Festivals, Fiction and Funeral Feasters

Lots of news on the Edinburgh Book Festival, of course. One of the exciting things they're doing this year is to hold events where authors read out short stories especially commissioned for the Festival, on the subject of 'ELSEWHERE'. They have quite a stellar line-up of authors involved, with a total of fifty altogether. Amongst the crime fiction related authors announced so far are:
Denise Mina

Karen Campbell

Doug Johnstone

Louise Welsh

Five of the stories are already up, including this one from Louise Welsh. It's not a crime story but it's brilliant and very touching. Amongst the other stories up so far there's a quirky crime fiction/science fiction one from Michel Faber here. I'm definitely going to be keeping an eye out as the stories so far are all definitely worth a read.

Dear Scotland features an interview with the lovely Ray Banks, by the equally lovely Radgepacket lads.

NPR reviews Philip Kerr's IF THE DEAD RISE NOT. A mini review of Craig Russell's THE VALKYRIE'S SONG. And ShelfLove reviews the audio version of Kate Atkinson's CASE HISTORIES.

A few reviews for Ian Rankin, first of all The Fiction Garden with a reviewlet of the Jack Harvey thriller BLOOD HUNT, BooksPlease reviews SET IN DARKNESS, and Parry Sound Books reviews THE HANGING GARDEN.

Quintin Jardine thrilled his audience in Kelso, while Helen Fitzgerald and Karen Campbell star in Aberdeen. And a couple of upcoming events in Edinburgh for the diary - the marvellous Tony Black with the launch of LONG TIME DEAD on 1st July, and Alice Thompson launching THE EXISTENTIAL DETECTIVE on 29th June.

Well done Dr Brookmyre.

Finally, I received an e-mail from someone who is looking for a book. Does this ring any bells with anyone?

"I am trying to find the title of a book I read in the mid-1970’s. Mystery/romance set in current day Scotland. A young woman is sent to an estate associated with her family by an editor to find a manuscript that documents the relationship between Queen Victoria and John Brown. Estate inhabited by 2 brothers and a woman, all in their 20’s, all cousins to the protagonist. While she is there, there are several attempts on her life. The mystery is who is trying to kill her and does the Victoria/John Brown document exist. Old mysteries get uncovered including an attempt at arsenic poisoning, a faked death, and the fact that not one of the subjects is legitimate."

And, even more finally, the Grim Eater. Brilliant.