A truly wonderful new review of Craig McDonald's latest book, by an eminent British scholar! This is how it starts: "Hector Lassiter returns in dazzling form in Craig McDonald’s latest book Write From Wrong. In case you are unfamiliar with old Hec, allow me to introduce you." And this is how it ends: "A Lassiter tale is … Continue reading James Ellroy scholar Steven Powell reviews WRITE FROM WRONG
A review of “Write from Wrong”, the latest Hector Lassiter book from Craig McDonald
Craig McDonald is the quintessential master of hard-boiled, pulp-style crime fiction, and the writer proves it once more in this fine capstone on the 20th century escapades of the man who lives what he writes, and writes what he lives, Hector Lassiter. Write from Wrong, published by Betimes Books, features chapters that the span Hector … Continue reading A review of “Write from Wrong”, the latest Hector Lassiter book from Craig McDonald
HEAD GAMES: the first review comparing the novel and the graphic novel
Review published on September 21, 2018. Whichever version of Head Games you choose to read, the novel or the graphic novel, you’re getting a juicy slice of Americana to feast on. I decided to tackle both books because I thought it would be interesting to read one straight after the other (starting with the novel, … Continue reading HEAD GAMES: the first review comparing the novel and the graphic novel
Christmas nostalgia : Our authors about the best book gift they have ever received (Part 2)
Patricia Ketola, author of Dirty Pictures One Christmas, when I was about ten years old, I received a copy of R. L. Stevenson's Treasure Island. The book was an unusual choice for a little girl, but I was so thrilled by the marvellous tale of adventure that I could not put it down. Jim Hawkins and … Continue reading Christmas nostalgia : Our authors about the best book gift they have ever received (Part 2)
Christmas Prize Draw!
Vote for your favourite Betimes Books cover for a chance to win a print copy of one of our books! The Prize Draw is open to people aged 18 and over who provide their email address by voting for their favourite cover and would be happy to provide their postal address if they win. Please … Continue reading Christmas Prize Draw!
Craig McDonald’s THE RUNNING KIND is “a raucous ride”
Temporary Knucksline Book review: Craig McDonald’s The Running Kind Amici: The Running Kind by Craig McDonald … crime novelist Hector Lassiter is reunited with an old mate from prior adventures in the Lassiter series, Jimmy Hanrahan. It’s 1950 and too close to Christmas when Hector and Jimmy (a cop) are huddled indoors from an Ohio … Continue reading Craig McDonald’s THE RUNNING KIND is “a raucous ride”
Happy 10th Anniversary, Hector!
Ten years, ten novels... And a graphic novel coming out this Fall. Hector Lassiter has been through good and bad times. But tough times don't last. Tough men do! Happy 10th anniversary to Hector Lassiter and his creator, Craig McDonald, and many happy returns! Click here to view the Hector Lassiter Series and HERE TO … Continue reading Happy 10th Anniversary, Hector!
The Lassiter Decade Competition
Dear Readers, To mark the 10th Anniversary of Craig McDonald’s Hector Lassiter series, we are running a competition in which the authors of the best three reviews of a Hector Lassiter book posted on any Amazon website and live by June 12, 10am Dublin time, will win a signed copy of a Hector Lassiter novel! … Continue reading The Lassiter Decade Competition
Review of DEATH IN THE FACE: “The Last Man Standing”
Review by Marvin Minkler: @MarvinMinklerModernFirstEditions "Quite alone, yet somehow quite happy, Hector drove on through the sweet-smelling autumn rain, back to his home and family." This one true sentence, from the ending of the newly finished novel, Death in the Face, by Craig McDonald, an Edgar and Anthony Awards Finalist, brought to a close my … Continue reading Review of DEATH IN THE FACE: “The Last Man Standing”
A new review of Craig McDonald’s “The Running Kind”
The Running Kind reviewed by Marvin Minkler of Modern First Editions No happy ending ever started in a bar. After the tumultuous events that took place on the world's stage during World War II, and after, in the last Hector Lassiter novel I read, and my ninth, Roll The Credits, expectations were a bit lower … Continue reading A new review of Craig McDonald’s “The Running Kind”
Three Chords and the Truth – Review
Hector Lassiter is one of the most compelling literary creations of recent years– a crime novelist who ‘writes what he lives and lives what he writes’. Lassiter was born January 1, 1900, and he witnesses some of the most tumultuous events of the twentieth century. Whether he finds himself at the heart of a murder mystery with the Lost Generation in 1920s Paris, or dodging the bombs and bullets with Ernest Hemingway during the Spanish Civil War, Lassiter is never far away from violence and intrigue. Three Chords and the Truth is the ninth and final novel in the Lassiter series, and, needless to say, it was eagerly anticipated by the many fans of the series.
