SURVIVING THE LIE is out today, along with the rest of the Russell Avery series! "Avery narrates his own story with delightfully caustic wit. Readers will leave with an appreciation of just how endangered and how valuable contemporary journalism is." -- Booklist

SURVIVING THE LIE is out tomorrow! But I haven’t seen my books in the wild in years. So send me a pic, and I’ll send you a free signed copy of one book in the Russel Avery trilogy.

The incredible @kellyekell.bsky.social loved SURVIVING THE LIE. I can't wait to talk about the final Russell Avery novel with her on August 27th at Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, NJ. You can find out how my erstwhile reporter's final assignment plays out when the book drops on August 11th!

Can you believe we're only two weeks out from the release of SURVIVING THE LIE? Today we've got praise from L.A. Times Book Prize winner and fellow scribe of ex-journalist turned P.I. books @alexsegura.com !!

Less than a month until SURVIVING THE LIE hits bookshelves, and here's some proof other authors think it's good! @todgoldberg.bsky.social -- the hilarious mind behind the Gangsterland series and my new favorite heist novel, ONLY WAY OUT -- has some kind words for Russell Avery's final adventure.

SURVIVING THE LIE is out in less than one month. Let's take a look at my paranoid thriller that's a little too close to home in 2026 America and we can all panic together.

Russell Avery is hitting the road this August! The SURVIVING THE LIE tour starts 8/12 in San Diego w/ @curtisippolito.bsky.social where we'll also be discussing his newest novel, WAVES OF BURDEN. (And for the L.A. locals, I finally get a Vroman's event!)

Happy pub day to @curtisippolito.bsky.social !! Really looking forward to talking to Curtis about this book (and the next Russell Avery novel, SURVIVING THE LIE) at Warwick's in San Diego on August 12th! If you're in the area come say hey!

POP! by @angelluiscolon.com is a tale of deadly serious ambition set in a surreal NYC underworld that smokes American Spirits and eats farm-to-table between felonies. Poppy Leathers is pissy perfection, punishing the masters of failing upward. You can meet Poppy on 8/17. You should pre-order now.

If you’re going to Bouchercon don’t forget your Anthony Ballots are due tomorrow! This is arguably the best short story I’ve ever written, you should vote for it!

Can't wait to see all of you at Bouchercon, where I'll be celebrating the release of SURVIVING THE LIE/ If you're still mulling your Anthony ballot, my piece "Dos Caras" is eligible for Best Short Story. I'm really proud of this timely love letter to little acts of rebellion in L.A.

Becoming a parent means I now respond to hate mail in the Miss Rachel voice…

Hope some of you can make it to this tonight! A live reading from me and some other talented authors who created Dark Waters Volume 3! Join us at 530 Pacific / 830 Eastern.

Thrilled to reveal the cover of the final Russell Avery novel SURVIVING THE LIE (which was not intended as a mantra for 2026, and yet...) Can an ex-journalist get the truth of one final story when he's up against forces that choose their own reality? Find out on August 11, 2026!

Come out to Diesel in Brentwood to see Best-Selling Author Lucinda Berry discuss her brand new audiobook THIS IS A SAFE SPACE (I’ll be there too.)

Come join me at DIESEL in Brentwood next Tuesday, Oct. 21st, where I'll be in conversation with best-selling author Lucinda Berry about her new audio book THIS IS A SAFE SPACE, which I devoured as fast as humanly possible once I downloaded it to my phone.

Could not be prouder of my members today. When we fight. We win. Your move @latimes.com

Hate that it has come to this, but the @latimes.com has left its staff hanging with years of bad faith bargaining. I’d much rather be focused on doing critical reporting for you all in times like these, but since The Times can’t get serious at the table, I’m voting yes.

SEAFOAM SZNNNNN One down. Eight to go.

Happy belated birthday to @blacktopkid.bsky.social — a guy who has deservedly made it 10x over but remains a tireless champion of all of us up and coming crime writers. Happy to know ya Shawn, and can’t wait to tear into this one.

L.A. in a nutshell right now — people see white unmarked vehicles and men with rifles and camo and all stop and assume it’s ICE or Border Patrol (Twas neither, LASD executing a felony warrant at a NoHo flop motel, ended peacefully)

Shot. Chaser.

New work uniform.

For those that are new here, I occasionally do non-journalism things. I’m also a crime fiction author, and Saturday at 6 p.m. I’ll be wearing that hat instead, helping my friend Patricia Smith launch her debut novel, REMEMBER, at The Book Jewel.

Curfew is now in effect. LAPD demanding people leave area pushing them up Temple. Someone threw a glass bottle at cops and they have fired less lethal rounds in that direction. There are some protesters stuck on Los Angeles between Temple and Aliso in front of federal building.

As faith leaders have a crowd take a knee and pray outside the federal building, DHS officers raise their weapons at priests and National Guard members lineup with riot shields against them tonight in downtown L.A.

After several wild nights in downtown L.A., faith leaders held a rally in Grand Park calling for strong non-violent resistance to what they called “reprehensible” actions in the city by ICE and the Trump Administration. They are now holding a peaceful march toward the Metro Detention Center.

A small group of protesters has blocked the 101 South again. CHP had blocked off the exits but failed to account for a series of wholes in an adjacent chainlink fence.

DTLA 930am — The old @latimes.com building including the famous Globe Lobby have been vandalized. There’s broken glass and rubber bullets everywhere. Spring Street being blocked with concrete barricades near City Hall where a protest in support of David Huerta is to begin at 11am