Blood-Letter #107

Mar 3, 2011 | Blood-Letter


In this issue of the Blood-Letter, we offer a taste of Paris with our March Bloody Thursday guest Cara Black. We also share this year’s Edgar nominees, plus get a primer on the Cornish Copper.

March 2011
CONTENTS:

Bloody Thursday: “Paris in Portland” – March 24th

With Cara Black

Cara Black

It’s springtime in Paris, and best-selling author Cara Black will bring Paris to Friends of Mystery. Her recently published Murder in Passy is the 11th in her Aimee Leduc series. Aimee is a computer security private investigator. Her cases take her to neighborhoods in Paris that most tourists never see. Her first book, published in 1999, was set in the Marais, the old Jewish quarter of Paris. The third book in the series, Murder in Sentier, was nominated for a 2003 Anthony Award and takes place in an historic district that was once filled with fashionable mansions, but now is the setting for the clothing industry and far from elegant night clubs. The characters in these mysteries are fully developed, with distinct personalities. Aimee’s partner, Rene, is a computer wizard who is a dwarf. The two tackle intricate cases involving political figures as well as friends and associates. Aimee dresses like a Parisian fashion model, and gets around Paris on her Moped.

Murder in Passy

Aimee Leduc is praised as "one of the best heroines in crime fiction" by Lee Child. Author Val McDermid said, "If you’ve always wanted to visit Paris, skip the airfare and read Cara Black…instead."

Cara Black lives in San Francisco with her bookseller husband and son. She visits Paris frequently.

We hope you will join us for what promises to be an extraordinary presentation by Ms. Black. The meeting will be held at Terwilliger Plaza, 2545 SW Terwilliger Blvd. in the Conference Room, located on the P3 level. Directional signs will be posted in the building. There will be a reception at 7:00 pm, followed by the program at 7:30 pm. The meeting is free and open to the public. Free parking is available in the Terwilliger Plaza employee lots across 6th Avenue from the lower level entrance, and on Sheridan Street. Handicapped parking is available at the upper level entrance. Tri-Met bus #8, Jackson Park, stops just in front of the lower level entrance. Click here for directions to Terwilliger Plaza, including a map which shows parking in the area.

Date: Thursday, March 24th, 2011, 7:00pm
Location: Terwilliger Plaza, 2545 SW Terwilliger Blvd, Portland, OR

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Edgar Award Nominees for the Best of 2010

BEST NOVEL

  • Caught, by Harlan Coben
  • Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, by Tom Franklin
  • Faithful Place, by Tana French
  • The Queen of Patpong, by Timothy Hallinan
  • The Lock Artist, by Steve Hamilton
  • I’d Know You Anywhere, by Laura Lippman

BEST FIRST NOVEL

  • Rogue Island, by Bruce DeSilva
  • The Poacher’s Son, by Paul Doiron
  • The Serialist: A Novel, by David Gordon
  • Galveston, by Nic Pizzolatto
  • Snow Angels, by James Thompson

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL

  • Long Time Coming, by Robert Goddard
  • The News Where You Are, by Catherine O’Flynn
  • Expiration Date, by Duane Swierczynski
  • Vienna Secrets, by Frank Tallis
  • Ten Little Herrings, by L.C. Tyler

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A Cornish Copper

by Pete Scott

Wycliffe

The recent availability of "Wycliffe", an English police procedural on DVD that’s set in Cornwall, has acquainted American mystery fans with W.J. Burley, a little-known English mystery writer of whom I’m very fond. Contrary to the usual advice, Burley quit his comfortable, routine day job and devoted the rest of his life to writing. He was quite successful, and the beginning TV series based on his characters drew 20% of the entire British population in 1993. I don’t think any American TV series can make such a claim.

What makes the stories attractive? Well, they are relatively short at about 200 pages. They are well-thought out with interesting characters and locales along with the Cornish coast. No serial killers, terrorists, women in peril or nonstop thriller action that is common in our 400 page tomes. Chief Superintendent Charles Wycliffe is a normal human being with a lovely wife of his own age, two children, pets and a good support team of competent police. He doesn’t sit in his office but gets out into the public, asking questions, listening, looking for patterns, lies and inconsistencies. The crimes may be gruesome, but ordinary people are both the victims and the perpetrators.

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Events for Authors

Several events for authors are on the local literary calendar. We are pleased to provide this information for our members, mystery authors and fans.

Multnomah County Library’s Writers Resource Fair

Sunday, April 17th from 12 noon to 3 pm.
Central Library – 801 SW 10th, Portland
(Stop by the Friends of Mystery table and say ‘hi".)

April 30th, 2011 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Atkinson Memorial Church
710 Sixth Street Oregon City, OR 97045
phone: (503) 656-7296
www.atkinsonchurch.com
Contact salvagedivers@canby.com or, 503-801-6264, or 503-651-4335 (odd voicemail.)

Wilsonville Festival of the Arts

June 4-5 Author’s Fair
Town Center Park Wilsonville
Contact: Kit Whittaker, 503-682-1446

Third Annual NW Book Festival

Saturday, July 30th from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland
Contact: Veronica Esagui, 503-913-6006

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Bloody Thursday Meeting – May 26th

Be sure to mark your calendar for our May 26 Bloody Thursday meeting. We will start with our annual book sale. Both new and used books, hardcover and paperbacks, as well as magazines, audio books and DVD’s will be priced to sell. Included in the selection will be signed first additions, some of which are from the collection of author Sharan Newman.

We plan to have the winner of our 2011 Spotted Owl award as our speaker for the program. Announcement of the winner to be made soon.

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Mystery Conventions

Mystery conventions are a great place to meet and hear your favorite authors and to be in the company of mystery fans from all over the world. If you get a chance to attend one, you will want to be at another.

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Submissions Needed

Members and readers are encouraged to submit book or film reviews, comments on authors, recommendations for books to read, or questions about mysteries, crime fiction and fact. You can mail these to our PO Box 8251, Portland, OR 97207 or send to our email address at info@friendsofmystery.org.

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