The result is a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most popular novels, films and TV episodes of the last forty-plus years--as well as a history of the modern true crime movement. If that sounds like something you might like, you can pre-order the book here: shorturl.at/70zJM

HANNIBAL LECTER: A LIFE is the result of years of research. I dug into Jonathan Demme's private archives; spoke with numerous FBI agents who helped inspire the Lecter books; and interviewed such filmmakers as Michael Mann and Ted Tally.

The final episode of MISSION ACCOMPLISHED goes behind the scenes of THE HURT LOCKER and IRON MAN--two films that, together, close out the George W. Bush years with a bang: shorturl.at/60sR6

In episode five of MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, we go behind the scenes of the Coen brothers' NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, and Oliver Stone's W--two movies that capture the grim mood of George W. Bush's final years in office: shorturl.at/0RzQf

In episode four of MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, we look at the making of MICHAEL CLAYTON and CHOP SHOP--two great films about the various economic, emotional and ethical recessions of the George W. Bush years: shorturl.at/RHX2k

Episode three of MISSION ACCOMPLISHED goes behind the scenes of ANCHORMAN and ZODIAC--a pair of Bush-era films about living in a glass case of emotion: shorturl.at/rmMh5

Episode two of MISSION ACCOMPLISHED looks at the the making of Spike Lee's 25TH HOUR and Jonathan Demme's remake of THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE--two films that captured the confusion and anger of post-9/11 America: shorturl.at/nk7L7

(Also: It's wild to me that this wound up running in the NYTimes--as a kid, I used to monitor the sales charts for these collections in the Book Review every Sunday)