Suspect: Sean Chercover
Known Aliases: Shifty Canuck, Secret New Yorker...
Occupation: Writer, Troublemaker
Last Known Location: Chicago, IL & Toronto, Canada


Listen in as Sean talks about tackling "The Outfit" (no, not the blog) in his 2008 Shamus award winning debut, Big City, Bad Blood, his hot-off-the-presses follow-up, Trigger City, and the strange (and alcohol induced) genesis of P.I. Ray Dudgeon's name. Sean also reveals his dirty little culinary secret...the traitor!


Up Next: Declan Burke

Suspect: Victor Gischler
Known Aliases: Mr. Apocalypso (yes, I made that up)
Occupation: Writer, College professor
Last Known Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Listen in as Victor talks about his latest novel, Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse, his "Gun Quartet" crime novels, the Punisher comic extravaganza and his founding involvement (or lack thereof) with Plots with Guns. Victor also reveals his picks to star in the movie version of Go-Go Girls and the five, er...six essential items for the Post-Apocalyptic Survival Kit. And, an IFQ first! Gischler fails to produce 3 titles on his TBR pile and is forced to answer a dreaded penalty question.


To listen to the interview, click on the player below, or subscribe through iTunes here (it will prompt you to open iTunes, then take you to the podcast subscription).

Up Next: Sean Chercover

Suspect: J. D. Rhoades
Known Aliases: Dusty Rhoades (he wouldn't cop to any others)
Occupation: Lawyer, Columnist and Writer
Last Known Location: Carthage, N.C.

Listen in as J.D. talks about his latest standalone thriller, Breaking Cover, what's in the works with his Jack Keller series, and his growing interest in writing for comics. He also reveals the location of the best barbecue in North Carolina and which fictional character he'd least like to meet in a dark alley.


To hear J.D. read the first chapter of Breaking Cover, click here.

To listen to the interview, click on the player below, or subscribe through iTunes here (it will prompt you to open iTunes, then take you to the podcast subscription).

Up Next: Victor Gischler

Suspect: Anthony Neil Smith
Known Aliases: The Enforcer, Dubh, Opinionated Jackass
Occupation: Writer, Assistant Professor of English and Director of Creative Writing at Southwest Minnesota University (whew!)
Last Known Location: The Great White North...er, southern Minnesota


Listen in as Neil talks about his latest book, Yellow Medicine and the revival of the infamous e-zine, Plots with Guns. He also reveals who he'd tap to write the score for The Drummer: The Musical, admits to having seen a few musicals himself, and discloses his dangerous lack of familiarity of mukluks.




To listen, click on the player below, or subscribe through iTunes here.

Up Next: J.D. Rhoades

The Bloody Scots - Part 5

Suspect: Ian Rankin
Known Aliases: King of Tartan Noir, God
Occupation: Writer
Last Known Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Listen in as Ian talks about his Inspector Rebus series, the recent explosion in the Scottish arts scene, and how his years in London and France influenced his use of Edinburgh in his books. He also reveals what fictional characters he'd pay good money to see in a cage fight and the weirdest question he's ever been asked in an interview (and no, it wasn't one of mine).


To listen, click on the player below or subscribe through iTunes here (it will prompt you to open iTunes, then take you to the podcast subscription).

Up Next: Anthony Neil Smith

The Bloody Scots - Part 4

Name: Ray Banks
Known Aliases: Knucklebuster, DangerBalls
Occupation: Writer, Day Job Drone
Last Known Location: Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England (but he was born in Scotland...swear!)

Listen in as Ray talks about his Cal Innes P.I. series (Saturday's Child, Donkey Punch, No More Heroes, etc.), what kinds of characters he likes and the challenges of writing a P.I. novel set in the U.K. He also reveals his leading picks for "Saturday's Child: On Ice," the P.I. cliche that needs to be retired, and explains how he'd manage the caber toss with his giant coconuts.

*Lovely (and evidently rare) photo of smiley Ray by Mary Regan.

Up Next: Ian Rankin

THE BLOODY SCOTS: PART 3

Suspect: Stuart MacBride
Known Aliases: Bearded Wonderboy, Stuart MacBeard, Crime Write-ist
Occupation: Write-ist, General Naughtiness
Last Known Location: Aberdeen, Scotland

Listen in as Stuart talks about his Logan McRae books, his new novella Sawbones, and his latest idea for Skeleton Bob. He also spills about what two writerly folk he'd pay to see thumb wrestle and, and answers the essential sporran question - furry, or smooth?

*Warning, those seeking an in-depth exploration of the finer points of Stuart's work will likely be appalled by the pervasive naughtiness and lack of seriousity in this interview. If the terms 'cock weasel' and 'nipples' offend you...well, you have been warned & should act accordingly.

Up Next: The Saturday Boy, Mr. Ray Banks.

THE BLOODY SCOTS, PART 2

Suspect: Donna Moore
Known Aliases: Kafka, Queen of Shoes!
Occupation: Writer, Reader, Some Scary Day Job Involving Financial Stuff
Last Known Location: Glasgow, Scotland

Join us this week as Donna talks about her Lefty Award winning P.I. spoof, Go to Helena Handbasket, her love of reading, and her Alaskan school adventures. She also reveals the real purpose of Scotland's super sweet soda (Irn Bru), her thoughts on the Loch Ness Monster, and why Johnny Depp could play all the male characters in the movie version of Go to Helena Handbasket.

Up next: Scottish crime write-ist and Bearded Wonderboy, Stuart MacBride

Suspect: Russel D. McLean
Known Aliases: Badgerboy, Russ-poo, Crimey Crimerson
Occupation(s): Writer, bookseller, reviewer, columnist
Last Known Location: Dundee, Scotland

Listen in as Russel spills about Crime Scene Scotland (the original and Crime Scene Scotland Review), his love of hand-selling books and his upcoming debut novel, THE GOOD SON (coming this Fall from Five Leaves). He also gives practical sporran advice for the novice kilt-wearer, shares the best book-as-weapon story I've ever heard, and explores the perils of gastronomical upset at a mystery convention.

Up Next: Scottish author and avid reader, Donna Moore.

Suspect:Steven Torres
Occupation: Writer, English professor
Known Aliases: None
Last Known Location: Ellington, CT

Listen in as Steven talks about his Precinct Puerto Rico series (see, Steven...I got it right!) and his latest effort, The Concrete Maze. He shares some personal experiences that inform his writing, discusses why war is a recurring theme in his work and gives a very practical reason for wanting to spend a day with Dashiell Hammet's Sam Spade.

Up Next: Scottish author (and all 'round crime fic dude) Russel McLean