My Dad Reviews...oh dear...it's OLD DOGS - by his daughter

So when a proof copy of OLD DOGS arrived my Mum and Dad fought over who was going to read it first. My Dad lost.

My Mum took a look at the cover and said "Oh look, that nice young man Chris Ewan (she became his surrogate Grandma when she met him at Crimefest earlier this year) has written something about your book on the cover." She read Chris' kind words, looked at me, and said "Well, no wonder he's written that, he's a friend of yours." Cheers, Mum.

So here is my Dad's review. I will forgo the usual 'what my Dad likes' stuff.

Our Donna said "Dad will you do a review for me? You can be as rude as you like."*

"Do you mean Rude or Rued? I may be sorry that I read it."

OK. It was an uncorrected pre-print proof, and I found many errors, with capitals where they should not have been, words repeated and no spaces where spaces should have occurred.**

The story appears to have been well thought out***, even though I could not recommend that Mother read it because of all the swear words. How does a well brought up young woman know all of those? I thought they were the province of squaddies, or people of lower intelligence.

The two old dogs in question are not the two elderly ladies with dubious credentials (ex-hookers turned con artists), but a pair of golden bejewelled model lapdogs loaned to a Glasgow museum.

Many people decide that they would be better in their keeping and decide to steal them. The foremost are the elderly ladies, who, through a previous scam are on the run from an Eastern European Australian hit man from whom they relieved a large sum of cash, a pair of Glaswegian low life losers, and a supposed Western Islands monk who wants to return the dogs to his master guru for reinstatement in his Tibetan monastery.

The story involves the fates of the museum curator, his assistant, and various bodies that get in the way. The twist at the end is both humourous and a surprise.

Even though I may be a little bit prejudiced****, I can recommend the story to those not of a nervous disposition, and those not averse to a bit of swearing. "Honestly Dad. It is not me swearing, it is the characters."*****

* That's my Dad, making up dialogue, now.
** That's my Dad, the editor and critic.
*** 'Appears to have been well thought out'? As in 'but wasn't really'? This has the same sting as my first swimming certificate, which said "Donna swam one width of the pool in shallow water", as though to say "we know she put her feet on the ground, but we can't actually prove it."
**** Not so's you'd notice.
***** There's my Dad and his imaginary conversations again.

My Mum, who has just started the book and put it down after about five pages, says "I worry about where you get your inspiration from as to the old ladies' occupations." My Mum thinks every female character I write, who's over 50 is based on her (sometimes, she's actually correct).

Then, dear merciful heavens, my little brother weighed in:

Brother: "I'd like to say how good the book is."

Mum: "No need to butter her up- she's already wrapped your Christmas presents."

Brother: "Obviously, not a lot of foul language."

Mum: "Exclamation mark."

Darren "That's all I have to say for now. Of course, I haven't finished reading it yet. Well...I haven't actually started."

Isn't it amazing how I turned out so normal?

And remember, you, too, can join in the rather dubious fun by winning a copy of the unedited OLD DOGS.

This will probably be my last post now until after the New Year although I will probably be able to pop in an answer any comments - at least until January 28th when I will be away for a few days.

So I just wanted to thank all those who have visited, left comments and sent me e-mails since I started this blog in May this year. I've had a lot of fun.

I hope you all have a happy Christmas, a lovely festive season, and that 2010 brings you everything you wish for yourselves and more.

Love,

Donna x

More Sherlock Holmes Links Than You Can Shake A Stick At

Christopher Brookmyre in Pitlochry on January 31st. With strong language. Without my mother.

Aly Monroe's blog is always interesting and thought-provoking. Here are her thoughts on porn and publishing. And here's The Scotsman's review of WASHINGTON SHADOW.

A review in the Cotswold Journal of M C Beaton's THERE GOES THE BRIDE. And the FT reviews Catriona McPherson's DANDY GILVER AND THE PROPER TREATMENT OF BLOODSTAINS.

Listen to Denise Mina's IDA TAMSON at Insight Radio.

Vice Magazine interviews "belligerent Scotsman" Iain Banks.

The National Library of Scotland has a Conan Doyle manuscript on display until January 8th. And anyone would think there is a new Sherlock Holmes film.

