Giveaway Days: The Party's Over

That's it, no more giveaways for a while. My thanks to all of you who checked in and played along. We'll do this -- or something very like -- again soon. Congratulations to the very last winner in our game of WHO DAT? Carol T has won David Rosenfelt's newest novel, ONE DOG NIGHT.

Just a couple of quick notes on recent reads:

I'm a fan of S.J. Bolton's modern gothic tales but her latest release, NOW YOU SEE ME, gets a bit too complicated for its own good. Or maybe just for my own good. Between drawing on details of the murders of Jack the Ripper and a modern case of identity theft, all leavened with a case of unwanted attraction between a suspicious copper and a cop who is a suspect, the book became too full of explanation during the latter chapters, as the numerous loose ends require tying and retying. Many of Bolton's fans may be intrigued by the notion that this book is intended as the first in a series.

Ace Atkins' name has been in the news of late, as he has signed on to the daunting task of resuming the Spenser series for the estate of the late and deeply lamented Robert B. Parker. (And apropos of nothing, Atkins has a copy of Steve McQueen's motorcycle license on his blog. I agree with the author, not even the bureaucrats could capture a bad photo of McQ!) The latest novel from Atkins is THE RANGER, about an Army Ranger named Quinn Colson, who returns to his small-town Mississippi home to find things just ain't what they used to be. Quinn is somewhat in the Joe Pike/Jack Reacher heroic mold, but with the added appeals of a personality all Quinn's own and the always fascinating atmosphere of the Deep South. Never mind Spenser, I want more Quinn Colson. THE RANGER is a fine start to what promises to be a favorite new series for me.

I also re-read James M. Cain's classic, THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE. What's left to say? This one still sets the noir standard. Here some talented soul has redone the title sequence for the 1946 film.