Robert Ellis: Hitchcock's PSYCHO, Revisited

 

 

The reasons I write crime fiction are many. Beyond the strong desire to make the world a better place, one of them might be that when I was six or seven-years-old, Hitchcock's PSYCHO happened to be playing at the local drive-in and my parents wanted to see the movie. Their rationale for not getting a babysitter went something like this ... They had a station wagon. If they lowered the backseat and brought the sleeping bags, my younger brother and I would fall asleep, and everything would be cool. They could sit up front and watch the movie. No problem …

Yeah, right!

I can still remember Detective Arbogast entering the Bates' house, making that slow climb up the staircase, the music going (Oh, I forgot. I was supposed to be sleeping)! I can still remember "Bates' mother" running into the hallway with the butcher knife raised, Arbogast taking the hit, tumbling down the stairs onto his back, and then that shot of the knife in the air ... I can remember watching the entire scene with my father trying to hold my head down.

Better luck next time!

The movie scared the living daylights out of me, but I was hooked. Once the initial shock wore off, Hitchcock would become one of my favorite directors ever. And in the end, show me the way to writing my first novel.

All best,

Robert

https://www.robertellis.net        

 

ROBERT ELLIS WRITERS BLOG

Robert Ellis: CITY OF STONES Is My Favorite

 

Author's Note: CITY OF STONES Is My Favorite ...

As a student of the crime genre, I truly believe that this is a special series. First and foremost, and unlike any other series I know of, the four Detective Matt Jones thrillers run as one continuous story. All four novels take up just three months in Matt's life, yet it doesn't matter where a reader decides to step in. CITY OF ECHOES, THE LOVE KILLINGS, THE GIRL BURIED IN THE WOODS, CITY OF STONES ... The series has been written in such a way that it makes no difference where you begin. This was by necessity. Because these books are more thriller than mystery, Matt ends up being the ultimate victim in each murder case he investigates. To reach those explosive moments toward the climax with feeling, the keen sense of discovery and atmosphere from beginning to end, Matt has remained and always will be working his first year as a homicide detective. An innocent person, but not quite.

I have been blessed with great, unbiased reviews for all four books. Reader and editorial reviews written by people whose only concern is their love for literature. I am beyond grateful for this. But I think CITY OF STONES deserves to be singled out for the unique characters supporting Matt through his fourth chilling murder case. When I was writing this novel, I felt like I had company. With every chapter that included Fresno and Cook from the FBI, it almost seemed like Dashiell Hammett was watching me type from over my shoulder. When it came to Jack Temps, a homicide detective living in disgrace, there was no doubt about it. Elmore Leonard and Michael Connelly were sitting on the other side of my desk. And when it came down to writing Dr. Julie May, Matt's shrink, and Vince Sato, a reporter and best friend of the first murder victim, I had every author I ever loved in the room at the same time. Writing CITY OF STONES was an amazing experience. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to bring this special book to you.

All best,

Robert

City of Stones on Amazon

 

ROBERT ELLIS WRITERS BLOG

Robert Ellis: Happy Publication Day!

 

 

CITY OF STONES is now LIVE in Kindle, Paperback, and Hardcover!

Matt Jones 4 is finally here, and I dare say, Matt gets into trouble early in the story, becomes the killer’s primary target, and whether or not he survives this one isn’t clear until the very last page!

What you may not know but probably suspected, CITY OF STONES begins just days after Matt's mysterious disappearance following THE GIRL BURIED IN THE WOODS. Still recovering from his wounds, Matt is asked by a journalist with the Los Angeles Times to look at a story he's working on. Unfortunately, when Matt shows up at the writer's home, he finds a horrific crime scene and realizes that there's a killer with a secret loose in the city.

I hope you really enjoy reading CITY OF STONES, and what Kirkus Reviews is calling “a moody white-knuckle murder tale … with rapid-fire dialogue … a taut atmosphere … a riveting book.” What a wild Matt Jones ride! I know I sure loved writing it!

CITY OF STONES Detail Page at Amazon.com

ROBERT ELLIS WRITERS BLOG