July 2008 Archives

Forensic Scientist Theresa MacLean is investigating a grisly murder when she gets word that her fiance has been taken hostage with seven others in a bank robbery. The police have brought in Cleveland's best negotiator. High-profile Chris Cavanaugh hasn't lost a victim yet, but Theresa wonders if he might be too arrogant to save the day this time around. She must use all her wiles, experience, and techinical skill to get control of this crisis before the body count peaks.

"Takeover is a riveting hostage drama packed with surprises. Once Lisa Black gets you inside the bank, you--like the bad guys--won't be able to stop." -- Peter Abrahams

"...that rare combination of authentic detail and good story-telling..." -- Jeff Lindsay

Lisa Black spent the happiest five years of her life in a morgue, as a forensic scientist at the Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office, until her husband moved them to Cape Coral, Florida. Now she works as a latent print/crime scene examiner for the local PD. Lisa is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Scientists, the International Assoc. for Identification, and the International Assoc. of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts. 

The question was asked:

Where were you last month?

The answer is: I was quite ill and subsequently out of circulation for a while. But I'm back on my feet, and that makes Joe Moore, editor supreme round these parts, a happy man, as he doesn't have to cover for me again (although this month's column was handed in at the eleventh hour). So I'm slipping back into my work again, catching up on all I missed the last month or so. And what better way to start that than to make a trip to Harrogate from the Crime Writing Festival?

So let's get on with it:

HURRAH FOR HARROGATE

Coffee and beer - perfect literary prizes!

Yes, July, as ever, saw the usual excitement descend on a small English town as the Harrogate International Crime Festival took off in full swing. Having made a full recovery, I was there, observing everything through unusually sober eyes.

The festival grows in strength each year, with new additions to the programming, but one of the standards is by now the opening night party and presentation of the Theakstons Old Peculier Best Crime Novel of the Year Award. It is a title that confuses me slightly because the books have to have been out in paperback for the last year which means that often the titles are backlist by the time awards roll around.

Regardless, it was an unusually long (but very strong) shortlist this year. The eventual winner was Stef Penney for The Tenderness of Wolves which has, if you didn't know, previously also been the recipient of the Costa Award some two years earlier. Ironically, although I was familiar with most of the short list, this is the one book I hadn't read, so just goes to show how up with the zeitgeist I truly am. However, by all accounts (the recommendation of many of my customers and of course the judges of the award), The Tenderness of Wolves is a truly deserving winner.

Marcus Sakey has been busy.  His first novel, The Blade Itself, came out in January of last year to wide acclaim, award nominations, and movie offers; his second, At the City's Edge was called "nothing short of brilliant" by the Chicago Tribune.  His third, a character-driven thriller called Good People comes out this August, and the early buzz is louder than ever.

Tell us about Good People.
It's about, well, good people, specifically a married couple that's been trying to have a baby. They haven't had any luck, and are being crushed by debt from fertility treatments, and that's straining their marriage and their hope.

Then their tenant, a recluse whose rent had been barely keeping them afloat, dies unexpectedly. And in his apartment they find almost four hundred thousand dollars in cash. It seems like the answer to a prayer, a fairy tale ending. But as they soon discover, fairy tales never come cheap...

I know you're familiar with Title Hell.  Did you go through it on this one?
OH am I familiar. For my last book, I submitted over 200 titles before we settled on At the City's Edge.  By that point I was ready to call it Untitled #2.

This time wasn't too bad. My original suggestion died, but you sort of expect that to happen. We went back and forth on a couple of options. But when my editor threw this one out, I just fell desperately in love. The only problem is that from now on I want to name all of my books Good People.

Australian thriller author James Phelan reports that he is currently planning "total domination while living in my tranquil paradise down-under." He says it with a smile in his voice and a glint in his eye but his track record speaks volumes.
 
Not yet 30-years-old, while the former journalist awaits the publication of his third thriller, the enticingly named Blood Oil out this month from Hachette, he continues working towards a PhD in literature in "Australian fiction, and the impact that the publishing process has on the creative art." Clearly, the resemblances between Phelan and Lachlan Fox, the protagonist of his three novels published thus far are beyond surface: both men are brilliant, creative and quite willing to push everything they touch right to the edge. It's a winning combination.

Phelan's work bristles with the sort of muscular energy associated with the classic thrillers of yore. His words, his characters and even the stories themselves: none of them beg interpretation. When you say "James Phelan" the thought "thriller" can not be far behind. If the two thoughts don't yet follow quite so naturally for you, wait for it: it seems only a matter of time.

Matt Bronleewe brings down the house with his latest August Adams thriller, House Of Wolves, that hits shelves this August. The former rock musician took time away from songwriting and penning thrillers to talk to The Big Thrill about his new novel.

