Crime Fiction Links of the Week for August 30, 2024

It's time again for Crime Fiction Links of the Week, our weekly round-up of interesting links about crime fiction from around the web, this week with season 2 of Sherwood, season 4 of Slow Horses, season 4 of Only Murders in the Building, Bad Monkey, The Killer, Blink Twice, Natural Born Killers at thirty and much more:

Crime fiction in general:  

• Crime Reads shares ten new crime novels coming out this week.  
• Criminal Element share their most anticipated reads for September 2024.
  
• Paul French talks about crime fiction set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 
• C.M. Ewan talks about thrillers where the danger is lurking inside the house.
  
• Anna Downes shares her favourite road trips in horror and crime fiction. 
• Fiona Barton talks about female journalists in crime fiction. 
• Adam Mitzner talks about redemption in crime fiction. 
• M.M. DeLuca shares her favourite psychological thrillers about coming of age and toxic families. 
• Dawn Kurtagich shares her favourite gothic novels set in the British Isles.
  
• Ann Cleeves talks about the origins of her beloved character Vera Stanhope.
  
• P.J. Tracy shares her character Detective Margaret Nolan's favourite spots in Los Angeles.
• Historical mystery and romance author Victoria Thompson has died.
  

  

Film and TV: 

• Phil Hoad calls the latest take on The Count of Monte Cristo a fast-moving adaptation that needs a touch more finesse  
• Paul Levinson calls Criminal Record outstanding in every way. 
• Marc Singer declares that Batman: Caped Crusader relies on the aesthetic of Batman: The Animated Series, but never quite ascends to the same heights. 
  
• Xan Brooks calls Kill the Jockey a mercurial, skittish crime drama whose hero is a drug-fuelled rogue
  
• Brianna Zigler calls Skincare a mediocre thriller that only goes skin deep.
• Haley Zapal calls Strange Darling a wild ride of a thriller that will subvert every expectation you think you have  
  
• Paul Hirons shares his thoughts on Lady in the Lake. 
• Brent Simon calls Daughters a poignant, lovely documentary
  
• Entertainment Weekly shares 21 of the most highly anticipated kisses in TV history
  
• Joe George points out that the weirdness of David Lynch's films cannot be separated from empathy. 
• Fiona Sturges interviews Sarah Koenig, creator of the Serial podcast which kicked off the true crime boom.
• Zack Sharf shares Ice T's response to complaints that Law and Order SVU has become "too woke". 
• Olivia Rutigliano revisits the 2005 serial killer drama Dexter.
  
• Martin Edwards revisits the 2014 thriller The Guest. 
• Martin Edwards revisits the 2023 crime movie The Killer.
  

 

Comments on series 2 of Sherwood:

• Lucy Mangan declares that series 2 of Sherwood is even more spellbinding than series 1. 
• Michael Hogan shares his thoughts on the first episode of series 2 of Sherwood. 
• Michael Hogan shares his thoughts on the second episode of series 2 of Sherwood. 
• Paul Hirons shares his thoughts on the first episode of series 2 of Sherwood. 
• Paul Hirons shares his thoughts on the second episode of series 2 of Sherwood. 

Comments on season 4 of Slow Horses: 

• John DeVore declares that the season 4 premiere of Slow Horses sticks to the spy thriller's winning formula and gets a tad darker 
• Jeff Ewing calls season 4 of Slow Horses a strong, emotional system with deep mysteries.
  
• Colin Paterson interviews Gary Oldman who plays Jackson Lamb in Slow Horses.
  

 Comments on season 4 of Only Murders in the Building: 

• Rachel Aroesti shares her thoughts on the season 4 premiere of Only Murders in the Building and notes that it is the funniest show on TV.
• Saloni Gajjar declares that the season 4 premiere of Only Murders in the Building feels a little too glamorous. 
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the season 4 premiere of Only Murders in the Building.
  

 

Comments on Bad Monkey: 

• Rebecca Nicholson calls Bad Monkey an easy-going detective drama that is tons of fun 
  
• Todd Lazarski calls Bad Monkey not half bad
  

 

Comments on The Killer: 

• Jesse Hassenger calls The Killer John Woo remaking his own classic.
• Jacob Oller declares that with The Killer, John Woo waters down his own film with a loose, unambitious adaptation
  

 

Comments on Blink Twice: 

• Brianna Zigler calls Blink Twice a familiar but entertaining social thriller.
• Jesse Hassenger declares that Blink Twice can't quite escape the shadow of its greatest inspiration.
  