Officially Weird

I think I have mentioned before that my Mum lent ...GO TO HELENA HANDBASKET to a neighbour of hers and that he thought I must be weird. Today I met him.

"Ah, so you're the one who thinks I'm weird?"

"Yes, I do."

"And why is that then?" Do you really want to know the answer to this question Donna?

"Because you are."

"Oh, OK, fair enough."

"Your book was really weird."

"Did you like it?"

"No."

"Righty-ho then."

I then threatened to let him have a copy of OLD DOGS which he seemed strangely happy about. And then he said "You don't look like I imagined you would." Uh-oh.

"And how did you think I'd look then?" Why did I ask this? Did I really want to know the answer?

"I thought you'd be a stout lady." Check. "Dressed in black." Check. This wasn't looking good - so far I was living up to my weird stereotype. "Wearing a black hat and green tights." Phew - saved by the lack of accessories. "No, you look almost normal, if you don't mind me saying."

"Not at all."

A very nice man. I promised to send him down some books he might actually like (political thrillers, out of interest).

And now, back to the regularly scheduled links.

The Age, with a humourous piece on cute books.

I missed this originally - the lovely Maddy Van Hertbruggen with an enthusiastic review of Iain Levison's HOW TO ROB AN ARMORED CAR. And a review of THE LINEUP which has authors talking about their famous characters.

The Telegraph with the 100 bestselling authors of the decade. Katie Price at number 59? Great British public, you should be ashamed of yourselves.

Quintin Jardine appearing at Musselburgh Library on January 12th.

What would Sherlock Holmes have thought about the new film? Several more thoughts and an article on several books about Conan Doyle.

Taggart - 100 episodes and 251 murrrrrderrrrs.

It's expensive to get a pie and a pint in Edinburgh these days. Particularly if they come with company of top author.

And thanks again for your entries for a copy of OLD DOGS. The lovely David at Busted Flush is sending more copies, so I may even have two copies to get rid of...errrr...give away.

Extremely Chuffed of Glasgow

First of all, the winners of Tony Black's LOSS (which is out in January) are Tim from Edinburgh (who left a comment) and Helen (who e-mailed me from the US). If you both e-mail me your address I shall send your copies as soon as I've bought them - which will be as soon as it's published next month.

And now, an offer you CAN refuse. Look at this which I received today! I hope I never lose this feeling of the first time I hold a proper copy of my book. Isn't it beautiful? How chuffed am I? I've been wandering around stroking it. It's the Uncorrected Proof of the US edition of OLD DOGS which is not out until June but the lovely David at Busted Flush Press has made up some ARCs. It's beautifully bound, shame about the writing.

As you can see from this second photo, I offered a copy to my Mum and Dad but, for some reason, they seem less than keen. I have no idea why. So what that means is that I have an ARC to give away to someone who's had too much sherry at Christmas and is foolish enough to request one. Remember, it's a VERY Uncorrected Proof, so if my old English teacher should win it, I'm very sorry Mr Browning - you did try and teach me spelling and grammar. When you wrote on my report card "Needs to talk less and listen more," you may find you have been proved right if you read this book (as an aside, if, by any chance, my PE teacher Mrs Griffin reads this, you, too, were right when you wrote "Donna needs to get off her fat bum more." To my biology teacher, Mrs Povey, I told you that was disgusting and I would never do it, no matter how much I loved someone...I lied. (As an aside to the aside - Dad - that bit was just a joke)).

Where was I? Ah, yes. So, if you would like an ARC, please leave me a comment in the comments bit, or send me an e-mail to the usual address telling me what my Mum or Dad are saying in the photo.

Incidentally, my little brother, whose arm is in the photo, has decided to vet the book for profanities, just to see whether it's suitable for my Mum. He's just given up at page three saying "I don't think people should write words like that in a book..." OK, so now I've alienated my whole family.

Sleepy, Snowy, Sunny Sunday Summary

Today I started the programming for Crimefest. It's always a bit daunting trying to work out how to fit 70 or so authors onto suitable panels (especially when there are still a couple to be confirmed), but it's great fun. Today I had to do it while my Dad was sitting in the corner with my Sony e-Reader, reading OLD DOGS which was even more daunting, since I worried about why he was not laughing. "I'm smiling...inside," he said. Oh, great. Still, it's good preparation for when my Mum reads it and I have to steel myself for a 'tut' at every swear word. She will sound like Machine Gun Kelly.