This is your second in a 5-book thriller series following the adventures of bibliophile August Adams.  Your first, Illuminated, was described as 24 meets The Da Vinci Code.  What was your inspiration for this series?
 
I wanted to write a thriller series about books.  A very Seinfeldian idea--books about books. I've always been a huge reader and I thought it would be really fun to take bookworms and librarians and make them the stars of the adventure.
 
In House Of Wolves, rare-books dealer August Adams is enmeshed in the mystery surrounding another book-this time The Gospels of Henry the Lion. What made you decide to have your protagonist in the series be a rare-books dealer?
 
I heard a story about a rare book dealer in New York. Apparently he goes to these elaborate parties and stands before the host's most prized artwork hanging on the wall and then asks them, "What if I could get you THAT, but in a book?" The host is hooked and wants to know more. The dealer goes on to explain that rare books are HOT, and that an investment could reward them with MILLIONS. I loved the idea of this sales-driven character that is torn between his love of books...and his love of the almighty dollar!  (Did I mention his love of adventure?  That too!)

Deputy District Attorney Carson Tanner has dedicated his life to justice. Now the ghosts of the past threaten to shake the very foundation of his carefully constructed world. Annette Baxter is a very bad girl. She uses her brains and beauty as a fixer for the rich and famous, making their indiscretions disappear--until the very secrets she keeps become a death sentence. Carson's and Annette's lives collide at the intersection of secrets and lies...and the only way to survive is to trust a stranger--each other.

"This is a blockbuster thriller screaming to be told in the movie theater...A Perfect 10 you're sure to enjoy!" -- Romance Reviews Today

"Webb's tale reeks of corruption and deadly manipulation -- an impressive brew!" -- Romantic Times Magazine

"I highly recommend FACELESS to every lover of suspense looking for a fresh twist on conspiracy." -- Romance Junkies

Debra Webb, born in Alabama, wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn't until she spent three years working for the military behind the Iron Curtain--and doing a five-year stint with NASA--that she realized her true calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set.

In bestselling author and 2008 ThrillerMaster award winner Sandra Brown's latest, friends become foes, and criminals become heroes in this tale of revenge, reversal, and the ultimate abuse of power.

"A solid action-filled plot..." -- Publisher's Weekly

Sandra Brown is the author of numerous New York Times bestsellers including PLAY DIRTY, RICOCHET, CHILL FACTOR, WHITE HOT, HELLO, DARKNESS, THE CRUSH, ENVY, and THE SWITCH. 

Contributing editor CJ Lyons takes a behind-the-book look at ITW Debut Author Sibylle Barrasso's novel, Dark Waters (Five Star, August 2008).
 
In Dark Waters, the body of the nation's foremost HIV expert washes up on the banks of Boston's Charles River. When the decease's young widow is arrested for murder, and juicy details of their marriage are made public, the result is a media frenzy.

Macy Adams is the private eye hired to save the widow from spending a life sentence behind prison bars. Amid rumors of fraud involving the scientist's biotech research and financial dealings, Macy discovers a dark secret about the victim's past that is more shocking than anything she could have imagined.

Library Journal called Barrasso's approach to the PI genre "a softer version of Sue Grafton, but her touch is as deft."

Barrasso, a long-time Grafton fan, considers this high praise indeed. When asked about the inspiration for her PI thriller, Barrasso says, "Water has a strong emotional pull for me: I used to sail and swim competitively. I've always harbored a great fear of drowning."
 

When a woman calling herself Jessica Franklin visits Carlyle armed with a photograph of her fiance and doubts about his fidelity, she takes the case although her major concern is the fate of her own fiance, unable to return to the States under threat of arrest. After Franklin becomes the victim of a hit-and-run, Carlyle is the most likely suspect. When the police discover that "Jessica Franklin" is an alias, Carlyle, in more trouble than ever, turns to her old friend and former boss at the Boston PD, Joseph Mooney. Together, they delve into a small community on Cape Cod, where a local Native American tribe is lobbying for land--perhaps to use for a casino.

"The most refreshing, creative female character to hit mystery fiction since Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone." -- People Magazine

In Barnes's utterly compelling 12th mystery to feature Boston PI Carlotta Carlyle (after 2006's Heart of the World), Carlyle is still engaged to her mob-associated fiancé, Sam Gianelli, though she's waiting for Sam to explain why he's disappeared in the wake of rumors linking him to a dead girl. Then a woman calling herself Jessica Franklin visits Carlyle armed with a photograph of her fiance and a doubt about his fidelity. After Franklin becomes the victim of a hit-and-run, Carlyle is the most likely suspect. When the police discover that "Jessica Franklin" is an alias, Carlyle, in more trouble than ever, turns to her old friend and former boss at the Boston PD, Joseph Mooney. Together, they delve into a small community on Cape Cod, where a local Native American tribe is lobbying for land--perhaps to use for a casino. The story moves unhesitatingly from point to point, and each character encountered holds his or her space on the page with confidence and distinctiveness. The reader can just sit back and enjoy the ride. (Aug.) Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Linda Barnes, author of the critically acclaimed Carlotta Carlyle series, is a winner of the Anthony and American Mystery awards, and has been a finalist for the Edgar and the Shamus. Her latest short story, Catch Your Death, will be included in Elizabeth George's anthology, Two of the Deadliest.