Craig McDonald is the author behind the author, the creator of Hector Lassiter and the writer of five more novels outside the Lassiter series. McDonald began his career as a journalist and still works in that…
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Christmas at Le Select
“Dream as if you’ll live forever; Live as if you’ll die tomorrow.” CHRISTMAS 1924 “Christmas is a holiday that persecutes the lonely, the frayed and the rejected.” —Jimmy Cannon PARIS Hector & Victoria It was warm and crowded in the café. The liquor was flowing and everyone was laughing and wishing one another a Happy … Continue reading Christmas at Le Select
“Head Games”, the graphic novel: official preview
At long last, readers can discover an eight-page sample from Craig McDonald's forthcoming graphic novel "Head Games", adapted from his Edgar- and Anthony-shortlisted novel (written by Craig himself and illustrated by Kevin Singles). A few more month to wait until the October release, but have a look at the dedicated page on the Macmillan US … Continue reading “Head Games”, the graphic novel: official preview
“Three Chords & The Truth Rings True Like a Finely Tuned Guitar”
A wonderful review by a true connaisseur: Three Chords & The Truth Rings True Like a Finely Tuned Guitar, December 18, 2016 By Marvin Minkler This review is from: Three Chords & The Truth: A Hector Lassiter novel (Volume 10) (Paperback) The first Hector Lassiter novel I read was the Edgar-nominated debut from Craig McDonald, … Continue reading “Three Chords & The Truth Rings True Like a Finely Tuned Guitar”
Craig McDonald about the challenge of writing a series
Not the end of something? By Craig McDonald In autumn 2007, HEAD GAMES was published by Ben Leroy and Bleak House books. It went on to earn best first novel nominations for the Edgar Award, the Anthony, and the Sélection du prix polar Saint-Maur en Poche in France, among others. It also launched a series … Continue reading Craig McDonald about the challenge of writing a series
The Hector Lassiter book trailers
Dear readers, You may not know it, but one of Craig McDonald's many talents is producing spectacular video trailers for his books. Discover the trailer for the Hector Lassiter series and meet "the man who writes what he lives and lives what he writes": Tender, violent, intelligent, unwise, wanderer, fool for love, righteous, amoral, brave, … Continue reading The Hector Lassiter book trailers
Craig McDonald’s reading in Dublin as if you were there
Thanks to all who attended last night's reading in Dublin! For those who weren't there, here is a recording of the event: https://www.periscope.tv/w/1ypKdPmjArRKW If you want to read the excerpt that Craig read last night, the first chapter of Head Games, click here: viewBook.at/HeadGames_McDonald And here is Craig McDonald's speech and a few pictures of … Continue reading Craig McDonald’s reading in Dublin as if you were there
Literary suicides: excerpt from PRINT THE LEGEND by Craig McDonald
"Hector sat in a booth alone in the back of the Italian restaurant. The freezing rain was lashing the windows and the trees lining the streets of Georgetown looked like glass sculptures. He took another sip of red wine and pulled the letter from his pocket. He read it five times: Poor dearest Pickle: There … Continue reading Literary suicides: excerpt from PRINT THE LEGEND by Craig McDonald
Kindle promotion in Australia for TOROS & TORSOS
Kindle edition for only 99 cents! “Nothing short of a surrealistic masterwork.” —Chicago Tribune “McDonald’s imaginative tale takes an enjoyably different approach to art and murder.” —Publishers Weekly “In his lush, sprawling novel Craig McDonald draws together both the timeliest markers of mid-century America—modernism, surrealism, film noir, pulp fiction, communism—and the eternal touchstones of … Continue reading Kindle promotion in Australia for TOROS & TORSOS
An Interview with Craig McDonald: The Hector Lassiter Series
An exceptional, in-depth, interview with Craig McDonald by Steven Powell, a researcher at the University of Liverpool, UK.
Steven Powell is the editor of Conversations with James Ellroy (2012) and 100 American Crime Writers(2012). He has written several articles for the British Politics Review, blogs about crime fiction at VenetianVase.co.uk, and co-organized the “James Ellroy: Visions of Noir” conference at the University of Liverpool. His most recent work is James Ellroy: Demon Dog of Crime Fiction (Palgrave Macmillan 2016).
“If you are not already initiated, I hope this interview will persuade you to start reading the Lassiter novels. They are compelling, thrilling and darkly humorous.
Lassiter is a brilliant creation…”
Craig McDonald is an author and journalist. He has written fourteen novels, including, to date, nine books in the award-winning Hector Lassiter series. I have kept up a correspondence with Craig these past few years as we are both avid readers of James Ellroy. I’m also a massive fan of the Lassiter novels, and when Craig agreed to be interviewed by me, he also kindly supplied an advance copy of the final novel in the Lassiter series, the forthcoming Three Chords and the Truth. If you are not already initiated, I hope this interview will persuade you to start reading the Lassiter novels. They are compelling, thrilling and darkly humorous. Lassiter is a brilliant creation– a crime writer who learned his trade with Ernest Hemingway and the Lost Generation in Paris in the 1920s. He is also a man who seems dangerously prone to violent intrigue, doomed love affairs…
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