sally owen

From the June 2009 Issue ....

THE STRAIN: BOOK 1 of THE STRAIN TRILOGY, Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan, Wm. Morrow. $26.99

Bound to be one of the bestsellers of the summer and bound for the big screen, this excellent thriller is a wonderful antidote to the insipid romanticism of The Twilight series. A plane lands at JFK and immediately the lights on board go out and all contact is lost with the pilots. Cell phones are silent and the ground crew and airport personnel call for help. This very long sequence is breathtaking and I can hardly wait for the film starring Tom Cruise as Dr. Ephraim Goodweather of the CDC and Michael Caine as Abraham Setrakian, a former college professor and survivor of the Holocaust. I’m making that up of course, but you’ll be casting it too. Something is on board that plane and it gets out. Vampires are now here in New York and they work fast. It will take very little time for humanity to be wiped out in the city, then the state, then the country. Unless these creatures are stopped. This is only Book 1, but my guess is that our intrepid band of vampire hunters will be going national. I’m also casting Lev Schreiber as the tunnel rat who has been working beneath the ruins of the World Trade Center as rebuilding begins. That’s where vampires like to hide out during the day, you know. So to all you Twilight series lovers I say – get real! This is what vampires are like! They’ll urinate and defecate on you even as they tear your face off! Do you love him now? Sorry. Got a bit carried away there. But enjoy this book; you’ll get carried away too.

