Posts Tagged: thrillers

A TALENT FOR KILLING

Written by

For decades, collectors have searched for copies of Ralph Dennis' paperback original DEADMAN'S GAME. It was the most difficult of Ralph's titles to find...and rumors of an unpublished sequel became something of an urban legend.   Now DEADMAN'S GAME is back ... and paired with the long-lost unpublished sequel...to create a new novel, A TALENT FOR KILLING, which is now available for pre-order in paperback and ebook editions (for release on Sept 2, 2019).   Ralph is, of course, is best known for his legendary Hardman series of twelve crime novels, which were published in mid-to-late 1970s. But seven books into Hardman, Ralph walked away from the series to try... more

Read More of A TALENT FOR KILLING

Getting in Touch with Touchfeather

Written by

Jimmy Sangster was an amazing writer.  He was one of the best screenwriters for Hammer's horror movies, and he was all over U.S. TV in the '70s (check out his IMDb entry).  He also wrote novels, several of which I read and enjoyed, including two about a spy named Katy Touchfeather. When Touchfeather's boyfriend is killed, it's revealed to her by the head of a super-secret British spy agency that he was murdered.  She's offered a chance to work for the same agency, as she already has the perfect cover, as she's a stewardess ('60s parlance).  Aftr attending spy school, she'll be able to work for any airline at any time and fly over the world on assignment. The big... more

Read More of Getting in Touch with Touchfeather

The Mystery of A.W. Mykel and THE WINDCHIME LEGACY

Written by

In 1980, the mysterious A.W. Mykel came out of nowhere with the brilliantly inventive espionage thriller The Windchime Legacy. It became an overnight, international bestseller…astonishing readers with its daringly imaginative plot, larger-than-life characters, and outstanding action…becoming one of the most entertaining and beloved spy novels of the century. Mykel wrote two more bestsellers…The Salamandra Glass and The Luxus Conspiracy...and then disappeared as suddenly as he’d appeared. Until Now. We received this blog post as a handwritten note from Mykel's attorney... The Windchime Legacy was written between the years 1976-1978. There were no personal computers in those... more

Read More of The Mystery of A.W. Mykel and THE WINDCHIME LEGACY

The Writing of BLIND SPOT…and the peculiar life and death of Adam Barrow

Written by

Author Tom Kakonis tells the unusual story behind his haunting thriller BLIND SPOT, and why he originally published it, and his novel FLAWLESS, under the doomed pseudonym "Adam Barrow." In the late afternoon of a fine summer day many years ago, my wife and I were driving down one of those Interstates that ring the city of Chicago like a hangman’s noose. She, a suburban native of that city, was behind the wheel, I rode shotgun. Since it was nearing rush hour, that perpetually traffic-clogged highway was swarming with vehicles plunging headlong toward only god knew where. But as we approached a toll station, all of us began first to gradually decelerate, then slow to a crawl, then stop... more

Read More of The Writing of BLIND SPOT…and the peculiar life and death of Adam Barrow

Ficton That’s Ripped from the Headlines

Written by

Any self-respecting fan of Law & Order knows that the popular cop show franchise often draws its inspiration from crime stories that are “ripped from the headlines.” And no matter how many disclaimers emphasize that if the characters or plot bear any resemblance to a real-life individual or event it is completely coincidental, we instinctively recognize the original source. As consumers of popular culture, as participants in everyday modern life, we encounter dark and mysterious circumstances on a daily basis. Unless you have been residing among the Amish, or have elected to forego all modern conveniences by choice, you likely have heard about the activities of Jodi Arias —... more

Read More of Ficton That’s Ripped from the Headlines

Great Crime Writers Create Memorable Bad Guys

Written by

Great crime writers like James Patterson, Lee Child, Michael Connelly, and even horror writers like Stephen King draw readers into their stories by creating complex villains we love to hate. In writing my crime novels, I pay just as much attention to developing the villain (or in some cases, villains) as I do when crafting the protagonist. Both characters must have strong, complex personalities and interest the reader to the point of near obsession. If a writer can do that, he or she has pulled the reader into the dark world all thriller readers want – fast, dangerous, and with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. WHAT MAKES A GREAT VILLAIN? Not too long ago, Publishers Weekly... more

Read More of Great Crime Writers Create Memorable Bad Guys

Older Entries