POISON BLONDE by Loren Estleman

Loren Estleman has been part of the mystery scene for some time (this is his 50th book) yet he remains one of the freshest writers around. His dialogue is remarkable, and the balance of humor, tension and social commentary perfect.

Poison Blonde is the 17th book to feature Amos Walker, easily one of the best PI characters ever written. Like all of Estleman's books, this can be read as a stand-alone, and I came to it long after its initial release. Somehow Estleman strikes a tone that is simulatenously classic hardboiled and very contemporary, with a fedora-wearing shamus hip enough to blend in anywhere.

If you haven't read anything by Loren Estleman you're missing out. He is one of the few authors besides Elmore Leonard to ever attempt yet alone succeed at writing both mysteries and westerns. Grab one of his books, any of them, and start reading.

The New Annotated SHERLOCK HOLMES by Arthur Conan Doyle, edited by Leslie S. Klinger

You might be thinking, but I've already read Sherlock Holmes stories; tell us about a new book, something I haven't read before. I promise that will occur next week, if not sooner, but this post is dedicated to encouraging anyone interested in crime fiction to read the definitive Sherlock Holmes collection, edited and annotated by Leslie Klinger, one of the foremost Sherlockians of our time.

Others heaped praise upon this collection when it was first released for good reason. Klinger has lovingly brought these stories into a new light, with annotations that conjure the Victorian age beautifully. Illustrations abound, and somehow Klinger manages to weave even the most obscure reference into a seamless parallel narrative that accompanies each story.

Sherlock Holmes is known for good reason as the first private detective, and these stories not only influenced other writers but fundamentally changed how criminal investigations were regarded. It is fair to say we wouldn't have a CSI, let alone the science of forensics, if Arthur Conan Doyle had not altered the way we all view a crime scene.

But the main reason to rediscover these stories is that they are adventure stories. There is good reason why the early collection of stories was called The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes. We might remember the science of observation, the agile mind of the detective, his stalwart companion Watson, but what about the venomous snake, the severed ears, the exotic brown powder that could drive a man mad with fear? These stories are the precursor to the pulp adventures of the thirties and forties, not to mention the modern thriller.

Klinger has done an extraordinary job adding new texture to stories that are as compelling today as when they first appeared. To really appreciate the stories that brought mystery to the forefront of popular imagination for more than a century, curl up in an armchair, grab a pipe, and read these books.