Reviews and Ranting

A couple of very nice reviews - firstly for Helen Fitzgerald's MY LAST CONFESSION, and another for Ray Banks' NO MORE HEROES.

A very detailed (maybe too detailed) and scholarly review of Louise Welsh's NAMING THE BONES (it's a pdf file). And Touching From A Distance looks at Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther series, concluding that it would be a good vehicle for Kiefer Sutherland

And, finally, a question for those of you who blog. What do you do when you receive spam comments that pretend to be a proper comment? Do you leave them, or just delete them? I had a good laugh when, in a post entitled The Plumber Reviews... in which I talked about my Dad giving a book to the electrician who came to fix the lights in the hall, and saying he would maybe get him to review it for me, I got a comment from Daniel the plumber who said "Thank you so much for sharing it. There are number of disasters which can be avoided if you have good plumbing infrastructure in your house."

However, today I had a comment on a post about the Edinburgh Book Festival - a post which clearly stated that the events are in the future - that said "Wow, sounds like it was a lot of fun. Sad that I missed it. ...I was too emeshed in a new book, Blah Blah Blah, to go anywhere." Obviously, that wasn't what the book was called but I don't really want to give the title - for a couple of pretty obvious reasons. On following the link, I found myself at a page for an AuthorHouse book (I've only ever heard bad things about AuthorHouse). And the poor author had hired some 'marketing company' who have decided that the best way of earning their keep is to spam blogs. Now, I am all for championing authors - leave a comment on the blog, send me an e-mail, stand outside my window and dance naked - I look forward to and relish it all. If you've got a vaguely Scottish connection then you'll definitely find yourself promoted here at Badsville. If you're not Scottish but I read and enjoy your book then you'll at the very least get a reviewlet in my monthly reads summary.

But this person (I'm assuming she was from the marketing company, since it was a different name from the author) didn't bother even reading the post she was spamming, but tried to pretend that she had (and that was the bit that really bugged me - be an honest spammer at least). So, Unnamed Author, your marketing company sucks - all they did for your money was annoy me. And, by the way, the money would have been better spent on an editor. On the page I visited, the main character's name was spelled two different ways, the grammar is shocking, and the synopsis was utterly confusing. It was no better in the excerpt I read (I know - five minutes of my life I will never get back).It did make me laugh in places, but that wasn't the intention.

So I deleted the comment. What do you think? Is that OK?

And finally finally...the mysterious horse-boy of Aberdeen.

Book Launches and Big Lunches

Iain Banks and Neil Forsyth at the Dundee Literary Festival this week, while Chris Ewan is at the Lowdham Book Festival on July 1st. And I've mentioned this event before but here's another reminder for the launch of Tony Black's new Gus Dury book on Thursday 1st July. I just received this book and am itching to get stuck into it.

A report from Fife Council on their ladykillers events last week.

Alexander McCall Smith opens a cancer service in the Scottish Highlands.

STB's Weekly Blog looks at Philip Kerr's Bernie Gunther novels, and a transcript of the NPR audio review of IF THE DEAD RISE NOT.

A review of Alice Thompson's THE EXISTENTIAL DETECTIVE. This one sounds fascinating. And she'll be at Blackwells in Edinburgh on June 29th.

A long-missing painting of ghostly soldiers, once owned by Arthur Conan Doyle goes on sale this week.

Caroline Dunford will be appearing at Edinburgh's Portobello Library on June 30th.

And, finally, anyone for some f-f-f-f-fava beans? (Thanks (I think) to @stevemosby for the link).

Summery Sunday Summary

Some of my favourite books get some excellent reviews - first of all Russel McLean's THE GOOD SON, then Sea Minor really enjoys Ray Banks' DONKEY PUNCH, and Helen Fitzgerald's MY LAST CONFESSION is pronounced to be uncomfortable, witty and warm-hearted.

The Independent visits Alexander McCall Smith, while the Sunday Star Times reviews THE DOG WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD, and Mattie Rawson enjoyed THE DOUBLE COMFORT SAFARI CLUB.

More on the Tony Black and Allan Guthrie double act.

Ian Rankin talks about books and music at the Galway Arts Festival on July 20th. And, talking of Ian Rankin, I'm not sure how old this interview is but it popped up in my google alert for Ian today.

Yet more reviews for Scottish crime fiction- Webbweaver calls Craig Robertson's RANDOM "deliciously disturbing", a reviewlet of Kate Atkinson's ONE GOOD TURN, Creative Loafing recommends Denise Mina as a great summer read, and an audiobook review of Peter May's THE RUNNER.

