We like the dependable. We say we desire unpredictability and we do when it comes to how a story unfolds. However, when it comes to protagonists in a series, we generally enjoy feeling confident about how our hero, or anti-hero, will feel about a given situation. That’s usually what readers… Read more
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 is a monster pub week! We've got the first in a new series from… Read more
Check out David Cranmer's review of Lee Child's 22nd Jack Reacher novel, The Midnight Line!
The Midnight Line by Lee Child is the 22nd book in the Jack Reacher series. I dip into the Jack Reacher novels every few years and have enjoyed these visits with the wandering, destructive, one-man tango. Lee Child's latest plot is a decent one. On a stop while traveling toward… Read more
Read Steph Broadribb's exclusive guest blog about her favorite action heroes and follow the link at the bottom to claim several free stories from internationally bestselling authors! I’ve always loved Westerns. You know, the lone cowboy rides into town, sorts out the bad guys, and moves on. I guess that’s… Read more
This year's Thrillerfest was a blast! Hosted at the Grand Hyatt in New York City, it was five glorious days of meeting authors, hearing their stories, getting advice and writing tips, and schmoozing with authors, industry, and fans alike. Criminal Element was lucky enough to be there for it all,… Read more
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! A lost James Bond-inspired novel from Donald Westlake and a new James Bourne thriller by Eric… Read more
To a detective character from a big city like New York or Los Angeles, the Midwest might look like one big flyover zone. But to plenty of mystery writers (myself included), the Midwest looks like home—and a good setting for a crime novel. We have plenty of cynicism to… Read more
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, we get some great cozies, a couple of kickass thrillers, and a ridiculous anthology… Read more
In Sunlight or In Shadow: Stories Inspired by the Paintings of Edward Hopper, edited by Lawrence Block, is a newly-commissioned anthology of seventeen superbly-crafted stories inspired by the paintings of Edward Hopper (Available December 6, 2016). Edward Hopper is probably the first—and possibly the only—famous visual artist you’ll think of when… Read more