Someone has a vendetta against Rachel, someone whom she betrayed a long time ago, someone who is determined to make her pay...no matter the cost. Award-winning author Brandon Massey brings another bone-chilling new thriller about a ruthless murderer who'll do anything to get back what belongs to him.

"A taut, involving, and utterly convincing thrill ride." -- Gregg Olsen, New York Times bestselling author

"Massey knows how to ratchet up the suspense. Tell everyone that Don't Ever Tell is a crackling good thriller." -- John Lutz, New York Times bestselling author

Brandon Massey originally self-published THUNDERLAND, his first novel, in 1999. After managing to sell a few thousand copies on his own, Kensington Publishing Corp. in New York offered him a contract. He's since gone on to publish six novels, a collection of my short fiction, and three anthologies, on which he served as editor. Massey currently resides with his wife and dogs in Georgia.

Here's a tip: If your ex-husband's mistress-cum-missus asks for your help in proving that he cheated on her while he was married to you, just say no. And, whatever you do, don't invite her in for coffee.

"Wine?" coffeehouse owner Maggy Thorsen offers, moving aside reluctantly to let the home-breaking Rachel into her living room and her life. When the new Mrs. Thorsen disappears that same evening, Maggy finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation involving her ex- and Rachel's hotelier family, Milwaukee's answer to the Hiltons.

"Balzo's keep-em-guessing plot and fresh, breezy prose are more than enough to ensure that this series will continue to delight." -- Booklist (starred review)

"What moves Balzo's book high above other writers who try to cover the same territory is a sharp and often amusing skill that convinces us that this is real life, and that it matters." -- Chicago Tribune

"Bright and breezy Maggy makes a charmingly down-to-earth sleuth." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Readers will want to curl up with this winner and a cappuccino." -- Publishers Weekly
 
Sandra Balzo turned to mystery writing after twenty years in corporate public relations, event management, and publicity. Her first novel, UNCOMMON GROUNDS, was nominated for an Anthony and a Macavity Award, and her first short story, THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER (EQMM), was nominated for an Anthony and won both the Robert L. Fish Award and the Macavity Award for Best Short Story in 2004. The sequel to UNCOMMON GROUNDS, GROUNDS FOR MURDER, came out in December from Severn House and received a starred review from Booklist. The third book in the series, BEAN THERE, DONE THAT, was just released. 

After a scandalous affair costs him his job in Houston, Cason Statler--Gulf War veteran and Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist--returns home to the small east Texas town of Camp Rapture. Cason is a wreck. He drinks too much, he's stalking his ex-girlfriend, and he's wallowing in envy of his successful older brother. To get back on his feet, he takes a job at the local paper, and when he stumbles across his predecessor's notes on a cold case murder file, he thinks he's found the thing that'll keep him out of trouble. No such luck. The further he digs into the case, the more certain he is that the unsolved crime is connected to a series of eerie, inexplicable events that have recently occurred in town. And he knows his suspicions are right on when he finds himself dragged into a deadly game of blackmail and murder that clearly has evil as its only goal.

A masterly new thriller from the Edgar Award-winning writer who has "a folklorist's eye for telling detail and a front-porch raconteur's sense of pace" -- The New York Times Book Review

Joe R. Lansdale is the author of more than a dozen novels, including Sunset and Sawdust and Lost Echoes. He has received the British Fantasy Award, the American Mystery Award, the Edgar Award, the Grinzane Cavour Prize for literature, and seven Bram Stoker Awards. He lives with his family in Texas.

Fresh-faced Indiana college student Chelsea Hart is so excited to spend the final hours of her spring break in the VIP room of an elite New York City club that she remains behind when her girlfriends call it a night. The next morning, joggers find Chelsea's body in East River Park, her wavy blond hair brutally hacked off.

NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher catches the case and homes in on the group of privileged men who were last seen plying Chelsea with free-flowing alcohol. When Ellie builds a tight case against a young hedge fund manager, the department brass and the district attorney's office are elated: the case will soon be cleared, the media will tout the department's quick work, and Ellie will be a dream witness at the trial.

But Ellie has her doubts. Chelsea's murder is eerily similar to three other deaths that occurred nearly a decade ago: the victims were young, female, and in each case, the killer had taken her hair as a souvenir.

