I’m sure William Kent Krueger will be kind to debut author John McMahon when he interviews him at The Poisoned Pen on Monday, March 18 at 7 PM. McMahon will discuss his first police procedural, The Good Detective. Krueger will sign Desolation Mountain. Copies of books by both authors can be ordered through the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com

This interview isn’t quite as kind.

John McMahon is the debut author of “The Good Detective,” a fast-paced new thriller that 

introduces Detective P.T. Marsh.

Detective Marsh is a hardened police detective barely getting by—and drinking hard—in Mason Falls, Georgia. Not too long ago, Marsh was a rising star on the police force. But the shocking deaths of his wife and son have left him a shell of his former self. He’s reckless and adrift, though still an ace detective with a passion for justice.

In lieu of me interviewing John McMahon, I asked his main character, Detective P.T. Marsh to step in and do the honors.

McMahon and Marsh sit down at a place called Moonie’s Roadhouse in Flowery Branch, Georgia. It’s home to neither of them, a favorite of McMahon’s and a good hour from home for Detective Marsh.  The good news – they both enjoy brisket and pulled pork.

The food is brought out. A basket of pork with slaw. Sweet barbecue sauce atop brisket. A couple sides of cream corn and Brunswick stew, along with a plate of sliced turkey.

(Author) John McMahon ““ I hope you’re hungry.

(Detective) P.T. Mash ““ I’ve been on a case for 72 hours. I’m that odd mix of hungry and exhausted. 
The two men dig in.
P.T. Marsh ““ So I’m supposed to interview you?  That’s how this works?
McMahon ““ I’m an open book. 
A beat.
McMahon ““ Sorry, I couldn’t help the pun, go ahead.

Marsh – You start “The Good Detective” with me being woken up in my truck by some three-hundred-pound bouncer outside of a strip bar. Why start there? It’s not flattering, falling asleep like that.
McMahon – Horace Ordell. He was on shift that night at The Landing Patch. And you were screaming in your sleep, P.T. You were scaring Horace.
Marsh ““  He wasn’t scared of me. He’d tried to extort me.
McMahon ““ He did threaten you.  What was the expression you said about Horace?
Marsh ““  If brains were leather, he wouldn’t have enough to saddle a june bug.
McMahon ““ Exactly. And then you drive off because you remembered you promised one of the club’s dancers that you’d help her out by teaching her boyfriend a lesson.
Marsh ““ Just a healthy talking to. The boyfriend was a Neo-Nazi. Maybe one hit to the nose. A shot to the ribs. His friends will hardly notice the scars.
McMahon ““ Except when your partner Remy picks you up the next morning to head to your latest murder scene, it’s the boyfriend’s house you arrive at.
Marsh ““ And I get that feeling. That bad feeling.
McMahon  – I think I know why. There’s a boy who’s been murdered in a very strange way. And initial accounts say the Neo-Nazi may have done it.  
Marsh ““ Yeah, I don’t want to talk about the case.  
McMahon –  How does it feel to know you might have killed your prime suspect?
Marsh ““ We don’t comment on active investigations. Especially to writers.
McMahon ““ Your prints are all over the boyfriend’s house.
Marsh ““ This food is suddenly not to my liking.  And I thought I was the one asking questions. 
McMahon ““ So ask me a question.
Marsh ““ What would I possibly want to know about a soft writer like you?
McMahon laughs.
McMahon ““ People are getting nervous in Mason Falls. There’s secrets.
Marsh ““ No secrets from me.
McMahon ““ Your past…
P.T. Marsh gets up.  Shakes his head.
Marsh ““ You don’t know me. 
Detective Marsh walks out and McMahon takes the untouched food from P.T.’s side of the table ““ slides it over to his.

—
“The Good Detective” drops in stores March 19^th.  It has been selected as an OKRA Fresh Pick by SIBA, the Southern Independent Bookseller’s Alliance.

