Crimespree Magazine Issue 66

By Jon Jordan

Crimespree Magazine Issue 66 features an interview with Lori Rader-Day by Dan and Kate Malmon. We also have Jon Jordan speaking with Haylen Beck (aka Stuart Neville), Michael Barson sits down with Ace Atkins and Michael Brandman and Phillip Kerr speaks with Christina Ward. Les Edgerton is grilled by Anthony Campbell while David James Keaton squares off with Tim Hennesey.

M.C. Neuda delivers a short story called “Gamblin’ Man” and Nolan Knight delivers “Mouth Bay.” This issue includes articles by Hector Acosta, David E. Grogan, S.W. Lauden, Eric Beetner, Sam Wiebe, Dana King and Brian Freeman.

Additionally, the usual suspects show up: Craig McDonald, Chris Holm, and Kristi Belcamino. Book Reviews are served aplenty.

The sixty-sixth issue is fully loaded. Enjoy!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Down & Out Books
• Release date: Nov 24, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370395378

Book preview

CRIMESPREE MAGAZINE

Issue 66

Editors in Chief and Publishers:

Jon Jordan and Ruth Jordan

Special Features Editor:

Jennifer Jordan

Entertainment/Online Content Editor:

Jeremy Lynch

Comics Editors:

Joe Schmidt, Kate and Dan Malmon

Contributors:

Erica Neubauer, Craig McDonald,

Linda Brown, Ayo Onatade,

Kate and Dan Malmon

Chris Holm and Kristi Belcamino

Crimespree Magazine (ISSN: 1551-5826) is published bi-monthly. Due to the irregularities of shipping we cannot guarantee when the issues will arrive.

For subscriptions and other correspondence:

Crimespree Magazine

536 South 5th Street

Milwaukee, WI 53204

Or [e-mail]

For Advertising contact:

Jon Jordan at 414-278-5881

[e-mail]

Subscriptions are $38 in US, $60 in Canada, and $60 overseas. All funds in US dollars.

The opinions expressed in some of the articles in this magazine do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers. We do however believe no voice should be censored. Information in the articles is to the best of our knowledge accurate and factual.

Contents Copyright©2017 Crimespree Magazine

CrimespreeMag.com

eBook published by Down & Out Books

DownAndOutBooks.com

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author/these authors.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Editorial by Jon Jordan

Behind the Books by David E. Grogan

Review of Atomic Blonde by Neliza Crew

FICTION:

Gamblin’ Man by M.C. Neuda

THE CRIMESPREE INTERVIEW:

Lori Rader-Day by Kate and Dan Malmon

Ace Atkins: Writing, Reading and Robert B. Parker by Michael Barson

Phillip Kerr Interview by Christina Ward

Crime Authors on Their Favorite TV Shows by Libby Cudmore

An Interview with Haylen Beck aka Stuart Neville by Jon Jordan

A Novella Idea by S.W. Lauden

Susan M. Boyer—Lowcountry Bonfire—Interview by John B. Valeri

Diving into the Deep End: Finding a Place in the Crime Fiction Family by Eric Beetner

Behind the Books by K.J. Howe

Five Clues that You’re Reading a Brian Freeman Thriller

For the Audience by Hector Acosta

FICTION:

Mouth Bay by Nolan Knight

Murder Songs by Sam Wiebe

Under Review: An Interview with Benoit Lelievre by Dan Malmon

Q&A with Michael Brandman by Michael Barson

My Evolution into a Domestic Thriller Writer by Michele Campbell

Memories Tried & Maybe Not So True by Clea Simon

Interview with Dana King

David James Keaton Interview by Tim Hennesey

Craig’s Joint by Craig McDonald

Holm Invasion by Chris Holm

Our Tribe by Kristi Belcamino

Les Edgerton Interviewed by Anthony Campbell

Book Reviews

Cooking with Crimespree

Editorial: Support

By Jon Jordan

Issue 66

Jon: Hey guys! I was thinking that since we handed the magazine over for an issue we would interview you. You both work full time and are still busy with family and an addiction to sports events. When do you find time to read?

Kate: I’ve tried to tell the day job that I need more time to read, and they just said, Get back to work and walked away. We worked out an agreement where I would get to read over my lunch breaks and they would let me keep my job.

Dan: That’s the hard part, right? Working and not being much of a night owl make it really tough to get through the TBR pile.

Jon: For the most part it seems you have similar tastes in books, comics and movies. Are there any stand out points when you disagreed about the merits of entertainment?

Kate: The movie BUCKAROO BONZAI ACROSS THE FIFTH DIMENSION. Dan loves this movie more than anything. I’ve tried watching it on VHS, DVD, and streaming and I still think it is terrible. I’ve done my time with this movie and I’m out.

Dan: Did she say Buckaroo Banzai? I bet she said Buckaroo Banzai. Man, she hates that movie. **goes to watch Buckaroo Banzai**

Jon: A movie of your lives has been greenlit, awesome director and you get to help cast it. Who is in the movie and who do they play?

Kate: Brad Pitt as the hunky neighbor. Betty White as my grandmother. Emma Stone as the cool woman I wanted to be when I grew up.

Dan: Hm. Young John Cusack as me. George Peppard as Hannibal. Dwight Schultz as Murdock, and Dirk Benedict as Templeton Peck.

Jon: What is your favorite thing about this community of mystery fans and writers?

Kate: How incredibly welcoming everyone is. You don’t need to prove yourself worthy of friendship. As long as you’re cool with mystery and crime fiction, you’re usually in. Except for that one guy. He knows who he is.

Dan: It’s the Tribe aspect. The Mystery Community is the only place I’ve ever been where you’re IN until you’re OUT. And god help the fool that messes up enough to get on the outs with this bunch.

Jon: Since opening the door backstage so to speak, what has been your biggest surprise about authors and the book business?

Kate: That the writers are hilarious. If you based your impression of writers on their author photos, you would think they just spend all of their time lurking in poorly-light, brick lined alleys wearing some manner of leather jacket. Not true! They clearly work out all (or at least most) of their issues on the page.

Dan: That just because we get to hang out with folks that chronicle the adventures of serial killers and mob bosses and street punks, doesn’t mean that they don’t like to have brunch. And most of them know which fork to use!

Jon: What is your favorite thing about this community of mystery fans and writers?

Kate: How incredibly welcoming everyone is. You don’t need to prove yourself worthy of friendship. As long as you’re cool with mystery and crime fiction, you’re usually in. Except for that one guy. He knows who he is.

Dan: It’s the Tribe aspect. The Mystery Community is the only place I’ve ever been where you’re IN until you’re OUT. And god help the fool that messes up enough to get on the outs with this bunch.

Jon: Since opening the door backstage so to speak what has been your biggest surprise about authors and the book business?

Kate: That the writers are hilarious. If you based your impression of writers on their author photos, you would think they just spend all of their time lurking in poorly-light, brick lined alleys wearing some manner of leather jacket. Not true! They clearly work out all (or at least most) of their issues on the page.

Dan: That just because we get to hang out with folks that chronicle the adventures of serial killers and mob bosses and street punks, doesn’t mean that they don’t like to have brunch. And most of them know which fork to use!

Jon: You have an extra 2 weeks paid vacation and no obligations. What are you doing with this found time?

Kate: It depends on the time of year. If it’s winter, I’m going someplace with blue waters and palm trees and a beach and fruity drinks. If it’s the other 3 months of the year when it isn’t cold in Minnesota, I’m going to Europe. I’d get a rail pass and see as many countries as I could.

Dan: Did she say Europe? I was going to say Europe. It’s really hard answering these questions second. She keeps taking all my answers.

Jon: Ever had the inclination to try your hand at writing fiction?

Kate: Not since I was in school and had to take creative writing. I think I once tried to write a novel outside of class, but got distracted with band or a butterfly or a boy or something.

Dan: Nah.

Jon: Lying in bed and can’t sleep, what do you do?

Kate: Thankfully not being able to sleep usually isn’t a problem. On the rare occasion I can’t sleep, I’ll get up and read.

Dan: Count the hours till I have to get up and go to work. Panic that I didn’t get enough sleep.

Jon: Some rapid fire questions:

Favorite Star Wars movie?

Kate: THE FORCE AWAKENS

Dan: EMPIRE. Not even a question.

Best thing to eat for breakfast?

Kate: Scrambled eggs

Dan: French toast

Perfect amount of sleep?

Kate: 7-8 hours

Dan: 8 hours

Favorite tree?

Kate: The ones in my yard

Dan: Bonsai

M&Ms: plain or peanut?

Kate: Peanut butter

Dan: Peanut

Best frozen yogurt?

Kate: Yes, please.

Dan: Vanilla with fruit topping.

On The Cover

Photo of Lori Rader-Day by Justin Barbin

http://justin-barbin.com/

Back to TOC

Behind the Books

By David E. Grogan

Issue 66

I have always loved veterans’ stories. My dad was an Air Force fighter pilot in the 1950s, so there was no shortage of military tales to go around. Some of my favorites involved pilot candidates washing out of flight school because they passed out while getting their shots; an Air Force dentist reading instructions out of a manual while another dentist carried out those instructions on my dad’s teeth; and my dad dropping my mother off at the base hospital to deliver me because he had just returned from a training mission (he did come back after a nap). On a more somber note, he told us how his F-89 Scorpion carried nuclear tipped missiles to take out Russian bombers if the Cold War ever went hot. My great Uncle Carl was another veteran who could keep us spellbound on my grandmother’s front porch, as he talked about being a mule tender with the U.S. Army in France during World War I.

These stories, and others like them, made veterans my heroes. So I was thrilled when I found the syndicated radio show Veterans Chronicles, hosted by Gene Pell, during the summer of 2013. At the time, I was assigned in the Pentagon working for the Judge Advocate General of the Navy, but my family lived in Virginia Beach. That meant commuting 199 miles from Virginia Beach to Washington DC every Sunday and back again on Fridays. Usually wired from a venti Americano, I’d leave either location around 8:00 pm to miss the Washington DC area traffic. The drive provided at least a couple of uninterrupted hours to listen to Gene Pell interview veterans.

