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Alafair Burke

16 Crime Novels That Could Save Humanity

By Greg Levin

July 29, 2020

The famously acerbic author, poet, and alcoholic Charles Bukowski once said, “Without literature, life is hell.” Sure, he was likely drunk and didn’t remember saying it, but that doesn’t make the quote any less profound. Great works of fiction entertain and inspire. They educate and heal. Yes, even crime fiction. In fact, especially crime fiction.…

The Geometry of Suspense

By Hank Phillippi Ryan

August 22, 2019

Why was writing The Murder List like doing math? Because it’s all about understanding the properties of a triangle. One of the basic shapes of in geometry, right? And one of the basic shapes of conflict. Three points on a triangle. Or three points of view. And in a twisty triangle thriller, it all depends…

5 New Books to Read this Week: January 23, 2018

By Crime HQ

January 24, 2018

Every Wednesday, we here at Criminal Element will put together a list of Staff Picks of the books that published the day before—sharing the ones that we are looking forward to reading the most! This week, the first in Jessica Fellowes's new historical mystery series set in the Mitford household joins Ann Cleeves's third Vera…

Review: Every Breath You Take by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke

By John Valeri

November 7, 2017

Every Breath You Take by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke follows television producer’s Laurie Moran investigation of the unsolved Met Gala murder—in which a wealthy widow was pushed to her death from the famous museum’s rooftop. America’s “Queen of Suspense,” Mary Higgins Clark, has been a mainstay in reader’s hearts and on bestsellers lists since…

Vote for the Edgar Award for Best Novel!

By Crime HQ

April 25, 2017

  Tell us who you voted for and why in the comments below!

Review: The Ex by Alafair Burke

By Jenny Maloney

April 19, 2017

The Ex by Alafair Burke follows a woman who agrees to help an old boyfriend who has been framed for murder—but she begins to suspect that she is the one being manipulated. It is nominated for an Edgar Award for Best Novel. Olivia Randall, a top New York defense attorney, and Jack Harris, bestselling fiction…

5 New Books to Read this Week: November 15, 2016

By Crime HQ

November 16, 2016

Every Wednesday, we here at Criminal Element will put together a list of Staff Picks of the books that published the day before—sharing the ones that we are looking forward to reading the most! This week was a powerhouse of releases, with a new Patricia Cornwell, David Morrell, and more! See what else came out…

With all these eyes, you’d think I could find shades as cool as Joe Pike’s

Joe Pike: Crime Fiction’s Toughest Vegetarian?

By Neliza Drew

July 21, 2011

Can a vegetarian be tough? Strong? How about kick-ass? It’s been a few years since I ate meat. I’m often in the minority, so it doesn’t really surprise me when characters in crime fiction load their plates with chicken, steak, and burgers. Besides, “real men” eat meat, right? And crime fiction heroes are often “real…

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