John McMahon will be on tour, looking for great barbecue places in South Carolina, Phoenix, Houston, San Diego, and L.A. (while also going to those towns’ best independent bookstores for Q&A and Signing).  Find out more about the tour at JohnMcMahonBooks.com

It seems this is the week to say goodbye to long-running mystery series. Ed Ifkovic ends his Edna Ferber mystery series with the tenth book, Run Cold. The book is the Poisoned Pen’s selection for the March History/Mystery Book of the Month. You can order copies of Ifkovic’s books, including a signed copy of Run Cold, through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2VOhkJA

Ed Ifkovic has something to say about the book, and the series. But, before that link, here’s the summary of the final book in the series, Run Cold.

“The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold.”
—Robert W. Service, “The Cremation of Sam McGee”

Jack Mabie claims to be the meanest man in Alaska, yet the old sourdough seems to be just one of the crusty geezers in every roadhouse bewildered by how his lawless frontier life has morphed into the pastel 1950s world of martini cocktail bars up and down Fairbanks’ Second Avenue.

Sonia Petrievich, an editor at The Gold, her father Hank’s weekly pro-statehood paper, learns through the mukluk telegraph about Jack’s gleeful account of murders and robberies and shell games during the gold rush days. Her breezy March 1957 profile lets Jack revel in newfound notoriety.

Edna Ferber, not completely satisfied with her forthcoming novel Ice Palace, has just returned for further research and is fascinated by Jack and his wild tales. Plus the previous summer, young Athabascan lawyer Noah West, a war hero and Sonia’s lover, bent on bettering the lives of Alaskan Natives, had sharpened Edna’s sense of a corner of the territory she’d ignored: “I felt I’d lost sight of the real Alaska, the heartless icebox in the North, the blank-eyed old-timers still haunted by gold… I’d forgotten Alaska is still frontier…a violent, mysterious world below the glossy skin I’d written about.”

When Jack is found beaten to death, Noah becomes a suspect. Two violent deaths follow. Edna, Noah’s advocate, decides she needs to clear his name, believing the murders are connected. As debates over potential statehood rage, Edna begins unearthing scandals and sordid stories hidden in Fairbanks but also dating back to village life in Fort Yukon and down into the Lower 48.

What horrible secrets carried from the Arctic Circle have led to so many murders? And what novelist could stand aside from this story?

*****

Ed Ifkovic wrote an essay that appeared in BookReporter.com. You might want to read, “North to Alaska: Researching Run Cold, the Final Edna Ferber Mystery”. https://bit.ly/2CiJZ2b

On Saturday March 16 at 2 PM, Glen Erik Hamilton, author of Mercy River, will appear to discuss and sign his latest Van Shaw novel. He’ll be joined by Brad Parks, author of The Last Act. Signed copies of books by both authors are available through the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com/

Parks had his chance to write a post for the blog last year. This time, I’ve invited Glen Erik Hamilton to sit “In the Hot Seat” and answer questions. Thank you, Glen.

Glen, would you introduce yourself to readers?

Hello People of the Poisoned Pen!  I write the Van Shaw series of what I call mystery thrillers, for lack of an easier category.  Mystery because there’s usually something Van must investigate, and Thriller because those investigations inevitably lead into hazardous waters.  My debut novel Past Crimes was nominated for a few lovely awards, including the Edgar, and won three of them: the Anthony, the Macavity, and the Strand Magazine Critics Award.  I grew up in Seattle aboard a sailboat ““ raiding my parents’ collection of paperbacks when the wind didn’t cooperate — and now live near Los Angeles with my family.  

You know how much I love Van Shaw. Would you introduce him?

Van’s an unusual beast.  He was raised in Seattle by his maternal grandfather, a Belfast émigré named Dono.  The two men share their full name, Donovan.  Dono was a former armed robber turned professional burglar, and he raised Van with that perspective and those skills.  Van was stealing cars, among many other things, long before he could legally drive.  The two men fell out when Van was eighteen and Van escaped into the Army.  To his surprise, he found a home in the Rangers and served with distinction for almost ten years.  Special Operations gave Van a moral focus he was lacking, and honed his belief in honor and in justice, but it ironically also gave him the discipline and toughness to be a much more effective criminal than Dono could ever be.  If he chooses that path.  Back home now, Van occupies two worlds, and he’s not entirely at ease in either.

