Ginny Olsen wrote to tell me I had her address wrong. (I wonder for how long?) While she was at it, she earned her subscription. She got on the mailing list because she was a member of the reading group made famous by Karen Rudrud's comments here some time ago. (See how lenient I am about earning subscriptions? That's supposed to encourage those of you who haven't written yet to write. Especially in response to Dan Conradžs question about the first book to influence your thinking.)

Ginny wrote, "You haven't mentioned Elizabeth George who writes excellent mysteries set in England. There are ongoing characters who are colorful and interesting. Playing for Ashes is a recent one. It's about 600 pages and a great summer read. School for Murder is one of her first and also good.

"I've just discovered Minutte Walters, a New England writer who won an Edgar award for The Ice House, her first mystery. I can usually guess the outcome of these books, but this one kept me wondering.

"The last is a Martin Cruz Smith book, Rose. It is engrossing. I learned a lot about coal mining and loved it."

Thanks for the new names and titles, Ginny. I hope this and future issues get to you more directly now that the address is correct on your mailing label. (It is now correct, isn't it?)

Random House's Elizabeth George web page

The Salon interview with Martin Cruz Smith by Sophie Majeski.