Terrific new police procedural

Love police procedurals? To the list of top writers - Henning Mankel, Martin Cruz Smith, T. Jefferson Parker - add Thomas Rendell Curran, Canadian author of the just-released Death of a Lesser Man. Like Curran's two previous books (the acclaimed Undertow, and The Rossiter File), Lesser Man features Inspector Eric Stride and is set in St. John's, Newfoundland, during the late 1940s. With Lesser Man, Curran seals his reputation as one of Canada's top mystery writers.

Late one night, Stride hears two gunshots and quickly finds the victim, who - astonishingly - has three bullet wounds from two different guns. As in any top-notch police procedural, Stride sets standards for the police force to investigate the crime scene, then the victim's home. And again, as in any top-notch PP, this is only the beginning as Stride investigates people of all classes in St. John's, and quickly discovers he's got to move through time as well - delving into gruesome aspects of World War I. And finally, during these travels through space and time, new suspects arise and are proven not to be guilty. Curran wonderfully negotiates the mystery maze and the crime is finally solved on the final pages. Extraordinary! Really well paced and - as a mystery - a first-rate story with a great variety of interesting characters.

Curran has clearly done his homework on military procedures, battles, and personnel. Writing of Gallipoli and other major WW1 battles involving Newfoundland soldiers, readers aren't spared details of the hideous slaughter of the war.

My only caveat of this book is minor, involving St. John's. Newfoundland, the Rock, is clearly and lovingly described. However, I'm never quite sure about the size (population, area, key features) of St. John's itself. In some aspects, the city seems as clearly defined as one of the traditional Peter Robinson village mysteries. This in no way means that Curran doesn't write well about the city; he does in amazing detail.I await more in Curran's next book.

Patagonia Fossil book - Laotian Tilapia soup

Coming in August - Larry Marshall's wonderful book about discovery of fossils in south America (the area now called Patagonia) - this will be Roseland Books first product.

Due to many requests, here's the recipe for Laotian tilapia (catfish) soup, certainly one of the most amazing and tantalizingly delicious soups I've ever made

2 pounds tilapia fillets (originally called for catfish, your choice)

12 garlic cloves, peeling and finely chopped

4 Thai chilies, seeded and finally chopped

3 double fresh kaffir lime leaves, stem and vein removed, finely chopped

1 4" piece fresh lemongrass, thinly sliced

2 shallots, peeled and finally chopped

2 tablespoons peanut oil

1 quart chicken broth (water substitute ok, but broth preferred)

2 1/4" thick slices peeled galangal, preferably fresh (frozen ok)

1/4 cup smooth peanut butter

1 can coconut milk

6 tablespoons Thai fish sauce (Vietnamese sauce ok)

2 TBS finely fresh basil leaves, finely chopped

2 TBS fresh cilantro, finely chopped

cooked jasmine rice

1. Cut tilapia fillets into strips 1" long by 1/4" wide, cover with plastic, refridgerate

2. Saute garlic, lime leaves, lemongrass, shallots and chilies in peanut oil in deep skillet over medium heat until fragrant, approx 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth, lime juice and galangel, heat mixture to slow simmer

3. Whisk and blend in the peanut butter and 2 TBS coconut milk in small bowl, then whisk into the garlic mixture from step 2. Stir in tilapia and remaining coconut milk and simmer gently until the fish layers separate when prodded with a fork, approx 2 minutes. Stir in fish sauce, cilantro and basil and simmer 2 minutes.

4. Serve immediately over jasmine rice.

5. Lick lips, yum.

David Cole, author? Researcher? Couch potato movie watcher?

David Cole, as an author, is somewhat of a sham. I've not written a mystery in five years, but I still insist that book #8, Ransom My Soul, will be finished this summer. And then to have my agent find me a publisher. My last published work, a short story “JaneJohnDoe.com,” is cover-featured by my name in Indian Country Noir (Akashic Press, 2010).

Next up after finishing the fiction: two non-fiction books to be published by Roseland in e-book format and possibly in print versions:

The Blue Ceiling, real-life stories by women in law enforcement

On The Edge, the real-life biography of retired Tucson Police Department lieutenant Kelly Lane, his real life stories in law enforcement, including a long stint as lieutenant in charge of all Tucson street narcotics police operations.

All of these writing projects result from nearly 8 years of research into life along the Arizona/Mexican border, mainly extending from Tucson down into northern Sonora. I'm partly fascinated by the desert, politically motivated by the anti-immigration policies of Arizona's current state government, and most importantly, a true fan of, and tentative spokesman for, the Tucson Police Department. TPD operates at a high level of ethics, morality, and professionalism. Over the past 5 years I've come to know many of TPD's finest people, ranging from Assistant Chief down through the ranks to civilian employees. Good people, all. I am honored to be allowed to write about them.

Welcome!

I'm now legally and officially incorporated as sole owner of a publishing company, Roseland Books LLC. No, I'm not much interested in promoting my own books - this company is for self-published books of all formats that friends wish to create and make available. On any subject I approve, any writing style, any genre - fiction, nonfiction, etc.

The first book is already in the works: Under The Southern Cross, by Dr. Larry Marshall, a noted geologist and paleontologist. This is a summary of exploration during the 1920s of land and marine fossils millions of years old, discovered in parts of Argentina and Bolivia under the direction of Elmer S. Riggs, a Paleontologist from Chicago.

While this blog will mainly be about books, publishing, and some commentary about writing, writers, and writer's problems, I also love movies and frequently use references to specific movies about dialogue, visuals, and symbolism. Let's face it, any true writer "borrows" from all kinds of sources: movies are mine.