Crime Stories
Catten Ely
Articles
A Brief History of Fingerprinting
How did we come to use fingerprints for identification?
Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three
What do you get when three teenagers are accused of murdering three young boys? Devil's Knot
What legal rights do animals have?
Animal rights—and wrongs
Four Blind Mice by James Patterson
Lots of twists and turns, but no depth. Skip this one.
999 Officer Down: The Russ Reiker Story
This book presents a great story about a Phoenix police officer, but it's not very well written...
While criminal trials may drag on for months or even years, a criminal act may take but only a moment... Here are the winners of the May 2004 Crime 55 contest.
The Morning After by Lisa Jackson
Lisa Jackson builds a nice plot but the character fall flat in "The Morning After."
Best American Crime Writing 2003
This is a great anthology of works, all well-written and all remarkable stories.
The author advises: After a couple pages, you won’t want to be here. So forget it. Go away. Get out while you’re still in one piece. Save yourself.
I disagree.
A quick-and-dirty guide to how a detective works a crime scene. It's not really the way you see on TV...
TWA Flight 800: Conspiracy or Bad Investigation?
What really happened to Flight 800?
How can we track a bomb after the fact?
What if you could do away with someone just by thinking about it?
This is a twisted movie about the death penalty.
Tempe Brennan is at it again, this time uncovering graves in Guatemala.
Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin
Margaret Atwood's 38th novel is dark but not chilling.
This isn’t a crime story. But many people who devour true crime and mysteries think, “What if I was a cop? What would I do?” I put that thought into action and discovered that just getting to the point of putting the blue (or brown) uniform on is a journey.
More winners in the Crime 55 contest!
Gun, with Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem
Sometimes a book's title catches your eye. Sometimes the cover does. In this case, they both promise an interesting ride — and deliver.
When the truth isn't enough to set you free
Why are some convicted criminals being exonorated?
A Death in White Bear Lake by Barry Siegel
“The story of a town that wanted to forget. And of those who wouldn’t let them…”
On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman
Grossman weaves a thoughtful look at soldiers, cops, and human, and what makes them kill.
More winners in the Crime 55 contest!
"The following takes place between midnight and 1:00 AM on the day of the California Presidential Primary. Events occur in real time..." It's TV, but it's good.
Crime 55: October/November 2002
More winners in the Crime 55 contest!
“The last thing they ever saw was the face of a . . . MONSTER”
Forensic artist Jeanne Boylan tells her stories.
A Death in Texas by Dina Temple-Raston
"A Story of Race, Murder, and a Small Town's Struggle for Redemption"
Crime 55 is a super-short story contest. Check out the latest winners!
Bones: A Forensic Detective’s Casebook
The title says it all: forensic cases about bones
The judges had a tough time choosing from the excellent entries in this contest of terse crime storytelling.
Patricia Cornwell’s Isle of Dogs
Patricia Cornwell creates a dog of a story.
Hastened to the Grave by Jack Olsen
Olsen's at it again, this time with an almost-too-cool-to-be-true heroine.
We have a winner in the February Crime 55 contest!
On Cabrini Green by Charlie Shafer
Wambaugh had Los Angeles. McBain has New York. Charlie Schafer takes on Chicago in his first cop novel.
Corpse by Jessica Snyder Sachs
Corpse: Nature, Forensics, and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death — a great book for forensics fiends
Let's talk about bugs and the Body Farm...
We have a winner in the November/December Crime 55 contest...
Murder in Spokane: Catching a Serial Killer by Mark Fuhrman
Mark Fuhrman, "America’s foremost detective," criticizes local cops and solves serial murders!
Find My Baby! The Inside Story of Valiree Jackson
A heartfelt — but poorly written — book about a child murder
Perfect Crimes by Marvin Wolf and Katherine Mader
Pass this one up
A follow-up to the previous article on racial profiling
First, Driving While Black; now, Flying While Arab?
A discussion of racial profiling
Another serial novel is out, this time written by female mystery authors.
Pulp Fiction meets Generation X.
One of the best resources for understanding forensics
Kathy Reichs has a new book called Fatal Voyage. And it’s darn good.
Crime Science by Joe Nickell and John Fischer
Forensics made easy
For a change from detectives and cops, try Michael Molloy’s book, Dogsbody.
The FBI: A Comprehensive Reference Guide - part II
Everything you always wanted to know about the FBI — and some things you didn't!
"We have justice and humanity on our side..."
Pitts: You don't know my people. You don't know what we're about. You don't know what you just started.
Outraged Americans, listen up!
Black Tuesday: A Crime Like No Other
My reaction to yesterday's attack on Washington and New York.
The FBI: A Comprehensive Reference Guide - part I
I never knew how great the Freedom of Information Act was until I got this book.
Get Ready to Say Goodbye by Lavonne McKee and Ted Schwarz
Get Ready to Say Goodbye: A Mother's Story of Senseless Violence, Tragedy, and Triumph is part true crime, part true grit, and part true hell.
"As Robert Parker is to Boston, Lindsey is to Houston."
Checks accepted with two forms of I.D. or dental records
"Part of you thinks it's in poor taste... Part of you wants an XL."
Charmed to Death by Stephen Singular
She's not your typical Black Widow...
We have a winner in the July Crime 55 contest...
Urban Legends About Crime, part II
Crime legends and ways to prevent them from spreading...
Urban Legends About Crime, part I
Urban legends straddle the line between truth and fiction.
We have a winner in the Crime 55 contest...