Anyway, here is the Sunday Summary.

The fabulous Nerd of Noir reviews Allan Guthrie's Slammer over at BSC Review. While Nathan Cain at Independent Crime calls it his 'book of the year'. The man has taste.

More reviews with the Aberdeen Press and Journal on Frank Muir's HAND FOR A HAND. And Russel McLean gets the approval of Rab C Nesbitt's Mary, Doll.

The always excellent Mystery Readers Journal publishes a selection of 'best crime fiction of 2009' lists.

Catriona McPherson on stately homes and writing. And Laura Wilson reviews THREE WEEKS TO SAY GOODBYE, calling McPherson 'a continuing delight'.

The Irish Herald on the enduring appeal of Sherlock Holmes.

And, finally, one of the Taggart stars and a prank involving a ghost at the home of Robert Louise Stevenson.

Down In The Bosom...

Well, it was a 4am start for me this morning as I flew down to be spoiled by my mum and dad for Christmas. I was hoping that there would be a copy of OLD DOGS for them to fight over (and when I say 'fight over' I mean in a "You have it." "No, you have it - I don't want the bloody thing," sort of way) but sadly, it's not here yet.

My parents moved earlier this year to flats for elderly people. It's really nice, and my mum showed me around. "This is where Ada lives. She's 98. This is where Malcolm lives. This is where George lives - he's the one that thinks you're weird, our Donna."

"And why, exactly does he think I'm weird, mother?"

"Because I told him you were." Of course.

She also looked askance at my lovely French brothel Docs. "What are those?"

"Boots."

"Reeeeeaaaaaallllllyyyyyyy?" Luckily, when my brother turned up in a pair of bright turquoise skin tight jeans it took the heat off me. "Oh bloody hell - what are those?"

"Jeans." (As you can see, both my brother and I find it advisable to be precise, concise, and non-commital when faced with the "What are those?" question, since an answer is not actually required).

"Do you have any more trousers with you?"

"Yes."

"Good, then go and put a pair on because those are making me feel sick."

Then, when my brother left the room she said "I suppose I could dye them navy blue, couldn't I?"

Anyway, back to the links. First of all, a fun article about Sherlock Holmes. And a piece in the Times on the film. And Sherlockian societies in the Mercury News.

Helen Fitzgerald to appear at a crime writing workshop in South Yorkshire on January 30th. And Denise Mina will be discussing Muriel Spark at an event in Edinburgh on 13th January.

More on Alexander McCall Smith at the Essex Book Festival.

And, finally, Mystery Scene with a great review of Russel McLean's THE GOOD SON.

Linkage Gallimaufry

Russel McLean is put to the Page 69 Test.

Norman Price reviews Aly Monroe's WASHINGTON SHADOW over at Eurocrime. While Kerrie at Mysteries In Paradise reviews Philip Kerr's IF THE DEAD RISE NOT.

More on the Galle Literary Festival in Sri Lanka.

Have a literary lunch with Zoe Strachan and Louise Welsh in Pitlochry on Friday 5th February.

Time Out New York reviews Sherlock Holmes. As does The New Yorker.

Alexander McCall Smith is one of the highest-selling authors of the last decade.

My Dad Reviews...The Spanish Game - Charles Cumming

The usual reminder of my Dad's tastes:

DISLIKES: romance, books that have too much swearing in (I guess that's my Dad not going to read my next book either, then - I thought it was just my Mum I had to keep away from it). 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.

PREFERS: Philip Marlowe to Miss Marple, Inspector Morse to Homicide.

THE SPANISH GAME - Charles Cumming

Publisher: Penguin
Published: January 2007
First Line: "The door leading into the hotel is already open and I walk through it into a low, wide lobby."

Alec Milius - ex MI5 and MI6 - is in voluntary exile in Madrid. He considers he is responsible for the deaths of two CIA operatives and is in fear for his life - of being pursued by that organisation in retaliation. He currently works for a British bank called Endimion and is having an affair with his boss's wife. His greatest fear is that one or both have connections with his former employers or the CIA and are in the plot to kill him.