Ellie's investigation pulls her into a late-night world of exclusive clubs, conspicuous wealth, and hedonistic consumption. And her search for the truth not only pits her against her fellow cops but also places her under the watchful eye of a psychopath eager to add the prideful young female detective to his list.
 
"Burke ... scores on all counts in this thriller about a serial killer with a hair fetish.... Burke makes good on a solid buildup by pulling off a big surprise. Burke's brisk and ultimately suspenseful narrative offers wily and intricate plotting and sharply etched major and minor characters." -- Kirkus (starred review)

"Angel's Tip is a riveting read that snaps with the beat of New York. Be prepared for a knuckle-biting journey that'll keep you turning pages until the very end." -- Faye Kellerman

"Alafair Burke has created a winning heroine in Ellie Hatcher, someone to root for not only in this book, but I hope in many more tales as yet untold." -- Tami Hoag

"Alafair Burke is one of those rare writers whose books are both scary and cerebral. Complex plotting, multi-layered characters, a creepy serial killer - in Angel's Tip, Burke has once again proven herself a terrific storyteller." -- Sandra Brown

Alafair Burke is the author of what the Sun-Sentinel has hailed as "two power house series" featuring NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher and Portland Deputy District Attorney Samantha Kincaid. A former prosecutor, she now teaches criminal law at Hofstra Law School. She is a graduate of Stanford Law School and frequently serves as a legal and trial commentator for radio and television programs. She lives in New York City. 

In the tradition of bestsellers WORLD WAR Z and THE ZOMBIE SURVIVAL GUIDE, multiple Bram Stoker Award-winner JONATHAN MABERRY presents an irresistible, fully illustrated and fascinating guide to the forensic science of the walking dead. ZOMBIE CSU includes over 250 interviews with real-world experts in LAW ENFORCEMENT, FORENSIC SCIENCE, MEDICINE, THE LAW, PSYCHOLOGY, THE MILITARY and PHILOSOPHY to present the first ever look at how our real world would react, research and respond to a zombie uprising. Follow the case from the crime scene of the first zombie attack; collect evidence with the experts; go on a manhunt with the police; stand shoulder-to-shoulder with SWAT; go into the labs and morgue with top scientists; hunt the story with journalists; kick some undead ass with martial arts experts; and philosophize with psychologists and even the clergy! ZOMBIE CSU taps experts from 911 operators to directors at Homeland Security.

JONATHAN MABERRY is a multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author of novels (supernatural thrillers: GHOST ROAD BLUES, DEAD MAN'S SONG, BAD MOON RISING and the forthcoming bioterrorism thriller PATIENT ZERO), and nonfiction (THE CRYPTOPEDIA; VAMPIRE UNIVERSE; THEY BITE; and ZOMBIE CSU). Jonathan is the co-creator of ON THE SLAB, an entertainment news show for ABC Disney Stage 9, to be released on the Internet in October 2008. He's an active member of ITW, MWA, HWA and SFWA. He's also a speaker for the National Writers Union and a frequent guest at writers conferences and events in a variety of genre.

The Anthony Award winning John Ceepak series continues! Former MP John Ceepak is confronted with his most personal case yet when he must investigate the alleged suicide of an Army corporal who recently returned from Iraq. When it turns out that this "locked toilet stall" rest stop suicide is anything but an open-and-shut case, Ceepak and his partner, the young wisecracker Danny Boyle, realize that the corporal might have been privy to information that opens up a much larger conspiracy that strikes at the heart of our involvement in the Middle east and puts them on the wrong side of some very unpleasant people....

"Like its three predecessors, this one is narrated breezily by the cynical Boyle, and Grabenstein again shows his intimate knowledge of Jersey shore towns... But this series offers far more than a beach-book romp; Hell Hole is taut and satisfying crime fiction." -- Booklist

"A solid entry in the Ceepak series. Grabenstein... has a great ear for dialogue..." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Chris Grabenstein has raised the stakes in Hell Hole, the latest offering in the Ceepak mystery series. All the reasons I fell in love with the series are still there: Danny is still the Candide-like character through whom we see the honorable, lie-hating John Ceepak, the writing is still as smooth as glass and as honest as a boy scout, the dialogue still rings as true as a dinner bell. But in Hell Hole, Grabenstein has taken it to a whole new level. Like the boardwalk ride he describes, he drops the bottom out of what we think we know, and gives us a story that's as dark and mesmerizing as the Hell Hole itself. Don't let the sunny weather of Sea Haven fool you, Hell Hole is one spectacular, gripping ride." -- Louise Ure, Shamus Award-winning author of The Fault Tree

Chris Grabenstein is the Anthony Award winning author of the John Ceepak/Jersey Shore mysteries TILT A WHIRL, MAD MOUSE, WHACK A MOLE, and this summer's HELL HOLE. This summer also saw the debut of his Middle Grades mystery from Random House THE CROSSROADS, which Booklist called "an absorbing psychological thriller" and "a rip-roaring ghost story" in its starred review. Chris also wrote the thrillers SLAY RIDE and HELL FOR THE HOLIDAYS. A former improvisational comedian and advertising writer, he lives in New York with his wife, three cats, and a dog who once starred on Broadway in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Jack McClure lost his daughter. Now it's his job to make sure the president-elect doesn't lose his.
For eight years, America has been led by a president hell-bent on aggressive foreign policy and re-building the nation on Christian values. A new administration is on its way in, but the president has a few power moves left to see his legacy solidified. Moderate conservative Edward Carson is taking the reins, hoping to set America on a new course. But weeks before Inauguration Day, Carson's daughter, Alli, goes missing from her college dormitory.

