an on-line journal devoted to crime (fiction)...
April 18, 2008
Well, I am reading (re-reading? I'm not sure - it all seems so familiar; the curse of banality...) The Narrows and am trying to recall when Michael Connelly went off the rails as a great crime writer? It's all very slick, well written, and good fun with the references to Clint Eastwood and the movie treatment of Blood Work but somehow Bosch as a character seems tired and the good things about Connell's writing - great dialogue and strong narrative drive - have been replaced by too much procedural and not enough snap. And Michael, we don't give a shit about Harry's little daughter! It's some middle-aged curse to lament what could have been and we readers don't care. Ditch the kid and the stupid ex-wife and get on with the job at hand! It's too bad: I recall The Concrete Blond as one of the best crime novels written.
I am also reading the impressive, very impressive!, Identity Theory by Australian writer Identity Theory
It explains why Hammett's vision is more complex than that of his near-contemporary Raymond Chandler. Chandler wrote the man he wanted to be - gallant and with a lively satirist's wit. Hammett wrote the man he feared he might be - tenuous and sceptical in all human dealings, corruptible and addicted to violent intrigue. James Ellroy
I was on one of my favoutite web sites, guardian.co.uk (beautiful, simple and striking design) and found this wonderful essay by James Ellroy, a retrospective on the works of Dashiell Hammett entitled The poet of collision and for any of you who are wondering if Ellroy can still deliver the goods after the annoying excesses of The Cold Six Thousand, this will do much to restore your faith. It's a really beautiful essay and should make you want to run to your bookshelf and re-read Red Harvest or The Glass Key. this is worth reading twice! God, when Ellroy is on he is one of our finest writers!
crime: news & events
I am thinking of hosting a contest (thanks to my friend Keith Digby for the idea) where I will ask readers to submit their favourite quotes from mystery and crime novels. The winner will get a used (and reviewed) copy of Mo Hayder's latest Ritual which is only available in the UK and won't be here in North America until the Fall. If you have a great quote or quotes, email me; please remember to include, author, book and page info.
I don't know if this really qualifies as news but they (that would be the mysterious "they" that makes crappy decisions like this) are re-making Hitchcock's The Birds. It is to be directed by Martin Campbell of (the very good) Casino Royale fame and starring the gradually less interesting every outing actress Naomi Watts (who we last saw hopping around in her underwear in Michael Haneke's largely excellent remake of his own film, Funny Games. Obviously this bothers me quite a bit. The Birds is Hitchcock's masterpiece and his most difficult and fascinating film and having Martin Campbell direct it is, well, an insult. Not that he is not a good director, just that he is average, a journeyman, and I don't believe up to the task. Hollywood remains, as always corrupt.
OK! I am far off the rails but here is a link to a series of commercials for the Suburban Auto Group that have to be seen to be believed! There are just hilarious and evidence a real creative brilliance not usually found anywhere. This is really thinking outside of the box.
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I will be posting links as I find them. If you have a particular crime/mystery site you like, please email me and I will list and link the best ones!
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Local author Kay Stewart and Chris Bullock's A Deadly Little List.
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