OT: Castle Season 3

Great news today for UK Castle fans like me. The third season will begin on Alibi on 9 March at 9pm. Here's a sneak peak:



Castle is similar to The Mentalist but more light-hearted.

Synopsis from wikipedia:

Castle follows Nathan Fillion as Richard Castle, a famous mystery novelist who has killed off his main character in his book series and has writer's block. He is called in to help the NYPD solve a copy-cat murder based on one of his novels. Stana Katic co-stars as Detective Kate Beckett. Castle, who becomes interested in Beckett as a potential character for a new book series, uses his connections at the mayor's office and receives permission to continue accompanying Beckett while investigating cases. Castle decides to use Beckett as the model for the main character of his next book series starring "Nikki Heat". Beckett, an avid reader of Castle's books, initially disapproves of having Castle shadow her on her cases, but later warms up and recognizes Castle as a useful resource in solving crimes.

The books Rick Castle is writing in show have also been published: Heat Wave and Naked Heat.

Unknown

The film Unknown starring Liam Neeson is based on Didier van Cauwelaert's Out of My Head, tr. Mark Polizzotti, first published in English in the US in 2004. The UK edition, titled Unknown, has only just been published, which I believe makes it eligible for consideration for this year's International Dagger.

When everything has been taken from you . . .

There’s nothing left to lose.

Martin Harris has been in a coma for three days.

When he wakes up, otherwise unharmed, he is shocked to discover that no one knows who he is – he no longer exists.

Worse still, another man is living Martin’s life. His identity, his home, even his wife have been stolen. He has lost everything.

Except his memory . . .

Will anyone believe that he is the real Martin Harris?

If not, is he mad?

Or is there a far darker explanation?

The UK release date for the film is 4 March. You can watch a (longish) trailer here.

Alexander McCall Smith - Short Story

I've been informed about a very short storym written by Alexander McCall Smith, about what happens to people who complain about their hotel rooms. The story was written exclusively for Jumeirah Magazine (a publication by Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts).

Click on the title to read The Badly-Behaved Guest.

Publishing Deal - Harry Bingham

From today's Bookseller:

Orion has signed up a series of crime novels from author Harry Bingham.

Deputy publishing director Bill Massey made the deal for UK and Commonwealth rights in three crime novels. The series will feature character DC Fiona Griffiths, described as "a young woman with a shadowy father, a mysterious illness, and a peculiar empathy for the dead".

Massey said: "[]Fiona Griffiths is the most original character I've come across in years and I think readers are going to be completely beguiled by her."

The first title, Talking to the Dead, will be published in spring 2012.

Read the whole article here.

The Attenbury Emeralds - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for Jill Paton Walsh's The Attenbury Emeralds.

So what are you thoughts on the US (LHS) and UK (RHS) covers? Which would entice you more to pick the book up if you were not familiar with Jill Paton Walsh's books?

If you have read it, how well do the covers suit the story?

Read the Euro Crime review by Lizzie of The Attenbury Emeralds.

New German Crime Fiction

I've just received a review copy of Crime by Ferdinand von Schirach translated by Carol Brown Janeway. It's not one I've come across before and is a collection of short stories (which I believe makes it ineligible for the International Dagger).

Crime is published on 3 March by Chatto & Windus:

Meet Fahner, the retired small-town doctor who resorts to the garden axe when his patience with his cruel wife runs out.

Or Patrick, so entranced by the sight of his sleeping girlfriend that he cuts a small piece out of her back, just to see what she tastes like.

Or the silent assassin who calmly despatches two Neo-Nazi thugs on a railway platform.

A nameless lawyer invites us to read an extraordinary dossier of violent and unspeakable acts. All the crimes have one thing in common: the guilty are never convicted in a court of law. But however heinous the crime, the narrator shows how the human circumstances behind events can tell a different story.

Ferdinand von Schirach, himself a criminal lawyer, unveils a terrifying world where criminals elude justice, and the apparent innocents are perhaps the most dangerous of all. 'Guilt,' writes von Schirach, 'always presents a bit of a problem.' In this nuanced and telling collection, guilt is indeed never as clear cut as the crime.

I'll be adding this author to the Euro Crime page of German crime writers shortly.

