"Crime in the City" series on the radio--

I missed the "crime in the city" series on the public radio this week but it certainly seems worth a visit to npr.com for a search of the series (go the "Search NPR.org" search box at the top of the screen and type in "crime in the city".) The four part series covers four mystery writers who happen to make their selected cities a feature along with their detective characters.

Featured (in order of the presented writer for the day) are: Donna Leon with "Commissario Brunetti" in Venice; John Burdett with "Detective Sonchai" in Bangkok; Laura Lippman with private investigator "Tess Monaghan" in Baltimore; and Michael Connelly with homicide detective "Harry Bosch" in Los Angeles.

The web segments have a jump on the radio spots though with book excerpts and a few accompanying photos with the story. And these books offer a taste of a travelogue (of sorts) as the detectives go from actual location to location in the city.

In fact, I've regularly put up mystery book displays featuring detectives in a particularly city, or region of the country.

Branching Out--

One of the modern masters of mysteries branching out a little to reach a different readership with a new book. And this time, it's not a long-rumored cookbook. Robert B. Parker of the Spenser series fame has reached out to younger readers with the book Edenville Owls. In this book, Parker specifically has a young adult, coming-of-age story with a 14-year-old involved with sports, peers and a close female friend. That kid, "Bobby" (mmmmm, I guess it's just like a nickname for the author, huh?) also gets involved in a mystery with his school friends helping their new English teacher.

And, of course, you have to have a mystery with writer Parker right?

I remember mentioning this title to one children's librarian and she wasn't interested in reading it--the historical period angle of the story around World War II, I believe--but I thought everything was good. The story seemed to blend quite well with the mystery and Bobby's growth as an individual and a young man. And the historical setting appears to be a cozy fit for Parker's background.

I think Parker can swing it as a YA writer if he chooses and pull in his exisiting fanbase too.

Different Reading Habits--

I switched to the local National Public Radio station last month and caught a good episode of "Talk of the Nation" for the avid book reader. With the upcoming final Harry Potter book hitting the bookstores, the question was asked if it spoils the enjoyment of the book to read the ending first? What do you think?

Now, mind you this question comes following stories of the ending of the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows hitting the Internet before people could read the book. Who wants the ending of a book revealed like that? It is a crime, huh?

Well, public radio had a clever take on this with their "Reading the Last Page First" show and invited mystery writer Alafair Burke to discuss the matter. Her latest book is entitled Dead Connection and she is the daughter of popular mystery writer James Lee Burke. Here's pix of her that was used to accompany another NPR story of its website. Burke said writers hope that readers will take time to read the prose of the book and follow character development--but they realize some will not. Consequently, for the writer and the reader it is hoped "with a good book, knowing the end shouldn't ruin it."

Apparently, some prefer to jump to the end of books. A few called in to say as much on the radio show and explained that practice didn't bother their enjoyment of the book.

I do not like this "jump to the end" reading habit but that's just me.