Jack McClure is an ATF agent who recently lost his daughter in a terrible accident...and Jack's daughter was Alli's roommate. When the president-elect chooses him to lead the search for the first daughter, Jack approaches the quest fiercely. The investigation leads him onto the path of a dangerous and calculating man. Someone whose actions are as cold as they are intelligent. A man whose reach is seemingly infinite.
Faith, redemption, and political intrigue play off one another as McClure journeys into the path and mind of a calculating genius who always manages to stay one step ahead of him. And Jack will soon discover that this man has affected his life in more ways than he ever realized.

"I am a huge fan of Eric Lustbader, and First Daughter is a first-rate political thriller with a very human heart." -- Lisa Scottoline

"I've long been a fan of Eric Van Lustbader, and he's at his heart-pounding best with First Daughter, a timely and frightening political thriller. If election year politics aren't already exciting enough for you, here are the chills you've been looking for." -- Tess Gerritsen
 
"Once again Lustbader proves he's a master. First Daughter combines a compelling personal story with chilling action in a labyrinthine Washington. Jack McClure is a new hero for the ages." -- Nelson DeMille

"Rarely have I read a book that grabs you so fast in the opening scene  (and, oh, how it grabs!), then keeps up the pace until the very last page. Goodbye sleep; hello First Daughter." -- Jeffery Deaver

Eric Van Lustbader is the author of more than 25 international bestsellers, including The Testament and the three most recent Jason Bourne novels: The Bourne Legacy, The Bourne Betrayal and The Bourne Sanction. His books have been translated into over 20 languages. He and his wife, author Victoria Lustbader, live in New York City and Long Island.

When a highly placed Iranian intelligence operative walks into a U.S. embassy claiming to have explosive information, counter-terrorism officer Matt Freed is dispatched to interview him and learns of an impending attack on the United States that could kill millions. While Matt's superiors reluctantly accept the story and race to prepare for the attack, Matt's instincts warn him not to take the Iranian at face value. As he jets from one hotspot to another, frantically tracking the informant's footsteps, Matt begins to suspect the truth -- and realizes that everything that America is doing to avert disaster may, in fact, only hasten its arrival.

"The Walk-In is what thriller aspire to be.... Tom Clancy for our era." -- Jeffrey Deaver

"The Walk-In is packed with what so many books lack: authenticity. This is a thriller full of thrills, and while you're page-turning and nail-biting, be comforted by the fact that what's in it is fiction. At least, so far... -- S. J. Rozan

Ralph Pezzullo is a bestselling author and an award-winning playwright and screenwriter. His books include Jawbreaker, Plunging Into Haiti (winner of the 2006 Douglas Dillon Award from the American Academy of Diplomacy), At the Fall of Somoza and Eve Missing. Film projects in development include Jawbreaker, Eve Missing (with Dennis Quaid), Black Dahlia Avenger (New Line), an adaptation of the Jim Thompson book Recoil (Leverage) and the film adaptation of his upcoming untitled true-crime book with Steve Hodel (to be published by Dutton in 2009).

Devil Bones finds Tempe back in Charlotte, North Carolina, where a grisly discovery in a hidden cellar plunges her into a bizarre world of voodoo, Santeria, and devil worship.

In a house under renovation in Charlotte, a plumber discovers a secret cellar containing a gruesome ritualistic display: a semicircle of candles surrounding cauldrons, statues, effigies, antlers, goat skulls, dead chickens, and - most horrifying of all - the severed head of a young girl. In a nearby river, there's another awful discovery: the torso of a teenage boy.

A political maelstrom immediately erupts, led by an ambitious preacher turned politician. He blames devil worshippers, and is ripe for revenge.

Tempe must reconcile seemingly contradictory evidence against a ticking clock and an increasingly volatile public. Filled with Kathy's trademark fusion of authentic forensic science and white knuckle plot twists, Devil Bones is Reichs at her best.

