Pizza, Mice and Magic Mushrooms

Literary Kicks has an excellent article on the authors bringing "a new level of violence and linguistic excellence to the craft and giving life to some of the darkest visions put to paper since Poe was found floating in a Baltimore gutter." Some of my favourite authors there, plus a couple I've never tried (William Christopher Baer and Roger Smith - I'm now eager to try both- especially Baer). I can also think of a longish list of authors I would include. Does anyone have any other suggestions? (she asks, rubbing her hands in dark, warped anticipation).

And, at completely the other end of the spectrum, a review of M C Beaton's A SPOONFUL OF POISON.

Ian Rankin and Lin Anderson are to be part of Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations.

A crime fiction event with Louise Welsh and Zoe Beck (whose latest novel is set in Berlin and Edinburgh) at the Mitchell Library on 30th November.

If you're a writer, you could do worse than have a look at these tip sheets from Highlands and Islands Arts, including an excellent one from the actually just almost lovely Allan Guthrie on pleonasms.

And, almost finally, I can just imagine the robber turning up stuffing his face with a slice of pizza.

Absolutely finally, talking of stuffing... (Dad, I wouldn't bother reading that link if I were you). With thanks to Steve Mosby for posting that link on Twitter.