NON-FICTION
Reviews
"I think what a review should do above all, whether the reviewer likes the book or not, is to give some flavor of the book--not just a plot summary, but a suggestion of its essence... If you want to see a good example, look no further than Kevin Burton Smith's reviews... in Mystery Scene. And it's a nice bonus when the reviewer can turn a phrase the way he does. Too many fan reviewers just don't take the time to polish what they produce."
Enid Schantz
Rue Morgue
Just as I owe a huge chunk of gratitude to David Firks of Blue Murder for his early support of my work, I have to tip my fedora to J. Kingston Pierce, the Crime Fiction editor of January Magazine, the on-line literary magazine, for his early encouragement. He originally invited me to contribute an essay on Ross Macdonald, but he soon had conned me into writing book reviews. A tireless editor, he helped me to become the writer I am. So, it's HIS fault...
Wanna get your book reviewed? Of course, there are no promises, but if you want to send me a review copy of your upcoming masterpiece, my snail mail address is:
Kevin Burton Smith
The Thrilling Detective Web Site
3053 Rancho Vista Blvd., Apt. 116,
Palmdale, California
93551
Other questions? Feel free to contact me via e-mail.
In reverse chrological order, this list covers book and film reviews.
Winter 2013, Mystery Scene #128
Review of The Wrath of Angels by John Connolly.
Winter 2013, Mystery Scene #128
Review of The Wrath of Angels by John Connolly.
Holiday 2012, Mystery Scene #127
Review of Jimmy the Stick by Michael Mayo.
Holiday 2012, Mystery Scene #127
Review of The Big Exit by David Carnoy. Perhaps a Peter Lawford impersonator would have been a better fit...
Fall 2012, Mystery Scene #126
Review of The Cocktail Waitress by James M. Cain. Yes, I really did say I wanted to punch him in the face.
Fall 2012, Mystery Scene #126
Review of A Pimp's Notes by Giorgio Faletti
Summer 2012, Mystery Scene #125
Review of Follow the Money by Peter Corris.
Summer 2012, Mystery Scene #125
Review of Guy Langman, Crime Scene Procrastinator by Josh Berk
Spring 2012, Mystery Scene #124
Review of Blues in the Night by Dick Lochte
Spring 2012, Mystery Scene #124
Review of That's How I Roll by Andrew Vachss
Winter 2012, Mystery Scene #123
Review of Zeke Batholomew: Superspy by Jason Pinter
Winter 2012, Mystery Scene #123
Review of All I Did Was Shoot My Man by Walter Mosley
Winter 2012, Mystery Scene #123
Review of The Hunter by John Lescroart
Holiday 2011, Mystery Scene #122
Review of The Hunter by John Lescroart
Mystery Scene
Review of 13 Million Dollar Pop by David Levien
Mystery Scene
Review of Bye Bye Baby by Max Allan Collins
Mystery Scene
Review of Getting Off by Jill Emerson
Mystery Scene
Review of Fun 'n' Games by Duane Swierczynski
Mystery Scene
Review of Collecting Coopers by Paul Cleaves
Mystery Scene
Review of 13 Million Dollar Pop by Steve Ulfelder
Mystery Scene
Review of A Bad Night's Sleep by Michael Wiley
Spring 2011, Mystery Scene #119
Review of Guy Langman, Crime Scene Procrastinator by Josh Berk
Spring 2011, Mystery Scene #119
Review of Dance in the Dark by Terence Faherty
Spring 2011, Mystery Scene #119
Review of Stolen Lives by Jassy Mackenzie
April, 2011, The Rap Sheet/The Thrilling Detective Blog
My review of the poetry collection, The Lineup 4, edited by Gerald So, Reed Farrel Coleman, Sarah Cortez and R. Narvaez. In free verse, no less! Pretentious? Moi?
Winter 2011, Mystery Scene #118
Review of The Border Lords by T. Jefferson Parker.
Winter 2011, Mystery Scene #118
Review of Rat Catcher by Andy Diggle and Victor Ibanez
Winter 2011, Mystery Scene #118
Review of Devil's Slew by Darryl Wimberly.
December 2010, January Magazine
Review of Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane.
December 2010, January Magazine
Review of Tumor by Joshua Hale Fialkov.
December 2010, January Magazine
Review of Cape Greed by Sam Cole.