Euro Crime Review Policy

Euro Crime is dedicated to the promotion of British and European crime writers, be it terms of bibliographies and upcoming releases or the weekly review selection.

I do receive books that fall outside the remit of Euro Crime from time to time so I thought I'd try and lay out what is and isn't likely to be reviewed.

Qualifies

1) If the author is British/European (irrespective or where the book is set) eg Lee Child, Ann Cleeves, Martin Edwards, Matt Hilton.

2) If the setting is British/European (irrespective of where the author was born) eg Elizabeth George, Donna Leon

3) If the book is translated (irrespective of whether it's European or not - this category is of particular interest to me as I'm currently one of the judges for the CWA International Dagger.) eg Deon Meyer.

Unabridged talking books and e-books in the above categories can be considered on a case by case basis as not all reviewers have or want the relevant technology.

Doesn't Qualify

1) If both the author and setting is not British/European and is not a translation eg. Daniel Depp, Tess Gerritson

2) True-Crime.

Wiggle Room

Books from the smaller book markets eg Australia, Africa will be considered on a case by case basis. eg Peter Temple, Michael Stanley. Please email me before sending the book: karen at eurocrime dot co dot uk.
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Background Info

I would prefer to direct review copies from publishers straight to the review team. However where books come to me first I send out an email, roughly weekly, listing books received and then send on the books requested to the reviewers. This is a bit costly* and time-consuming and delays the books getting to the hands of the reviewer, however perhaps with the rise in popularity of e-readers, the availability of e-galleys will increase.

*I am a library assistant so am not terribly confident of having a job in a year's time, in which case this policy will have to be reviewed.

We try and review as many books as possible, six new reviews are uploaded most weekends. Please note that the reviewers are crime fiction enthusiasts offering their honest opinions and that a review cannot be guaranteed.

I never sell arcs or review copies, any spare finished copies are added to my library's collection or given to charity shops.

New Reviews: Ceder, Hannah, Masters, Nadel, O'Connor, Rowson

Here are this week's new reviews:

Maxine Clarke reviews Frozen Moment by Camilla Ceder, tr Marlaine Delargy, the first in a new Swedish series;

Michelle Peckham was gripped by Lasting Damage by Sophie Hannah;

Lizzie Hayes has lots of nice things to say about the latest in Priscilla Masters's Martha Gunn, Coroner series: Frozen Charlotte;

Laura Root reviews Barbara Nadel's A Noble Killing the thirteenth in this consistently good Inspector Ikmen series;

Susan White was disappointed with Niamh O'Connor's debut fiction book If I Never See You Again now out in paperback

and Terry Halligan reviews Footsteps on the Shore by Pauline Rowson an "excellent police procedural" set in Portsmouth.

Previous reviews can be found in the review archive and forthcoming titles can be found by author or date, here.

The New Wexford Novel

Contrary to reports in the papers when Monster in the Box was published, Wexford is not finished - he's set to return in The Vault published in August.

Apparently The Vault is a sequel to a non-Wexford novel (I don't know which) and is the first time Rendell has written a sequel.

No plot details are available yet.

Hat-tip and thank-you to Philip who has had to keep this a secret for a few months.

The Whisperers - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for John Connolly's The Whisperers.

So what are you thoughts on the US (LHS) and UK (RHS) covers? They are very similar this week, but which would entice you more to pick the book up if you were not familiar with John Connolly's books?

If you have read it, how well do the covers suit the story?

Read the Euro Crime review by Pat of The Whisperers.

Jo Nesbo signing in London

Jo Nesbo will be signing copies of The Leopard and his earlier books at:

WATERSTONE'S LEADENHALL MARKET*
Monday, 7 March 2011, 12:30PM

This is a rare opportunity to meet Jo Nesbo. The bestselling author of 'The Snowman' will be signing copies of the heart-stopping thriller 'The Leopard' and his earlier Harry Hole novels. Please arrive early to avoid disappointment. Customers not purchasing their copy of a Jo Nesbo book on the day of the event, may be asked for proof of purchase.

Further details: 0843 290 8439

*Leadenhall Market, 1-3 Whittington Avenue, City of London EC3V 1PJ

New Reviews: Cleeves, Cumming, Henry, Hilton, McDermid, Robertson, Tallis

Here are this week's new reviews:

Maxine Clarke reviews the new Vera Stanhope novel from Ann Cleeves: Silent Voices;

Geoff Jones reviews Charles Cumming's The Trinity Six;

Amanda Gillies enjoyed the return of Jack Frost in James Henry's First Frost;

Michelle Peckham review the fourth in the Joe Hunter series by Matt Hilton: Cut and Run, now out in paperback;

Lizzie Hayes reviews the paperback release of Val McDermid's Trick of the Dark;

Terry Halligan reviews Random by Craig Robertson now out in paperback (both EC reviewers have loved it);

and Laura Root reviews Death and the Maiden by Frank Tallis, the newest and sixth in his historical, Vienna based Dr Liebermann series.

Previous reviews can be found in the review archive and forthcoming titles can be found by author or date, here.

Edgar & Barry Award Shortlists

The shortlists for the Edgar Awards presented by the Mystery Writers of America were announced last month, sorry I'm behind with that. The categories with a European interest are:

BEST NOVEL
Caught by Harlan Coben (Penguin Group USA - Dutton)
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin (HarperCollins – William Morrow)
Faithful Place by Tana French (Penguin Group USA - Viking)*
The Queen of Patpong by Timothy Hallinan (HarperCollins – William Morrow)
The Lock Artist by Steve Hamilton (Minotaur/Thomas Dunne Books)
I’d Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman (HarperCollins – William Morrow)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
Long Time Coming by Robert Goddard (Random House - Bantam)*
The News Where You Are by Catherine O’Flynn (Henry Holt)*
Expiration Date by Duane Swierczynski (Minotaur Books)
Vienna Secrets by Frank Tallis (Random House Trade Paperbacks)*
Ten Little Herrings by L.C. Tyler (Felony & Mayhem Press)*

THE SIMON & SCHUSTER - MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD
Wild Penance by Sandi Ault (Penguin Group – Berkley Prime Crime)
Blood Harvest by S.J. Bolton (Minotaur Books)*
Down River by Karen Harper (MIRA Books)
The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)*
Live to Tell by Wendy Corsi Staub (HarperCollins - Avon)

*=European author

The Barry Awards Shortlists for 2011 as selected by readers of Deadly Pleasures magazine have just been released. Those categories with a European interest or a translated author are listed below:

Best First Novel

GUTSHOT STRAIGHT, Lou Berney (Morrow)
ROGUE ISLAND, Bruce DeSilva (Forge)
THE POACHER'S SON, Paul Doiron (Minotaur)
SHERLOCKIAN, Graham Moore (Twelve)*
THE HOLY THIEF, William Ryan (Minotaur)*
ONCE A SPY, Keith Thomson (Doubleday)

Best British Novel

STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, Kate Atkinson (Doubleday)*
BLOOD HARVEST, S. J. Bolton (Bantam Press)*
THE WHISPERERS, John Connolly (Hodder & Stoughton)*
THE WOODCUTTER, Reginald Hill (HarperCollins)*
THREE SECONDS, Roslund & Hellstrom (Quercus)*
FOURTH DAY, Zoe Sharp (Allison & Busby)*

Best Paperback Original

THE HANGING TREE, Bryan Gruley (Touchstone)
THE DEAD LIE DOWN, Sophie Hannah (Penguin)*
EGGSECUTIVE ORDERS, Julie Hyzy (Berkley)
FEVER OF THE BONE, Val McDermid (Harper)*
THE RHETORIC OF DEATH, Judith Rock (Berkley)
A SMALL DEATH IN THE GREAT GLEN, A.D. Scott (Atria)

Best Thriller

13 HOURS, Deon Meyer (Grove Atlantic)*
AMERICAN ASSASSIN, Vince Flynn (Atria)
THE BRICKLAYER, Noah Boyd (Harper)
BOLT ACTION, Charles Charters (Hodder U.K.)*
ON TARGET, Mark Greaney (Jove)
THE REMBRANDT AFFAIR, Daniel Silva (Putnam)

Best Short Story

Mitch Alderman, "Requiem for Antlers" (AHMM Jan.-Feb. 2010)
Robert Barnard, "Family Values" (EQMM Feb. 2010)*
Caroline Benton, "The Body in the Dunes (EQMM Jan. 2010)
Loren D. Estleman, "The List" (EQMM May 2010)
Terence Faherty, "The Seven Sorrows" (EQMM Mar.-Apr. 2010)
Ellen Larson, "When the Apricots Bloom" (AHMM July-Aug. 2010)

*=European interest or translated author.