• Benjamin Lee calls Blink Twice a stylish yet scattered #MeToo thriller
  
• Adrian Horton talks about Blink Twice and the problem with #MeToo thrillers
  

 

Comments on Natural Born Killers at thirty:

• Scott Tobias revisits the 1994 crime movie Natural Born Killers for its thirtieth anniversary. 
• Martyn Conterior revisits the 1994 crime movie Natural Born Killers for its thirtieth anniversary.

 

Awards:

• The winners of the 2024 Ngaio Marsh Awards have been announced.
• The shortlists for the 2024 Ned Kelly Awards have been announced. 
• The winners of the 2024 Daphne Du Maurier Awards have been announced. 
• The winners of the 2024 Silver Falchion Awards have been announced. 
  
• The winner of the 2024 Österreichischer Krimipreis has been announced. 
• The winner of the 2024 Glass Key Award has been announced. 
• The winners of the 2024 Location Managers Guild Awards have been announced. 
  

 

Writing, publishing and promotion: 

• Jeff Reynolds explains that making a living writing wasn't actually as easy as many believe during the pulp era.
  
• Mike Glyer reports that SFWA will hold a special election for president and secretary, following multiple resignations.
  
• Matt O'Brien reports that authors are sueing the AI company Anthropic for copyright infringement.
• Jeffrey Fleishman interviews Amanda Jones, a Lousiana librarian who has been fighting back against book banning attempts. 
• Charlotte Phillips reports that authors John Green, Jodi Picoult and Angie Thomas have joined a lawsuit against a Florida book ban law.
  
• Divya Kumar reports that New College in Tampa Bay, Florida, is planning to fire its head librarian over discarding 13000 library books without warning.
  
• Andrew Albanese reports that the overwhelming majority of US citizens is not overly concerned with book banning attempts, which are pushed by a small, but vocal minority.

 

Interviews: 

• Criminal Element interviews Karin Slaughter.
• Nancie Clare interviews Karin Slaughter.
  
• Alex Clark interviews Kate Atkinson. 
• Jake Kerridge interviews Janice Hallett.
  
• Craig Sisterson interviews Michael Robotham. 
• The Red Hot Chilli Writers interview Rachel Abbott. 
• John Valeri interviews William Kent Krueger. 
• Paul Burke interviews Ava Glass.
  
• Paul Burke interviews Luke Deckard. 
• Marshal Zeringue interviews Reed Farrel Coleman. 
• Shane Whaley interviews Joseph Kanon and Paul Vidich.
• Nancie Clare interviews Nicholas Meyer and Leslie Klinger
  
• Lisa Haselton interviews Michael Ross. 
• Lisa Haselton interviews Manda Scott.
  
• Victoria Selman interviews Marnie Riches and Chris Carter. 
• Debbi Mack interviews Anna Willett. 
• Robert Lee Brewer interviews Steve Hamilton. 
  
• Lisa Haselton interviews Lindy S. Hudis. 
• Lisa Haselton interviews Tracey Lampley. 
• Alan Petersen interviews Vanessa Cronin.
  

 

Reviews:

• John Valeri reviews The Burning by Linda Castillo 
• Sharon Richardson reviews Prey by Vanda Symon 
• Sandra Mangan reviews Venom in the Blood by Tracy Buchanan 
• Janet Webb reviews Buried Too Deep by Karen Rose
  
• Joseph B. Hoyos reviews Pitch Dark by Paul Doiron 
• Raven Crime Reads reviews The Big Chill by Doug Johnstone. 
  
