Crime Reads » Essays

The Needle and the Damage Done: The Genius of Robert Stone’s <em>Dog Soldiers</em>

The Needle and the Damage Done: The Genius of Robert Stone’s Dog Soldiers

Stone's tale of heroin, smugglers, and moral striving remains one of the most relevant American crime novels ever written.

By Bruce Riordan | July 16, 2021

For One Writer, Rediscovering the Novels of Dick Francis Was the Answer to a Personal Crisis and a Mysterious Illness

For One Writer, Rediscovering the Novels of Dick Francis Was the Answer to a Personal Crisis and a Mysterious Illness

John Fram was at work on his second novel when a strange illness knocked him down. A chance encounter with some wildly popular horse racing mysteries helped get him right. But how?

By John Fram | July 15, 2021

On Writing a Dog Mystery and Finding the Secret to Happiness

On Writing a Dog Mystery and Finding the Secret to Happiness

Peter Abrahams has found that writing mysteries from the goodnatured perspective of a pet is the key to life-long optimism.

By Peter Abrahams | July 15, 2021

What’s a Nice Guy Like Me Doing in a Homicidal Place Like This?

What’s a Nice Guy Like Me Doing in a Homicidal Place Like This?

Ruminations on what drives decent, ordinary folks to write about murder and mayhem.

By John David Mann | July 14, 2021

On Haunted Childhoods, 80s Poltergeists, and the Rage of Female Adolescence

On Haunted Childhoods, 80s Poltergeists, and the Rage of Female Adolescence

"I feel drawn to these girls’ stories because their suffering is so clear—and because I believe the line between real and fake is fuzzy when it comes to adolescent emotions."

By Emily Arsenault | July 13, 2021

Sweden's Crime Writers and the Case of The Unregistered, Prepaid Cell Phone

Sweden's Crime Writers and the Case of The Unregistered, Prepaid Cell Phone

New legislation brings an uncertain future for Scandinavian detective fiction's favorite plotting device.

By Peter Mohlin and Peter Nystrom | July 13, 2021

Best Reviewed
Books of the Week

Quentin Tarantino Wrote a "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" Novel—Here's What You Need to Know

By Nick Kolakowski | July 12, 2021

The Strange Story of Orson Welles' Lost Film, Mr. Arkadin

By Craig Pittman | July 9, 2021

The Reimagined Mosquito Coast Is a Hitchcockian Chase Thriller With a Social Critique

By Harrison Blackman | July 9, 2021

Setting a Murder Mystery in the Real Hollywood Canteen Required Piercing a Veil of Myth and Nostalgia

Setting a Murder Mystery in the Real Hollywood Canteen Required Piercing a Veil of Myth and Nostalgia

The Hollywood canteen was where soldiers went to dance and everyone was equal. That was the story, anyway.

By Susan Elia MacNeal | July 9, 2021

Charlotte Philby Remembers Her Paradoxical Grandfather, Kim Philby

Charlotte Philby Remembers Her Paradoxical Grandfather, Kim Philby

Why are people drawn to espionage fiction? For Philby, the answer has always been personal

By Charlotte Philby | July 8, 2021

In True Crime, We Find a Deep, Elusive Connection

In True Crime, We Find a Deep, Elusive Connection

The best true crime is an invitation to believe that our opinions and our empathy matter.

By Jessica Chiarella | July 8, 2021

The Most Murdered Woman in the World

The Most Murdered Woman in the World

How an early form of true crime set the stage for Paula Maxa, the original scream queen.

By April Snellings | July 7, 2021

On Loving, and Leaving, Barcelona

On Loving, and Leaving, Barcelona

"If I saw the beauty in Barcelona, I also saw the shadows."

By Rupert Thomson | July 7, 2021

"L’affaire Flactif": How Racist Motivations Were Overlooked in a Family Homicide

According to the press, David Hotyat murdered an entire family out of jealousy. But his true motivations were much more sinister.

By Samira Sedira | July 7, 2021

The Art of Rejection: How One Author Pushed Through 41 Rejections and Kept on Waiting for Life-Changing News

The Art of Rejection: How One Author Pushed Through 41 Rejections and Kept on Waiting for Life-Changing News

To achieve her dream, T.J. Newman first had to cope with the bad news, again and again.

By T.J. Newman | July 6, 2021

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