MYSTERY READERS JOURNAL: Southern California Mysteries (40:1)

Mystery Readers Journal is a quarterly thematic mystery Journal. Each issue contains articles, reviews, and author essays on a specific theme, as well as special columns and other mystery related material. Journals run an average of 100 pages. Subscribe.

Current Issue: Southern California Mysteries: Available in hardcopy or as a downloadable PDF. If you're a subscriber or contributor to this issue, please scroll down.

Recent Issues: Southern California Mysteries (Spring 2024); Animals in Mysteries II (Winter 2023); Animals in Mysteries I (Fall 2023); Hobbies & Crafts in Mysteries (Summer 2023).

Coming Up: Murder Takes a Holiday; Partners in Crime, London Mysteries. Submit an article!

Mystery Readers Journal: Southern California (40:1) is now available as a PDF and Hardcopy. 

And, FYI, we had two other themed SoCal issues in 2009: 

Los Angeles I (https://mysteryreaders.org/journal-index/los-angeles-mysteries-i/) 

and 

Los Angeles II (https://mysteryreaders.org/journal-index/los-angeles-mysteries-ii/). 

***

If you're a PDF subscriber to Mystery Readers Journal, you should have received download instructions (let me know if you haven't). Hard copy subscription copies should be received within a  week. International subscribers will receive their issues within two weeks. PDF Contributor copies will go out tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who contributed to this amazing issue.

Southern California Mysteries

Volume 40, No. 1, Spring 2024

Buy this back issue! Available in hardcopy or as a downloadable PDF.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLES

• Vintage Hollywood Crime by Aubrey Ney Hamilton

AUTHOR! AUTHOR!

• Why I Love Writing About L.A. by Anne Louise Bannon
• The Mysteries of True Crime by James T. Bartlett
• California, the Origins of Reckoning, and the Ty Dawson Series by Baron Birtcher
• The Lighter Side of SoCal Mysteries by Sally Carpenter
• Where Rick Cahill Lives by Matt Coyle
• Technology, AI and Murder Collide in L.A. by Art Chester
• A Mystery in More Ways than One: A Fascination with Southern California by Elizabeth Crowens
• Los Angeles Ninja Lily Wong by Tori Eldridge
• San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter—Come for the History, Stay for the Mystery by Sara Driscoll
• California in Black and White by Terence Faherty
• A Different Perspective on Southern California by Earlene Fowler
• Los Angeles: City of Dreams by Lee Goldberg
• Kesey & Me by Chuck Greaves
• The Monkey in Venice by Russell Hill
• Wendy Stays Home by Wendy Hornsby
• L.A.’s Mr. Goodbar by Georgia Jeffries
• San Diego: Where Paradise and Crime Meet by Curtis Ippolito
• Sand, Surf, Murder by Sybil Johnson
• Changing Coast Changed My Life by John Lansing
• The OC, Baby by D. P. Lyle
• Like So Many Before Me by Larry Maness
• Mysteries of Southern California by T. Jefferson Parker
• You’re Right— That’s Exactly What Southern California is Like by Thomas Perry
• Finding Your Place When You’re Writing About Place by Eugenia Parrish
• Through a Lens Brightly by Gary Phillips
• Beach Noir by James Preston
• Beached by D. R. Ransdell
• Don’t Give Up the Day Job by Clive Rosengren
• That Screwy, Ballyhooey SoCal by Robert Rotstein
• Los Angeles: Boundless, Disturbing, Inspiring by Elizabeth Sims
• After-Hours by Lida Sideris
• If At First You Don’t Succeed… by Jennifer Slee
• Limitless Los Angeles by Patricia Smiley
• Location, Location, Location by Elena E. Smith
• Dwelling in the Southern Region of the Soul by David Unger
• Hollywood, My Exuberant Muse by Halley Sutton
• The Lair of the Bear by Duane Swierczynski
• Making a Reader Feel the Character of a Setting by Carl Vonderau
• What Do You Know? by Pamela Samuels Young
• Safe, Hope, and Always by Mark Zubro

COLUMNS

• Mystery in Retrospect: Reviews by Jay Gertzman, Aubrey Hamilton, Lesa Holstine, Dru Ann Love, Lucinda Surber, and Kristopher Zgorski
• Children’s Hour: Southern California Mysteries by Gay Toltl Kinman
• The Trunk Murderess by Cathy Pickens
• Crime Seen: Southern California Noir by Kate Derie
• From the Editor’s Desk by Janet A. Rudolph

ANTHONY AWARD NOMINATIONS 2023: Bouchercon San Diego

Boucheron announced the Anthony Awards Finalists in nine categories. Award winners will be announced at Bouchercon 2023: San Diego.