His boss at Endimion, Julian, asks that he investigates the possibility of repercussions of separation within the Basque community by going to Bilbao and meeting with Mikel Arenza, a basque councillor. Arenza is later murdered so Milius sets out to find the group responsible. He is alone with no back up and soon finds himself facing supposed ETA terrorists.

Later he is approached by a person purporting to be from British Intelligence and is promised reinstatement to the intelligence services if he does a good job by reporting back his findings. There are more twists and turns than in a corkscrew towards the end and there is a devious twist to finalise the story which was entertaining throughout.

The characters were portrayed quite well. The main character came over as a bit of a wimp, his mistress as a temptress, Aranaza was a tough guy, and some of the others were very pushy.

Note from me: Having not read this book I just wanted to check with my Dad that he hadn't given too much of the plot away, as it seemed quite a lot of information. This is what he wrote back:

"The review as written gives the basics of the plot, however there is much more action and to find out what that is, you must read the book. I am not in the business of being a spoiler."

That's me told then...

A Slew of Reviews

Denise Mina's STILL MIDNIGHT is reviewed by The Hamilton Spectator, The Scotsman reviews Aly Monroe's WASHINGTON SHADOW, Ken McClure's WHITE DEATH in The Independent, while the FT reviews Catriona MacPherson's latest Dandy Gilver novel.

An interesting post comparing Guy Ritchie's Holmes to the original. Plus Robert Downey Jr on playing "the first superhero".

A special Christmas "boady in thuh rivuh" Taggart.

I don't know how close you have to live to Tennessee, but if you want to review for the Decatur Daily...

And finally, a very tough books quiz in the Telegraph. I got one right. Thicko.

What I Read In November

Yes, yes, I know it's already half way through December, but here (better late than never) is my summary of what I read in November. A great month in which I am chilled to the bone, learn a lot about sex, and spend time with some very nasty but thoroughly entertaining people .

CROSS COUNTRY MURDER SONG - Philip Wilding
Published: February 2010
Setting: A road trip across America
Protagonist: The driver
Series?: Standalone
First Lines: 'Tell me about the box they kept you in, he said'
Brrrrrrrrrr. A couple eat and eat and eat to forget. A man with a colander on his head stands out in the rain, arms outstretched. A woman comes to terms with the break-up of an affair. An impotent porn star flirts with a bank teller. This is a very original and intriguing book - it's like a set of interlinked short stories that take us into the past, the present and the future of the varied characters whose lives intersect with that of a man driving across America. Some stories are very loosely tied to the driver, others are inextricably linked - most are not good. Some are...really not good. Chilling, well-written and memorable. I found myself whimpering as I read it and I slept with the light on for about two weeks afterwards. So noir it's like stepping into a bottomless pit of tar while wearing a blindfold.

BOULEVARD - Stephen Jay Schwartz
Published: September 2009
Setting: Los Angeles
Protagonist: Detective Hayden Glass
Series?: Standalone or first of a series - not sure
First Lines: 'Detective Hayden Glass of the Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery-Homicide Division drove his old Hollywood beat, crossing Fairfax, heading east on Sunset Boulevard.'
Hayden Glass is a Los Angeles homicide detective. He's also a sex addict. His police work brings him into contact with prostitutes and pimps, and he spends his work day cruising the same areas that attract him as part of his addiction. Needless to say, this is not an easy addiction to keep secret, and when several cases appear to be linked by Hayden himself, it seems as though his secret won't be a secret for much longer. An extremely flawed hero - sometimes I admired him, sometimes I despised him, most of the time I just didn't like him very much. Despite that, I still wanted to find out about him, and how this was all going to end. In fact, I was on a plane coming back from a business meeting in London and was the last person off the plane because I was on the last few pages and wanted to keep reading. Sometimes a bit over the top, it's intense, cinematic, memorable, and full of sex. I'm not letting my mum anywhere near this one.