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  • June 2009
    Despite Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Laurie R. King, Elmore Leonard, etc., the month belongs to Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan and The Strain!
  • April 2009
    Ace Atkins, Giles Blunt, Adrian McKinty, and Jonathan Rabb have new books this month. And there's a new star on the horizon. Wells Tower. Check out his short stories.
  • March 2009
    Some very interesting and unread by me books this month: The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell, Private Midnight by Kris Saknussemm, and The Tourist by Olen Steinhauer. Check these out.
  • February 2009
    The Edgar Nominees have been announced and I feel as if I've been living in an alternative universe!!! I don't know many of these books! Well, this month there's Dan Simmons, T. Jefferson Parker, S.J. Rozan, and C.J. Sansom. I recognize them!
  • January 2009
    We've lost many of our finest authors in the past year including Tony Hillerman, Donald E. Westlake, Michael Crichton and James Crumley. Let's be careful out there.
  • December 2008
    The holiday season isn't known for mysteries - can't think why - but this year there's plenty for all of us. Nelson DeMille, Greg Iles, Stephen King, Stewart O'Nan and Laura Lippman end the year with a murder or three.
  • November 2008
    I'm sure you all know that Tony Hillerman passed away this week. His mysteries featuring Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police were superb. We will miss him.
  • October 2008
    The Brits are dominant this month! Dick Francis, Robert Goddard, P.D. James, John Le Carre, Val McDermid, and Barbara Vine all have new books!
  • September 2008
    Kate Atkinson, Chelsea Cain, Marcus Sakey, George Pelecanos, Kathy Reichs, Paul Auster. They all have new books this month!
  • July 2008
    James Lee Burke, Karin Slaughter, Lawrence Block, Robert Crais, Deborah Crombie, Ridley Pearson. Daniel Silva. No excuse not to be reading on this beach this month!
  • June 2008
    New books from John Connolly, Thomas H. Cook, Jeffery Deaver, Alan Furst, Ruth Rendell, Don Winslow. The Summer is looking good!
  • May 2008
    We're celebrating Ian Fleming's 100th birthday with a new Bond novel! Plus Thomas Perry, Stephen Booth, Patricia Cornwell, Elizabeth George, and John Sandford.
  • April 2008
    Edgar Award Banquet this week! This will be my twelfth year of being taken by surprise by at least one of the winners. In a positive way, of course.
  • March 2008
    Andrew Gross, Dan Fesperman, Charles McCarry, Mary Higgins Clark, Jose Latour, Anne Perry! It's March Madness!
  • February 2008
    Listened to April Smith talk about her now book, Judas Horse, last night. Sounds fascinating!! New books by Laura Lippman, Martha Grimes, T. Jefferson Parker - AND MO HAYDER!!!
  • January 2008
    Lee Child, Jack Higgins, Stephen King, Walter Mosley, Sara Paretsky, Arturo Perez-Reverte. An excellent start to 2008!
  • December 2007
    The next letter from Sue Grafton. A stand alone from Laurie R. King. A reissue of one of Ian Rankin's espionage novels. And so much more.....
  • November 2007
    Marcus Sakey's second book is as good as his first. Michael Dibdin's last book. Peter Hoeg, Martin Limon, David Baldacci, Dean Koontz, Stewart O'Nan, Ha Jin, etc.
  • October 2007
    Patricia Cornwell, Ken Follett, Walter Mosley, Robert B. Parker and Alice Sebold all have new books out.
  • September 2007
    New books from Dick Francis, Stephen Hunter, Otto Penzler, Otto Penzler - again!, John Sandford, and, most importantly, Bill James!!!
  • August 2007
    Everybody's favorite serial killer, Dexter, is back. New books by Jasper Fforde, Jonathon King, Kathy Reichs, Greg Rucka, and Karin Slaughter.
  • July 2007
    It is not yet published in the US, but put The Accident Man by Tom Cain on your radar. Review of the UK edition included plus new books by Thomas Perry and Daniel Silva.
  • June 2007
    Summer reading from John Burdett, Jeffery Deaver, Barry Eisler, Robert B. Parker, and Stella Rimington.
  • May 2007
    Bookaholic Interruptus nearly gave your reviewer a nervous breakdown, but we're back on track and the May publications are up to the usual high standard.
  • April 2007
    A new Rebus from Rankin. A new Dortmunder from Westlake. Plus Lorenzo Carcaterra, Michael Gruber, and another Charles McCarry reprint.
  • March 2007
    Books from Ken Bruen, James W. Hall, T. Jefferson Parker, Lisa Scottoline, and Reginald Hill.
  • February 2007
    Rpbert B. Parker and John Harvey have new books. The Edgar Nominations!!!
  • January 2007
    The new year brings new novels from Thomas H. Cook, Robert Crais, Martha Grimes, Walter Mosley, etc. Plus, we wrap up 2006.
  • December 2006
    Bookaholic is celebrating the beginning of its fifth year! To celebrate, run, don't walk, to see Casino Royale! This movie breathes new life into a tired old franchise.
  • November 2006
    Ken Bruen, John Connolly, Jeffery Deaver, Carl Hiaasen, Tony Hillerman, Charles McCarry and Richard Stark. The Holiday Season begins!
