Noir at the Bar II: Counteracting the C.S.I. effect

Back in January, I wrote about the excruciating experience of being trapped in front of a big screen showing Law & Order: Special Victims Unit at a pizzeria, and the ordeal had nothing to do with the pizza, which was fine. Rather, my agita was induced by the show's massive information dumps, the scenes in which crime-scene investigators spout facts rather than talk like real people.

That's why I was pleased to host Jonathan McGoran at this evening's Noir at the Bar reading in Philadelphia. Under the pen name D.H. Dublin, McGoran writes carefully researched forensic thrillers, but he never forgets that his job is to tell a story, and that stories are about people.

His series about Philadelphia forensic investigator Madison Cross, now up to three books, adopts the clever strategy of following Cross from the beginning of her police career. This, McGoran says, lets the reader learn along with her. In practical terms, it means there is little need for the globby blocks of story-stopping information that make forensic TV shows hard to watch.

McGoran, while acknowledging that his novels are in essence police procedurals, said he hates the word procedural because it reminds him too much of manual, "something I'd get with my microwave." That's another indicator of the human touch he brings to his work and another indicator that forensic, scientific crime fiction can have heart, and not just severed body parts.

Why not make this a question to readers? What writers manage to make difficult, highly technical, potentially dry material interesting? How do they do this?

© Peter Rozovsky 2008
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Jonathan McGoran
D.H. Dublin

Noir at the Bar this Sunday

Celebrate America tomorrow; celebrate crime fiction on Sunday at Noir at the Bar II with:

Jonathan McGoran

writing as D.H. Dublin and reading from and answering questions about his latest novel, Freezer Burn

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"Come for the crime fiction; stay for the fried candy bars."

Where: The Tritone1508 South St., Philadelphia, PA
215-545-0475http://www.tritonebar.com

© Peter Rozovsky 2008

Noir at the Bar II

With the first Noir at the Bar reading safely in the can, Detectives Beyond Borders is pleased to present Noir at the Bar II on Sunday, July 6. This second crime-fiction event at Philadelphia's Tritone bar will feature Jonathan McGoran, who, under the name D.H. Dublin, has written three forensic thrillers published by Penguin.

The novels feature Philadelphia forensic investigator Madison Cross, and McGoran lends his sometimes grim subject matter a human touch by following Cross from the beginning of her career as a crime-scene technician. This, McGoran says, lets the reader learn along with her. And the reader just may learn quite a lot. One reviewer wrote that "If you are tired of all the unrealistic CSI shows and books and are looking for an author that delivers realistic crime scene and investigative procedures, D.H. Dublin is the author you are seeking. "

The Noir at the Bar reading should be especially enjoyable because McGoran does a terrific job with his characters' voices. varying them enough to keep things interesting without, however, going over the top. He also has a tendency to giggle at the gory parts, which lends his readings an unexpectedly delightful and macabre touch.

So, if you're anywhere in the Northeastern United States a week from Sunday, drop in to the Tritone. Come for the reading, stay for the music, the mahi-mahi burgers, and the fried Mars bars.

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Who: Jonathan McGoran a.k.a. D.H. Dublin
Where: The Tritone
1508 South Street Philadelphia, PA
215-545-0475

“Cool bar. Great food. The most diverse music venue in Philly”

When: Sunday, July 6, 2008 at 6 p.m.

© Peter Rozovsky 2008Technorati tags:
Jonathan McGoran
D.H. Dublin

Noir at the Bar with rare, archival news footage

That's Duane Swierczynski (right) being grilled by Ed Pettit at the first Noir at the Bar reading this evening at the Tritone in Philadelphia.

Duane's the author of a slew of books, including The Blonde and the newly released Severance Package, about a boss who kills off his employees. Ed's an Edgar Allan Poe scholar and the instigator of the Poe wars, the battle to bring Poe back from Baltimore to Philadelphia (Blow this photo up, and you just might be able to see the Poe action figure peeking out of Ed's shirt pocket.)

Duane and Ed had the delightful idea of turning the reading into an event. So, instead of just an author reading his own stuff, Duane talked about his work and about his view of noir; Ed's actress wife, Kate, read the first chapter of Severance Package (you'll never guess what the murder weapon is); and Ed interviewed Duane, who then took questions from the audience.