THE MESSENGER OF ATHENS - Anne Zouroudi
Published: 2007
Setting: A small Greek island
Protagonist: Hermes Diaktoros
Series?: First
First Lines: 'It was the spring of the year; the air was light and bright, the alpines were all in bloom. It was a fine day to be out.''
A young woman's body is found - apparently after she has jumped off a cliff. The police are ready to close the case when a mysterious stranger called Hermes arrives from Athens. He asks questions of all the village's residents, while answering nothing himself. Hermes is an enigma and his methods are unorthodox. Suspicion, lust, secrecy, adultery, passion and savagery abound in a Greece that is totally unlike the Greece of the holiday brochures.

BLOODY WOMEN - Helen FitzGerald
Published: October 2009
Setting: Edinburgh and Italy
Protagonist: Catriona Marsden
Series?: Standalone
First Lines: '"I just need you to say if this is him," the man in the white coat said, lifting the sheet that covered the lump beneath..'
When Catriona Marsden is called in to identify an ex-boyfriend's severed penis, her reaction is to giggle. Needless to say, that does not look good, and she's promptly arrested for the murder of not one, but three ex-boyfriends. Cat is getting married and, like most brides, she has the pre-wedding jitters. However, unlike most brides, she decides that the way to put those jitters to bed is to meet up with each of her ex-boyfriends, and sleep with them. BLOODY WOMEN is delicious, ingenious, inventive and mordantly funny and Helen FitzGerald has a real skill for making the totally absurd and goofy, thoroughly logical and reasonable. She serves up plot twists and severed penises (penii?) alike with the same relish and glee as Bette Davis serving Joan Crawford a rat on a silver salver in Whatever Happened To Baby Jane. Warped, funny, and very well told.

SHATTERED: EVERY CRIME HAS A VICTIM - Various - Short story collection
Published: 2009
Setting: Scotland
Protagonist: Various
Series?: Standalone collection
This is an anthology of crime stories focusing on the victims of crime rather than the perpetrators or the detectives. All the writers donated their royalties to Victim Support Scotland. An excellent collection – several of the stories are very touching, because they are written from the point of view of the victim and every writer has given a lot of thought to the impact of crime. A couple of the writers have had the same idea but treated it in a different way, others have done something totally unique. Stories from Karen Campbell, Ray Banks, Allan Guthrie, Louise Welsh, Lin Anderson, Stuart MacBride, Gillian Galbraith, Alex Gray, Christopher Brookmyre, G J Moffat.

Cramps, Crime and Christmas

Isn't Sunday a lovely day? Not only have I been Christmas shopping (not yours, Dad, so don't bother asking), done loads of writing, taught myself The Cramps' Human Fly on the guitar and had a nap, I've caught up on all the news and am finally up to date again. What a shame it's Monday tomorrow...

The Independent with the best crime books for Christmas. While Alexander McCall Smith talks about The Times WH SmithPaperback of the Year Award. And more McCall Smith as he tells us why we should believe in Father Christmas. Of course we should.

Reviewingtheevidence interviews Denise Mina, while Charles Cumming undergoes some therapy at the Telegraph and Catriona MacPherson chats to the Glasgow Herald.

Ian Rankin to appear at the Galle Literary Festival in Sri Lanka at the end of January. While I'm very much looking forward to Crimefest in Bristol, somehow, it doesn't sound quite as exotic.

The lovely Maxine over at Petrona summarises The Bookseller's books of the decade, giving us the crime fiction highlights.

And, finally, a thoughtful blog post from Crimespree's Jon Jordan about how to fix publishing.

I Appear To Have Caught Up With Some Slightly Stale News

The Daily Telegraph held a live Q&A with Alexander McCall Smith. It is, of course, live no longer (the rigor mortis is just wearing off) but here it is.

Irvine Welsh is one of a great line-up at the Perth Writers Festival in February 2010. I got very excited about this, until I realised that it was Perth, Australia, rather than Perth, Scotland, just up the road.

A Sherlock Holmes themed tourism campaign.

The always interesting and thought-provoking Margot Kinberg on when sleuths get it wrong.

Innocent Bystander with a great review of Chris Ewan's GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO PARIS.

Kate Atkinson's CASE HISTORIES to be filmed for TV.