Although all the stories were fascinating, something clicked with me when Gene Pell interviewed Vietnam veterans. Perhaps it was that I watched the war on TV growing up as a kid, with the evening news reporting the body counts every day. Or maybe it was that I felt I didn’t know enough about the war or the men who fought it, but the stories compelled me to dig deeper.

As I did, Sapphire Pavilion began to crystalize along I-64 and I-95 between Virginia Beach and Washington, DC. What if an unarmed U.S. Air Force plane on a Top Secret mission were to disappear over South Vietnam in 1968? Their families would never know what happened to them and the secrecy surrounding the mission would keep the crewmembers from receiving the recognition and burial they so deserved. That is until thirty-two years later, when two men looking for the plane in Vietnam’s Central Highlands find the wreckage and unlock the door to what happened during that turbulent time so many years before.

Soon after the two men find the wreckage, one man dies of a drug overdose and the other lands in a Vietnamese jail. That’s when the story’s main character, retired Navy JAG turned Williamsburg attorney Steve Stilwell gets involved. To help him get his new client and longtime friend out of jail, he hires an associate counsel, Casey Pantel, a former Army helo pilot who lost her right leg below the knee in a crash over northern Iraq.

Although a legal thriller through and through with twists and turns around every corner, Sapphire Pavilion provides the vehicle for tackling some tough veterans’ issues: the suffering of families whose loved ones never come home; Wounded Warrior issues and survivor’s guilt; and the toll military life takes on the families of those who serve. With the U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan well into its second decade, these issues are just as relevant today as they were fifty years ago at the height of the Vietnam War.

In an effort to honor those veterans I first started to understand while listening to Veterans Chronicles back in 2013, I dedicated Sapphire Pavilion to all Wounded Warriors and Vietnam Veterans, especially those heroes still waiting to come home. That was a good start, but it wasn’t enough. Most soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines or Coast Guardsmen don’t get the recognition they deserve, nor do they seek it. The average veteran just blends in with the community around him or her. In many respects, that’s what our nation wants—the citizen soldier who answers the call and then reintegrates quietly into the community when his or her warrior duties are finished.

Although that sounds great in theory, it’s not that easy. Veterans have a host of unique issues they have to deal with and they deserve to have their stories told. I may not be able to help resolve issues, but I can try in a small way to emulate Gene Pell by interviewing veterans and publishing their stories. Sergeant Dick Berg, who served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968, was my first featured veteran, and I will honor other veterans every month in my Voices To Veterans Spotlight. When Sergeant Dick Berg’s daughter posted My boys enjoyed reading the interview and learning about their grandpa’s life experiences on the Facebook link to her father’s story, I knew Voices to Veterans was the right thing to do.

David E. Grogan is the author of Books: Sapphire Pavilion (May 2017) and The Siegel Dispositions (October 2014) from Camel Press.

Back to TOC

Review of Atomic Blonde

By Neliza Crew

Issue 66

The husband and I missed out on Wonder Woman at the theater. I mean, I’m sure it’s still somewhere in town, but I have a soft spot of the Classic Gateway (est. 1951).

We did, however, catch Atomic Blonde last night, and holy damn did I love it. I rarely watch movies. Well, let me rephrase: I’ve seen more movies in the past two years than in the previous 39, but they’ve predominately been children’s movies at my day job. So, when he asked why I was so insistent about seeing Atomic Blonde, I told him, I just want to watch a female character that isn’t a talking dog, a singing pig, a sidekick, a nun, a love interest, or a glitter-covered toy from the 80s. I was also curious about the stunts since I’ve been practicing martial arts for years.

Most of the time, reading a couple of reviews is my version of seeing a movie so I knew some people were upset about the main character appearing nude in the introductory shots. The argument that it’s eye candy for the male gaze may be partially true from a marketing standpoint, but from a storytelling perspective, it worked for me. Broughton isn’t just standing around admiring her nipples. She’s taking a bath in a tub full of ice cubes, alone, in what appears to be an otherwise empty apartment or hotel room. People who use their bodies as tools (athletes, prostitutes, actors, spies, etc.) are often less modest than the average cubicle dweller, but still she’s not naked for anyone else. And when she rises from the bath to stand before the mirror—drinking vodka on ice—she’s shot from behind, showcasing the bruises covering her body.

Bruises because the fight scenes are phenomenal. They aren’t perfectly realistic because no movie fight scene is, but it comes pretty close. There’s a shot of Lorraine holding a gun like a shortened tonfa or baton because it’s run out of bullets and the expression of fear mixed with determination, the panicky try-anything body language feels real. I particularly liked the improvised weapons like keys and hot plates. The desperation, the staggering and panting, the emphasis on running away when possible all added realism. (I had to contain myself at a knife and stick seminar today to keep from blathering about Atomic Blonde when the topic of environmental weapons came up.)

Yes, the lesbian romance isn’t a healthy relationship. Things don’t go well. That said, it doesn’t appear Lorraine Broughton