Spinetingler Magazine Official Re-launch
For the last month or so, Spinetingler has been in the middle of a facelift and working in a live beta mode while doing so. This week is our “official” re-launch, and we would like to invite everyone to stop by; we have a lot planned. We made a decision to shift away from issue-based [...]
Debut issue of Crimefactory crime zine
Keith Rawson, Cameron James Ashley and Liam Jose have taken the original Crimefactory zine that was created by David Honeybone and resurrected like a Romero zombie. And make no mistake Barbara, Crimefactory is coming to get you. Their hard work has paid off and the first issue went live sometime over night and it’s packed [...]
Charlie Huston’s The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death for HBO
I either missed this when it came out or I didn’t process it at the time. Either way this is old at this point. Alan Ball, a producer who gets things done (True Blood, Six Feet Under), dropped the an interesting quote while giving an interview in the Sydney Morning Herald back in November.
More after the jump…
What was the best online writing of 2009?
In this varied world of online writing, increasingly you can and will come across a piece of original writing that strikes you as being great. It may touch you or give you pause or make you think. You may even come back to it to reference it, to re-engage it, to revel in it. Finding quality online writing is becoming much more commonplace, and disseminating that information through the usual outlets (links, tweets, etc.) just feels…inadequate and temporary. One of my fears is that in the long run a lot of this stuff will be lost and forgotten, and in many case it shouldn’t.
More after the jump…
Reading Period for The Spinetingler Awards Now Open

At this time I would like to announce that the reading period for the novel categories of the Spinetingler Awards is now open. Unofficially the reading period for the Spinetingler Awards is always open, because over the course of the year we make note of the books that we read and enjoyed. It can’t be stated any simpler than this: in order to make sure that a book is considered, it has to be put in front of us. If you are an editor, a publicist, a press owner, or an author and you want a title considered for the Spinetingler Awards, please contact me.
Find out the full procedures after the jump…
The Best Mystery/Crime Fiction of 2009

2009 was an interesting year for mystery and crime fiction, and now BSC has a three-way break-down of all of it for you. Our dedicated mystery crew, Brian Lindenmuth, Keith Rawson, and The Nerd of Noir all offer their top 10 picks of the year, plus a few also-rans. Some of the books overlap, some you may have seen here, and some may be new to everyone.
Check them out after the jump…
Criterion Collection’s Japanese film noir box set on DVD
Criterion Collection has released six classic Japanese noir movies that should be a boon to crime fiction fans, movie buffs, and everyone in between. This collection came out a couple of months ago, but I just heard about it recently. With the holiday season upon us and Amazon promising delivery by the 24th if you order by the 17th, it’s not too late to mention it as a gift idea for the mystery (or movie) buff in your life.
Read more about the set after the jump…
The Electric Mayhem: Ravens, This Wicked World and Almost Gone
This edition of the Electric Mayhem spotlights the debut novel of Richard Lange, This Wicked World, the first novel in 14 years from George Dawes Green, Ravens, and another offering in the inaugural New Pulp Press series, Almost Gone by Stan Richards.
Read more after the jump…
The Electric Mayhem: Shadow Season, Jump and Revolver
In this installment of The Electric Mayhem, Brian shares a few thoughts on Shadow Season by Tom Piccirilli, Jump by Tim Maleeny, and Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick.
More after the jump…
The Electric Mayhem: The Singer, The Devil’s Staircase and Scalped: High Lonesome
I’ll be switching back to a column format for awhile in order to accommodate an increasingly busy schedule and to try and get caught up.
In this edition of The Electric Mayhem, I look at The Singer by Cathi Unsworth, The Devil’s Staircase by Helen Fitzgerald, and Scalped: High Lonesome by Jason Aaron and RM Guera.
More after the jump…
Liar by Justine Larbalestier – review
I’ve seen reviews on Liar from the perspectives of librarians and YA readers, and the praise in those circles has been high. Rightly so, too, I might add. Except I mainly write mystery and crime fiction reviews, admittedly casting as wide a net as possible, so that will be my perspective here, because I think it applies.
Full review after the jump…





