This entry is spurred in part because a couple people asked me to talk about some stuff I'd been reading that I liked and in part because it's Edgar Week everybody! As we speak, the parties, the gatherings, the awards, the frolic, the mayhem, the gossip, the mad affairs, the frolicking has begun sweeping Manhattan. (What do I know? I've never been. I just see the photos and the after-comments on blogs. Eh. I probably don't have the shoes anyway.!)

So okay, right now today, I'm reading China Mieville's amazing THE CITY AND THE CITY and if you read sf or mystery or political stories, you should be reading this book (assuming you didn't already because everyone knows about it but me.)

While you're requesting that one at the library, put your name in for Scott Turow's INNOCENT. No, no, not PRESUMED INNOCENT (ok but read that if you haven't, please) but the sequel, as it were, the follow-up to that first book some 20-something years later. It's f*cking amazing. Too. Also. As is the Mieville. No kidding. Oh and Laurie R King's THE GOD OF THE HIVE is officially out. You knew that, right?

I'm rereading (sorry, but i have a bathroom book going too) by the talented Mike Lupica. LIMITED PARTNER by this sports buy and novelist which I have not read in ages but recommend. Recent rereads include Julie Smith's terrific NEW ORLEANS MOURNING and THE AXEMAN'S JAZZ in her Skip Langdon series.

I'm all over the place, aren't I?

Next up, maybe. I've got this Simon Tolkien book THE INHERITANCE, which makes me nervous. It's not so much the cross on the cover but the fear that it's yet another tiresome "relic" mystery written on the coattails of Dan Brown. I just don't know. Did not read Tolkien's first one (and yeah, he's the grandson). Ken Wishnia's THE FIFTH SERVANT is on its way. Ken aka kja wishnia is a damn fine writer. This is new stuff for him. And THE SCENT OF RAIN AND LIGHTNING a new one by Nancy Pickard is also on its way and I'm really looking forward to that book as well. Nancy wrote a fine series and her THE VIRGIN OF SMALL PLAINS was a knockout of a book.

As we are in the middle of nominating books for the Anthony Award (given at Bouchercon in October) and as I'm the person counting those entries and ballots, I'm getting lots of good ideas of stuff to read that I had not heard of previously - a great benefit to the job. Can't mention any here yet but once nominations close, maybe I'll have a new list. If you plan to nominate for the Anthony Award, you have another month. Don't put that ballot at the bottom of the pile! Members of Bouchercon 2009 and 2010 are eligible to nominate. You should have gotten email with a ballot. If not. Please go to our website and click on the "awards" link at the left and you can download a ballot. http://www.bcon2010.com/awards.php. Email is preferred but you can mail it to us as well.

Questions or comments on books? Post here. On the Anthonys? you're welcome to email me using the link above.