Thank you, Craig McDonald.

In his column for the Jan/Feb 2009 issue of Crimespree, subtitled "The Rhyme and Reason of Crime Fiction", Edgar-nominated author Craig McDonald relates his experience with poetry as it relates to crime fiction, including his recollection of meeting me at Bouchercon 2008 and passing "a sublime couple of hours" with The Lineup on his return home.

He particularly praises Richie Narvaez's "Metro", Misti Rainwater-Lites's "Don Henley Will Be Mine" and "Not Bonnie & Clyde, Exactly", and my own "Mickey Spillane", wrapping up as follows:

The very good news is sequels to THE LINEUP are planned as annual releases so we should be able to expect another fine volume this summer.

These may well be watershed works -- ones that in retrospect we'll regard as the start of something important.

Any serious fan of crime fiction should subscribe to Crimespree. Short of attending a con, it's the closest you can get to the community of readers and writers. You can request a single copy by e-mailing Jon Jordan (jon AT crimespreemag DOT com).