Welcome to my Official Website. I teach American literature at Fordham University and write about subjects ranging from crime fiction to the scientific search for room-temperature semiconductors. You’ll find links leading to many of my articles on this site.

My latest book, Hard-Boiled Sentimentality: The Secret History of American Crime Stories, published by Columbia University Press, was nominated for the Edgar and Macavity awards, and named one of the Ten Best mystery and crime books of 2008 by the Los Angeles Times (the only nonfiction book on the list). Read more about the book here, or order it here.