His loyal readers may feel they know him well. But they will also know that David Adams Richards is a writer who never fails to surprise. This new collection of essays - his first in a quarter-century - is rich with revelations and insights, deepening our appreciation for this major talent.

Murder, and the self-deception involved in the allure of evil, is one of Richards' great subjects. The title of this book refers to a group of essays: on a hitchhiker's unnerving proclamation, on the killers of the Miramichi, on Caligula and on the villains of Richards' beloved Russian classics.

But this book also offers much to delight in: married love, family, travel, the beauy of the natural world - even Wayne Gretzky is invited to the party. Richards' principled outlook and spirituality inform his thinking throughout.

And as a considerable bonus, this wonderful repository of ideas and inspiration contains at its midpoint a slim but substantial collection of David Adams Richards' poetry.