While DNA has convicted many criminals, it has also been used to exonerate innocents.
Eyewitnesses — juries love 'em!
Killer in Pair-a-Dice by Dennis N. Griffin
Dennis Griffin writes a mean novel, weaves a tight plot, and creates brilliant characters
If you like Elmore Leonard, you'll dig Garry Disher
Closely Watched Shadows by Ronald Turco
This book is NOT "a highly recommended page-turner, a real psychological suspense-thriller."
There's so much out there on the Web. What's worth clicking on?
The first page hooked me for its literary quality....
Our new heroines are busting those manly bad boys and doing a fine job without the help of a virile, hairy chested partner, thank you very much
Tart noir: Mystery fiction has a new sub-genre
"...our morals are questionable and our attitude always needs adjustment..."
"Some memories are best forgotten."
"No One Gets Away Clean"
Opening Shots: Great Mystery and Crime Writers Share . . .
Great Mystery and Crime Writers Share Their First Published Stories
Another fine movie from director Guy Ritchie
Looking for something to read?
Broken Wings by John Douglas and Mark Olshaker
Anyone who is interested in criminal profiling knows who John Douglas is. And Mark Olshaker is the author who pulls Douglas’s stories together. But did you know they collaborated on a novel in 1999?
The Dying Scenes contest received some good entries - it was tough to pick one winner.
Buried Evidence by Nancy Taylor Rosenberg
Rosenberg delivers this plot-filled sequel with punch.
The Mentor by Sebastian Stuart
Like a twisty ending? You'll dig this book...
What does a medical examiner do?
Everything you always wanted to know about gunshot wounds
A Warrant to Kill by Kathryn Casey
Imagine not being able to trust the very people you were always told were safe...
Freaky Deaky by Elmore Leonard
Leonard’s crafty, pointed, and fun.
Sleeping With the Devil by Suzanne Finstad
“A shocking true story of erotic dependence, obsessive love and murder-for-hire.”
Close to the Edge by Vic Fortezza
Vic Fortezza's first novel is a good start.
"And as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention" -- Talking Heads
With the spooks and goblins on the loose this month, it seems an appropriate time to talk about those crimes that take place after dark.
This contest asked for the best-told Halloween crime story.
The Immortal Game by Mark Coggins
Poltroon Press's golden boy is Mark Coggins. This is one to watch!
The votes are in on the entries for the Crime 55 contest.
Deadly Décisions by Kathy Reichs
Tempe Brennan is back.
Russell Atwood's East of A: an Urban Thriller
Jeffery Deaver calls it "downtown noir."
Profiling, Part VI: Other Profilers & More Information
A brief discussion of other profiling methods and reading suggestions.
Profiling, Part V: FBI Profiling
A look at the FBI's profiling methods.
The votes are in on the entries for the Crime 55 contest.
Profiling, Part IV: Signatures
How profilers identify signatures.
Profiling, Part III: Intent and Risk
What do the victim and crime scene tell the profiler?
Profiling, Part II: Style and Type
Starting the profile: What do we have here?
Profiling, Part I: Introduction
An introduction to criminal profiling.
Now you can take it with you.
A Report from the Abyss by Robert Ressler
The movie without logic.
Electronic Books - a short commentary
Are we ready for e-books?
Safe Beginnings by Christine Duncan
Review of Christine Duncan's e-mystery, Safe Beginnings.
The Forensic Practice of Blood Spatter Interpretation
An explanation of the forensic practice of blood spatter interpretation.
Verónica Dahl's untitled 55-word crime story is a winner.
Winners of the 2000 Edgar Allan Poe Awards
The Mystery Writers of America announce the best of 1999.
Read the top five stories submitted for the Crime 55 contest.
These are the nominees in all of the Edgar Award categories.
Funny fiction, in a dark way
New releases for April, plus some other new books worth checking out.
America's first serial killer?
A criminalist explains all.
New books in the crime/suspense/mystery category.
Twanged by Carol Higgins Clark
This short novel is not as good as it could be.
Mississippi Mud by Edward Humes
True crime in Biloxi
What is DNA and how does it help catch criminals?
Sexual offenders have rights like anyone else. Right? 'Scuse me while I climb up on this here soapbox...
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says Douglas Kennedy's novel, The Big Picture, is "a novel you wish Hitchcock were alive to film."
Thorp gives his fictionalized — but believeable — version of the Green River Killer.
Review of John Walsh's book, No Mercy.
Review of the true story of a murdering physician.
The Making of a Detective by Harvey Rachlin
Sharp, sometimes scary, and very well done.
Island of the Sequined Love Nun by Christopher Moore
Don't let the title throw you.
Good suspense by talented author.
I went to the IABPA confernece instead of reading another book. Here's what went on.
Robert B. Parker's Trouble in Paradise
Parker lets us down.
Reichs's second book is as good, if not better than her first. Step aside, Patricia Cornwell.
Naked Came the Manatee, by Carl Hiaasen, et al.
Thirteen writers collaborate on a novel - and pull it off.
Strictly Murder! by Martin Roth
Check out this guide for writers (and any other curious readers) on criminal homicide.
I review two movies instead of a book this week; I liked them THAT much.
The End of the Dream by Ann Rule
More of a rant than a review, I grudgingly admit that Ann Rule is a great writer.
This won't make your blood run cold.
How detectives inside the FBI's sci-crime lab have helped solve America's toughest cases
Stuart Woods's Orchid Beach is reviewed.