Cover news: Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson

In case you missed this on Twitter, Orenda Books have unveiled the cover for Ragnar Jonasson's Snowblind. Snowblind is being translated by Quentin Bates (author of the Gunnhildur series) and will be published in June 2015. This will make it eligible for the 2016 Petrona Award (for publications in 2015) and eligible for the next CWA International Dagger (ie not the current one - list of eligibles coming soon I promise).

Death in Breslau - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for Marek Krajewski's Death in Breslau, tr. Danusia Stok which has just had its US release by Melville House (the UK's by Quercus was in 2008).

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

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

Read the Euro Crime reviews by me and Norman of Death in Breslau.

Salvation of a Saint - Cover Opinions

I haven't been doing the "cover opinions" posts for a while so I'm reinstating them, starting with a book that's not out until October (US) and February (UK).

It's one of the eligibles for the 2013 International Dagger: Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino translated by Alexander O Smith.

The UK cover is similar to the UK trade paperback release of The Devotion of Suspect X, whereas (to me at least) the US cover looks like an American thriller. The US cover has gone with "Edgar Award Finalist" whereas the UK's has gone with "The Japanese Stieg Larsson"(!).

But what are your thoughts on the US (LHS) and UK (RHS) covers? Which would entice you to pick the book up?

Official blurb: When a man is discovered dead by poisoning in his empty home his beautiful wife, Ayane, immediately falls under suspicion. All clues point to Ayane being the logical suspect, but how could she have committed the crime when she was hundreds of miles away?


While Tokyo police detective Kusanagi tries to unpick a seemingly unrelated sequence of events he finds himself falling for Ayane. As his judgement becomes dangerously clouded his assistant must call on an old friend for help; it will take a genius to unravel the most spectacular web of deceit they have ever faced...


SALVATION OF A SAINT is a magnificently complex and page-turning thriller starring international crime fiction's most enigmatic sleuth.This is essential reading for all fans of exceptional crime fiction.

Good as Dead - Cover & Title Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers and titles for Mark Billingham's Good as Dead which is being published in the US as The Demands in June 2012.

So what are your thoughts on the US (LHS) and UK (RHS) covers and titles? Which would entice you to pick the book up if you were not familiar with the books of Mark Billingham? One has a quote from Lee Child, the other from the Daily Mail.

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

Read the Euro Crime review by Geoff of Good as Dead.

The Caller - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for Karin Fossum's The Caller, tr. K E Semmel. The US release is not until August 2012. You can read an extract here. The UK mass-market paperback (with a new series look, I understand) will be out in July.

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 Karin Fossum? Both have the same quote from Jo Nesbo.

If you have read it, how well do the covers match the story? (I actually thought that was a grave-stone on the US cover (which would sort of fit in) but I think it's just a gap in the trees.)

Read the Euro Crime review (by me) of The Caller.

A Death in Summer - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for Benjamin Black's A Death in Summer, the fourth in his Quirke series, which is set in 1950s Dublin.

The US editions are on the left, the hardback edition is out now, and the trade paperback (below) will be out in March; the UK edition (on the right) is also already available.

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

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

NB. Elergy for April was given the same cover opinions treatment last year.


















Blurb: When newspaper magnate Richard Jewell is found dead at his country estate, clutching a shotgun in his lifeless hands, few see his demise as cause for sorrow. But before long Doctor Quirke and Inspector Hackett realise that, rather than the suspected suicide, ‘Diamond Dick’ has in fact been murdered.

Jewell had made many enemies over the years and suspicion soon falls on one of his biggest rivals. But as Quirke and his assistant Sinclair get to know Jewell's beautiful, enigmatic wife Françoise d’Aubigny, and his fragile sister Dannie, as well as those who work for the family, it gradually becomes clear that all is not as it seems.

As Quirke’s investigations return him to the notorious orphanage of St Christopher’s, where he once resided, events begin to take a much darker turn. Quirke finds himself reunited with an old enemy and Sinclair receives sinister threats. But what have the shadowy benefactors of St Christopher’s to do with it all?

Against the backdrop of 1950s Dublin, Benjamin Black conjures another atmospheric, beguiling mystery.

The Last Kashmiri Rose - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for Barbara Cleverly's The Last Kashmiri Rose which was reissued in US paperback in August by Soho Press (bottom left cover). The Last Kashmiri Rose was first published in 2001 and the series currently numbers nine with 2011's The Blood Royal.

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

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

I read this book in October 2004. I didn't write a formal review but summarised it on one of my monthly read posts:

[] for F2F reading group book where the theme is Eastern Crime (I've just started The Winter Queen by Akunin, also for this theme). Golden Age style mystery in a Golden Age setting at least for the British in India. It's 1922 and officers' wives have been dying - one a year in March. Sandilands is sent from Calcutta to confirm that the deaths were murder and to find the perpetrator. First half is excellent where we get the backstory on all the deaths. It loses its way in a romance/affair sub plot in the middle and then picks up for a dramatic showdown with the killer. Will read more! ps The UK covers are exquisite.

