Earlier this month, Kent Morgan wrote about John Williams’ Into the Badlands: Travels Through Urban America for Patti Abbott’s FORGOTTEN BOOKS FRIDAY. It sounded interesting so I picked up a copy and a copy of its sequel, Back to the Badlands: Crime Writers in the USA. Back in 1988, John Williams left England to tour the USA by interviewing crime writers. Into the Badlands includes interviews with James Lee Burke, James Crumley, James Ellroy, Joe Gores, James Hall, Gar Anthony Haywood, Carl Hiaasen, George V. Higgins, Tony Hillerman, Eugene Izzi, Joseph Koenig, Elmore Leonard, Sara Paretsky, Nick Tosches, and Andrew Vachss. Plus, Williams gives his opinions of restaurants, cab drivers, and American culture in general. Back to the Badlands was published in 2005. The first half of the book is an abridged version of Into the Badlands. The second half features interviews with Vicki Hendricks, Kem Nunn, Kinky Friedman, Daniel Woodrell, and George Pelecanos. I enjoyed both books. GRADE: B (FOR BOTH)
Have you read ROGUE MALES. I really loved that. Have to look for these two.
Yes, I have ROGUE MALES. The only author missing from BACK TO THE BADLANDS is Megan Abbott.
Thanks for that! Is Mystery Scene a print journal? Maybe I can get it at Aunt Agatha’s in Ann Arbor. I do get Mystery News which gave it five quills. Thanks for alerting me.
Yes, Patti, MYSTERY SCENE is a print journal. Kate Stine is the Editor. You can find them at http://www.mysteryscenemag.com. The review of BURY ME DEEP was highly laudatory.