Tell us about Mercy River, without spoilers.

When Van’s closest friend from the Rangers is arrested for murder, Van rushes to the remote Central Oregon town of Mercy River to help, only to learn that the town is playing host to hundreds of fellow veterans of the 75^th Ranger Regiment.  They have gathered for a raucous annual party and charity drive called the Rally, run by a decorated Special Ops general.   Both the town and the Rally have some major secrets, and as is his way, Van quickly finds himself on the bad side of dangerous people.  Worse, his friend Leo is actively resisting any attempt to prove his innocence. 

Where do you go for atmosphere when you return to Seattle?

I return as often as I can, both because I love the place and because the city changes so rapidly.  Which was one of the reasons I wanted to write about it.  I try to explore “new” neighborhoods with every visit. I inevitably pass through downtown and Van’s home turf on Capitol Hill, of course.  But I also find myself returning to regular haunts like the shipyards on Harbor Island, Pioneer Square, the industrial areas south of the stadiums, and parks like Volunteer and Magnuson.  And if I can catch a ferry over to Bainbridge on a clear day, that’s always a good trip.

Can you give us some hints about your next book?

Van’s mother Moira died when he was only six years old, so his memories of her are very limited.  His grandfather closed himself off from the pain of losing Moira, and subsequently never shared much about her with Van as he grew up.  Neither of them ever learned who Van’s father was.  It’s high time that Van discovers more about his family, perhaps more than he’d truly like to know.   

Everyone’s journey to publishing is different. Tell us about your journey to publication of the first Van Shaw novel, Past Crimes.

I began writing when my wife and I moved to Southern California in the mid-2000s, just experimenting at first to see if I liked it.  Writing classes and groups eventually followed.   When my manuscript was just about done, I figured I needed some practice in selling it.  I went to ThrillerFest in 2013 and attended their PitchFest “speed dating” afternoon with agents and editors.  Events after that felt like a fairy tale:  There was plenty of interest in the book, which turned to a couple of offers of representation and an excellent partnership with my current agent!  My agent made a two-book deal with William Morrow two months after, and Past Crimes was released in Spring 2015.   I remind myself with great frequency to be grateful; it certainly doesn’t happen that way for everyone. 

What has been the highlight of your writing career so far?

That’s a tough question, because every time a writer passes a big milestone or receives any acclaim in a hard business, it’s worth celebrating.  In fact it’s critical to celebrate.  Applauding our own serious effort keeps us sailing through the storms.  But if I had to pick one highlight, it would have to be when the first book sold.  That’s tremendously validating, to have an agent willing to fight hard for your career and then have a publisher invest both financially and creatively in your work.  That’s often the first time that someone outside your friends and family says “Yes, we believe in you.”  A huge moment. 

If you had to recommend 5 books for a person to read so they could get a feel for you and your reading taste, what 5 would you pick?

I’m going to list three books that were cornerstones of my early reading, and two much more recent novels which are so good, I’m re-reading them both for the pleasure of it and to study the craft involved:

The Deep Blue Good-By ““ John D. MacDonald ““ or any of the Travis McGee series, with JDMacD’s knight errant working on the outskirts of the “civilized” world.  Growing up aboard boats, these were almost required reading.

Gorky Park ““ Martin Cruz Smith ““ the honorable investigator in a corrupt system, and a hell of a love story in the bargain.

Ripley Under Ground ““ Patricia Highsmith ““ my favorite of the Ripley’s novels, with the amoral and extremely dangerous Ripley at his slippery best.

November Road ““ Lou Berney ““ one of 2018’s most lauded novels, and deservedly so.  Both emotionally resonant and a page-turning thriller, which is a very tough balance to achieve, much less this brilliantly.

Sunburn ““ Laura Lippman ““ another of last year’s very best, a subtly woven tale of desperation with characters who reveal new depths in every chapter.

What book or author is underrated, in your opinion?