December 2010, January Magazine
Review of The Finger's Twist by Lee Lamothe.
November 2010, Spinetingler Magazine
Review of the Dennis Lehane short story from Best American Noir of the Century
Holiday 2010, Mystery Scene #117
Review of Disciple of the Dog by R. Scott Baker"Betrayers"
Summer 2010, Mystery Scene #115
Review of Betrayers by Bill Pronzini
Fall 2010, Mystery Scene #116
Review of In Search of Mercy by Michael Ayoob
Fall 2010, Mystery Scene #116
Review of Babylon Nights by Daniel Depp
Fall 2010, Mystery Scene #116
Review of Ghosted by Shaughnessy Bishop-Stall
Summer 2010, Mystery Scene #115
Review of Rock Paper Tiger by Lisa Brackman
Summer 2010, Mystery Scene #115
Review of Betrayers by Bill Pronzini
Mystery Scene
Review of Voyeur by Daniel Judson
Mystery Scene
Review of Drink the Tea by Thomas Kaufman
Mystery Scene
Review of Mississippi Vivian by Bill Crider and Clyde Wilson
Mystery Scene
Review of I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells
Mystery Scene
Review of The Last Gig by Norman Green
December 2009, January Magazine
Review of Britten and Brülightly by Hannah Berry.
December 2009, January Magazine
Review of Dope Thief by Dennis Tafoya.
December 2009, January Magazine
Review of Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay.
December 2009, January Magazine
Review of The Professional by Robert B. Parker.
Holiday 2009, Mystery Scene #112
Review of Alone by Loren Estleman
Holiday 2009, Mystery Scene #112
Review of London Boulevard by Ken Bruen
Fall 2009, Mystery Scene #111
Review of Alibi by Teri Woods
Fall 2009, Mystery Scene #111
Review of While My Guitar Gently Weeps by Deborah Grabien
Summer 2009, Mystery Scene #110
Review of Dope Thief by Dennis Tafoya
Summer 2009, Mystery Scene #110
Review of Fear the Worst by Linwood Barclay
May 2009, The Thrilling Detective Blog
Review of Pain Killers by Jerry Stahl.
May 2009, The Thrilling Detective Blog
Rant/review of Palos Verdes Blue by John Shannon.
Spring 2009, Mystery Scene #109
Review of A Quiet Flame by Philip Kerr
Spring 2009, Mystery Scene #109
Review of Devil's Garden by Ace Atkins
Spring 2009, Mystery Scene #109
Review of Havana Fever by Leonardo Padura
Winter 2009, Mystery Scene On-line Exclusive
Review of One Night Stands & Lost Weekends by Lawrence Block
Winter 2009, Mystery Scene #108
Review of Sucker Punch by Ray Banks
Winter 2009, Mystery Scene #108
Review of The Last Gig by Norman Green
December 2008, January Magazine
Review of Darwin’s Nightmare by Mike Knowles.
December 2008, January Magazine
Review of The Mammoth Book of Best Crime Comics edited by Paul Gravett.
December 2008, January Magazine
Review of Rough Weather by Robert B. Parker.
December 2008, January Magazine
Review of Salvation Boulevard by Larry Beinhart.
December 2008, January Magazine
Review of True Crime: An American Anthology edited by Harold Schechter.
Holiday 2008, Mystery Scene #107
Review of The Goliath Bone by Mickey Spillane & Max Allan Collins
Holiday 2008, Mystery Scene #107
Review of Darwin's Nightmare by Mike Knowles
Fall 2008, Mystery Scene #106
Review of Salvation Boulevard by Larry Beinhart
Fall 2008, Mystery SceneOn-Line Exclusive
Review of The Big O by Declan Burke
Fall 2008, Mystery Scene #106
Review of Blood Storm by Sam Millar
Summer 2008, Mystery Scene #105
Review of Politics Noir, edited by Gary Phillips
Summer 2008, Mystery Scene #105
Review of Hit and Run by Lawrence Block
Summer 2008, Mystery Scene #105
Review of Fever by Bill Pronzini
Summer 2008, Mystery Scene #105
Review of The Hidden Man by Anthony Flacco
May 2008, The Rap Sheet
One of my favourite "forgotten" novels, in response to a challenge from Patti Abbott.
