AUTHOR APPRECIATION MONTH ~ PART 1

AUTHOR APPRECIATION MONTH ~ PART 1

 

May is author appreciation month. To celebrate, I'm sharing the lowdown on a number of authors who I appreciate and whose works merit more attention. Some are current writers deserving of a far wider audience, while others are old favorites who have undeservedly fallen out of the limelight...

 

First up, retired New Orleans homicide detective, O'Neil De Noux. O’Neil’s debut series, featuring NOPD homicide detective Dino LaStanza, is top notch—Start with Grim Reaper. 

 

However, my favorite among O’Neil’s characters is 1940s New Orleans private eye Lucien Caye. The Caye tales are atmospheric, dangerous, and engrossing. Caye is my favorite PI—start with New Orleans Rapacious...

 

For More on O’Neil De Noux CLICK HERE

 

British cop turned author John Wainwright's prolific output of mysteries and psychological thrillers from the '60s through the late '80s is extensive. Each of his books are solid reads with many making the jump to great reads. It is a crime he isn't better remembered today—Track down The Tenth Interview, Brainwash, The Ride, or the brilliant Blade RIP...

 

For more on John Wainwright CLICK HERE

 

Eric Beetner is the man leading the new wave of hardboiled writers. He is quite possibly the best new writer you’ve never heard of. His two Fight Card novels, Split Decision and A Mouthful of Blood, are perfect examples of what Fight Card was trying to accomplish. 

 

Recently, Blasted Heath published a new Beetner novel, Run For The Money, which teeters on the top of my to be read pile. However, my favorite Beetner novel is Rumrunners, a prime example of what he does best—full pedal to the metal, hard-hitting action. Another hot Beetner read is The Devil Wants Me Dead. You want crime? You want nasty, low down, desperate characters and wicked women? Then get you some Beetner now...

 

For more on Eric Beetner CLICK HERE

 

Bill Knox began his writing career as a Glasgow journalist at sixteen—tackling the positions of motoring correspondent, crime reporter, and news editor. He became well known to Scottish television viewers for his twelve years as the writer and presenter for police liaison program Crime Desk.

 

Knox began writing crime novels in the 1950s. Because of his prolific output, he used many pseudonyms—mostly for the American editions of his novels—including Michael Kirk, Robert MacLeod, and Noah Webster. He published over fifty crime novels, was translated into ten languages, and had worldwide sales in excess of four million copies. His best known books are the twenty-five titles featuring Scottish police detectives Thane and Moss—start with Rally To Kill, Draw Batons, or The Tallyman. 

 

While Knox’s Thane and Moss police procedural series received deserved attention, I prefer his fifteen novels spotlighting Webb Carrick of Her Majesty’s Fishery Protection Service. I was constantly amazed at how many solid plots Knox could build around a fish detective. To top it off, Carrick is a real man of action who leads his shipmates from the bow of the investigation, not from behind a desk at the stern—Check out Stormtide, Bombship, and Hellspout...

 

For more on Bill Knox CLICK HERE

 

Wayne D. Dundee is a writer who can turn his hand to any genre and deliver a rollicking tale. He turns genres upside down, shaking out all the clichés and tossing them away. A true wordslinger, is novels always break new ground in unexpected ways, often providing startling and satisfying twists—Look out for A Wide Spot In The Road.

 

Dundee made his mark originally with his private eye Joe Hannibal tales, which were nominated for an Edgar, an Anthony, and six Shamus Awards—Track down Blade of the Tiger or The Brutal Ballet. Dundee also founded —and was the original editor—

Hardboiled Magazine, which kept the flame of hardboiled fiction burning during a time when its flame was flickering.

 

Most recently, Dundee has taken the western genre by storm, receiving three Peacemaker Awards from Western Fictioneers—So, get your spurs on for Dismal River, This Old Star, or Quick Hands...

 

For more on Wayne D. Dundee CLICK HERE

 

Scottish author Gerald Hammond was prolific writer with over seventy published novels. His last title, The Unkindest Cut, was published in 2012. His two popular mystery series characters, gunsmith Keith Calder and Three Oaks dog kennel owner John Cunningham, allowed Gerald to create stories in which he could indulge his passions for guns, dogs, bird hunting, fly fishing, and all things outdoors in the Scottish countryside—Look for Dead Game and Dog In The Dark.

 

In the twenty-three Keith Calder novels and the eleven Three Oaks novels, Hammond created enduring characters with strong family ties. Often, Hammond let one of the series’ secondary characters take center stage if the plot revolved around something specific to their personality or situation.

 

While I enjoyed Hammond’s series novels, some of my favorite Hammond tales were the standalones he wrote late in his career. These featured excitements or passions that caught his fancy, including Formula One racing—Fine Tune—and gliding—Into the Blue...

 

For more on Gerald Hammond CLICK HERE

 

Writing can be a lonely trade. This month make an effort to show appreciation for your favorite authors by leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Let them know their efforts are reaching and entertaining readers...