A novelist named Marc Olden, who was very prolific and bridged the gap between 1970s-80s pulp and more highbrow thrillers extremely well.  He was nominated for the Best Paperback Original Edgar in 1978.  Many of his series ““ such as Black Samurai ““ explored being African-American and drawn to other cultures because America’s was so fraught.  Perhaps most significantly, Olden wrote beautifully about martial arts and why people pursue a life of practicing them.  He was himself an accomplished karate and aikido instructor, and his books were influential in starting me on a similar path, as I read his novel Giri when I was about thirteen.  He died in 2003, and it’s one of my regrets that I never wrote to him to let him know how much I’d enjoyed his work.

A warning. I see you’re appearing at the Poisoned Pen with Brad Parks. Brad either sings or jokes his way through everything. The last time he was at the Pen, he griped ahead of time about appearing with Christopher Rice. Rice was “too young, too attractive”. Any plans you can tell us about taking over the stage from Parks?

I trust Brad’s not making the same gripes about me.  The thing with Parks is: you can’t let that karaoke train get rolling, so I’ll take a page from Van Shaw’s book and wire Brad’s microphone to shock him every time he starts to sing.  Join us and watch the fun…

*****

You can order Glen Erik Hamilton’s books through the Web Store, including a signed copy of Mercy River. https://bit.ly/2Tt8Afd

Congratulations to Reavis Z. Wortham who recently won the 2019 Spur Award for Best Mass Market Paperback Novel for Hawke’s War. The Spur Awards are presented annually by the Western Writers of America. “WWA (WesternWriters.org) promotes and honors the best in Western literature with the annual Spur Awards, selected by panels of judges. Awards, for material published last year, are given for works whose inspiration, image and literary excellence best represent the reality and spirit of the American West.” You can see the list of winners here. https://prn.to/2EZjAIl

Reavis Z. Wortham’s Red River Mysteries are published by Sourcebooks/Poisoned Pen Press. However, you can also order his Sonny Hawke thrillers, including Hawke’s War, through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2EMo0B6

Here’s the summary of the award-winning Hawke’s War.

“The most riveting thriller all year!” ““John Gilstrap on Hawke’s Prey

The serene beauty of West Texas’s Big Bend National Park is shattered when four hikers are brutally ambushed by a sniper. Only one survives to report the murders. When investigators come up with nothing, they’re left wondering if this is a single incident—or the beginning of a rampage. One week later, Texas Ranger Sonny Hawke drives his 3500 Dodge Dually into the park, determined to unearth the truth . . .

Before he knows it, he’s in the same sniper’s crosshairs. The drug and human smuggling cartel known as the Coyotes Rabiosos—Rabid Coyotes—have lured him to remote backcountry, looking for payback for an old grudge. Wounded and stranded in the harsh desert terrain, hunted, and outnumbered, Sonny is about to become the target of an even more dangerous enemy—one whose thirst for revenge could incite an international conflict far beyond the U.S.-Mexican border . . .

Reavis Z. Wortham is . . .

“A masterful and entertaining storyteller.” —Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine

“Entertaining and emotionally engaging.” —T. Jefferson Parker

“The real thing.” —C.J. Box

While Betty Webb may have sobbed when she finished the tenth and final book in her Lena Jones mystery series, Desert Redemption, there are so many of her fans who are in mourning as well. If you’re in Arizona, you should show up at the Poisoned Pen on Thursday, March 14 at 7 PM to show your appreciation to the author. If you can’t make it, you can order copies of Webb’s books, and a signed copy of Desert Redemption, through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2xhvGLf

Karina Bland recently did a profile of Betty Webb, one that discusses the Lena Webb series. You can read it here. https://bit.ly/2SRppeB

*****

Here’s the summary of Desert Redemption. (Let’s hope Lena will be back someday.)

