Ken Bruen (RIP): Two days after this great Irish writer passed away on March 29, I found The Hackman Blues in Book Star, near the Railyard District. And, to complete the circle, this was only a few months after Gene Hackman passed away at home here in Santa Fe. Published in the UK before the Jack Taylor series, it’s got the usual tough, sparse prose and world wise Ken Bruen vibe.
The Ghost Ranch: We finally got out to this legendary site where Georgia O’Keefe produced many of her most famous paintings. We took the tour past some of the spots that inspired those works. An amazing day.
All the Colors of the Dark: This terrific book by Chris Whitaker made the “Best of” lists for new crime fiction last year. A story that begins with the attempted kidnapping of a teenage girl, during a string of disappeared girls in a small Missouri town, then follows two childhood friends trying to find and rescue the missing girls. I’m sorry that a brief teaser can’t do the book justice.
Black Bag: Michael Fassbender plays a British spook tasked with discovering the traitor leaking secrets. There are five suspects, one of whom is his wife, played by Cate Blanchett, and the film is a chess match among clever spies. It’s a fun ride, directed by Stephen Soderbergh. Definitely worth watching.
Saturday Afternoon in Santa Fe Plaza: Hanging with my new pal Mo at the San Francisco Street Bar & Grill:
