Author to Author with Liese Sherwood-Fabre
I had the pleasure of meeting Liese Sherwood-Fabre when we were fellow panel members at a mystery author event organized by the Smith County Library in Wylie, Texas. After the event, we discovered...
Best Books to Read According to Contest Judges (and me!)
Today I’m sharing 9 books by friends of the Mystery Ahead newsletter (and 1 by yours truly) that are on Killer Nashville’s list of Top Ranked Books of 2023, as reviewed by judges for the Silver...
Elections This Year are the Stuff of Fiction
In BARRACUDA BAY, the upcoming Detective Emilia Cruz mystery set in Acapulco, elections for mayor are coming up fast. Incumbent Carlota Montoya Perez, an enigma to Emilia, wants another term but...
Book Review: THE STREET KING by Mike Ludden
With a propulsive pace, this Savannah, Georgia police procedural delivers a compelling plot and an unlikely duo of cops who will steal your attention and (possibly) your heart. Tate Drawdy is a...
Not my CIA
I rarely discuss hot potato topics, but this week it became painfully clear that the CIA I joined in 1985 is not the CIA of today. the nonpartisan rule I entered on duty the day after Ronald...
Havana Syndrome Spy Thriller
You saw it here first. I'm finally writing a spy thriller. Well, part of one. Spy-sourced thriller I've been invited to contribute a chapter to a spy thriller that tackles Havana Syndrome. Different...
“Come back in 15 Minutes”
“Come back in 15 minutes." When we lived in Mexico, I hated this phrase. The words weren't meant to be taken literally. Nothing would change in 15 minutes and everyone knew it. No, it was a...
Book Review: COVERT ACTION by David Bruns and J.R. Olson
Clear your schedule! Coming at you fast and low is a top-notch espionage military thriller with an eye-opening lesson in how China projects power around the world today. Don Riley is the Deputy...
Book Review: THE SPY COAST by Tess Gerritsen
THE SPY COAST by Tess Gerritsen This excellent thriller, with a cast of characters to root for and deft plotting, is one in a recent string of bestsellers built on the trope of retired spies called...
The season of loss
Spring has become the season of loss. Four years ago we lost my first cousin Celine. This year we lost Uncle Joe. My mother’s younger brother, Joseph N. Sestito passed at age 91 after leading a...
The Perfect Library Made by the Perfectionists of Oneida, NY
If you are traveling to Oneida, NY, as I did last month, your choices for places to stay are fairly limited. The $$$$$ Turning Stone casino Chain hotels like the Hampton Inn A bed-and-breakfast...
Book Review: THE BONE RECORDS by Rich Zahradnik
THE BONE RECORDS by Rich Zahradnik is a wonderfully edgy “everyman” thriller but don’t expect a Clark Kent action story. THE BONE RECORDS gives us a down-on-his-luck drama with a compelling sense of...
Large print edition of the Galliano Club historical fiction thriller series
New! Large print has arrived at the Galliano Club, where trouble is always on tap. Large print editions of all 4 of the Galliano Club historical fiction thrillers are now available for all 4 books...
Book Review: THE SECRET HOURS by Mick Herron
The Secret Hours by Mick Herron is a must-read spy vs spy thriller. Like John le Carré’s A LEGACY OF SPIES, which tells the backstory of his iconic spy thriller THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD,...
New Audiobook! Listen to LISTMAKER
The audiobook version of the Detective Emilia Cruz novella, THE LISTMAKER OF ACAPULCO was just released on Audible. This is a “Virtual Voice” audiobook from Amazon. It sounds surprisingly lifelike...
Book review: The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
Molly Gray is the crime-solving Head Maid at London’s Regency Grand Hotel in THE MYSTERY GUEST the second book in the adorable and bestselling Molly the Maid series. Socially challenged, Molly has...
Writing advice from a balky mule and a train derailment
Readers often connect with me over the deep point of view style of the Detective Emilia Cruz series. Writer and podcaster Patrick Greenwood specifically asked about this while taping an episode of...
The Forgotten Masters of World War II Thrillers
In the aftermath of World War II and horror of the Holocaust, the now-forgotten masters of World War II thrillers including Herman Wouk, Ken Follett, and Leon Uris wrote sweeping sagas of lives torn...
I think of you
This week, the Rome Arts Hall of Fame from my hometown sent out their annual call for nominations to previous inductees, including me (Hall of Fame Class of 2019.) The letter came from Maria Rich,...
2023 in Review: Highs, Lows and Turning Points
How did your 2023 go? Mine went something like this. High I won the 2023 Silver Falchion award for Best Historical at the Killer Nashville International Writer’s Conference this year. The award...
Why Keepsake Journals Are on Everyone’s Wishlist
Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. - William Wordsworth The Monocle Minute newsletter recently featured an interview with Luc Goidadin, creative director of Smythson, the “celebrated...
Life Lessons from a Christmas Nutcracker
When I was 11, I made a nutcracker for my mother for Christmas. As a child, I was entranced by Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. I’d never seen a real nutcracker but loved the music and a glimpse into...
Shepherd is a better Goodreads with a unique recommendation feature
It's time to celebrate! Shepherd.com is your new go-to book recommendation wonderland. Shepherd.com, is a new(ish) platform to find books. It's considerably more interesting than Goodreads and has...
Your top books of 2023, according to Mystery Ahead
Every year, I calculate which books in the Mystery Ahead newsletter were most popular with readers. The top books of 2023 were clicked on the most out of the 75 books featured in the newsletter this...
The Inspired Gift Guide for Mystery Book Lovers
When it comes to online shopping, it can be hard to find that unique something special for someone special. But I've done the hard part, scrolling and sifting to find gifts for the mystery book...
What you can expect from Organized Crime in Acapulco after Hurricane Otis
With winds of up to 165 mph, Category 5 Hurricane Otis tore through Acapulco in late October, leaving a trail of unprecedented devastation. It strengthened so quickly there was little time to...
Book review: RECKONING by Baron Birtcher
New favorite series alert! Sheriff Ty Dawson solves murder and corruption cases in must-read police procedural RECKONING by Baron Birtcher. Dawson joins Walt Longmire and Cork O’Connor as lawmen...