“In Jones’s electrifying 10th…Scottsdale, Arizona, PI Lena is approached by Harold Slow Horse, one of Arizona’s leading artists…[and] gets on a trail that leads her at long last to answers about her troubled past…” —Publishers Weekly

At the age of four, Scottsdale private eye Lena Jones was shot in the head and left to die on a Phoenix street. After her rescue, she spent years in the abusive foster care system, never knowing who her parents were and why they didn’t claim her. When Desert Redemption begins, she still doesn’t know her real name.

Lena’s rough childhood—and the suspicion that her parents may have been members of a cult—keeps her hackles raised. So when Chelsea, the ex-wife of Harold Slow Horse, a close friend, joins a “new thought” organization called Kanati, Lena begins to investigate. She soon learns that two communes—polar opposites of each other—have sprung up nearby in the Arizona desert. The participants at EarthWay follow a rigorous dietary regime that could threaten the health of its back-to-the-land inhabitants, while the more pleasure-loving folk at Kanati are dining on sumptuous French cuisine.

On an early morning horseback ride across the Pima Indian Reservation, Lena finds an emaciated woman’s body in the desert. “Reservation Woman” lies in a spot close to EarthWay, clad in a dress similar to the ones worn by its women. But there is something about her face that reminds Lena of the Kanatians.

While investigating, Lena’s memory is jolted back to that horrible night when her father and younger brother were among those murdered by a cult leader named Abraham, who then vanished. Lena begins to wonder if either EarthWay or Kanati could be linked to that night, and to her own near-death. Could leaders of one or both shed light on what had happened to Lena’s mother, who vanished at the same time as Abraham?

All these mysteries are resolved in Desert Redemption, the tenth and final Lena Jones case, which can also be enjoyed on its own.

It’s not too early to talk up Jeffrey Siger’s appearance at The Poisoned Pen for his latest Andreas Kaldis novel set in Greece, The Mykonos Mob. Before I post most of Siger’s latest newsletter, I’ll remind you Jeff will be at the bookstore on Tuesday, April 16 at 7 PM. And, you can buy copies of his books, some of them signed, through the Web Store. You can also pre-order a copy of The Mykonos Mob. https://bit.ly/2jC3gpp

Here’s Jeffrey Siger’s latest newsletter.

Yiasas!

I can’t believe how quickly time flies. Tuesday, April 2nd is the official release date for Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis’ adventure #10, The Mykonos Mob. Yes, #10!!!

What a journey it’s been, highlighted this past year by The New York Times Sunday Book Review naming me as Greece’s thriller writer of record, and Library Journal selecting Kaldis #9, An Aegean April, as “one of the best books of 2018.”

In all honesty, I think The Mykonos Mob is my best book yet. But don’t take my word for it, here’s what Ragnar Jónasson, author of the brilliant Dark Iceland series has to say about it: “A perfect setting and first rate storytelling.”

The Mykonos Mob draws upon my thirty-five years on Mykonos watching that gem of an Aegean island evolve from its simple agrarian and seafaring roots into a 24/7 glitzy playground for the world’s rich and famous.

The case begins for Athens’ Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis with a literal bang when a corrupt former police colonel who runs a protection racket on Mykonos is gunned down. Suddenly, Kaldis is face-to-face with Greece’s top crime bosses on an island whose natural beauty and reputation as an international playground belies the corruption lurking just beneath the surface.

While Andreas and his Special Crimes unit wrestle for answers, Andreas’s wife, Lila, meets an American expat named Toni, a finder of stolen goods and a piano player in a gender-bending bar who has a zest for life and no apparent regard for rules. As Lila and Toni bond over a common desire to mentor young island girls trapped in an exploitative and patriarchal culture, they soon find that their efforts to improve the lives of the girls they’ve come to care about intersect with Andreas’ investigation in ways that prove to be dangerous for all involved.

Think #MeToo meets the Mob.

I know you’ll enjoy it, but to help you decide, here’s the first scene of The Mykonos Mob:

He never wondered about the purpose of life or how he turned out as he had. It all just sort of happened. He became a cop because he saw it as the surest way for a kid born into Greece’s working class in the tumultuous early 1960s to make a living. He got lucky when, after the fall of the Military Junta in 1974, he joined the youth movement of a left-wing political party that came to power in 1981 and remembered to reward its loyal friends.