December 2007, January Magazine
Review of The Archer Files: The Complete Short Stories of Lew Archer, Private Investigator by Ross Macdonald, edited by Tom Nolan
December 2007, January Magazine
Review of The Color of Blood by Declan Hughes.
December 2007, January Magazine
Review of The Dark Streets by John Shannon.
December 2007, January Magazine
Review of Donkey Punch by Ray Banks.
December 2007, January Magazine
Review of Donkey Punch by Ray Banks.
December 2007, January Magazine
Review of Life: The Most Notorious Crimes in American History.
March 2006, January Magazine
Review of Silverfish by David Lapham .
December 2007, The Thrilling Detective Blog
Review of Money Shot by Christa Faust.
March 2006, January Magazine
Review of The Dark Streets by John Shannon.
December 2006, January Magazine
Including my reviews of The Blonde by Duane Swierczcynski, By the Time You Read This by Giles Blunt, ...Go to Helena Handbasket by Donna Moore, Lights Out by Jason Starr and The Wrong Kind of Blood by Declan Hughes.
October 2006, The Thrilling Detective Blog
Potshot reviews of American Skin by Ken Bruen, Lights Out by Jason Starr and Ripperology by Robin Odell.
June 2006, January Magazine
Reviews of Sorrow's Anthem by Michael Koryta and Mourners by Bill Pronzini
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Holiday 2005, Mystery Scene #92
Review of This Girl For Hire by G.G. Fickling
Holiday 2005, Mystery Scene #92
Review of San Francisco Noir, edited by Peter Maravelis
April 2006, January Magazine
Review of Zero to the Bone by Robert Eversz
December 2005, January Magazine
Including my reviews of Controlled Burn: Stories of Prison, Crime, and Men by Scott Wolven, The Hot Kid by Elmore Leonard and a joint review of To the Power of Three by Laura Lippman and School Days by Robert B. Parker.
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December 2004, January Magazine
Including my reviews of Busted Flush by Brad Smith, The Colorado Kid by Stephen King and Lost Stories by Dashiell Hammett; edited by Vince Emery
September-November 2005, The Rap Sheet
September-November 2005, The Rap Sheet
September-November 2005, The Rap Sheet
September-November 2005, The Rap Sheet
Reviews of The Hardy Boys: The Ocean of Osiyra by Scott Lobdell and Lea Hernandez and Nancy Drew: The Demon of River Heights by Stefan Petrucha and Sho Murase
Fall 2005, Mystery Scene #91
Review of Easy Streets by Bill James.
Fall 2005, Mystery Scene #91
Review of Killing Rain by Barry Eisler.
October 2005, January Magazine
Review of The Hot Kid by Elmore Leonard
August 2005, January Magazine
Reviews of In a Teapot and The Confessions of Owen Keane by Terence Faherty
Joint review by Kevin Burton Smith and Cindy Chow
June 2005, The Rap Sheet
June 2005, The Rap Sheet
June 2005, The Rap Sheet
June 2005, The Rap Sheet
June 2005, January Magazine
Review of Transgressions, edited by Ed McBain
Spring 2005, Mystery Scene #89
Review of Controlled Burn: Stories of Prison, Crime and Men by Scott Wolven.
Spring 2005, Mystery Scene #89
Review of Ten Little New Yorkers by Kinky Friedman.
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Spring 2005, Mystery Scene #89
Review of The Rosary Girls by Richard Montanari.
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Spring 2005, Mystery Scene #89
Review of What Goes Around, Comes Around by Con Lehane.
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Spring 2005, Mystery Scene #89
Review of Out by Natsuo Kirino.
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April 2005, January Magazine
Review of Digging James Dean by Robert Eversz and The James Deans by Reed Farrell Coleman
March-April 2005, The Rap Sheet
March-April 2005, The Rap Sheet
March-April 2005, The Rap Sheet
March 2005, January Magazine
Review of Cavalcade by Walter Satterthwait.
Winter 2004, Mystery Scene #88
Review of Angeltown by Gary Phillips and Shawn Martinbrough.
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February 2005, January Magazine
Review of Vintage Hammett by Dashiell Hammett. Part of January's "Let's Talk About the Black Bird," a 75th anniversary tribute to Dashiell Hammett and The Maltese Falcon.
