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Wednesday, August 03, 2011

Now You See Me - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for S J Bolton's Now You See Me. (About a year ago I asked for opinions on Blood Harvest.)

So what are your thoughts on the US (LHS) and UK (RHS) covers? Which would entice you to pick the book up if you were not familiar with the books of S J Bolton?

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

Read the Euro Crime review by Michelle of Now You See Me.

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16 comments:

  1. Philip Amos2:00 pm

    Actually, I haven't read Bolton and I keep wondering why. Anyway, the UK cover, beyond a doubt. The US one tells me nothing.

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  2. Unknown2:06 pm

    The UK edition is better, but I think it looks too much like Mo Hayder's Ritual.

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  3. Dorte H2:06 pm

    Definitely the UK cover. A nice, sinister one - probably a perfect choice for a Bolton mystery.

    That huge bridge is totally out of proportion :(

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  4. Mariandy2:12 pm

    I prefer the UK cover. The larger font size captures my attention. I don't like the angle of the photo on the US cover.

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  5. Joe Barone2:29 pm

    I'd be more likely to pick up the book with the US cover.

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  6. Anonymous2:49 pm

    Karen - I agree with Philip. The UK cover most definitely is more appealing to me.

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  7. Michael Donohue3:51 pm

    Those are some diverse approaches.

    The US seems to be going more for the literary crime concept, but not being overly familar with Bolton (as I don't think most US readers are) I'd need to flip to the flaps to learn more. I actually preferred the US Blood Harvest cover, which felt more quietly sinister where the UK one felt a bit over the top (it still sort of does for this one too)

    The UK is much more firmly rooted in the crime genre camp and does better at the at a glance expectations setting.

    I think for a less established author (in the US at least) the UK approach may help her natural audience more quickly. At least she's getting pretty consistent (and not awful) cover treatments for each book.

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  8. Kompani4:07 pm

    The US cover is showing it is set in London rather than the USA and this carries potential extra sales. My friends in the US love British and European crime novels. The British cover is more grity and dark, it's the one I prefer.

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  9. Mike4:37 pm

    The UK one as well. It looks more dark and atmospheric, I would probably buy this by looking at that cover....

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  10. Anonymous4:56 pm

    Hello Karen...

    Sorry for barging in on this but I´m trying to contact EuroCrime to see if I can get a book reviewed and can´t find an email address...can you help? Sorry!! James - jamesalexander007@yahoo.com

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  11. Nikki - Notes of Life6:00 pm

    Most definitely the UK version. THe UK version is appropriate and feels right for the book. Where as the US version just says it's set in London and gives absolutely no clue to the fact that it's a crime thriller.

    P.S. - It's a brilliant read!

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  12. Maxine Clarke7:05 pm

    not sure! I haven't read the book but the US cover, though a nice photo, does not say what the book is about apart from London, as Philip says. The UK version could be anywhere, and looks like a crime-fic cliche (person under threat in some kind of cellar). So I can't say I like either of them very much. (Though the US version would be fine for a travel book!)

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  13. Becky LeJeune10:17 pm

    I have read it and while the US cover is subtly representative of a piece of the story, I much, much prefer the UK cover. I think it's more appealing for sure. It is interesting, though, that the last couple of US covers for her books have the same look.

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  14. Karen (Euro Crime)11:04 pm

    James - my email address can be found on the blogger profile and on my website Euro Crime - link on the rhs of blog.

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  15. Philip Amos12:03 am

    Karen, I think you're going to find this amusing. James Alexander is a literary agent. The only works he seems to be touting at the moment is a series of three books by one Ana James -- all unpublished. If you google the email address he gave you, you'll get two hits, and the first consists of a synopsis and about ten pages of Ms James first novel in the series. The synopsis is an absolute hoot, and the pages that follow are are not short of chuckles.

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  16. kathy d.1:47 am

    The U.S. cover doesn't say anything really. It could be on any number of books. It does not convey any feelings.

    The U.K. cover, on the other hand, is terrifying. This is probably a plus for readers of this type of book.

    Since I shy away from sinister books like this, all I can say is that the cover conveys what it's meant to convey, in my view anyway.

    And it's certainly a much better cover than the U.S. one.

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