Lin Anderson becomes plot advisor for Brocken Spectre - a film based on the myth of the Big Grey Man of Ben McDhui, which is being made by a youth-run, non-profit, independent film company in the Scottish Highlands.

And finally, I'm a bit late with this one, and he's not Scottish, but here's an article on the demise of midlist authors, using as an example one of my favourite authors, Charlie Williams, and his brilliant Royston Blake series.

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.

Crime Fiction at Edinburgh Book Festival

The programme for the Edinburgh International Book Festival is now available.

From an initial look through, the crime fiction related events are as follows:

Saturday 14th August - 18.45 - Lin Anderson and Aline Templeton - Dark mysteries from two of Tartan Noir’s finest

Sunday 15th August - 20.00 - Tess Gerritsen - Taking the thriller genre into chilling territory

Monday 16th August - 11.00 - Writing Workshop - A Web of Characters - with Lin Anderson
Monday 16th August - 14.00 - The Writing Business - with Lin Anderson and Caroline Dunford
Monday 16th August - 18.45 - Alex Gray and G J Moffat - Glasgow is the scene of two tense tales of city crime
Monday 16th August - 20.00 - Iain Banks

Tuesday 17th August - 11.00 - Writing Workshop - Creating A Fictional Series - with Caroline Dunford
Tuesday 17th August - 16.30 - Reggie Nadelson and Ian Rankin - Two crime writers discuss one brilliantly believable detective
Tuesday 17th August - 19.00 - Reginald Hill - Dalziel & Pascoe writer delivers a pacy psycho-thriller
Tuesday 17th August - 20.00 - Christopher Brookmyre
Tuesday 17th August - 20.30 - Tony Black and Gillian Galbraith - Edinburgh’s mean streets keep bringing out their dead

Thursday 19th August - 15.00 - Quintin Jardine - Edinburgh streets continue to be paved with bodies
Thursday 19th August - 18.30 - Ian Rankin

Friday 20th August - 11.00 - Writing Workshop with Aline Templeton - Crime Writing: Getting Away with Murder
Friday 20th August - 15.30 - Denise Mina - plus Amy Bloom and Alan Warner - with readings of short stories
Friday 20th August - 18.45 - Denise Mina and Stuart MacBride - Glasgow and the Granite City offer up perfect settings for blood-sodden books

Saturday 21st August - 15.30 - Declan Hughes and Stuart Neville - Modern crime novels given an Irish twist

Sunday 22nd August - 18.00 - Karen Campbell and Simon Lelic - Two novelists stretching the boundaries of crime fiction
Sunday 22nd August - 18.30 - Jasper Fforde - A Pythonesque world of glorious technicolour
Sunday 22nd August - 19.00 - Louise Doughty (with Blake Morrison)

Monday - 23rd August - 14.00 - The Writing Business - Making Crime Pay - with Aline Templeton, Lin Anderson and Caroline Dunford
Monday 23rd August - 18.30 - Ian Rankin

Tuesday 24th August - 18.00 - Craig Russell - Digging into Glasgow’s past for a new noir hero
Tuesday 24th August - 20.00 - Alexander McCall Smith - in conversation with Andrew Sachs

Wednesday 25th August - 15.00 - Mark Billingham - Award-winning crime writing from former stand-up comic
Wednesday 25th August - 16.00 - Shona MacLean and Shirley McKay - Two bright new voices in historical fiction
Wednesday 25th August - 19.30 - Alice Thompson (plus Paolo Giordano) - Haunted by a loved one who's gone missing

Thursday 26th August - 16.30 - M J Hyland - A profound and moving portrait of a singular man
Thursday 26th August - 18.45 - Alexander McCall Smith - Sampling the flavours of the No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (about food)

Friday 27th August - 11.30 - Joanne Harris - An Audacious Thriller for the Internet Age
Friday 27th August - 13.30 - Alexander McCall Smith - New perspectives on the beloved author’s popular characters
Friday 27th August - 18.45 - Philip Kerr - A detective novel that crosses boundaries

Saturday 28th August - 12.00 - Alexander McCall Smith (for children)
Saturday 28th August - 18.30 - Alexander McCall Smith
Saturday 28th August - 18.45 - Michael Ridpath and Martin Walker - Exposing Fictional Scams in a Corrupt Modern France