• Raven Crime Reads reviews The Great Silence by Doug Johnstone. 
• Adam Colclough reviews The Lost Coast by Jonathan Kellerman 
  
• Mike Parker reviews The Devil Raises His Own by Scott Phillips 
• Kevin Tipple reviews Blind to Midnight by Reed Farrel Coleman 
• Sara Townsend reviews Five By Five by Claire Wilson  
• Jen Lucas reviews A Violent Heart by David Fennell 
  
• Sandra Mangan reviews Sanctuary by Garry Disher 
• Sharon Richardson reviews Where They Last Saw Her by Marcie R Rendon
  
• Doreen Sheridan reviews The Day He Never Came Home by Andrew DeYoung 
• Sonja van der Westhuizen reviews Bonehead by Mo Hayder 
• Doreen Sheridan reviews The Recruiter by Gregg Podolski 
• Lesa Holstine reviews The Dark Wives by Ann Cleeves
  
• Doreen Sheridan reviews The Best Lies by David Ellis 
• Mandie Griffiths reviews Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent
  
• Vicki Weisfeld reviews Correction Line by Craig Terlson  
• Mandie Griffiths reviews The Fallen by John Sutherland
  
• Jeff Ayers reviews Arkangel by James Rollins
  
• Raven Crime Reads reviews Seraphim by Joshua Perry.
  
• Joseph B. Hoyos reviews Only the Guilty Survive by Kate Robards 
• Raven Crime Reads reviews Pursued by Death by Gunnar Staalesen, translated by Don Bartlett  
• Vicki Weisfeld reviews Last Night at Villa Lucia by Simon McCleave 
• Jen Lucas reviews Lady’s Well by L.J. Ross 
• Janet Webb reviews Agony Hill by Sarah Stewart Taylor
  
• Doreen Sheridan reviews Cabaret Macabre by Tom Mead 
• Doreen Sheridan reviews The Woman in the Garden by Jill Johnson 
• Jen Lucas reviews The Examiner by Janice Hallett 
• Erin Britton reviews The Examiner by Janice Hallett 
  
• Doreen Sheridan reviews Murder at the Rusty Anchor by Maddie Day and tries a recipe from the book. 
• Doreen Sheridan reviews Peach Tea Smash by Laura Childs and tries a recipe from the book. 
• Lesa Holstine reviews The Jig is Up by Lisa Q. Mathews 
• Crossexamining Crime reviews Everyone This Christmas Has a Secret by Benjamin Stevenson.
• Paul Haggerty reviews Let It Crow! Let It Crow! Let It Crow! by Donna Andrews
• Joseph B. Hoyos reviews Quilty as Charged by Maggie Bailey
• Kevin Tipple reviews the July 2024 issue of Mystery Magazine.
   
  

Classics reviews:

• Martin Edwards revisits the 1931 Lord Peter Wimsey mystery The Five Red Herrings by Dorothy Sayers.
  
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1931 mystery The Silver Switch Key by Wilson Wells. 
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1931 adventure story The Fetish Fighters by Francis Van Wyck Mason 
  
• B.V. Lawson revisits the 1955 mystery The Man Who Didn't Fly by Margot Bennett. 
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1955 noir novel Awake and Die by Robert Ames. 
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1956 mystery Murder's Old Maid by Donald Bayne Hobart
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1956 suspense novel The Deadly Travellers by Dorothy Eden.
  
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1959 Fred Fellows police procedural Sleep Long, My Love by Hillary Waugh.   
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1961 sleaze crime novel Pleasure Ground by Orrie Hitt.
  
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1967 Dan Fortune detective novel Act of Fear by Michael Collins. 
  
• B.V. Lawson revisits the 1996 psychological thriller A Private Inquiry by Jessica Mann.
  

 

Con and event reports:

•  Joy Kluver shares her experiences at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, Yorkshire.
  

 

Research: 

• Michael Gonzales remembers that time when the New York Subway was a crime hotspot.
• Marc Yang reports about the mysterious death of a woman in Arizona who was found dead at her desk four days after signing in for work.
  

 

Free online fiction: 

• "Highway" by Nick Di Carlo in Guilty.
  
• "Cone of Uncertainty" by Jonathan Ferrini in Mystery Tribune.
  
• "I Don’t Belong Here" by Brandon Green in Shotgun Honey.
• "Earning Your Money" by K.R. Eckert in Shotgun Honey. 
• "Liver-Spotted Bills" by Patrick Szakiel in Shotgun Honey.
• "Climb" by Stephen J. Golds in Punk Noir Magazine
  
• "Murderous Means" by Lida Sideris in Mysteryrat's Maze Podcast.
  

 

Trailers and videos: 

• Watch a trailer for Rebel Ridge.