Sigh. I really tried hard to like “Talk to Me” on TV last night – which apparently was supposed to be the next “Cold Feet”. Um, it isn’t. Unlike the glorious CF, TTM is clichéd, dull (serious yawning …) and full of characters too much up their own arses to be remotely likeable. Loveable doesn’t even come into it, to be honest. I mean, I seriously didn’t care about the totally unrealistic love triangle at the heart of it – as far as I’m concerned, they’re all as bad as each…

If you haven't watched the end of the Sopranos yet, DON'T READ THIS. If you have, please read on. (If you never plan to, who the heck are you and where have you been the past eight years?)

After all the speculation that Tony or AJ would be killed, or that Adrianna would rise from the dead, ending with a blank dark screen was a bold choice that is bound to piss off a ton of people. However, once I was finished yelling "It's…

Scotsman Allan Guthrie is one of the most demented and twisted crime writers working today. And one of the very best. His third novel, HARD MAN, is the first ot enjoy hardcover publication by a major US publisher. And while this might go a long way toward widening his reading audience, it will certainly cause his fans and newly acquired readers to seek each other out, find a secluded corner somewhere, and urgently quiz each other with questions like, "You read it, did that really happen?"…

If you scroll down a bit, you'll see a short story that first ran a couple of years ago in Shred of Evidence. It's from my novel series - Precinct Puerto Rico. Hope you enjoy:

The Inspector

By

Steven Torres



Like many bad days, this one was starting late. Gonzalo was scheduled to leave the station house and head home in fifteen minutes. His relief had already come in and Mari had called to say dinner was nearly done. Instead of finishing up his paperwork for…

By Guest Blogger Hank Phillippi Ryan

What if you could never be wrong? Never be late? Never call someone by the wrong name? Never make a mathematical error? Never choose the wrong word? And what if you could never wear the wrong outfit or have a bad hair day--and if you did, your fashion mistakes and hair disasters would be seen by millions of people?

That's the TV-centered life of an investigative reporter--the life I've lived for the past 30 years. It's a high-pressure,…

FAERIE TALE (Suspense/Fantasy-Hasting Family-Pennsylvania-Cont) – VG

Feist, Raymond, E. –Standalone

Doubleday, 1988, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780385236232



First Sentence: Barney Doyle sat at his cluttered workbench, attempting to fix Olaf Andersen’s ancient power mower for the fourth time in seven…

Ye gods, but it took me ages to get to sleep last night. My night-time routine (mental note: I really have to get a night-time routine sometime ...) must be truly shot to pieces. Also I was horrendously thirsty, but couldn't be arsed to get up for a drink. Must have been all that Lucozade having its evil revenge at last. Still, at least I'm back on the water today, so things are returning to normal. Hurrah.



We are still glued to Springwatch (…

Ok, well now that I've got your attention, I guess I have to explain the title of today's blog post. Yesterday, I visited the Chapters in Langley, BC. As we pulled into the parking lot, my first reaction was: "Wow! They even have people outside waiting to greet me...and they're handing out invitations to my signing." As we got closer, I saw it was a couple of protesters. So much for my special welcome...darn! :)



Upon entering the store, however, I was met with a great…

Okay, I know I’m not telling anyone here anything new. But this post was prompted by what happened last night vs. a (rediculous) thread I read a while back (not here) questioning the need to research.

For me, research is an on-going process. I may only need the information for a sentence or two, but it has to be right, right? Some things I know I’ll need to check ahead of time before…