January-February 2005, The Rap Sheet
January-February 2005, The Rap Sheet
January-February 2005, The Rap Sheet
January-February 2005, The Rap Sheet
January-February 2005, The Rap Sheet
December 2004, January Magazine
Including reviews of Double Play by Robert B. Parker , Hard Revolution by George Pelecanos, Little Scarlet by Walter Mosley and Nobody Runs Forever by Richard Stark.
December 2004, January Magazine
Including my reviews of The Killing of the Tinkers by Ken Bruen, and Tonight I Said Goodbye
by Michael Koryta
Holiday 2004, Mystery Scene #87
Review of Road to Purgatory by Max Allan Collins.
Holiday 2004, Mystery Scene #87
Review of Nobody Runs Forever by Richard Stark.
Holiday 2004, Mystery Scene #87
Review of Tonight I Said Goodbye by Michael Koryta.
Holiday 2004, Mystery Scene #87
Review of Boyos by Richard Marinick.
(Orig. title: Wish They All Could be California Girl)
November 2004, January Magazine
Review of California Girl by T. Jefferson Parker.
October-November 2004, Rap Sheet
Reviews of Fade to Blonde by Max Phillips, Little Girl Lost by Richard Aleas and Gravedigger: The Scavengers by Christopher Mills and Rick Burchett.
Fall 2004, Mystery Scene #86
Review of Little Scarlet by Walter Mosley.
September 2004, Rap Sheet
Reviews of Shark Tank by Tom O'Neill, The Mongol Reply by Benjamin M. Schutz and Pattaya 24/7 by Christopher G. Moore.
September 2004, January Magazine
Review of Little Scarlet by Walter Mosley.
Valley Sports News & Review
Movie/DVD review.
July 2004, Rap Sheet
Reviews of Terminal Island by John Shannon, By a Spider's Thread by Laura Lippman, Retro by Loren D. Estleman and Death Match by Lincoln Child.
Summer 2004, Mystery Scene #85
Review of Down Here by Andrew Vachss.
Summer 2004, Mystery Scene #85
Review of Death Match by Lincoln Child.
Summer 2004, Mystery Scene #85
Review of Terminal Island by John Shannon.
June 2004, Rap Sheet
Reviews of The Alias Man by Bill Pronzini, The Burglar on the Prowl by Lawrence Block, Primal Spillane by Mickey Spillane and Echo Bay by Richard Barre.
June 2004, Valley Sports News & Review
Movie/DVD review.
June 2004, Valley Sports News & Review
Book review of Bicycle Love, edited by Garth Batista.
Spring 2004, Mystery Scene #84
Review of Drop Dead, My Lovely by Ellis Weiner
Spring 2004, Mystery Scene #84
Review of Sleeper: Out in the Cold by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
April 2004, January Magazine
Review of Hard Revolution by George Pelecanos. see also my review of Hard Revolution: The Soundtrack to the Novel.
April 2004, January Magazine
Review of Shadow Men by Jonathon King.
April 2004, Rap Sheet
Reviews of The Troubleshooter by Austin S. Camacho, Cold Case by Robin Burcell and The Spy's Guide: Office Espionage by H. Keith Melton, Craig Piligian and Duane Swierczynski.
Winter 2004, Mystery Scene #83
Review of Bangers by Gary Phillips
Winter 2004, Mystery Scene #83
Review of The Killing of the Tinkers by Ken Bruen
Febuary-March 2004, Rap Sheet
Reviews of Weeping by Shelly Reuben, Breaking Up Is Hard to Do by Ed Gorman and Dead Man's Touch by Kit's Ehrman.
February 2004, January Magazine
Review of Dark As Night by Mark T. Conard.
January 2004, January Magazine
Review of Tribeca Blues by Jim Fusilli.
January 2004, Rap Sheet
Reviews of Fedora II edited by Michael Bracken and The Killing of the Tinkers by Ken Bruen.
December 2003, January Magazine
Including reviews of City of Strangers by John Shannon, Dynamite Road by Andrew Klavan, Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman and Tribeca Blues by Jim Fusilli
December 2003, January Magazine
Including my reviews of Cold Pursuit by T. Jefferson Parker, and Hard Boiled Love edited by Kerry J. Schooley and Peter Sellers.
December 2003, January Magazine
Including my Reviews of Ultimate Punishment : A Lawyer's Reflections on Capital Punishment by Scott Turow, and Death and Justice: An Exposé of Oklahoma's Death Row Machine by Mark Fuhrman.
