Nearly a century ago, when Agatha Christie and others were pioneering the English mystery novel, to provide one corpse at the outset was considered sufficient and a second might be tolerated, but anything beyond that was thought to be in extremely poor taste. No more. My best estimate is that I’ve read 187 serial-killer novels in the past decade (and escaped, as I keep insisting, with my sanity). Most were mercifully forgettable, but I do remember a few with admiration. John Katzenbach’s “ The Traveler ” (1987) was inspired by Ted Bundy, whose trial Katzenbach covered as a young reporter. Thomas Harris’s “ Red Dragon ” and “ The Silence of the Lambs ” introduced arguably the most memorable villain in modern popular fiction, that charming cannibal Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Stieg Larsson’s “ The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo ” is at heart a serial-killer novel, even though the wondrous Lisbeth Salander steals the show. Michael Connelly’s “ The Poet ” was his breakthrough novel in 1996 and remains one of his best. Read full article > >

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Val McDermid’s ‘The Retribution’ a big disappointment

Make holidays more merry with beautiful bottles of booze With small batch spirits and one-of-a-kind bottles on the rise, an increasing number of producers are literally bringing something new to the table. Whether it’s a 100-proof rye whiskey or champagne encased in copper you’re after, these boozy options will make you welcome at the door of any holiday party. Pair any of these drinks with an appropriate literary choice authored by a famous drunk (Hunter S. Thompson, Dylan Thomas, Hemingway, etc.) or with a book like 101 Whiskies to Try Before You Die for a gift that will please any lush on your list. For more, see our piece on giftable spirits from 2009. Aged for at least ten years in American oak barrels, the creators of WhistlePig Straight Rye Whiskey hand-bottle this 100-proof spirit on a former dairy farm in Shoreham, VT. The result is both strong and well balanced, picking up fans with each sip. Pick it up from Drink Up NY for the sale price of $70. Joe Keeper at Silver Lake, CA’s Bar Keeper recommends Karlsson’s Gold Vodka, which is made from fingerling potatoes, as a gift. He loves the “nice viscosity” and the pepper grinder that comes with it adds a fresh-ground peppery zip. It sells from Park Avenue Liquor Shop for $36. Made from 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay grapes, Beau Joie’s Ros