I never did finish The Winter Queen and have yet to read more Sandilands books but I recommend it nonetheless.

US---------------------------------------------------------------UK




































Blurb: In a land of saffron sunsets and blazing summer heat, an Englishwoman has been found dead, her wrists slit, her body floating in a bathtub of blood and water. But is it suicide or murder? The case falls to Scotland Yard inspector Joe Sandilands, who survived the horror of the Western Front and has endured six sultry months in English-ruled Calcutta. Sandilands is ordered to investigate, and soon discovers that there have been other mysterious deaths, hearkening sinister ties to the present case.

Now, as the sovereignty of Britain is in decline and an insurgent India is on the rise, Sandilands must navigate the treacherous corridors of political decorum to bring a cunning killer to justice, knowing the next victim is already marked to die.

Read an excerpt here.

The Redeemed - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US, Canadian and UK covers for M R Hall's The Redeemed which is about to come out in UK paperback with a new look for the series. The fourth book in the series, The Flight, (Feb 2012) has a similar feel to below.

So what are your thoughts on the US (LHS), Canadian (RHS), UK (HB & pb below) covers? Which would entice you to pick the book up if you were not familiar with the books of M R Hall?

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

Read the Euro Crime review by Maxine of The Redeemed.

Snow Angels - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for James Thompson's Finland-set Snow Angels.

So what are your thoughts on the US (LHS - complete with "If You liked The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, you'll love this!" sticker)) and UK (RHS) covers? Which would entice you to pick the book up if you were not familiar with this title?

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

Read the Euro Crime review by Terry of Snow Angels.

The Redbreast - Cover Opinions

The US mass market edition of Jo Nesbo's The Redbreast, translated by Don Bartlett, is (finally) published tomorrow. The cover is the bottom right. In the UK, over the years, since The Redbreast was first published in 2006, the cover has migrated from "fairly relevant to the plot" to "generic crime fiction cover" and currently to "generic Scandinavian crime fiction" cover with the o-slash being replaced by an o along the way.

So what are your thoughts on the UK (top) and US (below) covers? Which would entice you to pick the book up if you were not familiar with this title?

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

Read the Euro Crime reviews of The Redbreast by me and Norman.

UK







































US

Before I Go to Sleep - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for S J Watson's John Creasey Dagger longlisted Before I Go to Sleep.

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 this title?

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

Read the Euro Crime review by Lizzie of Before I Go to Sleep.

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.

Bad Intentions - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for Karin Fossum's Bad Intentions translated by Charlotte Barslund which is being published in the US on 9 August.

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 Karin Fossum?

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

Read the Euro Crime review by me of Bad Intentions.

The Wings of the Sphinx - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for Andrea Camilleri's CWA International Dagger shortlisted, The Wings of the Sphinx translated by Stephen Sartarelli.

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 Andrea Camilleri?

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

Read the Euro Crime reviews by Maxine and by me of The Wings of the Sphinx.

An Uncertain Place - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for Fred Vargas's CWA International Dagger shortlisted, An Uncertain Place.

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 Fred Vargas? (The US edition will be out 25 October 2011.)

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

Read the Euro Crime review (by me) of An Uncertain Place tr Sian Reynolds.

Long Time Coming - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for Robert Goddard's Long Time Coming.

Long Time Coming has just won the Best Paperback Orginal Edgar Award. Would that fact influence you to try it irrespective of these covers?

What are your thoughts on the US (LHS), UK (RHS) and UK (paperback) (below) covers? Which would entice you most to pick the book up if you were not familiar with the books of Robert Goddard?

You can read an extract here.

Read the Euro Crime review by Geoff Jones of Long Time Coming.

The House at Sea's End - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US, UK and Canadian covers for Elly Griffiths's The House at Sea's End.

This time round the covers are quite similar but what are your thoughts on the US (LHS), UK (RHS) and Canadian (below) covers? Which would entice you most to pick the book up if you were not familiar with the books of Elly Griffiths?

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

Read the Euro Crime review by Maxine Clarke of The House at Sea's End.

Unfortunately the US edition is not out until January 2012.

A Red Herring Without Mustard - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK covers for Alan Bradley's A Red Herring Without Mustard.

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 Alan Bradley?

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

Read the Euro Crime review by Lizzie Hayes of A Red Herring Without Mustard




Interestingly the UK Audiobook has a cover similar to the US print edition:

The Preacher - Cover Opinions

This week's selection for "cover opinions" is the US and UK (original and reissue) covers for Camilla Lackberg's The Preacher.

So what are you thoughts on the US (LHS) and UK (RHS - hardback & original paperback cover on top, paperback reissue below) covers? Which would entice you to pick the book up if you were not familiar with the books of Camilla Lackberg?

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

The Preacher will published in the US on 27 April.

Read the Euro Crime review by Sunny Gill of The Preacher

The covers of the previous book, The Ice Princess, were discussed here.

Camilla Lackberg is on twitter @camillalackberg.