Shortlisted for the summer

Greg Pak's SKAAR is top-notch summer reading.

Ain't It Cool News is excited that "now we get to see the Jolly Green Giant’s Lil’ Sprout tussle with the FF, She-Hulk, Norman Osborn, and allllmost take part in a slugfest with his father. Writer Greg Pak keeps this story moving at a brisk pace. He touches all of the bases in terms of plot. And in the end, this was probably the best gamma powered comic from Pak since PLANET HULK."

"Pak's handle on the characters, especially his usage of the FF makes for some great comic book reading.... This issue certainly has me excited." - ComicPants.com


Although Carrie Stetko, the lead in Greg Rucka's WHITEOUT, is no hulking monster, she's just as tough. The cool hunters at Thrillist.com couldn't agree more, especially when Kate Beckinsale takes on the role.

Going beyond Nancy Drew

BLACK NOIR, Otto Penzler's newest anthology, is one of Maureen Corrigan's top summer recommendations. The NPR book critic gives a shout-out to "House of Tears" by Gary Phillips, "who deserves to be better known than he is".

Enraged and outraged in Oregon

Greg Rucka gets some hometown love from Katie Schneider at The Oregonian:

"WALKING DEAD is a nonstop thrill ride through a dark world of violence and exploitation. Like Jason Bourne and other great action heroes, [Atticus] Kodiak is grimly unstoppable. Failure isn't an option; nothing short of death is going to stop him until he brings home the girl.

While Tiasa is a fictional character, there is nothing made-up about sex trafficking. According to recent U.N. figures, more than 2 million people are being sold into slavery annually. Regional organizations such as Shared Hope International and Transitions Global try to address the overwhelming needs of the victims.

"I write out of anger a lot," Rucka says, "and the more I researched the subject, the more I discovered what was actually going on at this very moment, the more enraged and outraged I became."'

The first review

...and it's a star for Schwegel!

"Recently transferred from homicide to sex crimes, Chicago police detective Sloane Pearson pursues a serial rapist in Edgar-winner [Theresa] Schwegel's gritty fourth crime novel [LAST KNOWN ADDRESS]. Called in to interview the second in a series of victims who were beaten, raped and nearly strangled to death, Pearson knows the only way she'll have a case is if the traumatized woman will talk. But without a crime scene or detailed description of the attacker, Pearson's leads dry up fast. As she retraces the victims' steps, she uncovers a common thread that winds from the dilapidated blocks where the rapes occurred to one of the city's glitzy property development companies. Introduced in 2006's Probable Cause, Pearson, the odd woman out in her new squad, shoulders the burden of a troublesome case even when her boss insists she quit. Despite a minimal body count, Schwegel ratchets up the tension, leaving readers breathless through to the last page." - Publishers Weekly *starred review*

The zeal for Ziele

Check out Stefanie Pintoff's interview in this month's Labyrinth newsletter.

Her beautifully-written debut novel, IN THE SHADOW OF GOTHAM, is in stores and has been graced with starry, rave reviews.

Retooled

Bill Minutaglio rethinks the former president in his article "The Afterlife of George W. Bush", out next week in the revamped Newsweek.

Books Maureen Likes

National Public Radio's Maureen Corrigan is sweet on wise guys!

"I haven't been able to stop thinking about [Reed] Coleman's Moe Prager mystery series ever since one of God's own divine messengers —that is, an independent bookseller— recommended it to me last year. If life were fair, Coleman would be as celebrated as Pelecanos and Connelly."

Enter The God Machine...

THE GOD MACHINE, the long-awaited sequel to GOSPEL TRUTHS, is finally available.

Enter THE GOD MACHINE Readers' Contest and you could win $500 or a new Kindle 2 ...plus a free autographed copy of the book!

Visit author J. G. Sandom's site for e-goodies and excerpts.

A whole 'nother level

USA Today broke the news today that Duane Swierczynski is working on CSI creator Anthony Zuiker's top-secret, new project: LEVEL 26.  The first book in the series will be out September 8.  We can't wait to see this multi-platform bonanza!