Monday 30th August - 10.15 - Louise Welsh - Glasgow writer with a tale of literature, sex and black magic
Monday 30th August - 15.00 - Ian Rankin (talking to Antonia Fraser about her relationship with Harold Pinter)
Monday 30th August - 16.30 - Frederick Forsyth - The war on drugs just got bookish

My Dad Reviews...The Last Temptation - Val McDermid

Embarrassingly, I was caught singing in the park this morning. I was over for a walk at 7am, ipod on, The Cramps' HUMAN FLY making my ears feel joyous. So I started to sing in my best Lux Interior voice: 'Well I'm a human fly, It's spelt F-L-Y, And I say buzz, buzz, buzz, and it's just because. I'm a human fly and I don't know why, I got ninety six tears in my ninety six eyes.' And then I couldn't resist, I started to do the chicken strut psychobilly style. And then I rounded a big hedge. And came face to face with two elderly gents out walking their dogs.

Anyway, on to the review. My Dad is on a real Val McDermid kick at the moment - watch out Caro Ramsay, your position as my Dad's favourite Scottish author may have been usurped. First of all, the usual reminder of his tastes:

DISLIKES: romance, books that have too much swearing in - I heard a lot of harrumphing when he was reading OLD DOGS. Also doesn't like horror, and books with vampires, pterodactyls and the living dead in them. Also, something called an ungoliant. No, I have no idea either - I think my Dad has been at the sherry.

LIKES: thrillers, spy novels, war stories and books with elves in (the elves can swear their little heads off as far as he's concerned). Oh, and maps. He bloody loves maps. If you ever meet him, for goodness' sake don't ask him for directions. Not even to the bathroom.

THE LAST TEMPTATION - Val McDermid

Publisher: St Martins
Published: 2003
First Lines: 'Blue is one colour the Danube never manages. Slate-grey, muddy brown, dirty rust, sweat-stained khaki; all of those and most of the intermediate shades sabotage the dreams of any romantic who stands on her banks.'

As you can see, most of the action takes place in Germany. The book has two threads involving Dr Tony Hill and DCI Carol Jordan.Carol is working undercover, and enlists the aid of Tony to give her support. However he gets embroiled in profiling for a German police woman and her Dutch colleague the murderer of a number of psychiatrists.

The case involving Carol is to gather evidence on a German trafficker of people, drugs, and anything he thinks will make him a profit. This is a story that I enjoyed reading, it is rather involved and you will be pleased to hear that Tony and Carol almost manage to get rid of their frustrations.

The characters of Petra, the German girl, and Marijka, the Dutch girl are very well described and likeable. The criminals are scary and once again very well written. The story was well told in a logical fashion and very enjoyable. The descriptions of the places were in keeping with what I remember of Cologne, the only Large city that I visited when in Germany (apart from Hanover that is, and travelling through Hamburg).

There you go - don't say that you don't get good value from my Dad's reviews - not only crime fiction but tales of my Dad's travels too (I did warn you not to let him anywhere near a map, didn't I? It should further be noted that the only German my Dad speaks is 'Zwei Bier bitte."

Mackerels to the Shovel

Tim reminds me that the Edinburgh Book Festival programme is announced on Thursday (thanks Tim!).

L'Express parle avec Philip Kerr. Which means that I get to experience the joys of Babelfish again, which tells me that "Of book in book, one will have known all during this attractive plunged in the middle of the system national-Socialist: rise of the Nazism, preparation of the OJ of Berlin, agreements of Munich and the Night of crystal, Heydrich, Himmler and Goering, Berlin in ruin and occupied Vienna, but also of voluptuous prostitutes, mackerels to the shovel, the mafiosi, the spies, the dispensers of justice… and Bernhard Gunther, of course." Mackerels to the shovel? How lovely. Sadly, I do believe it means, instead "pimps by the shedload" Much less intriguing.

Karen Campbell's SHADOWPLAY is Books From Scotland's Book of the Month. Nice one Karen!

Earth Times looks at a new book about the locations that inspired Sherlock Holmes.

Louise Welsh will be chatting to Laura Marney (author of the wonderful NOBODY LOVES A GINGER BABY) on 17th September

The always excellent Barry Forshaw reviews Christopher Brookmyre's PANDAEMONIUM, while Mystica reviews Peter Turnbull's INFORMED CONSENT and Brandy Purdy looks at Louise Welsh's TAMBURLAINE MUST DIE.

And the lovely Lisa-Marie Ferla, guest-posting over at Do Some Damage has very nice things to say about the brilliant Helen Fitzgerald, as well as some old dog who is in great company. Thank you Lis.