Lagniappe, if you were wondering, is a word I learned from my mother. She was born in southern Louisiana where the term is common. It's a small gift or an unexpected benefit, and that's what I intend this page to be.

I'll shine a little light on some of my favorite people and places, and I'll link to a few random thoughts and musings I've had on various topics. I might even relate a few of the misadventures on this writer's life.

Feel free to drop me a line. I'm always eager to hear from fans.

Best Mystery Reads for 2009

• Blue Heaven by C.J. Box
  
  
• Hold Tight by Harlan Coben
  
  
• The Woods by Harlan Coben
  
  
• Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais
  
  
• Spade & Archer by Joe Gores
  
  
• The Ten-Mile Trials by Elizabeth Gunn
  
  
• The Wrong Man by John Katzenbach
  
  
• The Hot Kid by Elmore Leonard
  
  
• The Way Home by George Pelecanos
  
  
• Stalin's Ghost by Martin Cruz Smith

Other Lagniappes For You

• The 2004 Kansas Tour
  Can you really call something with only two stops a tour?
  
  
• Road Trips and Writing Tips
  Can you say Homeland Security?  I can't.
  
  
• Southwest Crime Ink
  
  
• The Great Manhattan Mystery Conclave 2009
  Some snaps from last October's Great Manhattan Mystery Conclave, held in Manhattan, Kansas.
  
  Highly Recommended Reads for 2004
  
  
• Highly Recommended Reads for 2005
  
  
• Highly Recommended Reads for 2006
  
  
• Highly Recommended Reads for 2007
  
  
• Highly Recommended Reads for 2008

Bookstores
All these great books can be purchased from your favorite bookstore or mine:

• Clues Unlimited, Tucson
  Tucson's mystery bookstore.
  .
• The Poisoned Pen Bookstore, Scottsdale
  But for this wonderful mystery book seller in Scottsdale, and the Poisoned Pen Press which it inspired, I might have been a one-hit wonder and you and I wouldn't be meeting here like this.
  .
• The Independent Mystery Booksellers Association

Contact Me

Of course, I'm always eager to hear from readers. Feel free to contact me by e-mail.

Thanks for dropping by,
Come again,

Mike.....