Compare and contrast
Me and Michael Connelly
BAD BOYS versus THE DROP
It may be terribly arrogant and presumptuous of me to compare my 
writing to the master of crime thrillers, Michael Connelly, but I’m suggesting it’s instructive for you and for me.
Compare and Contrast
I learned a lot from reading Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch novel, THE DROP, and discovered a lot of similar elements in my fourth Dale Hunter Thriller, BAD BOYS IN BOSTON.
His novel is a classic detective thriller weaving two cases together to discover a serial predator on the loose for more than twenty years and a more recent mysterious suicide that leads Bosch into conflict and corruption within the LAPD. My novel has Dale Hunter and Frank the Fixer trying to rescue a niece in Boston from the Russian gangsters operating a sex trafficking ring while they uncover more tragic family history and domestic violence closer to home in Montreal.
Both novels deal with dark themes and violent crimes that are not pleasant to read about, but tales that need to be told to raise awareness of the trauma and tragedy inflicted on innocent victims without become too sanctimonious about the apathy and incompetent law enforcement that fail to deliver the justice that is due.
We both introduce the reader to complicated, but realistic and appealing characters, complex interpersonal relationships, entertaining dialogue, a twisted tale of crime and corruption that is resolved in favour of the good guys, and brief, but interesting detours into the history, the locations, and the current events at the time of the crime.
Well done, Michael Connelly! I’m working to make my next one even better. Thank you for showing the way.
And in other news
It’s hard to avoid getting dragged into the constant vociferous political commentary in the news, and in Canada we’re fiercely opposed to Trump’s abuse of economic power against us. We’re thinking of boycotting American writers and adding a 40% tariff on books from the US in retaliation, so we’ll all buy more books by Canadian writers.
In particular, I’m proud to recommend my fellow writers and friends at Crime Writers of Canada. Visit the website at: https://crimewriterscanada.com/ to learn more. You’re welcome to join us as writer members, associates, or sponsors and donors to support and promote great Canadian crime writing worth reading.
Thank you for your interest in my books and for keeping in touch with this occasional author update.
Enjoy the ride!
Del
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