TLDR: No, a towel does not make for a good DIY silencer/suppressor.
On Writing Knives: Don’t Confuse Switchblades with Assisted Openers
Can you tell just by looking whether this is a switchblade or an assisted opener? Most people can’t. Click the pic to find out why. (Image via BLADE)
A book you need to own. Click the cover to get it.
It’s my lucky day, because the hits keep on coming. Lee Lofland hosted my guest blog post about the differences between switchblade and assisted opening knives over at The Graveyard Shift. Check it out for an interesting analysis of knife laws and current events as they relate to fiction. Continue reading
Choosing a Knife for a Vigilante Detective Character
Thriller writer Jennifer Chase popped a note to me the other day. She was looking for a recommendation for a backup knife for her vigilante detective character, Emily Stone. It seems the protagonist sometimes can’t access her sidearms, and needed something for last-ditch defense.
I enjoyed playing Q, and the resulting guest blog post is up now at Chase’s blog. I’ll spoil it a little bit and list the knives I chose for Stone, although I recommend you read the entire post for the step-by-step selection process. Continue reading
Best Websites for Writers: Guns, Police, Forensics and More
If you like what I do here at CrimeFictionBook.com, I think you’ll enjoy these websites, too.
Digital Forensics
Here’s a new field for the 21st Century: digital forensics. Brett Shavers offers high-tech insights for depicting things like cloud-based forensics and identity theft. I like the title of one of his books, too: Placing the Suspect Behind the Keyboard. (with thanks to crime writer BJ Wolf for her excellent recommendations) Continue reading
How Well Can a Typical Vehicle Stop a Bullet?
Pictured: Still a better look than those stupid bullet hole stickers. (Shutterstock photo)
TLDR: There are too many variables to call a definite yes or no, but any rifle from a .223 on up at a distance of 100 yards or less stands the best chance of penetrating a typical vehicle. This is a good time to mention my disclaimer.
It makes sense that characters hiding from gunfire would choose to skirt death by taking shelter in or against a car or truck. But how well do everyday vehicles, such as the kind you whittle away your life inside stuck in traffic, stop bullets? Much depends on the firearm, the ammunition and the make of the vehicle, so the answer isn’t going to be concrete. Here’s my shot at filling in the Swiss cheese.
The Writer's Guide to Weapons 