Free Books!

There's just one more day to enter the Euro Crime competitions for July but over on Declan Burke's blog you can win a copy of 'Second Burial' by Andrew Nugent. Details on how to enter are here. But hurry as the closing date is Friday (3rd Aug).

Check back later in the week for details of the August competitions on Euro Crime.

Harrogate write-up

My erstwhile Harrogate companion, crimeficreader, has now written up several of the panels and the US vs UK crime fiction debate, over on her blog. It's a shame she had to miss a day as her posts are as good as being there, for those unable to attend. Trundle over to It's a Crime! or a mystery... and get the Harrogate experience!

Last Reviews of July

Here are this week's new reviews and a final reminder of July's contests:

Latest Reviews:

In Mike Ripley's July round-up, he reviews 'Still Waters' by Nigel McCrery, 'Little Moscow' by Mick Scully, 'Not in the Flesh' by Ruth Rendell and 'Lost Light' by Alex Scarrow; Laura Root's debut review for Euro Crime is of Written in Bone by Simon Beckett which she calls entertaining and insightful; Fiona Walker provides a thoughtful analysis of Ake Edwardson's style in her review of Frozen Tracks; Maxine Clarke enjoys Kate Ellis' The Bone Garden where the 'historical mystery casts light on the motive for present-day Devon murders' and I review a novel which is interesting and evocative but borderline crime fiction - Troubling Love by Elena Ferrante

I've also updated the "News" page, except for this weekend's reviews and I've again refreshed the "New releases" page.


Current Competitions (closing date 31 July):

Win one of three sets of the complete (thirteen) Chronicles of Matthew Bartholomew by Susanna Gregory (UK only)

Win one of five copies of 'Black Seconds' by Karin Fossum plus one winner will receive her whole backlist (open to everyone except residents of the US)

Win one of five copies of '12:23 Paris. 31st August 1997.' by Eoin McNamee (open to everyone)

(geographical restrictions are in brackets)

Mike Ripley's latest Shots column

You can now read the latest edition of Mike Ripley's, always amusing and informative, 'Getting Away With Murder' on the Shots page.

The Messenger of Athens

Whenever I read of mysteries set in Greece, I always think of Mary Stewart's novels. Here's one that definitely looks worth seeking out from Bloomsbury next month:

Synopsis from Bloomsbury website: Captain Corelli's Mandolin meets Hercule Poirot in this evocative mystery set on a small Greek island.

Idyllic but remote, the Greek island of Thiminos seems untouched and untroubled by the modern world. When the battered body of a young woman is discovered at the foot of a cliff, the local police — governed more by archaic rules of honour than by the law — are quick to close the case, dismissing the death as an accident. Then a stranger arrives, uninvited, from Athens, announcing his intention to look into the crime he believes has been committed.

The stranger’s methods of investigation are unorthodox, and his message to the islanders is plain — tell the truth or face the consequences. Before long, he’s uncovering a tale of passion, corruption and murder. But the stranger brings his own mystery into the web of dark secrets and lies. Who has sent him to Thiminos, and on whose authority is he acting? And how does he know of dramas played out decades ago?

Rich in images of Greece’s beautiful islands and evoking a life of which few outsiders know, this wonderful novel leads the reader into a world where the myths of the past are not forgotten and forbidden passion still has dangerous consequences.

OT: Star Trek film casting news

I know this isn't Euro Crime in any way but it's a subject close to my heart. I was a huge fan of TNG, struggled through DS9, thought that the 3rd(?) series of Enterprise was pretty good - the one with the long story arc - and don't get me started on the hilarious Star Trek IV - The Voyage Home, so I've been keeping an eye on the new Star Trek film which is due out on Christmas Day 2008.

It's been confirmed that Heroes' likeable villain, Zachary Quinto, is to play the younger Spock and that Leonard Nimoy will also appear as the elder Spock. Kirk casting seems to be taking longer. Read more here and here.

Booktrust to promote translated fiction

From Publishing News:

Translations website
BOOKTRUST is to launch a new reader- focused website to promote translated fiction in the UK. The move is in part a response to research revealing that of 400 titles recommended in national newspapers' summer reads roundups, only 28 were translations and, of those, seven were classics. Site editor James Smith is inviting publishers who would like their titles included, or who would be willing to provide extracts, plus translators and anyone else who works to promote translated fiction in the UK and has opinions on the subject, to contact him at james.smith@book trust.org.uk by the end of September.

You can read more about Booktrust on their website.

Leo Kessler RIP

Leo Kessler died on Tuesday aged 80. From the Telegraph:

Charles Whiting, who died on Tuesday aged 80, was one of Britain's most prolific authors, with some 350 books to his credit.

Also known by the pseudonyms Leo Kessler, Duncan Harding and John Kerrigan, Whiting churned out book after book - mainly war thrillers, but also works of history - which sold millions of copies and attracted a loyal following.

His fiction was seldom reviewed in the mainstream press and, when it was, was often accused of being too violent and sensational. But Whiting always claimed that he wrote from personal experience of being an ordinary squaddie who knew what it was like to "sleep, eat, live - and perhaps die - in a muddy hole in the ground".

Read the full article here and the BBC's article here.

Antony Moore - Publishing & Film Deals

From Publishers Lunch:

Antony Moore's THE SWAP, centering on an out-of-shape comic book dealer who, haunted by the loss of a priceless comic book, tries to reverse his fortunes at his high school reunion, to Kerri Buckley at Bantam Dell, by Sophie Hicks at Ed Victor Ltd. (NA).

UK rights to Harvill Secker, for publication in July 2007. Foreign rights to Liana Levi in France and to Kowalski at Italy.

Film rights optioned to Columbia Pictures for John Calley to produce, along with Lisa Medwid and Diana Napper.

The Bookbag site gives 'The Swap' 5 stars in their review.

Front Row special tonight - Harrogate Crime Writing Festival

Alerted by Val McDermid's newsletter, apparently tonight's Front Row on Radio 4 will be about the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival. She writes:

"For those of you who were unlucky enough to miss this year's Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival at Harrogate last weekend, there's a chance to get a taster of what went on. Tomorrow, BBC Radio 4's Front Row programme will be a Harrogate special, featuring interviews and conversations with several of the participating writers. Among other elements, Mark Billingham and David Roberts debate whether there's still a place for Snobbery With Violence, while I have a wide-ranging chat with Lee Child, Laura Lippman and Natasha Cooper. It's all under the command of the unflappable Mark Lawson, who demonstrated over the weekend a remarkable wit and erudition.

It goes out live at 7.15 on Wednesday 25th July. It's a half hour programme, so you'll still have time for dinner before Wire in the Blood at 9pm on ITV."

You can listen online, live and also up to seven days from broadcast.

Post Harrogate Reviews

Here are this week's new reviews and competitions reminder:

Latest Reviews:

Fiona Walker reviews Reasonable Doubts by Gianrico Carofiglio and wishes there were more than three available; Pat Austin concludes that Charlie Parker could do with a little happiness after reading The Unquiet by John Connolly; Maxine Clarke is glad she stuck with The Princess of Burundi by Kjell Eriksson set in a wintry Uppsala; Karen Chisholm reviews The Colour of Blood by Declan Hughes which has a great sense of place and humour to balance the violence and finally, Irish author Declan Burke reviews Irish author Eoin McNamee's 12:23 which puts a fictional (?) spin on the cause of Princess Diana's fatal car crash (see below on how you can win a copy).

I've also updated the "New releases" page.

Current Competitions (closing date 31 July):

Win one of three sets of the complete (thirteen) Chronicles of Matthew Bartholomew by Susanna Gregory (UK only)

Win one of five copies of 'Black Seconds' by Karin Fossum plus one winner will receive her whole backlist (open to everyone except residents of the US)

Win one of five copies of '12:23 Paris. 31st August 1997.' by Eoin McNamee (open to everyone)

(geographical restrictions are in brackets)

Harrogate Crime Festival

In The Guardian, Chris Wiegand has blogged about the Harrogate crime festival here and here .

Crimeficreader will be reporting on the convention but she already has some tasters over on her blog.

John Baker reports on his experience of the opening night.

I know that Europolar will be writing up the convention shortly and will post the link when it's available.

The dates for next year are 17-20 July 2008. More on the battle of the festivals in 2008 soon...

Theakston Crime Novel of the Year Winner

Ploughing through my emails upon my return from the relatively dry Harrogate, I found a press release about Allan Guthrie, this year's winner of the Theakston's crime novel of the year:

Orkney-born writer Allan Guthrie, published by one of Scotland’s leading publishing houses Polygon (an imprint of Birlinn Ltd), has been awarded The Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2007, for his novel, Two-Way Split. The decision was announced last night, (19 July 2007) at the opening event of the Theakstons Old Peculier Harrogate Crime Writing Festival. As the winner, Allan received £3,000 and a handmade, engraved beer barrel.

Allan, until last year a bookseller with Waterstone's, has lifted the award amidst fierce competition from the UK's best crime writers. The writer, who now lives just outside Edinburgh in Portobello, has won with his first novel, published in paperback earlier this year. Two further novels have since been released and a fourth is due out next year.

The winning novel, Two-Way Split (Polygon) is set in the dead of winter. Robin Greaves, an armed robber whose wife has been sleeping with a fellow gang member, concocts a plan for revenge, but things go from bad to worse when the gang bungles a post office robbery. Soon they are stalked by the police, a dodgy pair of private eyes and a psycho with a vendetta, who may be the only one not look for a cut of the money. Infused with dark humour, the book is beautifully crafted, fast paced and ‘delectably nasty’.

A spokesperson for Polygon said ‘We are absolutely delighted. Allan’s writing is original and powerful and stands out from the crowd. Until last year he was an unpublished writer, working in a bookstore. Today he is one of the country’s brightest new stars.’

Won by Mark Billingham in 2005 and Val McDermid in 2006, this is the only award of its kind to be voted for by the general public. Crime readers could vote in any branch of Waterstone’s in the UK or online and they did so in their thousands.

Allan Guthrie was born and raised in Orkney before moving to music school in Manchester. He now lives in Edinburgh and is married to Donna. In addition to his success with the Theakston Award, his first novel, TWO-WAY SPLIT, was shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger. His second novel, KISS HER GOODBYE, was nominated for Edgar, Anthony and Gumshoe awards. His third, HARD MAN, has just been published. Allan is also a commissioning editor for PointBlank Press and a literary agent.

I do hope the official photographer managed to catch the complete look of shock on Al's face when his name was announced!

Off to Harrogate

I'll be leaving today for the Harrogate crime festival where I'll be joined by It's a Crime's crimeficreader tomorrow.

The plan is for the new reviews to go up on Monday rather than Sunday.

New Reviews & Contests Reminder

Here are this week's new reviews and competitions reminder:

Latest Reviews:

Fiona Walker explains why Karin Fossum's books are so good, in her review of Black Seconds; Maxine Clarke finds Little Criminals by Gene Kerrigan to be excellent; I have mixed views on Patrick Lennon's Corn Dolls set in the Cambridgeshire Fens; Pat Austin says that The Dead Hour by Denise Mina is well worth reading and Karen Chisholm is impressed by The Lying Tongue by Andrew Wilson.

Current Competitions (closing date 31 July):

Win one of three sets of the complete (thirteen) Chronicles of Matthew Bartholomew by Susanna Gregory (UK only)

Win one of five copies of 'Black Seconds' by Karin Fossum plus one winner will receive her whole backlist (open to everyone except residents of the US)

Win one of five copies of '12:23 Paris. 31st August 1997.' by Eoin McNamee (open to everyone)

(geographical restrictions are in brackets)

BBC4 - The Book Quiz

On BBC4 tomorrow night:

The Book Quiz
1/5. First in a new series. David Baddiel oversees as Joan Bakewell and Richard Herring face John Simpson and India Knight in a battle to see whose literary knowledge reigns supreme. [S]

Tue 17 Jul, 23:00-23:30

Sunday updates...delayed

Just a note that I hope to get this weekend's new reviews up on Monday as I'm away for the weekend. Next weekend's will also be delayed as I'll be at the Harrogate crime festival.

