SLIDE by Ken Bruen and Jason Starr

Picking up from last year's Bust, Max Fisher wakes up in a motel in Robertson, Alabama, no idea how he got there. Using his friendship with a young stoner desk clerk, Max returns to New York as a high-rolling crack dealer. Meanwhile, femme fatale Angela Petrakos finds herself mixed up with an aspiring Irish serial killer called Slide.

Slide is less plot-driven than Bust. The first half of the novel mostly follows Max building his drug empire, and you just wonder when things will start to go sour. It's nonetheless fun to see where the characters are now. My favorite sections of the novel are from Max's seriously warped and thus hilarious view of himself and others.

During a DetecToday chat in September, Hard Case Crime editor Charles Ardai mentioned Bruen and Starr were working on a third book in the series, To The Max.

Hit me with your best shot.

Megan Powell received an e-mail asking which she considered her best story. She put the question to writer-slash-readers of her blog, and I commented:

I try to improve with every story I write. I don’t think much about how they’ll turn out as I’m writing them. At that point, I’m concentrating on cohesiveness. I don’t think anyone is the best judge of one’s own work. Not that anyone else’s opinion has more value, but the writer is too involved in creating the story to totally detach when reading it.

My favorite stories to read are those with distinct voices and good pacing. When judging (i.e. editing) a story of mine before submitting, I ask what the story’s goals are and have I met those goals. (Sometimes I’m not aware of the goals until I finish the story.) In terms of style, I try to cut out anything clunky.

To readers of this blog, which of my stories do you think is the best? If you need a refresher, there's Gerald So's Desk. Click on the "Fiction" label.

And now, virtual karaoke:

You're a real tough cookie with a long history
Of breaking little hearts like the one in me.
That's okay, let's see how you do it.
Put up your dukes and let's get down to it.

WENN: Craig Signs $60 Million Bond Deal

Actor Daniel Craig has signed a $60 million deal to star in the next four James Bond films. The blond 39-year-old is currently filming Bond 22 - his second outing as secret agent 007 following the success of 2006's Casino Royale - and movie executives have reportedly signed him up for another three films, tying him to the franchise for the next 10 years. A source says, "To date Daniel has been quite cautious over saying how many films he'd be starring in. It was presumed he'd probably do a couple more but the word is the new deal ensures he'll do at least another four across the next decade." Craig's predecessor, Pierce Brosnan, starred in four Bond movies - but the longest-serving 007 star remains Sir Roger Moore, who played the iconic role in seven films between 1973 and 1985.

When I read Jeremy Lynch's report of the deal last Saturday, I thought it was for four movies on top of Craig's original three-picture deal, equaling Roger Moore's seven. Still, I worry Craig may play Bond one time too many. It's good to know he's similarly wary.