As he rose in rank, the more friends and money he made, the more power he amassed. He kept careful track of where the bodies were buried and possessed an uncanny instinct for digging up the ones he needed to achieve his purposes. An effort by the opposition party to paint him as corrupt failed when the prosecution’s main witness died in a boating accident. An investigation into the witness’s death faded away soon after he announced his decision to retire from the Hellenic Police force with the rank of colonel.

That’s when he began to make truly big money, capitalizing on his contacts and former position as head of police for the South Aegean Region, home to Greece’s most popular tourist islands for the rich and hard-partying globetrotting crowd.

Tonight, the Colonel was far away from all that glitz and glamour. He sat in a restaurant in a nondescript, middle-class eastern suburb of Athens, virtually equidistant from downtown Athens, its port town of Rafina, and Venizelos International airport.

“A convenient place for a meeting,” said the one who’d arranged it.

The Colonel leaned back in his chair and yawned. The conversation had been as boring as the meal. Everything about the place was mediocre, from its tired, thirty-year-old decor to the hookers at the bar, and the ruddy-faced, pudgy man sitting across the table from him who had yet to say why their mutual business acquaintance thought they should meet.

“Am I keeping you awake, Colonel?”

“Barely.”

Ruddy-face smiled. “How do you like my place?”

The Colonel leaned forward. It was long past time to get down to business. “If this is your joint, why don’t you just tell me why you wanted to meet? You sure as hell don’t need my services to run this operation.”

“You’re right, it’s a dump.” Ruddy-face paused. “But I have plans.”

“What sort of plans?”

“I’m buying a club on the islands. It’s going to be first-class in every way.” He nodded toward the bar. “Including the girls.”

“Which island?”

“One you control.”

“Control is a mighty big word.”

Ruddy-face smiled. “Let’s just say, I don’t like the idea of getting involved in a business where my investment isn’t secure.”

“That’s prudent of you.”

“Can you help me?”

“If you’re asking for security, the answer is yes.”

“I’m talking about protection for all aspects of my business.”

The Colonel shrugged. “It’s all a matter of price. You tell me what you want, and I’ll tell you what it will cost you.”

“I hear you’re pricey.”

“You heard right. But I make sure things run smoothly.”

“How do you do that?”

“I don’t have competitors stirring things up, jockeying for business. I maintain order among the chaos.”

“They might see things differently.”

“If by they you mean competitors, there are no they on my island. I’m the only game in town.”

“I get your point,” said the man. “I’m sure we’ll come to terms.”

“If you want to open a club where I’m in business, I’m sure we will.”

The Colonel declined an offer of coffee, and the two men agreed to talk again once ruddy-face had a better idea of what he might need from the Colonel.

He walked the Colonel to the front door, shook his hand, thanked him for coming, and wished him safe travels. “Kalo taxidhi.”

But the Colonel only made it as far as the front door of his Mercedes.

______________________

And it takes off from there….

When Steve Berry appeared at The Poisoned Pen recently, he had the chance to reminisce with bookstore owner Barbara Peters. He appeared at the bookstore with his first book, The Amber Room. He said he was thrilled that fifteen people showed up for a first-time author. You’ll be able to see the size of the audience he drew for his latest book, The Malta Exchange. You can pick up copies of both his first and most recent book through the Web Store, and The Malta Exchange will be a signed copy. https://bit.ly/2VMHInj

Here’s the summary of The Malta Exchange.

“The result is a thriller that intrigues and provides historical context. Berry is the master scientist with a perfect formula.” — Associated Press

One of USA Today‘s “Five Books Not to Miss!”

The next in New York Times top 5 bestseller Steve Berry’s Cotton Malone series involves the Knights of Malta, papal conclave, and lost documents that could change history.  

A deadly race for the Vatican’s oldest secret fuels New York Times bestseller Steve Berry’s latest international Cotton Malone thriller. 

The pope is dead. A conclave to select his replacement is about to begin. Cardinals are beginning to arrive at the Vatican, but one has fled Rome for Malta in search of a document that dates back to the 4th century and Constantine the Great.  

