Publicity scammers are getting bolder all the time. One just asked why I hadn't replied to her Facebook DM. I guess she'll never know.

I really enjoyed Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, once I managed to get "Young Frankenstein" out of my head.

Millie loves sitting by the fire.

Ow.

I planted this sugar maple two years ago . . .

The Thanksgiving-flavored Oreos (!) are already sold out, which makes me wonder whether this was actually a mistimed April Fool's joke: www.oreo.com/products/ore...

US e-book readers! HOUSE ON FIRE, the most recent Nick Heller novel, is on sale on all platforms for only $1.99 today. (And no, you don't have to have read any of the other Nick Heller books before you read this one.) www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/548747...

Wait, what? Chocolate mayonnaise?

If you're thinking about attending next year's Thrillerfest (May 5-9, 2026), register by Friday to claim your early-bird discount: web.cvent.com/event/4536e1...

Thanks to @loiscahall.bsky.social and everyone involved in the Cape Cod Book Festival — what a great event!

Are you on Cape Cod? Can you get here by tomorrow? Join @loiscahall.bsky.social and me at the Cape Cod Book Festival at 2:45 p.m.: www.onthestage.tickets/show/cotuit-...

There's something so satisfying about hitting "Yes, block" when I mark an email as spam.

I'm just as interested in the idea of a vast underground market for precious stones and metal as I am in the details of the Louvre theft itself. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/a...

If only . . .

THE OLIGARCH'S DAUGHTER is now on sale in Polish from Wydawnictwo Sonia Draga — seeing my work in languages I can't speak never gets old.

Chuck Box (C.J. Box) & I pulled out the same pen to sign some books in Charleston the other night. We agreed that "our pen" — our favorite by far — is the Uniball Signo Impact 207. He said that @michaelconnelly.bsky.social turned him onto them, but I'm pretty sure I turned Mike onto them. . .

Such a great event Thursday night, for a great cause — bestelling authors talking about writing to >150 people to raise funds for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (specialops.org). That's Brad Taylor, me, C.J. Box, Stacy Willingham, and Don Bentley (who writes the Vince Flynn novels).

In March I was diagnosed with a very aggressive diffuse large B cell blood cancer, and immediately began chemo at @danafarber.bsky.social. After only 3 sessions, I went into remission — and now the "chemo brain" is receding. My hair is even starting to grow back! It's a good birthday.

A great birthday dinner at Mistral over the weekend with my daughter, Emma.

Millie's car seat is a great success — for her afternoon naps.

A great article about the massive renovation project facing the Boston Public Library, which is not just a jewel of the city but a national treasure. www.boston.com/news/the-bos...

Charlestonians! You still have time to get tickets for Join Forces: Charleston Style, a fundraiser to support the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Author Brad Taylor was kind enough to invite me — next Thursday, October 9: tickets.postandcourier.com/e/jfcs-2025

To the top of the TBR pile this goes — excited to get my hands on an advance copy of Tom Perotta's next, GHOST TOWN. In stores next April.

Thrilled to share the news that GUILTY MINDS has been acquired for TV by Carl Beverly at Timberman/Beverly Productions, home of JUSTIFIED, ELEMENTARY, FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE and more. I'm looking forward to seeing Nick Heller on the small screen . . .

Happy National Coffee Day to all who celebrate. youtu.be/x9BEb0Wmb_I?...

Book festivals are great for meeting new (to me) authors — here I am with John Kenney, very funny author of I SEE YOU'VE CALLED IN DEAD, at the great Harbor Springs Book Festival over the weekend.

At the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book in northern Michigan, incredibly beautiful — yesterday afternoon's panel featured my friends @alafairburke.bsky.social and @gregghurwitzbooks.bsky.social with Maggie Stiefvater. Funny and smart, one of the best book festival panels I've attended.

It was great fun to talk spy novels and more with Ali Karim of SHOTS Magazine: wwwshotsmagcouk.blogspot.com/2025/09/retu...

Looking forward to being in Charleston, SC on October 9 for a very special fundraiser to support the children of Special Ops members killed in action: www.postandcourier.com/events/book_...

A nice review of THE OLIGARCH'S DAUGHTER (now in paperback in the UK!) from SHOTS magazine. I'll take a comparison to Ludlum any day . . . www.shotsmag.co.uk/book_reviews...

Catching up last week post-Bouchercon, I forgot to congratulate @louberney.bsky.social on the publication of CROOKS! One of my favorite books of the year — I said it and I meant it: www.louberney.com

"I'm not a spy, I just read books." Nobody did it better. RIP, Robert Redford.

Happy 135th birthday, Agatha Christie.

UK readers: the paperback edition of THE OLIGARCH'S DAUGHTER is on sale today from @headofzeus.bsky.social. www.bloomsbury.com/uk/oligarchs...

Thanks to the Denton Record-Chronicle for kind words about THE OLIGARCH'S DAUGHTER: "the action keeps the reader entertained and breathless." dentonrc.com/entertainmen...

This afternoon at Bouchercon! 2:30 p.m., Galerie 3, Floor 2: "Damaged Heroes: Protagonists with Flaws." Jen Jumba moderates a conversation among Jennifer Fawcett, Mark Oneill, Adam Plantinga, Mark Stevens, and me. www.bouchercon2025.com/schedule-fri...

It's Bouchercon week! Heading to New Orleans in a few days for the World Mystery Convention. If you're there, come see me on Friday or Saturday: www.bouchercon2025.com/panelfricms/54, www.bouchercon2025.com/panelsatcms/37

Thanks to @bobkustra.bsky.social of @boisestatepublicradio.org for this conversation about THE OLIGARCH'S DAUGHTER: www.boisestatepublicradio.org/show/readers...

Just in time for the weekend: the e-book edition of THE FIXER is on sale in the U.S. for only $1.99 on all platforms. www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/316354...

I had a blast helping put together ITW's audiobook anthology THE TWISTED WOMEN'S BOOK CLUB, and was glad to talk to @rickpullen.bsky.social for @crimereads.bsky.social. crimereads.com/how-do-you-w...

ITW's 12th annual Online Thriller School starts next week! It's not too late to register: thrillerwriters.org/programs/onl...

Summer goes so fast — but I'm looking forward to being a guest at the Cape Cod Book Festival in October. capecodbookfestival.com

The Oligarch’s Daughter by Joseph Finder www.tripfiction.com/a-great-espi... A great espionage thriller set in NEW YORK and NEW HAMPSHIRE "The story moves to a pulsating climax where all is revealed. You will not be disappointed!" @headofzeus.bsky.social (Aries) #blueskybooks #booksky

Thanks, Gregg! You're a mensch.

My friend Greg Iles was a terrific writer and a really good person. I will miss him. www.natchezdemocrat.com/2025/08/15/n...

A dream job, if I didn't already have my dream job . . .

My weekend reading: HOTEL UKRAINE by Martin Cruz Smith, the last Arkady Renko novel. I'll miss the character almost as much as I miss his creator.

Ryan Steck (The Real Book Spy) has some suggestions for reading while you wait for the next season of REACHER — great to see GUILTY MINDS on this list. therealbookspy.com/2025/08/07/1...

An amazing life: RIP to Dame Stella Rimington, spymaster, thriller writer, and the real-life Q. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Registration opened today for Thrillerfest XXI, happening in New York City next May — what a lineup! web.cvent.com/event/4536e1...