It's not often that my day job and my blogging world overlap, but today I get to promote an exciting new book-related show airing on Investigation Discovery starting next Monday, October 11. Hardcover Mysteries asks the question, "How much of today’s great mystery writing springs from the imagination … and how much of it is ripped from the headlines?" Eight bestelling mystery authors will be featured on the series - David Baldacci, Harlan Coben, Sandra Brown, Linda Fairstein, Sara Paretsky, Kathy Reichs, Lisa Scottoline and Joseph Wambaugh - which focuses on this question of the crossover from fact to fiction. I am not much of a mystery reader, but I am always fascinated by the origin of plots – do they spring from the author's imagination, or are they based in reality? Or is it a combination of both?
Each episode of Hardcover Mysteries pairs authors with a real-life case close to their heart, whether it inspired one of their own creations, mirrors the themes presented in their bestsellers or resonates with their personal life story.
If you are in the NYC area, David Baldacci, Harlan Coben and Sandra Brown will be at the Tribeca Barnes & Noble store tomorrow, Tuesday, October 5 to discuss the true life crime stories that inspired their thrillers. The event starts at 7 PM.
Hardcover Mysteries premieres on Investigation Discovery on October 11 at 9PM ET/PT. Here's a trailer: