Iowa State English professor Charles L.P. Silet’s true joy in life is his family, but his passion is murder. Not just plain murder, but the gritty stuff — like the kind of murder detailed in mystery novels.

This is the stuff Silet loves to hear about.

Don’t worry. He’s not a cold-blooded killer. The only thing Silet might be accused of pointing is a fully loaded tape recorder.

For the past decade, Silet has interviewed more than 50 crime and mystery writers. Now, 20 of these interviews have been compiled into one book titled, “Talking Murder: Interviews with 20 Mystery Writers.”

Silet calls his second job “a labor of love,” and it’s easy to see why.

He has had the unique opportunity over the years to discuss something he loves — mystery novels — with some of the most well-known authors in the field. Some of his famous subjects include Edna Buchanan, Jeffrey Deaver, Elmore Leonard and Ed McBain.

Silet doesn’t have only one tried and true way of interviewing. Some interviews are done over the phone, others on the run and some in bars or hotel lobbies. But no matter what the interview or where it’s done, Silet says they are “so much fun to do. People are always a pleasure.”

In “Talking,” Silet writes, “In spite of the fact that the authors I have interviewed have written about all kinds of murder and mayhem, they have been the most considerate, congenial and cooperative people to interview.”

This may be the reason Silet has such a hard time declaring an all-time favorite in his collection. He calls McBain “approachable, interesting and fun,” and enjoys Leonard because of his use of dialogue and language.

“All of these writers have honed their craft,” Silet says. “They really know how to put a novel together and make it work.”

Silet is no slouch at putting an interview together and making it work. What’s unique about Silet’s interviews is the background information that accompanies them.

James Ellroy’s mother was brutally murdered when Ellroy was 10 years old, and the case has yet to be solved.

Interviews with Andrew Sachs, a lawyer who deals only with children’s cases, are the most intense because his passion for writing comes with his profession. Insights like these offer readers a new perspective on the works of their favorite authors.

Silet says he also is constantly surprised by the authors he interviews. The formal appearance of Joyce Carol Oates led Silet to believe she would be difficult to interview. But Silet soon found that after 10 minutes, they were talking like old friends.

“They are constantly generous with their time and willing to chat with me,” Silet says.

Although Silet has had the chance to interview authors of other genres and has done book reviews for years, crime writers are always his favorite interview.

“I’m still having fun interviewing crime writers,” he says. “When it is no longer fun, I’ll stop.”