Chris Hewitt
Critic / Editor
BooksArmed with a degree in the lucrative field of history, Chris has written for publications that vary from a small-town newspaper to a city magazine to national sites. He's probably reading a good book right this minute.
Latest from Chris Hewitt
This novelist’s family fled Laos and she ended up in Arden Hills
Fiction: V.T. Bidania’s “A Year Without Home” was inspired by her family’s flight after the Vietnam War.
January 12, 2026
Review: ‘Hilarious’ book tells us how to avoid dying
Nonfiction: An emergency room doctor offers “99 Ways to Die: and How to Avoid Them.”
January 10, 2026
After humiliation came the Star Tribune, then 1,789 potential happy endings
Local fiction: Inspired by a column in the paper (then, just the Star), a Lakeville writer dreamed up a romantic fairy tale.
January 6, 2026
Stay in this weekend with these cozy movies and books
If you need some cozy time, we have ideas for how to spend it.
January 3, 2026
Another Victorian detective beats Sherlock Holmes at his own game
Fiction: Two new capers show the 1800s remain mysterious.
December 31, 2025
Will Louise Erdrich and Ann Patchett knock it out of the park in 2026?
Messed-up families and a cheeky guide to staying alive are among the subjects of these 25 upcoming titles.
December 25, 2025
Review: You love their music, now find out who these musicians are
Nonfiction: “Backbeats” shows how 15 drummers changed the rock ’n’ roll world.
December 15, 2025
![The Rootsí drummer Ahmir ìQuestloveî Thompson on the Main Stage Sunday evening at Soundset 2016. ] JEFF WHEELER ï jeff.wheeler@startribune.com The ninth annual Soundset hip-hop festival took place in its new location at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds Sunday, May 29, 2016 in Falcon Heights.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/P24MEN2MOJ7YT7LSJWOAPAKQ6A.jpg?&w=252&ar=3:2&fit=crop)
(Almost) everyone in this Hastings family is a novelist. What gives?
Local fiction: Everyone but MaryJanice Davidson’s son gets in on the act in this literary clan.
December 15, 2025
Kao Kalia Yang, T. Mychael Rambo and a bunch of surprises
Music, stories and more make up “An Evening of Children’s Literature” at Ordway hall.
December 14, 2025
Review: And ‘The Award’ goes to ... a truly terrible person
Matthew Pearl’s literary satire features a novelist who’s out of touch with his humanity.
December 10, 2025
Does your book club have problems? Facilitators tackle ‘behavioral issues.’
Experts, including a Minnesota book club facilitator, have tips on redirecting when a discussion goes astray.
December 8, 2025
The 20 best fiction and nonfiction books of 2025
Our favorite books in 2025 boast artificial intelligence, hapless “intelligence” agents and the towering intelligence of James Baldwin.
November 29, 2025
