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After a yearlong hiatus, I'm back with news, books, booze... and thoughts on revival.
Blood & Whiskey
From author, journalist, whiskey-sipper Neal Thompson, crime fiction and true crime roundups, reviews, author interviews. Plus cocktails & playlists.
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Latest episodes
Blood & Whiskey #40
Birthday, new years, hiatus + bye-for-now mish-mash edition...
Blood & Whiskey #39
Pre-election books and booze recs, plus a Q&A...
Interrogation: Kimberly McCreight
A Blood & Whiskey interview with the author of LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER
Blood & Whiskey #38
New mysteries (in pretty, haunted places) from Chris Whitaker, Peter Heller, Francis Spufford, and Sarah Crouch. An older gem from William Kent Krueger. NYT's Best 100 Books and more.
La Cigua
(Spicy Margarita)
Blood & Whiskey #37
Three from the South: the latest from Greg Iles, Ace Atkins, and Erik Larson. Also bourbon — and, even further south, tequila.
Blood & Whiskey #36
William McIlvanney's "Tartan Noir" and thoughts on series. Also Tommy Orange, Gary Phillips and more. Plus the Rob Roy two ways.
Interrogation: Deepti Kapoor
A Blood & Whiskey interview with the author of AGE OF VICE.
Blood & Whiskey #35
Belated Happy 420 Day + Earth Day; Percival Everett; Kimberly McCreight; Deepti Kapoor; Robert Dugoni; and a Rye Presbyterian cocktail.
Blood & Whiskey #34
Irish-ish Edition: new Tana French and Ken Bruen; Scott Carson (Michael Koryta); Ace Atkins; two great New Orleans books; a rye cocktail and a Guinness in a box.
Blood & Whiskey #33
Dashiell Hammett, Sam Spade, and the Scofflaw cocktail; Amy Chua's gritty murder mystery, The Golden Gate; William Kent Krueger's Cork O'Connor; and me...
Blood & Whiskey #32
A new year of new books: Jonathan Santlofer, Richard Osman, Abbott Kahler, Kate Brody. Also mocktails for a dry month and a playlist full 'o whiskey.
Interrogation: Abbott Kahler
A Blood & Whiskey interview with the author of WHERE YOU END
Blood & Whiskey #31: end-of-year edition
A serial killer, the Korean Provisional Government, a crumbling Ireland, a Queenpin, Rebecca three ways, "The Last Word" cocktail + podcasts and pencils & more.
Blood & Whiskey #30
The Portland Book Festival; secrets and lies; an interview with Tim Johnston; LOTS of cocktails; best of the year lists; and a gourd.
Interrogation: Tim Johnson
Blood & Whiskey interview with the author of Distant Sons
Blood & Whiskey #29
Ben Fountain's epic, enthralling '90s Haitian saga; the most important man you've never heard of (via McKenzie Funk); new mystery from Tim Johnson. Also: Seattle’s beloved mixologist, Murray Stenson.
Blood & Whiskey: this month featuring "coast"-themed books, drinks, and music
Blood & Whiskey #28 - featuring new books from Angie Kim, Dwyer Murphy, Ben Fountain, Jeffrey Archer and more. Plus a Jimmy Buffett tribute playlist.
Blood & Whiskey #27
New books from Edan Lepucki, Peter Heller, Colson Whitehead, Naomi Hirahara, and more. Plus a rhubarb amaro cocktail and an intro to my Bud-drinking Irish Nana.