"In an era when many mystery writers feel compelled to add forensics to their investigations but do so in a tentative, superficial manner, or when forensic scientists who move into fiction sometimes forge monstrous mixes of good science and bad fiction writing, Reichs is a standout on both counts. She's a double hitter, who has both a deep knowledge of forensic science...and a formidable way of incorporating science with character and plot in her Temperance Brennan series...Brennan's brisk first-person narrative is often wryly funny, especially when she lambastes other academics and various forensic bureaucrats. Her expertise is snappily and entertainingly delivered." -- Booklist

Kathy Reichs is forensic anthropologist to the medical examiners in North Carolina and Quebec and a professor of anthropology at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. She is the vice president of the American Association of Forensic Scientists and serves on the Canadian National Police Services Advisory Board. The author of numerous bestselling thrillers, she lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and Montreal, Canada.

When a young boy returns to his home five years after disappearing without a trace--with no memory of his lost years--Henry Parker soon uncovers a string of child abductions that have terrifying similarities.

With the help of the one woman who owes him nothing, Henry must find out who's behind these disappearances before another child is snatched from time, sight and memory. And in doing so, they could be the next ones to go...

"A fresh tale with original characters...his exciting plot grabs readers from the first page." -- Oline Cogdill, Sun-Sentinel on The Guilty

"A suspenseful and shocking tale that will leave readers clamoring for the next Henry Parker novel." -- Library Journal on The Guilty

"Pinter's a wizard at punching out page-turning action." -- Publishers Weekly on The Mark

"Pinter has hit upon a winner with Parker." -- Bookreporter.com

"One of the great new voices in the genre." -- CrimeSpree Magazine

Jason Pinter is the bestselling author of THE GUILTY and THE MARK, which was nominated for several awards and optioned for film. He is a member of International Thriller Writers and Mystery Writers of America, and is a co-founder of Killer Year. He lives in New York City with his wife Susan and their dog Wilson. He is currently at work on his next Henry Parker novel, THE FURY.

Bestselling author Steven James's new thriller, The Rook, uncovers one of the most cunning serial killers on the loose and forces FBI Agent Patrick Bowers to use the best of investigative techniques in order to stop the killer's deadly game.

"Steven James was one of last year's best surprises. In this second Patrick Bowers novel, James ratchets up the thrills and chills, the twists and turns, and our connections with the characters. This is first-class suspense, with threads of wisdom tying it all together." -- Eric Wilson, author of A Shred of Truth and Expiration Date

"Steven James's ability to use modern, up-to-date investigative techniques to solve his criminal mysteries places him at the forefront of current mystery writers." -- E. Cleon Glaze, retired FBI agent

Steven James is one of the nation's most innovative storytellers and a bestselling author. He has written more than twenty books and is a full-time speaker, having appeared more than 1,500 times throughout North America, Europe and Asia since 1996. James lives and writes in eastern Tennessee. He likes rock climbing and science fiction movies. When he's not writing or speaking, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters.

Megan Kelley Hall tracks her good fortune-her first novel, Sisters Of Misery, will launch Kensington's new Young Adult line of books. Yet Hall, who is 34, had open-heart surgery two years ago at the age of 32.  "I had a series of mini-strokes due to radiation therapy I had when I was a baby because I had cancer as an infant. So I went from basically thinking I had my whole life to write and one day I'll be published to, at 32, going in for nine-hour surgery. I flat-lined for 96 minutes and they brought me back. It gave me a different perspective on getting things done and doing what I wanted to do."

A freelance writer and independent literary publicist, Hall spent the four months of surgery recuperation focused on getting her novel manuscript into shape, finding an agent and getting published. The result, Sisters Of Misery, the first in a two-book deal with Kensington, is a modern-day gothic novel Hall describes as "'Mean Girls' meets 'Practical Magic.'"

The main character, Maddie Crane, lives in Hawthorne, Massachusetts, a fictional town in the shadow of Salem and the infamous witchcraft trials. Maddie's aunt and cousin, Cordelia, come to stay with them. Hall says, "They are free spirits and very different from the staunch New Englander types she's grown up with. When her cousin disappears, Maddie's basically fighting against the town, fighting against the Sisters of Misery, which is the spoiled group of little rich girls who have their initiation rites take place on Misery Island off the coast of Salem."

Lincoln Rhyme and partner/paramour Amelia Sachs return to face a criminal whose ingenious staging of crimes is enabled by a terrifying access to information....

When Lincoln's estranged cousin Arthur Rhyme is arrested on murder charges, the case is perfect -- too perfect. Forensic evidence from Arthur's home is found all over the scene of the crime, and it looks like the fate of Lincoln's relative is sealed.

At the behest of Arthur's wife, Judy, Lincoln grudgingly agrees to investigate the case. Soon Lincoln and Amelia uncover a string of similar murders and rapes with perpetrators claiming innocence and ignorance -- despite ironclad evidence at the scenes of the crime. Rhyme's team realizes this "perfect" evidence may actually be the result of masterful identity theft and manipulation.

