Newspaper Mystery Book Critic Salem Macknee Hosts Library Program

Salem Macknee holding paperback
mystery during library program
(photos by blogger)

On Thursday June 13th, The Charlotte Observer's Salem Macknee was the presenter for informative "Hot New Mystery Novels for the Summer" program at the library.  As billed, the evening showcased upcoming book titles in the mystery genre with a comprehensive breadth of the new novels for the season.

With a simple handout for program guests, Macknee zipped the list of titles and authors--some with a synopsis--from May through August.    And for any curious about Salem's favorite among the upcoming books--the first page of the handout is entitled "Salem's Top 12 for the Summer 2013."

Threatening weather didn't keep away a few hearty souls to attend the event which concluded with Macknee sharing a number of books from her work location as giveaways for those interested.

Salem going through
summer reading list

A long-time interest in mysteries and a long-time career in newspaper work combined to make an effective relationship when reviewing mystery books.  By taking available opportunities to provide local book reviews at newspapers, she was able to move to reviewing mysteries and to become a favorite with staff editors by offering compact, short reviews.

While reading, Macknee says the novels have to capture her interest very early on for her to continue on for a book review.  She has option to review books which interest her and to avoid the rest. Macknee skips Washington, D.C. stories and courtroom novels for instance.  On the writing side, she prefers to write positive reviews and to avoid "trashing" books.    

During the presentation Macknee mentioned how far along she was reading a few titles she had, adding she averages reading one or two novels per week.

New Yorker Magazine Cover Strikes Again--

Seeing this magazine at work recently, I just thought The New Yorker has nailed it again with a great cover.  I was ready to grab this new issue and to disappear for a while and read which profiled summer novels inside.

Entitled "Big City Noir" by Birgit Schossow, the silhouette of the woman and shadow of the man (both with firearms) convey that great sense of danger and menace that would pull in a reader to a book with that cover.

Here's a great art effort rocking the sense of cool and style.

Newspaper Mystery Book Critic is Library Guest--

The local newspaper, thankfully, can be a reliable source for mystery book reviews and at the Charlotte Observer Salem Macknee has held the spot of responsibility for a while.  Writing mystery book reviews for the newspaper since 1995, Macknee has given readers a quick run-down of selected new books with a few sentences per title and then its on to the next.

Salem Macknee (photo
by Charlotte Observer)

That serves her well as the reviews give a quick gist of the novel and a sense of mood or Macknee's reaction.

This long-time newspaper staffer visits South County Library next week--Thursday, June 13th--as a participant with the Adult Summer Reads series in "Hot New Mystery Novels for the Summer."

Macknee will share what we can expect new in the mystery section at  libraries and book stores.  Additionally, some lucky attendees will have the opportunity to walk away with a  gift provided for the event.  Please register at the library's webpage for programs or call the library at 704-416-6600. ext. 4. 

So instead of the monthly book club session at the library, the scheduled time will feature a guest who just may have read and finished a book or two when even if she didn't find it engaging--then she did not stop after 50 pages.