Swierczy makes us squirmy

“Done right, a slam-bang, nonstop thriller is a squirmy pleasure. One of recent vintage I can highly recommend is Duane Swierczynski's The Blonde…Jumping off from a dynamite opening - "I poisoned your drink," the blonde tells a our hero in an airport bar - the story makes a mad, exhilarating dash through a maze of hairpin turns. It's all ludicrous, but never less than uproariously entertaining... "The Blonde" is (film noir classic) "D.O.A." for a new generation.” - Eddie Muller, SF Chronicle

EW picks Schwegel

PERSON OF INTEREST is an “Entertainment Weekly Pick”!

"Chicago cop Craig McHugh is working undercover to expose a heroin ring; back home, his bored wife, Leslie, is tempted by a come-on from a friend of her teenage daughter's. Meanwhile, the daughter gets nabbed possessing a small amount of drugs. Theresa Schwegel, an Edgar winner for her debut, Officer Down, weaves these three subplots together not only for quickening suspense but also to achieve something more. She creates a portrait of a family in crisis, and her vivid characterizations — stressed husband, yearning wife, floundering daughter — lift the thriller plot of Person of Interest to literary-novel status." A-

Also in the cheering section is Harriet Klausner, who says "This exciting thriller will be on the short list for police procedural of the year as the action, some quite graphic, never slows down for even a paragraph. Besides a strong undercover subplot and a close look at the underbelly of the Windy City, the key that makes this a strong tale is a deep look at a cop whose keeps him away from his family leading to a dysfunctional relationship. Readers will seek Theresa Schwegel’s previous Chicago PD tales as they come highly recommended (see PROBABLE CAUSE and OFFICER DOWN)".

High fives all around

MOON KNIGHT ANNUAL #1 swoops into stores today! Get in line at the nearest comic book store for the very first Marvel comic written by Duane Swierczynski.


While you're out and about, tell everyone to vote for our 2007 Spinetingler Award nominees:

Best Novel / Rising Star - Sean Doolittle, THE CLEANUP
Best Novel / New Voice - Duane Swierczynski, THE BLONDE


Wizard Magazine has its "Best of 2007" list too, and congrats go out to Greg Pak. He's nabbed two categories - Breakout Talent and Best Ongoing Series!

"PLANET HULK turned the big green behemoth from a raging monster into a deeply complex and psychologically driven character. And with WORLD WAR HULK, Pak proved his ability to deliver complex, heartfelt storytelling and intense scenes of action on the grand stage of company-wide crossovers."

WizardUniverse.com also recognizes INCREDIBLE HULK #111, written by Pak and Jeff Parker with pencils by Leonard Kirk, as its Book of the Week.


PW name checks a top-notch group, including Theresa Schwegel, Greg Rucka, Duane Swierczynski, and Michael Koryta, in their article about mystery bookstore favorites.


Sally Horchow, co-author of THE ART OF FRIENDSHIP, signs on as spokeswoman for Pepperidge Farm's campaign, "Connecting through cookies". ArtOfTheCookie.com, like Sally's book and website, aims to help cultivate friendships and connections.

THE ART OF FRIENDSHIP would make a great stocking stuffer, along with a copy of START STRONG, FINISH STRONG, by Drs. Kenneth and Tyler Cooper. The book was one of several fitness gifts highlighted on The Today Show this week.

Thanksgiving updates

Click through to Mystery Readers International for their At Home Online series of "visits". In the newest Q&A, Steve Hamilton interviews Michael Koryta, who had just chatted with Theresa Schwegel in the last round.


Also check out Marvel Comics' February 2008 list of releases, which includes two DHS Rock Stars:

Greg Pak (INCREDIBLE HERCULES #114; WWH AFTERSMASH: WARBOUND #3)

Duane Swierczynski (FORCE OF NATURE ONE-SHOT; MOON KNIGHT VOL. 2: MIDNIGHT SUN)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

The Sun comes out for Rucka

"Greg Rucka's terrific new thriller [PATRIOT ACTS] lives up to his other bestsellers like Private Wars and A Gentleman's Game. Fast-paced and exciting." - Toronto Sun

Get fired up

The Dallas Morning News calls START STRONG, FINISH STRONG an "excellent introduction to the Cooper philosophy...explaining the importance of getting on track at any age, from a biological and spiritual perspective... one of the book's strengths is that it is told with an understanding that comes from two age perspectives – that of Kenneth Cooper, who is in his 70s, and of Tyler Cooper, who is in his 30s."

Monday Morning Reviews

Looking for a book that "packs a positive punch"?

Publishers Weekly recommends David Cottrell's newest one, MONDAY MORNING CHOICES: 12 Powerful Ways To Go From Everyday To Extraordinary, which comes out this January.

La créme de la créme

Congratulations, Theresa! From more than 6,000 books reviewed this year, Publishers Weekly chooses PERSON OF INTEREST as one of the Best Books of the Year!

Friday goodies for Rucka and Swierczy

Eric Newsom delves into the CRIME BIBLE, in a 5 part conversation with Greg Rucka.

Rucka also reveals to Geoff Johns that there are two more projects lined up for The Question.

Rod Lott (Bookgasm.com) spends a "so damned white-hot" night with Duane Swierczynski's BLONDE and REDHEAD. "Swierczynski’s novel is darkly comic and moves at incredible speed, helped along by a real-time structure, an outlandishly imaginative foundation, multiplex-ready action and a real nut-kicker of an ending...you’ll be on the very edge of your ringside seat."