Saturday, January 8, 2011

Jon Talton

Jon Talton is the author of eight novels, including the David Mapstone Mysteries: Concrete Desert, Cactus Heart, Camelback Falls, Dry Heat, Arizona Dreams and South Phoenix Rules. Dry Heat was named 2005 fiction book of the year by Arizona Highways magazine. The Pain Nurse, is the first of a new series, The Cincinnati Casebooks. He also wrote the thriller, Deadline Man.

The Washington Post BookWorld said Concrete Desert is “more intelligent and rewarding than most contemporary mysteries.” In a starred review, Booklist called it “a stunning debut.” The Chicago Tribune lauded Camelback Falls for its “twisty and crafty” plot. For Dry Heat, Publishers Weekly wrote, “Taut prose helps tighten the screws, and the winning, sensitive portrayal of the Mapstones ¬– both of them a relief after too many hard-nosed PIs who are all gristle and no brain – lends credibility to the noirish narrative."

Talton is also a veteran journalist and blogger. He writes the “On the Economy” column for the Seattle Times and is editor and publisher of the blog Rogue Columnist.

I recently asked him what he was reading. His reply:
I’m reading Crisis Economics by Nouriel Roubini and Stephen Mihm for my day job as economics columnist for the Seattle Times. It’s a provocative look at the recent crash and the instability we have ahead.

Like Mapstone, I read “history porn” for pleasure — most recently Ivan’s War: Life and Death in the Red Army, 1939-1945 by Catherine Merridale.

In between my books, I sample some genre fiction. This time it included Dennis Lehane’s Darkness, Take My Hand, a masterpiece by a truly gifted writer. It’s intimidating.
Visit Jon Talton's website.

The Page 69 Test: South Phoenix Rules.

--Marshal Zeringue