Chris F. Holm was born in Syracuse, New York to a mother from a cop family and a father from a long line of fantasy and sci-fi geeks. He wrote his first story at the age of six. It got him sent to the principal's office. Since then, his work has fared better, appearing in such publications as Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Needle: A Magazine of Noir, and THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES 2011. He's been longlisted for a Stoker Award and nominated for an Anthony, a couple Derringers, a Silver Falchion, a pair of Spinetinglers, and a handful of House of Crime and Mystery Readers' Choice Awards, even racking up some wins along the way. His Collector novels recast the battle between heaven and hell as old-fashioned crime pulp. Chris lives on the coast of Maine with his lovely wife, writer and reviewer Katrina Niidas Holm. No, she hasn't reviewed his books.
The County Line (2024) Steve Weddle "At once wry, thrilling, and full of heart, The County Line evokes the Coen brothers at their period best, while staking out a voice and milieu all its own."
The Killing Room (2023) (Killing Room, book 1) Robert Swartwood "Wanna know why I'm a big fan of Robert Swartwood? Look no further than The Killing Room. Propulsive as a gunshot and packed with twists guaranteed to keep even the savviest of readers guessing, Swartwood's latest isn't just a great thriller--it's also great fun."
The Bitter Past (2023) (Porter Beck, book 1) Bruce Borgos "A thrilling and assured debut, Bruce Borgos' The Bitter Past is at once a high stakes tale of high treason in the high desert and an unflinching examination of the lasting scars that even the coldest of wars can leave behind."
All That Fall (2021) (Emma Lawson Mystery, book 1) Kris Calvin "A white-knuckled, character-driven thriller, at once twisty and full of heart."
Crossroad (2019) (Melisende Dulac, book 1) W H Cameron "Cameron deploys cliffhangers with a master's touch, and renders his fictional Barlow County so vividly, you can almost smell the desert sage... He and I will be returning for years to come."
One Small Sacrifice (2019) (Shadows of New York, book 1) Hilary Davidson "Hilary Davidson is one of the best crime writers on the planet. This novel is a dazzling work by a master operating at the height of her abilities. Dark, twisty, and psychologically complex, One Small Sacrifice kept me guessing and gasping until the final page. I couldn’t put it down, even though I didn’t want it to end."
Black Swan Rising (2018) Lisa Brackmann "Lisa Brackmann writes with passion, guts, and heart. Black Swan Rising is more than just a thrilling read—it's also an unflinching examination of the corrosive effects of racism and misogyny on American culture."
Watch the Girls (2018) Jennifer Wolfe "Make no mistake: Wolfe's got the goods. Timely, harrowing, and vividly imagined, WATCH THE GIRLS is a wild ride with style to burn."
Idyll Fears (2017) (Thomas Lynch, book 2) Stephanie Gayle "Guaranteed to send a shiver down your spine. Lynch is a compelling, deeply human character - at once prickly, damaged, and heroic - and Gayle’s evocative prose breathes life into every twisty, thrilling page."
Shining City (2017) (Peter Rena, book 1) Tom Rosenstiel "At once gripping, cerebral, and eerily prescient, Tom Rosenstiel's Shining City illuminates the darkest recesses of D.C.'s corridors of power. Rosenstiel's political machinations ring so true, you'll wonder if he has the White House wired for sound."
Lightwood (2017) (Judah Cannon, book 1) Steph Post "Steph Post’s prose is lyrical and evocative. Her depiction of hardscrabble life in rural Florida is so effective, you’ll wanna lock the doors and crank up the AC. But where LIGHTWOOD truly excels is in illuminating the ties that bind - and stretching them well beyond their breaking point."
Immortal Remains (2016) (Tim Reaper, book 1) Sean Cummings "Hardboiled, hardheaded, and hard as hell to kill, Cummings' exiled death-dealer is a welcome addition to the weird noir fold."
Riot Load (2016) (Dominick Prince, book 2) Bryon Quertermous "A breakneck tale that manages to both send up and pay homage to the tropes of the crime drama."
Silent City (2016) (Pete Fernandez, book 1) Alex Segura "In Silent City, Segura shines a light on a Miami not often seen, one in which neon and glitz are supplanted by the hardscrabble grit of folks just trying to get by. Silent City is a coiled snake, twist after twist bringing you ever closer to its final, stinging bite."