The Anatomy of Ghosts - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for Andrew Taylor's The Anatomy of Ghosts.

So what are you thoughts on the US (LHS) and UK (RHS) covers? Which would entice you to pick the book up if you were not familiar with Andrew Taylor? The US edition was published on 25 January and a UK paperback edition will be out 17 February (with a similar cover to the hardback).

If you have read it, how well do the covers suit the story?

Read the Euro Crime review by Amanda of The Anatomy of Ghosts.

You can read an extract from The Anatomy of Ghosts here.

Ann Cleeves's Vera News

Hat-tip to Maxine for this news that Ann Cleeves's Vera has been recommissioned even before it's been shown. Here's the news from Ann's website:

Fans of Ann Cleeves' Vera Stanhope books are waiting impatiently for the transmission of Vera, the television series, starring Brenda Blethyn as DI Vera Stanhope. The original plan was for the adaptation of Ann's novel Hidden Depths, to be broadcast in the autumn of 2010, but ITV were so pleased with this pilot episode that they commissioned three additional instalments, even before the first episode was broadcast. Trailers have already been screened, and we should soon have a chance to see four Vera Stanhope mysteries, based on Ann's three existing Vera Stanhope novels plus one entirely new story, all filmed on locations in the north east of England.

New Reviews: Beckett, Eastland, Moore, Siger, Trace, Van Der Vlugt, Webster

Please welcome Susan White to the review team. Susan reviews for the print magazine, newbooks. Her first review for Euro Crime is The Holmes Affair.

We travel all over Europe this week in the new reviews:

Maxine Clarke reviews Simon Beckett's fourth David Hunter novel: The Calling of the Grave;

Rik Shepherd reviews Sam Eastland's second Russian Inspector Pekkala investigation in The Red Coffin set ten years on from Eye of the Red Tsar;

Susan White reviews Graham Moore's The Holmes Affair (US: The Sherlockian);

Terry Halligan reviews the latest in Jeffrey Siger's Greek Inspector Kaldis series - An Aegean Prophecy (US: Prey on Patmos);

Lizzie Hayes goes to Italy in Jon Trace's The Rome Prophecy;

Maxine also reviews Dutch author, Simone van der Vlugt's Shadow Sister, tr. Michele Hutchison;

and Geoff Jones reviews Or the Bull Kills You by Jason Webster set in Valencia.

Previous reviews can be found in the review archive and forthcoming titles can be found by author or date, here.

OT: It's Cat-urday (cat on pc 3)

My messy desk plus ultra-relaxed Foxy the cat:

Field Grey - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for Philip Kerr's Field Grey (US: Field Gray).

So what are you thoughts on the US (LHS) and UK (RHS) covers? Which would entice you to pick the book up if you were not familiar with Philip Kerr? The US edition is to be published 14 April and a UK paperback edition will be out 31 March (with a similar cover to the hardback).

If you have read it, how well do the covers suit the story?

Read the Euro Crime review by Laura of Field Grey.

Publishing Deal - Alex Marwood

Alex Marwood's publishing deal, for a thriller, was announced in today's Booktrade:

Sphere have acquired a 'ripped-from-the-headlines' debut thriller. Set in a fictitious seaside town called Whitmouth, a series of murders brings together two women who as children had been imprisoned for their part in the murder of a little girl and who now live under assumed identities.

THE WICKED GIRLS will be published in trade paperback in Summer 2012, followed by a B-format in Spring 2013.

App for Alexander McCall Smith

I posted last year about a couple of Apps for Martina Cole and Mark Billingham and I keep seeing one for Alexander McCall Smith being advertised on posters at train stations:

This is Alexander McCall Smith's official iPhone app. It features exclusive video of the author discussing key characters in the series and locations throughout the country of Botswana. You can also read sample chapters from the books in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, including an exclusive preview chapter from The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party. And find out about 20 of Alexander's favourite songs. Look out for further updates this year.

(taken from AppShopper)