James Crumley, R.I.P.

This is a very sad day for mystery fans. James Crumley, one of the most influential crime writers upon the current generation of working writers, has died at the age of 68. When I started writing, Joe Lansdale told me that before writing another word, I should read "The Last Good Kiss." What an epiphany. It is still one of the best mystery novels ever written. I had the very great pleasure of meeting Crumley at Conmisterio in Austin and spending an evening with him. You can read about it in my post of August 6, 2006.

James Crumley will be greatly missed.