The two are friends, and Ed's familiarity with Duane's work made for a free-flowing discussion that explored such topics as the influence of comic books on Swierczynski's fictional world (No surprise there; Swierczynski also writes comic books/graphic novels.)

The ambiance, too, was slightly rowdier than one normally finds at readings (The Tritone is a bar, after all), though I was pleased to note that even the bar's regulars paid respectful and interested attention.

The crowd? At least as good as expected, according to Rick at the Tritone, so stay tuned for Noir at the Bar II. A special treat for me was the attendance of Philadelphia writer Johnny Ostentatious, who presented me with a copy of a novel of his, for which I'd done the copy editing. It was nice to see my name between covers.

© Peter Rozovsky 2008

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Duane Swierczynski
Ed Pettit

Duane Swierczynski, "The Blonde," and a question for readers

I've just finished The Blonde by Duane Swierczynski in preparation for Swierczynski's Noir at the Bar reading in Philadelphia on Sunday. The book is not really "international," though it does pay clever, grisly tribute to Jean-Patrick Manchette.

But The Blonde does give careful attention to its setting, a subject of more than occasional interest here at Detectives Beyond Borders, as here, from Page 152:

"The bus pulled up. The brakes were shot; a high-pitched whine cut through the predawn quiet. The engine was rattling so fiercely, it was a wonder the panels of the bus were still attached to the frame. There was a pneumatic hiss, like a snort, and the two panels of the doors shuddered open.

" ... Jack stepped up and tried to scan the fare signs quickly. Confusing as hell. Transfers, zones, base fare ... two dollars. Two dollars?

"`One ride costs two dollars?'

"`Two dollars,' the driver said. He had patches of a beard on his jowls, and his eyes were red-rimmed.

" ... oh, thanks Christ. A ten and a single. His change from the airport bar last night.

"`Can you break a ten?'

"The driver sighed. `Exact change only.' He nodded his head in the general direction of the fare sign.

"`Come on, buddy. Can't you sell me a one-day pass or something?'

"The driver didn't answer, as if the question was beneath him. `On or off.'"

Swierczynski, who was born in Philadelphia and still lives here, has said that writing in the persona of an outsider visiting the city gives him a sharper view. Those of us who live in Philadelphia, take public transportation and have read The Blonde know he's right.

Swierczynski took an everyday observation of life in his own home town and integrated it effectively into his book. Which authors have done the same for you? What novels and stories integrate bits of local life that you recognize because you lived there?

© Peter Rozovsky 2008

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Duane Swierczynski

Noir at the Bar reading series debuts this Sunday!

Duane Swierczynski

kicks off Philadelphia's Noir at the Bar with a reading and Q&A Sunday, June 1, at 6 p.m.

Duane's noir thrillers include, most recently, Severance Package (St. Martin's Minotaur). His previous novel, The Blonde, has just been optioned by actress Michelle Monaghan. He's also the writer for Marvel Comics' monthly X-Men title, Cable, and in July, he takes over scripting duties for Immortal Iron Fist. Until recently he was editor-in-chief of the Philadelphia City Paper, and he has worked at Philly Mag, Men's Health and Details. He's a native Philadelphian, and his hippie parents named him after one of the Allman Brothers — the dead one, of course.

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"Come for the crime fiction; stay for the food and the music."

Where: The Tritone
1508 South St., Philadelphia, PA

215-545-0475

http://www.tritonebar.com

© Peter Rozovsky 2008

Duane Swierczynski to kick off Noir at the Bar

Detectives Beyond Borders presents:

Noir at the Bar

A crime-fiction reading and Q&A with the author (music to follow) featuring:

Duane Swierczynski

• 
  Author of Severance Package, The Blonde, The Wheelman, Secret Dead Men, Murder at Wayne Manor: An Interactive Batman Mystery and much, much more.
• .
  “Another fast, funny, and action-packed outing from a writer who, fortunately for us, doesn't seem to know how to slow down.”
  — Keir Graff, Booklist
• 
  “I canceled a night out and stayed up all night reading. That’s how much I loved this book . . . at every turn, I was blindsided. Hilarious and bloody violent.”
  — Ken Bruen

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Where: The Tritone
1508 South Street Philadelphia, PA 215-545-0475 http://www.tritonebar.com

“Cool bar. Great food. The most diverse music venue in Philly”

Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 6 p.m.

© Peter Rozovsky 2008