An information service company -- the huge data miner Strategic Systems Datacorp -- seems to have all the answers but is reluctant to help the police. Still, Rhyme and Sachs and their assembled team begin uncovering a chilling pattern of vicious crimes and coverups, and their investigation points to one master criminal, whom they dub "522."

When "522" learns the identities of the crime-fighting team, the hunters become the hunted. Full of Deaver's trademark plot twists, The Broken Window will put the partnership of Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs to the ultimate test.

Jeffery Deaver is the author of twenty-three novels and two collections of short stories, Deaver has been nominated for six Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America, an Anthony award, a Gumshoe Award, and is a three-time recipient of the Ellery Queen Reader's Award for Best Short Story of the Year.

While some writers imagine the exciting careers that make protagonists leap off the page, author James Scott Bell has lived it. From actor to screenwriter to lawyer to novelist, Bell has successfully worked  in each career. Throw in teaching and writing books on writing for Writers Digest, and Bell has enough life experiences for an endless stream of characters.

Bell's newest novel, Try Darkness, a mainstream suspense thriller from Hachett's Center Street imprint, is the second in a series featuring Ty Buchanan, a lawyer who loses everything and eventually survives to become a champion for justice for people often under-served by the legal system.

The first book in the series, Try Dying, introduces Buchanan, a high-flying golden boy on the way to the top of his legal career. Everything is ripped away from him as the result of a freak accident that kills his fiancée.

As Buchanan  unravels the truth about his fiancee's death, he's also forced to confront his own emotions, a journey that lands him in the Los Angeles hills at a retreat center in a small Catholic community.

Lisa Jackson did not start out to kill people. The popular suspense author wanted to write romance. Though she's always been a mystery/suspense reader, she didn't consider the genre herself when she started out about twenty-seven years ago.

Her sister, writer Nancy Bush, had come to her with the idea of writing romance novels. "Nancy had read an article about young  mothers making a livelihood out of doing just that," Jackson recalls.  "I thought she was crazy.  We both read mystery.  To that date, neither of us had read a romance novel, but the next day, as I was babysitting a bunch of little kids, I thought 'Why not?'"

By the time Nancy came to pick up her daughter, Lisa had written the prologue of a novel. That first novel didn't sell, but came back with editorial comments that suggested there was "too much" suspense.

Despite that, when she started selling, she kept putting  in suspense, disregarding the "tip sheets" from the publishers.

Here's what was featured in the August edition of the Big Thrill:

Hot Off The Press

• THE ROOK by STEVEN JAMES
• THE STOLEN by JASON PINTER
• LEFT TO DIE by LISA JACKSON
• DEVIL BONES by KATHY REICHS
• THE WALK-IN by GARY BERNTSEN & RALPH PEZZULLO
• THE FIRST DAUGHTER by ERIC VAN LUSTBADER
• THE BROKEN WINDOW by JEFFERY DEAVER
• HELL HOLE by CHRIS GRABENSTEIN
• ZOMBIE CSU by JONATHAN MABERRY
• ANGEL'S TIP by ALAFAIR BURKE
• LEATHER MAIDEN by JOE LANSDALE
• BEAN THERE, DONE THAT by SANDRA BALZO
• DON'T EVER TELL by BRANDON MASSEY
• LIE DOWN WITH THE DEAD by LINDA BARNES
• SMOKE SCREEN by SANDRA BROWN
• FACELESS by DEBRA WEBB
• TAKEOVER by LISA BLACK
  

In-depth Features

• SISTERS OF MISERY by MEGAN KELLEY HALL
• GOOD PEOPLE by MARCUS SAKEY
• HOUSE OF WOLVES by MATT BRONLEEWE
• TRY DARKNESS by JAMES SCOTT BELL
• BLOOD OIL by JAMES PHELAN
• DARK WATERS by SIBYLLE BARRASSO
• International News from Russel McLean
  
• Bonus: A Between The Lines interview with LISA JACKSON

Monthly Book Giveaway

Congratulations to Jeffrey J. Johnson, the winner of this month's BIG THRILL giveaway. Jeff will receive an assortment of signed thrillers including Soldier Caged by Rebecca York, The Last Vampire by Patricia Rosemoor & Marc Paoletti, Chernobyl Murders by Michael Beres, The Last Embrace by Denise Hamilton, Scorch by Marc Paoletti, Say Goodbye by Lisa Gardner, 1787 by Sean Michael Bailey, Sisters of Misery by Megan Kelley Hall, Skin Deep by Gary Braver, and Stalking Susan by Julie Kramer.

All subscribers to THE BIG THRILL webzine are automatically eligible for the monthly drawing. Click here to subscribe to the BIG THRILL email.

Bestselling mystery author and ITW member R. Barri Flowers has sold a thriller short story, "The Wrong End of a Gun Barrel," to SEATTLE NOIR. It is part of the Akashic Books award-winning Noir Series.

