Interesting psychological study from Germany:

U.S. and German researchers found that people who have lower levels of self-esteem get more enjoyment from crime and detective stories that confirm their suspicions in the end, while those with higher self-esteem prefer a surprise ending.

“Personality plays a role in whether a person wants to be confirmed or surprised when they read mysteries,” Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick, co-author of the study and assistant professor of communication at Ohio State University, said in a statement.

“People with low self-esteem like to feel they knew all along who committed the crime, probably because it makes them feel smarter.”

Link to the Yahoo News article

I realize I haven’t announced book releases in a while, which is mainly due to my being busy. I’m going to do my best to start reporting on them more frequently again starting now.

The Shape Shifter, a novel by Tony Hillerman, is in stores today. The starred Publisher’s Weekly review noted that “[the] conclusion is sure to startle longtime fans of this acclaimed mystery series.”