Alison Gaylin had been on my list. Frequently I will ask authors I am interviewing for suggestions of some books that I might enjoy. It is a great way to discover books and authors previously unfamiliar to me. And I know that listeners love it, too. Over the past few years I have had half a dozen authors mention Alison Gaylin. They said I had to read her, that she's a fabulous writer. I made a note of that each time her name was mentioned and I took the hint and tried to interview Alison for a book she published a couple of years ago. I failed to obtain an interview then-of course I didn't give up. I assumed she would put out another book before too long.
And so she did. "Never Look Back" is a breathtaking novel of psychological suspense. Apparently Alison is a big fan of true crime podcasts and she weaves a true crime podcaster into her plot. If you are listening to this podcast perhaps you are saying, yeah, podcasts are really cool.
What is it about podcasts? They are a crucial element in "Conviction," the new book by the Scottish novelist Denise Mina, as well. Alison is a delightful person to interview. The other day I had Laura Lippman back on the show for her novel "Lady in the Lake." I mentioned that I had finally gotten an interview with Alison and I thanked Laura for being someone who had pointed me toward Alison's work. Here's Laura's response:
"I think she's a rising star...there's really no one quite like her. Alison's found her own groove. Her own voice. Her own kind of story. And she's peerless at doing it."
The Book Nook on WYSO is presented by the Greene County Public Library with additional support from Washington-Centerville Public Library, Clark County Public Library, Dayton Metro Library, Wright Memorial Public Library, and Microsun Lamps.