Former Justice Department operative, Cotton Malone, is at Lake Como, Italy, on the trail of legendary letters between Winston Churchill and Benito Mussolini that disappeared in 1945 and could re-write history. But someone else seems to be after the same letters and, when Malone obtains then loses them, he’s plunged into a hunt that draws the attention of the legendary Knights of Malta.

The knights have existed for over nine hundred years, the only warrior-monks to survive into modern times. Now they are a global humanitarian organization, but within their ranks lurks trouble — the Secreti — an ancient sect intent on affecting the coming papal conclave. With the help of Magellan Billet agent Luke Daniels, Malone races the rogue cardinal, the knights, the Secreti, and the clock to find what has been lost for centuries. The final confrontation culminates behind the walls of the Vatican where the election of the next pope hangs in the balance.

*****

And, you can watch and listen as Steve Berry and Barbara Peters reminisce below.

Congratulations to two Poisoned Pen Press/Sourcebooks award nominees!

Sourcebooks announced this on their recent blog. “We’re “‹happy to share that Forty Dead Men by Donis Casey and Undercurrents by Mary Anna Evans are finalists for the 2019 Oklahoma Book Awards!

“‹The Oklahoma Book Awards are sponsored by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries and honor books from Oklahoma-based authors, or those books that feature Oklahoma.”

The series by both Donis Casey and Mary Anna Evans are available through the Web Store. https://store.poisonedpen.com/

This must be the week to discuss spies. Author Charles McCarry, who was a CIA operative, may have been forgotten in recent years. However, the Associated Press referred to him as the “dean” or “poet laureate” of American spy writers. Most of his books, including the bestselling The Tears of Autumn, about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, have to be special ordered through the Web Store. However, readers who are curious can find some titles immediately available. https://bit.ly/2VFQTWC

Charles McCarry died Tuesday at the age of 88. The New York Times carried his obituary under the title “Charles McCarry, 88, Spy Turned Master Spy Novelist, Is Dead.” https://nyti.ms/2EEv0B6

They also carried a second article in the Arts section, “Charles McCarry, Prescient Spy Novelist, Dead at 88”. https://nyti.ms/2EGf69y

May he rest in peace.

The current Hot Book of the Week at The Poisoned Pen is a nonfiction title, Matti Friedman’s Spies Of No Country. Friedman’s books, including signed copies of Spies of No Country, can be ordered through the Web Store. https://bit.ly/2NGMboB

Here’s the description of Spies of No Country.

Award-winning writer Matti Friedman’s tale of Israel’s first spies has all the tropes of an espionage novel, including duplicity, betrayal, disguise, clandestine meetings, the bluff, and the double bluff–but it’s all true.

“The four spies at the center of this story were part of a ragtag unit known as the Arab Section, conceived during World War II by British spies and Jewish militia leaders in Palestine. Intended to gather intelligence and carry out sabotage and assassinations, the unit consisted of Jews who were native to the Arab world and could thus easily assume Arab identities. In 1948, with Israel’s existence in the balance during the War of Independence, our spies went undercover in Beirut, where they spent the next two years operating out of a kiosk, collecting intelligence, and sending messages back to Israel via a radio whose antenna was disguised as a clothesline. While performing their dangerous work these men were often unsure to whom they were reporting, and sometimes even who they’d become. Of the dozen spies in the Arab Section at the war’s outbreak, five were caught and executed. But in the end the Arab Section would emerge, improbably, as the nucleus of the Mossad, Israel’s vaunted intelligence agency.

Spies of No Country is about the slippery identities of these young spies, but it’s also about Israel’s own complicated and fascinating identity. Israel sees itself and presents itself as a Western nation, when in fact more than half the country has Middle Eastern roots and traditions, like the spies of this story. And, according to Friedman, that goes a long way toward explaining the life and politics of the country, and why it often baffles the West. For anyone interested in real-life spies and the paradoxes of the Middle East, Spies of No Country is an intimate story with global significance.”