“Killer Siblings” — The SUH Case Is Back This Weekend

Every few years, a true crime case captures the interest and imagination of the people who follow true crime. Chicago’s Suh family seems to be one of those cases. For the second or third time in a decade, a true crime TV series, this time Oxygen TV’s series “Killer Siblings” is revisiting the gruesome case … Read more

Audio Week… because why not?

Welcome to Audiobook Week. I mean, it is August, so the alliteration works, right? Actually, it happens that I do have some special things going on with  my audiobooks this week, and I wanted you to know about them. Today (and every day if you haven’t joined Audible.com) you can get your first audiobook FREE… … Read more

Conversation with Crime Thriller Authors: Anderson’s La Grange 8/15/18

Hi, everyone. Happy August, although I don’t know how that happened. I’m still in June mentally. However, I do have an event at Anderson’s Book Shop in LaGrane on August 15th, and I’d love you to come. I’ll be talking to debut author MArk Edward Langley’s whose thriller is reminiscent of William Kent Krueger and … Read more

Two Chicago Stories

These aren’t new stories, but a friend sent them to me the other day, and in these uncertain times, I thought you might appreciate them. STORY NUMBER ONE   Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago.  Capone wasn’t famous for anything heroic.  He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged … Read more

Illinois Governor’s Race: The Money

Yo, Illinois voters. Want to know how much is being spent on the Illinois Governor’s race? Thought so. Here is a chart, which will automatically update, developed by Pro-Publica. (Many thanks, guys!). Use it to help sharpen your views as to who can lead our state out of budget problems, systemic corruption, languishing schools, and … Read more

The Manhattan Project – The Early Years

The Manhattan Project, featured in War, Spies, and Bobby Sox, was a key WW2 research and development project tasked with creating the world’s first nuclear weapon. Led by the US and supported by the United Kingdom and Canada, it ran between 1942 and 1946, directed by Major General Leslie Groves of the U.S. Army Corps … Read more

Easy Innocence is FREE!

Just a reminder — EASY INNOCENCE is FREE when you visit my website. Take a look: With over 150 4 and 5 star reviews, Easy Innocence is also one of the top rated mysteries on Wattpad.It’s available in print and audio as well. Just click here. Would love to connect with you.

The Blues, Chicago, and Creativity

It’s January, about as far from summer as it gets. It’s dark, cold, windy and gray, and all over the northern hemisphere people are feeling blue. But there’s a bright side. Chicago is full of blues clubs, and you’ll find me hanging out in them as often as I can. In fact, January is the … Read more

It’s the Neighborhoods, Stupid…

There’s something about Chicago-based authors. Darkness is part of the scenery. Take the brilliant Chicago resident Gillian Flynn, whose super-dark thrillers have spooked millions of readers all over the world. Or the legendary Silver Dagger award winner Scott Turow. Goodreads reports an impressive 136 thrillers set in Chicago with works by myself, Hugh Holton, Andrew M. … Read more

The Manhattan Project — Chicago Style

Everyone’s heard about Los Alamos, where they built and tested the first nuclear weapon. But few people seem to know about the role that Chicago played in the development of nuclear fission and its ultimate military application. That fascinated me when I set off on a voyage of discovery into the dark days before the bomb. … Read more