November 2003, Rap Sheet
Mini-review of Something Down There by Mickey Spillane
October 2003, January Magazine
Review of Burning Garbo by Robert Everz
Fall 2003, Mystery Scene #81
Mini-review of Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman
October 2003, January Magazine
Review of Sayonaraville by Curt Colbert
September-October 2003, Rap Sheet
Reviews of Velda by Ron Miller and Atomic Renaissance by Jeffrey Marks.
September 2003, January Magazine
Review of Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman.
August 2003, January Magazine
Review of Director's Cut by Roger L. Simon.
A few people took exception to this review (I was disappointed by the book), but several authors subsequently approached me about the possibility of me reviewing their books. Go figure...
August 2003, January Magazine
Reviews of Underkill by Leonard Chang, The Repo by Bill Eidson and Dying Embers by Robert E. Bailey.
June 2003, Rap Sheet
Reviews of Steve Hamilton's Blood Is the Sky, Kerry Schooley and Peter Sellers' Hard-Boiled Love and the Moonstone Noir line of crime comics.
June 2003, January Magazine
Review of Christopher G. Moore's Waiting for the Lady.
May 2003, Rap Sheet
Reviews of Jon Breen's Mystery: Best of 2002, Nathan Walpow's One Last Hit and John Shannon's City of Strangers.
May 2003, January Magazine
Review of T. Jefferson Parker's Cold Pursuit.
February 2003, Rap Sheet
Reviews of Lawrence Block's Small Town and Dominic Martell's The Republic of Night.
January 2003, January Magazine
Review of Allan Levine's The Bolshevik's Revenge.
December 2002, Rap Sheet
Mini-review of John Connolly's The Killing Kind.
November 2002, January Magazine
Review of Sam Reave's Dooley's Back.
Other Voices
October 2002, Rap Sheet
Mini-review of Fredric Brown's Hunter and Hunted.
September 2002, January Magazine
Review of Barry Eisler's Rain Fall. The first time an actual author contacted me about a review. Although he obviously didn't agree with everything in my review (it was negative), Barry was polite and supportive and told me he had enjoyed it.
August 2002, January Magazine
Review of Lawrence Block's Enough Rope. Fortunately, Lawrence Block got the joke. Unfortunately, not all his fans did.
May 2002, The Rap Sheet
Reviews of Lee Child's Without Fail and C.S. Thompson's Games Dead People Play.
My first appearance in the "Other Voices" section of The Rap Sheet, January Magazine's monthly crime fiction newsletter.
January 2002, HandHeldCrime*
Review of Max Allan Collins's The History of Mystery.
Like Blue Murder, HandHeld Crime was a professional market that offered downloadable crime fiction on the internet, and like Blue Murder, we'll miss it.
January 2001, January Magazine
Review of Richard Helms' Joker Poker.
August 2000, January Magazine
Review of Harlan Coben's Darkest Fear.
Summer 2000, Crime Time
Sidebar review of José Latour's Outcast, accompanying an author interview by my pal Peter Walker. My first overseas print publication .
June 2000, January Magazine
Review of Roger L. Simon's The Lost Coast.
May 2000, January Magazine
Review of Robert Crais' Demolition Angel.
April 2000, January Magazine
Review of Harold Adams' Lead, So I May Follow.
March 2000, January Magazine
Review of G.M. Ford's The Deader the Better.
February 2000, January Magazine
Joint review of Elizabeth M. Cosin's Zen and the City of Angels and Dashiell Loveless's Five Shots and a Funeral.
January 2000, January Magazine
Review of Laura Lippman's In Big Trouble. In this one I reveal my long-standing crush on Tess Monaghan.
December 1999, January Magazine
Review of Dashiell Hammett's Nightmare Town.
November 1999, January Magazine
Review of José Latour's Outcast.
October 1999, January Magazine
Review of Greg Rucka's Shooting at Midnight.
September 1999, January Magazine
Review of Stuart Kaminsky's Vengeance.
July 1999, January Magazine
Review of Don Winslow's California Fire and Life.
June 1999, January Magazine
Review of John Farrow's City of Ice
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May 1999, January Magazine
Review of Robert B. Parker's Hush Money.
Care to drop me a line? Go ahead, punk. Make my day.
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