik Korpon was one of the usual suspects in the small group I toured with most of the time around the Bouchercon campus. A very cool guy and a fantastic writer. I had a great time talking everything from Baltimore to Pigeon books with him (parents with small children…it happens). So it was cool to see that his short story collection, BAR SCARS, was set in Baltimore.

This collection is DARK. One of my favorite kind of books – that I enjoy even more by putting down after a couple of stories and letting them soak in, rather than reading straight through. My favorite story was “A Sparrow with White Scars,” followed by “His Footsteps are Made of Soot,” and “Haymaker.” Heartbreaking stuff and awesome prose.

Happy to be sharing a ToC with Nik in the newly release NOIR NATION #3.

Under the Dixie Moon by Ro Cuzon

Ro Cuzon was another cool cat in the small crew I rolled around with at Bouchercon. I was sold the moment another writer deemed UNDER THE DIXIE MOON to be like the television show, THE WIRE, only set in New Orleans. Like some of my favorite books, the setting, New Orleans, plays a huge role in UNDER THE DIXIE MOON – almost a character itself. It took me a few pages to get into the novel, but once I was in tune with Cuzon’s style, I was hooked to the finish. Cuzon weaves a gritty, complex tale with compelling characters that I found myself liking more and more as I got to know them (even those ‘unlikeable’ ones). Solid Noir.

Blade of Dishonor by Thomas Pluck

Action-packed, pulpy goodness! I met Tom only a couple of times in passing and he’s one of several writers I wish I had more time with. I’d been meaning to buy BLADE OF DISHONOR all weekend and as luck would have it, I won it by answering one of Todd Robinson’s THUGLIT questions correctly at the “Noir at the Bar” panel. BLADE OF DISHONOR was a lot of fun and you can tell the amount of passion and research that Pluck put into it, especially for the WWII storyline. In a way, this book is like getting two stories for the price of one; the story of Butch, the main character’s father, could stand on it’s own as an excellent book, and while I enjoyed Rage Cage Reeve’s storyline, I found myself looking forward to the next installment of WWII action with each passing chapter. Looking forward to more pulp from Pluck.

Drift by Jon McGoran

DRIFT had been on my ‘to read’ list since it was released and received praise from several of my friends. In another case of “wish I had read it before I met the author” (of which I appear to have a chronic condition), I had the great pleasure of hearing McGoran read at the “Noir at the Bar” panel (a great back and forth between the main character, Doyle Carrick, and his partner) and chatting with him again, later that night.

I found DRIFT (an excellent and very appropriate title, by the way…) to be compelling and entertaining on a number of fronts, not the least of which was centering the mystery around GMOs. McGoran successfully instructed me on a foreign subject matter without slowing the pace of the story and/or dumping paragraphs of information. I loved the small town setting and the suspended/powerless cop vs. Sheriff struggle early on, and the transformation of their relationship. Tightly paced, great characters and a fascinating mystery. I’m looking forward to McGoran’s next book, the sequel to DRIFT, entitled, DEADOUT, coming summer 2014.

NEXT FROM BOUCHERCON: Looking forward to Johnny Shaw‘s BIG MARIA, Joe R. Lansdale‘s THE THICKET, and Ed Kurtz‘s BLEED.

Shotgun Honey!

It goes without saying that one of the best moments of Bouchercon 2013 was getting the Shotgun Honey crew together in person for the first time. Jen, Erik and Ron are wonderful people, and I’m more proud than ever to be in their company.

Not only are they wonderful people, but they produce some excellent fiction as well. Check out their latest works (several of which are available online for free) at the links below:

Ron Earl Phillips – “The Last Shot” (5 Broken Winchesters)

Jen Conley – “Mary Mulligan” (Grand Central Noir), “Kick” (Literary Orphans), “Howling” (Beat to a Pulp), AND her story, “Finn’s Missing Sister” (NEEDLE) was shortlisted for BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES 2013!

Erik Arneson – “Noose of Trust” (GRIFT), “Oh Well” (Flash Fiction Offensive), “All Alone” (RELOADED)