SEATTLE NOIR will be published in the spring of 2009.

For further information on the Noir Series, visit
http://www.akashicbooks.com/

You can learn more about Barri and his crime fiction at:
http://www.rbarriflowers.com

Here's what was featured in the July edition of The Big Thrill:

Hot Off The Press

• SKIN DEEP by GARY BRAVER
• SAVING PAULO by DAVID J. WALKER
• SAY GOODBYE by LISA GARDNER
• THE LAST ORACLE by JAMES ROLLINS
• THE MAP THIEF by HEATHER TERRELL
• 1787 by SEAN MICHAEL BAILEY
• MARLEY Z AND THE BLOODSTAINED VIOLIN by JIM FUSILLI
• THE LAST PATRIOT by BRAD THOR
• THE LAST EMBRACE by DENISE HAMILTON
• VOLK'S SHADOW by BRENT GHELFI
• BREAKING COVER by J.D. RHOADES
• BONEYARD by MICHELLE GAGNON
• FIXATION by MARK SCHORR
• TINY LITTLE TROUBLES by MARC LECARD
• TAILSPIN by CATHERINE COULTER
• HUNTING THE KING by PETER CLENOTT
• SKIN AND BONE by KATHRYN FOX
• SOUTH OF HELL by P.J. PARRISH
• THE GARDEN OF EVIL by DAVID HEWSON
  

In-depth Features

• FUZZY NAVEL by J.A. KONRATH
• NOX DORMIENDA by KELLI STANLEY
• KILLER VIEW by RIDLEY PEARSON
• STALKING SUSAN by JULIE KRAMER
• EIGHT IN THE BOX by RAFFI YESSAYAN
• A TRIBUTE TO FU MANCHU by AL LONGDEN
• WE ALL FALL DOWN by SIMON WOOD
• A Between The Lines interview with ThrillerFest Spotlight Author, BRAD THOR
• Bonus: Between The Lines interviews with DAVID HEWSON and P.J. PARRISH

On the evening of July 12th, 2008, the International Thriller Writers celebrated and announced the winners for their literary awards at a gala celebration at the Grand Hyatt in New York City.

The winners are:

The Silver Bullet Award for contribution to the advancement of literacy was presented to both Macy's and to David Baldacci.

The 2008 THRILLER Awards:

Best Novel:

New York, NY, July 14, 2008 -- The winners of the 2007 Strand Magazine Critics Award are Laura Lippman for best novel (WHAT THE DEAD KNOW) and Marcus Sakey for best first mystery novel (THE BLADE ITSELF). The winners were announced at an invitation only cocktail party in Manhattan, by bestselling author Jonathan Santlofer.

Both of the winners and several of the nominees were in attendance at the Midtown Executive Club. Lippman and Sakey were gracious winners, thanking the panel of book reviewers, congratulating their fellow nominees and acknowledging they were up against stiff competition.

 - Down River by John Hart (Thomas Dunne Books/Minotaur)

 - The Shotgun Rule by Charlie Huston (Ballantine Books)

 - The Strangler by William Landay (Delacorte Press)

 - The Watchman by Robert Crais (Simon and Schuster)

 - What the Dead Know by Laura Lippman (William Morrow)

 Best First Novel

 - The Blade Itself by Marcus Sakey (St. Martin's Minotaur)

 - In the Woods by Tana French (Viking)

 - The Mark by Jason Pinter (Mira Books)

 - Missing Witness by Gordon Campbell (William Morrow)

 - When One Man Dies by Dave White (Crown Publishing)

Lippman, a former journalist for The Baltimore Sun, is no stranger to winning many of the top crime fiction prizes: she has won the Edgar, The Anthony, The Shamus, and The Barry Awards. Her latest novel, ANOTHER THING TO FALL, was released this March by William Morrow.

In just two years, Marcus Sakey has blazed a trail as a new and talented mystery author with his two well written crime novels THE BLADE ITSELF and AT THE CITY'S EDGE. A former St. Martin's author, he has recently signed a deal with Dutton who will publish his next book, GOOD PEOPLE, in August.

Next year, the panel of judges will led by Otto Penzler and will feature critics from The Washington Post, the LA Times, The Associated Press, NPR, Time Magazine, Publishers Weekly and The New York Sun. For more information, please contact Christine Jones at 248 569 3702 or cjones@strandmag.com.

Multiple Bram Stoker Award winner and ITW member Jonathan Maberry and Emmy Award winner Laura Schrock have sold ON THE SLAB, a horror genre entertainment news show to ABC Disney, which will produce it through their Stage 9 Digital Media division and roll it out as in webisode format. ON THE SLAB is tentatively scheduled to air in October 2008.
For more information on Jonathan and his work, visit http://www.jonathanmaberry.com.