R.G. Belsky
Mystery
Author of the Clare Carlson and Gil Malloy crime fiction series and New York City journalist
R.G. Belsky is an award-winning author of crime fiction and a journalist in New York City. His newest mystery, Beyond the Headlines, is being published in May by Oceanview. It is the fourth in a series featuring Clare Carlson, the news director for a New York City TV station. The first book, Yesterday’s News, was named Best Mystery of 2018 at Deadly Ink. The second, Below the Fold, won the Foreward INDIES award for Best Mystery of 2019. The third Clare Carlson mystery, The Last Scoop, came out in May 2020.
In all, Belsky has published 14 novels — including the Gil Malloy series and several books under the pen name of Dana Perry — all set in the New York City media world where he has had a long career as a top editor at the New York Post, New York Daily News, Star magazine and NBC News. He is also currently a contributing editor for The Big Thrill magazine.
Learn more about Belsky on his website; check out our reviews of Beyond the Headlines, The Last Scoop, Below the Fold and Blonde Ice; and watch our interview with him on Shooting for the Stars.
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BOOKS:
Beyond the Headlines (2021)
The Last Scoop (2020)
Below the Fold (2019)
Yesterday’s News (2108)
Biggest literary influences:
Raymond Chandler, Stephen King, Ross MacDonald, Robert B. Parker, Michael Connelly, Lawrence Block, Sue Grafton
Last book read:
Someone to Watch Over Me by Ace Atkins and Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner (read them both pretty much back-to-back)
The book that changed your life:
The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. For a long time, I knew I wanted to be a writer. But I wasn’t necessarily thinking about writing mystery novels. Then one day I picked up a copy of Chandler’s first Philip Marlowe at a used bookstore, read it – and knew that was the kind of book I wanted to write. Not that I’m unique in this, of course. Lots of mystery authors have gotten their inspiration from Chandler. Happy to be one of them.
Your favorite literary character:
Wow, there are a lot of possibilities: Philip Marlowe, Lew Archer, Matt Scudder, Spenser, Harry Bosch. But I think in the end I’ll say Bosch is my favorite literary character. Michael Connelly has been writing the series for nearly 30 years now, and Connelly has not only managed to keep Harry Bosch a fascinating character — but has also allowed him to grow older as the years went by. He really is like an old friend now, one I look forward to reacquainting myself with every time a new Harry Bosch book comes out. And the Bosch TV show is really good too!
Currently working on:
It’s News to Me – the fifth book in my series about TV journalist Clare Carlson.
Advice for aspiring authors:
If you want to be a writer, you need to write. It is as simple as that. Write what you want, write what you feel — but keep writing. As a journalist, I’ve run into many other people in the profession who talked about wanting to write a novel one day. I always tell them the same advice: Just do it, don’t talk about it. Most of them never did. But for those of us who have … well, sitting down at that blank computer screen has been the start of a wonderful journey.
ARTICLES/REVIEWS
Beyond the Headlines:
Publisher’s Weekly review
Manhattan Book Review
The Last Scoop:
Publisher’s Weekly review
“16 Favorites from 2020 That You Probably Never Heard Of”
Criminal Element Q&A
Below the Fold:
Criminal Element Q&A
Interview with The Big Thrill
Interview with Suspense Magazine
MysteryPeople interview
TESTIMONIALS
“In today’s world of fake news and alternate facts, R.G. Belsky reminds us why we need reporters like Clare Carlson more than ever before. She is what we want all our journalists to be — honest, objective and relentless in her pursuit of the truth.” —Lee Goldberg, New York Times bestselling author
“Belsky has a masterful talent for wordplay, one that holds you tight until all is revealed.” —Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author
“Even the savviest of readers will be gasping in awe at Belsky’s impressive storytelling skills.” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony and Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning author
“Heroine Clare Carlson is formidable, human and thoroughly authentic. R.G. Belsky knows his stuff.” —Meg Gardiner, bestselling author
