Southern California isn’t exactly the scariest of places. All that sunshine, ocean air, fucking Newport Beach . . . not the most fitting place for a spooky crime series. That doesn’t stop Jan Burke, however, who has not only made a successful career as a mystery writer with her Irene Kelly series (centered on a SoCal newspaper reporter! We love it!), but she’s also the recipient of such accolades as the Edgar Award for Best Novel and the Agatha Award for Best Short Story, among many others. Monday she will be at Barnes and Noble signing her latest work, The Messenger.
Mon., Jan. 5, 7 p.m., 2009