  • October 2006
    Heading into the winter reading months with Nelson DeMille, Michael Connelly, Patricia Cornwell, Stephen King, Robert B. Parker, Anne Perry and Ruth Rendell!
  • September 2006
    New books from Philip Kerr, Dick Francis, John Le Carre, Dennis Lehane, Robert Littell, Walter Mosley, Cormac McCarthy, etc. etc. etc. WOW!
  • August 2006
    Great summer reading! Karin Slaughter, Ken Bruen, Frederick Forsyth, George Pelecanos, Danial Silva and Minette Walters.
  • July 2006
    Ed McBain, Lawrence Block, James Lee Burke, Kathy Reichs and a new novel from Scott Smith all make for a hot month for reading!
  • June 2006
    Jeffery Deaver, Barry Eisler, Joyce Carol Oates, Peter Robinson and the ubiquitous Otto Penzler have new books!
  • May 2006
    Jonathon King, Lee Child, Harlen Coben,John Dunning, Alan Furst and John Sandford all have new books this month!
  • April 2006
    Lisa Scottoline, David Mitchell, Walter Mosley, PLUS Otto Penzler's Rules for Collecting.
  • March 2006
    Great lineup of books this month! From Michael Gruber, Sebastian Junger, Thomas Perry, Robert Crais, T. Jefferson Parker, etc., etc., etc.
  • February 2006
    Jahn Lawton, Adrian McKinty, Stephen White, Martha Grimes and Val McDermid. PLUS Edgar Nominations 2006
  • January 2006
    New books from Stephen King!, Ken Bruen, Linda Fairstein, & Charles Todd. Plus end of years Favorites from The New York Times and Moi!
  • December 2005
    Bookaholic's Fourth Year Begins! New books from Sue Grafton, Greg Iles, Ruth Rendell (again!)
  • November 2005
    The Mysterious Bookshop has moved to a new location after all these years! 58 Warren Street, in Tribeca. Phone 212 587 1011. It looks great! Visit when you're in town.
  • October 2005
    A legal thriller from Michael Connelly. John Berendt has a new book set in Venice. Patrica Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta is back.
  • September 2005
    New Easy Rawlins mystery from Mosley, Spenser from Robert B. Parker, and Ed McBain's final 87th Precinct novel.
  • August 2005
    We all mourn the death of Evan Hunter on July 6th. As Ed McBain he gave us hours of joy as we followed the cases that came into the 87th Precinct. As well as a terrific writer, he was a lovely man. We'll miss him.
  • July 2005
    Jasper Fforde starts a new series! New books from Rennie Airth, James Lee Burke, Ron Goulart and Laura Lippman.
  • May 2005
    Summer Reading Issue! Caleb Carr, James Crumley, Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Jeffery Deaver, Laurie R. King, Elmore Leonard, Sara Paretsky, etc. etc. etc.
  • April 2005
    David Ellis, Robert Littell, Jonathon King, Donald E. Westlake, Don Winslow and more! A new series featuring James Bond? Yes!
  • March 2005
    March is mystery month! Lawrence Block, John Dunning, Robert B. Parker, George Pelecanos, etc. Plus, there's a mystery you might be able to solve.....
  • February 2005
    New books from Robert Crais, Greg Iles and Daniel Silva plus new section on upcoming titles by MY favorites!
  • January 2005
    James W. Hall, Ed McBain, Richard North Patterson, and Charles Todd. My faves of the year. Collecting Andrew Taylor.
  • December 2004
    Bookaholic celebrates two years of subjective reporting. Tony Hillerman, Elmore Leonard and more!
  • November 2004
    Michael Chabon, Nelson DeMille, Ruth Rendell, Janet Evanovich (again), collecting Alan Furst, and more!
  • October 2004
    Rennie Airth's new book is finally going to be released! Joyce Carol Oates has a new book and other unusual events! Collecting Dennis McMillan Publications.
  • September 2004
    Ian Rankin, Alexander McCall Smith, Patsy Cornwell, and James Ellroy all have new books. Plus Books with a Buzz!
  • August 2004
    Alan Furst, Ed McBain, Michael McGarrity and others! Collecting Jasper Fforde.
  • July 2004
    Summer reading from Jeffery Deaver, Carl Hiaasen, Walter Mosley, and Val McDermid. Collecting Robert Wilson.
  • June 2004
    New books from Charles McCarry, Mark Billingham, James Lee Burke, Lee Child, and Janet Evanovich. Collecting Arturo Perez -Reverte.
  • May 2004
    Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben, Robert B. Parker, John Sandford - all have new books this month. Henning Mankell mystery finally solved!!!
  • April 2004
    Reviews of John Harvey, David Lindsey, Anne Perry and Donald E. Westlake.
  • March 2004
    Reviews of John Dunning, Laurie R. King, George Pelecanos, etc., plus Edgar nominations and collecting Edgar Award winners.
  • February 2004
    Reviews of Nevada Barr, Jasper Fforde, Scott Phillips, plus Collecting Henning Mankell.
  • January 2004
    Reviews of Russell Andrews, Jilliane Hoffman, Elmore Leonard, plus favorites of the year from Sally and The New York Times!
  • December 2003
    First Anniversary Edition! Reviews of Ken Bruen, Colin Harrison, Joyce Carol Oates, plus Macavity, Shamus, and Gold Dagger Award winners.

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