Another shout-out for Jim Horsman’s Halloween book on the day

When I posted this story last week, Facebook didn’t allow me the proper linking photo characteristics. I want to give it another chance. Some quarter century ago, Jim Horsman wrote a story about Halloween. He liked the tale of three characters he’s made up in his mind, sure. But the Syracuse-area man stuck it in…

The Central Library looks smart indeed

They threw an open house on South Salina Street this week. The Onondaga County Public Library’s Central Branch has been working on its three floors of grand stuff in the Galleries of Syracuse since I’ve been working at the Liverpool Public Library. Our brethren did good. Real good. The Children’s Room on the second floor…

Grisham takes to the mountains to battle Big Coal

Sometimes we fall behind, even on our favorite authors, don’t we? And so after I put down Gray Mountain, I wasn’t totally surprised that John Grisham had released this tale centered around a promising young woman attorney who descends from bustling Big Law in New York City to the mysterious and perhaps not-so-sleepy mountains of…

I’ll miss new words from the great Pat Conroy

Thank you, Pat Conroy, for all the hours of wonder you gave me. Through all these decades, you shared precious chunks of time in my life. In my 30s, 40s and 50s, I’ve spent stolen moments gripping your novels, wordlessly turning the pages, my mind transported to your beautifully crafted, realistically flawed, undeniably entertaining people…

Robert Crais brings Elvis Cole into an explosive promise

Elvis Cole keeps his cool in The Promise while Los Angeles police chase nefarious characters and keep their eyes on him, too. Yes, novelist Robert Crais has put his free-wheeling private eye in a dangerous predicament again. And of course Cole has quiet agency partner Joe Pike and other connected folks who operate way off…

Michael Connelly crosses Harry Bosch over the line

Harry Bosch is struggling with his conscience again. LA’s crime fighter that comes from the mind of Michael Connelly is deep into finding out if somebody did or did not commit the murder in The Crossing. Once again, the man whose familiar handle shortens his given name only the more sophisticated in his circles realize…

Three-Day Quote Challenge: Harry Bosch

Knock-knock, said Susanne Valenti’s post. Who’s there, I replied. Why, it’s the Three-Day Quote Challenge … Or something like that. You can find the new blogger in the WordPress universe here. Orange you glad you nominated me, Susanne? In my second time through the quote game, I decided to go with words uttered in novels…