Most of my favorite stories, whether written or on the big screen, have one thing in common: it’s difficult to put them in a box. Shamelessly borrowing tropes from multiple genres and subverting expected plot structures serves to expand our understanding of how narrative works. As a result, suspense is… Read more
When I was a little girl, there was one thing we were not allowed to do in our house: talk during The Perry Mason Show. Seriously. When Perry Mason was on TV, my sister and I were required, if we wanted to watch it and of course we did, not… Read more
Join author Patrick Coleman as he shares a curated playlist of crime-related songs that he compiled with the help of singer-songwriter Nicholas Altobelli. It just might be the perfect musical cocktail to inspire a future crime novel. And be sure to leave a comment below for a chance to win… Read more
My thriller, The Escape Room, set in an elevator, is a 21st-century twist to the locked-room mystery genre of crime novels. The locked-room mystery novel developed in the late 19th century and the early 20th century when readers were invited to solve the murder mystery using clues in the story,… Read more
Women are having a moment in the suspense genre. Look on any bestseller list, and there we are, pressed between the Harlan Cobens and the Lee Childs—these books written by, marketed to, and starring women. They have pretty titles and prettier covers, with images designed to appeal to female readers…. Read more
I’m a mystery author these days, and I’ve published a dozen novels. But I’m also a longtime journalist who’s covered most of the big crime stories over the years while working for the New York Post, Star magazine, New York Daily News and NBC News. My new book, Below the… Read more
Hello again, reader! It’s officially spring, and I’m thrilled to spotlight these five Apirl books that you’re going to want to check out. When I’m not reading or writing about crime fiction as Crime by the Book, I can often be found perusing Criminal Element’s fantastic selection of crime book… Read more
Discerning readers will note upon reading Strong as Steel that my tenth book in the Caitlin Strong series features a twist ending, as do many of my books. Call it the influence of The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents on me when I was growing up. But I’ve long… Read more
Hello again, reader! It’s officially spring, and I’m thrilled to spotlight these five March books that you’ll want to check out. When I’m not reading or writing about crime fiction as Crime by the Book, I can often be found perusing Criminal Element’s fantastic selection of crime book reviews and… Read more
Join S.C. Perkins, author of Murder Once Removed—the first in a new cozy mystery series starring Lucy Lancaster, a Texas genealogist who uses her skills to solve murders in both the past and present—as she shares a list of genealogical facts guaranteed to impress at your next dinner party! Somewhere, years… Read more
