New book news (author Mike Lawson)



Michael Lawson
(photo from website)

Over the years I've been picked up as a contact for a few writers as far as receiving emails about upcoming book releases and Mike Lawson, author of the "Joe DeMarco" series passed on an email about the next in his series of the private assistant to the speaker of the House of Representatives.  DeMarco is a lawyer by trade but works these days as a genuine troubleshooter (or moreso a "bagman) for Speaker John Mahoney. 

Our book club read the third book in the series House Rules for its monthly selection in 2009.  I thought the book was a reasonably good one--I liked the characters and the Washington setting storyline--but my interest was grew as one participant said the follow-up book was quite better.

With the newest book in the series, Lawson shared this: "...I have a new book available in stores now and from the usual ebook sellers. It's the seventh book in the DeMarco series and is called House Blood. Booklist gave it a starred review and Library Journal said: "Lawson’s seventh novel (after House Divided) in his Joe DeMarco thriller series is another page-turner brimming with authentic Washington, DC, detail and distinctive, engaging characters. Even the bad guys are interesting. Adventure-seeking readers will love."

Eye-catching Photo of Detective Duo



Scene from CBS-TV's "Elementary" from Google

 The other day online I spotted an eye-catching photo--I thought--of a couple in an urban setting.  It was actress Lucy Liu whom I recognized and actor Jonny Lee Miller from a scene of an new upcoming fall TV series.  Now, the actual TV show is called "Elementary" which features the two playing (another) version of "Sherlock Holmes."  This time Miller plays Holmes and she is "Dr. Joan Watson."  Okaaay.

When I saw the photo I was reminded almost immediately writer S.J. Rozan's detective team of Lydia Chin and Bill Smith.  In fact, I had hoped it would be.  It would be a different TV show to closely follow the format of the books with either Chen or Smith as the primary investigator for the case.  The two reside in New York City with the American-born Chinese Chen working usually in the Chinatown community with Smith often "shadowing" Chen.

Smith has strong American roots which go back to Kentucky although he's a full-time New Yorker these days.  His work in Rozan's books have taken him around the New York area.  Chen, however, has cases typically with her Chinese community.

Frequent investigations into Chinatown could lead to a culturally enlightening show--as the books do.  I'd imagine such a series would include--for the sake of realism--times of characters speaking only Chinese and closed captioned scenes.  How might that go over on network TV?   Of course, there's always cable, right?

I think Rozan has the thought-provoking elements for a unique TV series with her fictional detectives.

Book club discusses "The Last Child"

The book club selection for May was John Hart's third published novel, The Last Child.  The award-winning North Carolina writer uses the state again as a backdrop for crimes, mystery and family discord in the story of a missing child.


John Hart (picture from his website)

 The book focuses on 13-year-old Johnny Merrimon whose missing twin sister, Alyssa, consumes his thoughts and goals.  She suddenly disappears one day and he works relentlessly to find her. 

Convinced that he can do what his family and the police could not, Johnny fearlessly strikes out on his own.  His mother, Katherine is nearly an emotional wreck after his father quietly disappears leaving the two alone and the local detective, Clyde Hunt in charge of the investigation, is concerned but cannot find Alyssa.  That leaves Johnny and a reluctant but faithful friend Jack to travel on the road into an unknown and dangerous environment with criminals, peril and another missing child case.

Comments from the book club included:

• the novel "pulled me in."
• liked the characters and the (plot) twists
• "liked the puzzle and the solution but not the writing."
• "writing didn't flow"
•  Detective Hunt seemed too good to be true
•  a drug abuse element of the story seemed far-fetched
• liked book jacket cover with the silhouette of a boy walking a bike 

The Last Child was the 2010 best novel winner for the Edgar Award.

That's a Good Reading Choice--

When you receive positive comments about your new choice for a book to read then--you're bound to swell up inside with pride and anticipate what you have.  That was almost the case when I was sitting at work and two different women commented on my new selection for the book club.

The responses were like "that is a good really good book" and I wanted to quickly agree.  In actually though I had yet to start reading the book.  I just felt that my judgment might be different.  I had read the book reviews earlier but they were distant memories now as I wanted to develop my own assessment of the book.  It was John Hart's The Last Child and this is the second Hart novel the book club had selected after his first successful work The King of Lies.  And, full disclosure, I did like that mystery. 

In some cases though, a character's actions may be off-putting or the author may take huge leaps of faith that annoy the reader along with several other situations which may nose-dive the reading experience.  Everyone is a critic.

It's OK though because after a period of time you would have read the book.  You decide for yourself and then you can agree or counter the casual observer's book selection comments.