Thomas Zigal

The Late Great James Crumley

Legendary crime writer Jim Crumley died in September, and I offered a few thoughts about my old friend in an article entitled "10,000 Barstools Ago" in Texas Monthly online.

The entire article is reproduced in the Newsletter section of this website.


New Editions of the Kurt Muller Mysteries

Texas Monthly declares, "Mystery writers like Thomas Zigal are the salvation of a flailing genre."

The Toby Press has reprinted all three Kurt Muller mysteries in attractive new quality paperback editions. The novels take place in Aspen, Colorado. See "Selected Works" on this website for reviews of the Kurt Muller trilogy.


The White League

The White League has received significant attention since its publication in February 2005. Booklist called the novel "a page-turner with a conscience" and Kirkus described it as "deliciously complicated." Crime legend James Crumley declared The White League "a remarkable achievement."

Publishers Weekly described the book as "a gripping novel of racism, justice denied, retribution and redemption in the upper-class environs of New Orleans circa 1990. . . . As in any good Southern novel, present events are dictated by the past, and colorful characters from all stations of life perform both honorable and despicable acts. There's plenty of New Orleans lore . . . in this solidly written, adroitly plotted and satisfyingly ethics-driven tale."

Texas Monthly published the first chapter of The White League in its online site.

The ABA's BookSense chose The White League as a Notable selection for March 2005, and the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association's Killer Books chose it as a Pick for February 2005.


Re-New Orleans

My ties to Louisiana go back to the early and mid-1960s, when I attended high school in Lafayette. Later, I lived in New Orleans for four years (1989-93). I have a deep affection for its people and my many friends there. My novel The White League grew out of my experiences of living in New Orleans.

I have had my own close calls with floods and ruined houses. Our family home in Texas City, Texas, was heavily damaged by the tidal surge of Hurricane Carla in 1961. And I have also waded waist-deep in New Orleans' floodwaters after a heavy rain storm, carrying my four-year-old son in my arms as we made our way home in the dark. It's impossible to forget that kind of fear and uncertainty.

It's going to be a long and tough recovery for New Orleans. But I have faith in the people of that city. They are resilient, courageous, and fiercely proud. I know they will rebound and rebuild. In time -- with patience and care -- the good times will roll again. And perhaps this time everyone will be invited to the party.


Violet Crown Award

My novel The White League was selected as the winner of the 2005 Violet Crown Award in fiction. The award is given annually by the Writers League of Texas. The winners were announced on October 29, 2005, at a reception in the Texas Governor's Mansion. I am grateful to the Writers League for this award and for their outstanding support of Texas writers for the past 20 years.