M C Beaton Interview

From the latest newsletter from Hachette Books (I can't find the actual newsletter online but you can sign up here):

M.C. BEATON has won international acclaim for her bestselling Hamish Macbeth mysteries, and the BBC has aired six episodes based on the series. Also the author of the Agatha Raisin series and Regency romances, M.C. BEATON lives in a Cotswold cottage with her husband. When asked about her path to becoming a successful writer, she responded:

I first started writing when I was working as a fiction buyer in a bookshop in Glasgow and became, by a freaky chance, theatre critic for the Scottish Daily Mail. After that I was fashion editor for Scottish Field and then crime reporter for the Scottish Daily Express. I moved to Fleet Street and became chief woman reporter of the London Daily Express.

I moved to the States after marrying Middle East Correspondent, Harry Scott Gibbons. I had been reading a lot of Regencies and criticising them and he urged me to write one and then found me my present agent, Barbara Lowenstein.

I think George Orwell was right in that one is influenced by what one reads in one's early teens. I was reading Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen, Sir Arthur Bryant's Age of Elegance, biographies of Wellington and Beau Brummell. I also read every Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie book I could get my hands on.

Six weeks after Barbara sold my first Regency, I was contracted by Dell to write three Edwardians and then subsequently two other Regencies for one publisher and two for another. That is why I used to have so many names. Marion Chesney is my maiden name and I made up the rest.

I was inspired to write the first Hamish Macbeth while I was with my husband and son in Sutherland at Lochinvar, learning to fly cast for salmon. There were eleven of us in the Sutherland wilderness of mountain and moor and I thought the setting would be a great idea for a traditional whodunit. I was then encouraged by my editor at St. Martin's Press to write a Cotswold series.

How did I become M.C. Beaton? I was asked to find a Scottish name which would divorce me from the Regencies. I said, "The queen she had four Marys/The nicht she'll hae but three/There was Mary Beaton, Mary Seaton, Mary Carmichael and me." Beaton was picked and the initials M C for Marion Chesney.

Quercus featured on Lovereading.co.uk

The latest newsletter from online bookseller lovereading.co.uk has Quercus as the publisher of the month.

You can read extracts from Peter Temple's The Broken Shore and In The Evil Day, Philip Kerr's The One from the Other, Elena Forbes' Die With Me and Michael Walters' The Shadow Walker, amongst others.

Meet Jane Blonde

There's James Bond for adult readers, Charlie Higson's Young Bond series for teenagers and for younger than that (and probably aimed at girls given the colour of the covers) we now have Jane Blonde...

Jane Blonde: Sensational Spylet is the first in a soon to be four book series.

Synopsis from amazon.co.uk: Janey Brown feels like she is practically invisible. With her stick-thin legs, mousy brown hair and grey eyes, no one ever notices her. Then a crazy woman turns up at the school gates, claiming to be Janey's godmother. According to hip-hop-talking, larger-then-life 'G-Mamma', Janey Brown really is something special. She's Jane Blonde, Sensational Spylet and it's time for her first mission.Swapping her too-big school uniform for a silver spysuit, and her battered satchel for a set of amazing gadgets, Janey soon discovers that nothing in her life, or in her past, is as it seems. Her elusive Uncle Solomon happens to be the head of SPI (Solomon's Politicational Investigations) and the greatest spy the world has ever known. Recruited by the government to work on top-secret Project Crystal Clear, Solomon has made a scientific discovery that could change the world. But now he's gone missing. Can Jane Blonde get to him first? Or will The Sinerlesse, a rogue spying group with evil purposes (and a very nasty dog), hunt him down and take his secret?

Also available are Jane Blonde Spies Trouble and Jane Blonde: Twice the Spylet with no. 4, Jane Blonde: Spylet on Ice, out in October.

The website has a spying game, a screensaver download as well as the usual stuff about the author and her first three books.