BOUCHERCON SAN DIEGO: 2023

Mark Your Calendars for Bouchercon San Diego Murder at the Marina August 30 To September 3, 2023

Read the Crime Wave   We are excited to announce our website is up and registration is open for Bouchercon 2023.    We’ll be in beautiful downtown San Diego at the Marriott Marquis, on the marina of San Diego Bay. Located next to a trolley stop and the Gaslamp District (full of restaurants), you couldn’t ask for a better place to celebrate your love of mysteries, suspense, thriller, and other crime stories.

Join Toastmaster Naomi Hirahara in celebrating an amazing lineup of Guests of Honor.

Lifetime: David Baldacci

International: Ann Cleeves

National: C.J. Box

Regional:  Jacqueline Winspear

Cozy: Kate Carlisle

Fan: Dru Ann Love

Learn About Our Guests of Honor

REGISTER

LEFT COAST CRIME NEWS

Left Coast Crime is my favorite mystery convention. Left Coast Crime is an annual mystery convention sponsored by mystery fans, both readers and authors. LCC is held during the first quarter of the year in Western North America.from Anchorage to El Paso, from Boulder to Hawaii, and various locations in between. We once met on the 'Left Coast" of England! It's a great conference with panels, banquet, awards, and so much more.

The purpose of Left Coast Crime is to host an event where readers, authors, critics, librarians, publishers, and other fans can gather in convivial surroundings to pursue their mutual interests.

This year, Left Coast Crime was awarded the Raven Award from Mystery Writers of America. This award recognizes outstanding achievement in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing. Go, Left Coast Crime! Left Coast Crime wants to thank the hordes of volunteers and the amazing teamwork of the local and national committees that have allowed us continue the Left Coast Crime tradition.

Sadly, with all that's going on this year with COVID-19, Left Coast Crime: Murder's a Beach was in full swing this week in San Diego, when it was shut down abruptly by San Diego County. Nevertheless one full of panels and meetings, new authors breakfast, snacks, and treats took place. Hats off to the Organizers of this year's conference: Stan Ulrich, Lucinda Surber, Lisq Brackmann, Kim Keeline, Maryelizabeth Yturralde, Tammy Kaheler and all the local committee and volunteers. They put in years of planning and hard work to ensure a terrific convention.

Lefty Awards: Do not fear, the Lefty Awards will be voted on and the winners announced in the near future. New procedure this year due to the cancellation of the convention.

All things being what they are, join us at Left Coast Crime: Southwest Sleuths next year in Albuquerque, NM, April 8-11, 2021. See you there!

Left Coast Crime 2020: Murder's a Beach!

Left Coast Crime 2020 Murder’s a Beach

Registration is now open for LCC 2020 in San Diego, California, March 12-15, 2020. Registration includes a Welcome Reception, two special Breakfasts, the Awards Banquet, and admission to all panels and interviews with Guests of Honor and Special Guests. Early registration fee of $195 extends through March 31, 2019, the close of LCC 2019 Vancouver: Whale of a Crime.
Online Registration

San Diego Marriott Mission Valley 
All convention events will take place at the San Diego Marriott Mission Valley. Just minutes away from the San Diego International Airport and within easy reach of all that San Diego has to offer, Mission Valley and Old Town are a great place to call home base. Conveniently located in the center of San Diego county, the area is within a 15 minute drive of the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld San Diego, and Downtown Gaslamp District, and offers a wealth of affordable accommodations, family friendly dining options, and great shopping at both the Fashion Valley and Mission Valley malls. Our conference rate of $169 is also available three days before and after the convention if registrants choose to extend their stay and explore San Diego. Registrants will receive the hotel code when reservations open in April 2019.

More information about LCC 2020.

LCC 2020 Special Guests 

Guest of Honor: Rachel Howzell Hall

Guest of Honor: T. Jefferson Parker

Toastmaster: Matt Coyle

Fan Guest of Honor: Mysterious Galaxy Books

"Storefront' Police Station in Public Library

From the Library Journal:

The San Diego Police Department Tuesday opened a 'storefront station' at the Rancho Bernardo Library. The facility will allow officers access to the SDPD’s computer network, allowing them to file reports and handle other paperwork in a location close to their beats. Previously, officers had to write reports in their cars because the police station in the far Northeastern Division is in Rancho Penasquitos.

“As the city begins to emerge from its fiscal woes, we must improve public safety in our neighborhoods,” said Councilman Kersey, who represents the area. “This includes a new location where police can connect with community volunteers and resources to help them protect neighborhoods in north San Diego.”