And, finally, brilliant news for my lovely friends Christa Faust (OK, so she's not Scottish but she did visit in November) and Allan Guthrie (world's best agent). And the book sounds great. I'm looking forward to spending time with Angel Dare again.

If It's Thursday, It Must Be Ian Rankin Day

Ian Rankin suffers from gas. While Alexander McCall Smith has shelving problems.

And talking of Rankin and McCall Smith, you, too, can be their neighbour as a wee pied-a-terre in Writer's Row will become vacant when J K Rowling moves out. Maybe all that gas and banging was too much. And, if you can't afford to move in next door, how about an auction to win a pie and a pint with Ian Rankin in the Oxford Bar? All proceeds to charity. I've said it before and I'll say it again - Ian Rankin is a lovely man. He deserves an award and, as luck would have it, he's just won one. (And an off topic aside, I'm also glad to see that the wonderful Peter Capaldi also won one - Malcolm Tucker is one of the best characters on TV).

Ian Rankin on writing by typewriter, word processor, and hand. Val McDermid and Ian Rankin feature in the Independent's best audio books of 2009 list.

And the Ian Rankin 2010 World Tour.

"It Took Them A While Because They Ran Out Of Breath"

Shocking figures as one in five Scottish children leave primary school with literacy problems. And is it any wonder, when you have Scottish politicians who think like this.

The Independent reviews Catriona McPherson's DANDY GILVER AND THE PROPER TREATMENT OF BLOODSTAINS.

The List, with its best of a decade in Scottish culture and best of a decade in books. And The Times, with its crime fiction Christmas books.

The Telegraph in conversation with Alexander McCall Smith. And he's appearing at the Essex Book Festival next year.

Iain Banks at Edinburgh Central Library on December 16th.

An interview with Campbell Armstrong.

And finally, for those (hiya Mum!) who poo-poo the idea that two septuagenarian ex-hookers could mastermind a heist (the premise of OLD DOGS), here's proof that it may not be such an outlandish idea.

"Tatty Seaside Town"

Points for anyone who knows who sang that :o)

This is a random catch up e-mail consisting of highlights from my weekend at the All Tomorrow's Parties music festival at Butlins Holiday Camp in Minehead, an amendment to my listing of books for 2010, a reminder, and a couple of snippets of newsworthiness.

First of all, the wonderfulness that was ATP - a weekend-long music festival where you get to sleep in a proper bed, and wee in a proper loo. OK, so Butlins in Minehead is slightly tacky, and a wee bit seedy but that just adds to the charm. ATP is a wonderfully friendly festival - no neds, great music, small enough to feel intimate, large enough to attract decent bands.

My weekend highlights:
Best Band: Sonic Youth
Most Fun: The Buzzcocks and The Membranes.
Most Disappointing: A Place To Bury Strangers (their new CD is excellent, but I didn't much care for them live - guitar was too loud, vocals too quiet and muffled, and the act was full of self-indulgent wankery (I can say that because my Dad's away this week, so he's not going to read it and tell me off)). A real shame as I was really looking forward to seeing them.
Best New Discovery: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - melodic, jangly, poppy, sweet with an edge indie. They had great fun on stage, obviously enjoyed themselves and were happy to be there and not ashamed of that, which was lovely to see. I wanted to adopt them all.
Loudest: My Bloody Valentine - we were given earplugs before going in. I felt like going back for a second pair.
Scariest: The worm on the floor of the chalet. It wasn't so much a worm as an enormous slimy serpent. I got up to go to the loo about 6am, nearly trod on it and screamed loudly. Ewan gallantly removed it as I stood by like Donna Doolittle, friend to all living things, saying "Kill it. Kill the slimy thing. Kill, kill." Ewan pointed out that it had probably died of a heart attack when I shrieked at it, as had half of Butlins, no doubt.
Most Surreal: As we went for a walk along the beach on a freezing cold Sunday morning, with the rain pouring down, wrapped up in about 17 layers of clothes, we met the utterly charming John Robb of The Membranes - hardened punk in a sleeveless t-shirt, his Mohican solid in the gale force wind - who stopped to chat and, in his gloriously gravelly voice, told us that the only way he had managed to stay up to watch all the bands the day before was by going back to his chalet for an afternoon nap. How rock and roll...
Cloud With A Silver Lining: We were promised an eight hour luxury coach trip with drinks, snacks and entertainment. We got a 12 hour nightmare which was freezing cold for the first two hours (so much so that we had to buy blankets at the first rest stop). No food, no drinks, no entertainment - except for the driver who insisted on saying "Is everyone here?" every time he was about to set off after a rest stop, much to the amusement of everyone on the coach (OK, so by that time we would have laughed at anything. On the plus side, I managed to get a whole load of writing done, and even when I had my eyes closed I was thinking of the next scene. The snoring? Errrrr...that's part of the thinking process.

I've added a new author to the list on the right (Sean Black - books set in America, born in Scotland) and, since he had a book out this year and has one out next, I've amended the relevant posts. Here's the blurb about his 2010 book:

Sean Black - LOCK UP
Publisher: Bantam
Date: July 2010
From the author's website: 'The job facing Ryan Lock and his partner Ty Johnson should be straightforward enough: keeping one man alive for one week. But when that man is an inmate serving life without possibility of parole at Pelican Bay Supermax prison, who's about to testify against the leaders of America's most violent prison gang, Lock finds himself plunged into a deadly world where nothing is at it seems...'

Looks good to me.

And talking of looking good, here's the cover for Allan Guthrie's novella BYE BYE BABY, out next year. Nice.

BSC Review describes Helen Fitzgerald's THE DEVIL'S STAIRCASE as "like an All Guthrie novel with ovaries". Brilliant!

A diner in Kirkcaldy will have a role in the next Ian Rankin novel.

And, finally, a reminder. If you want to win Tony Black's LOSS, just leave a message in the comments, or send me an e-mail and let me know what you're looking forward to in 2010.

2009 Scottish Crime Fiction Round-Up

A very delayed post today, since the coach from the All Tomorrow's Parties Festival took 12 hours, instead of the promised 8. So, rather than the usual news round-up which I will get back to tomorrow, here is a list of all the Scottish crime fiction books published in 2009 (well, as many as I could find, so if I have missed any off, please let me know). I'll catch up on comments tomorrow too. I'm now off to bed - shattered, but happy, having seen some great bands and had some good laughs.

Which were your favourites? I've highlighted mine in red, and I've marked in blue those I've got but haven't yet read.

Lin Anderson - FINAL CUT
David Ashton - TRICK OF THE LIGHT
Ray Banks - BEAST OF BURDEN
Ray Banks - GUN (novella)
M C Beaton - DEATH OF A WITCH
M C Beaton - THERE GOES THE BRIDE
Sean Black - LOCKDOWN
Tony Black - GUTTED
Christopher Brookmyre - PANDAEMONIUM
Gordon Brown - FALLING
Chris Ewan - THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO PARIS
Helen Fitzgerald - BLOODY WOMEN
Helen Fitzgerald - MY LAST CONFESSION
Helen Fitzgerald - THE DEVIL'S STAIRCASE
Alex Gray - GLASGOW KISS
Clio Gray - THE BROTHERHOOD OF FIVE
Allan Guthrie - SLAMMER
Allan Guthrie - KILLING MUM (novella)
Gerald Hammond - THE FINGERS OF ONE FOOT
Gerald Hammond - WELL AND GOOD
C David Ingram - THE STONE GALLOWS
Quintin Jardine - FATAL LAST WORDS
Quintin Jardine - INHUMAN REMAINS
Philip Kerr - IF THE DEAD RISE NOT
Bill Kirton - THE DARKNESS
Bill Knox - PILOT ERROR
Douglas Lindsay - FINAL CUT
Frances Lloyd - NEMESIS OF THE DEAD
Chris Longmuir - DEAD WOOD
Stuart MacBride - HALFHEAD
Stuart MacBride - BLIND EYE
Ken McClure - WHITE DEATH
Val McDermid - FEVER OF THE BONE
Iain McDowall - ENVY THE DEAD
Liam McIlvanney - ALL THE COLOURS OF THE TOWN
Pat McIntosh - THE STOLEN VOICE
Shiley McKay - HUE AND CRY
Grant McKenzie - SWITCH
Russel D McLean - THE LOST SISTER
Catriona McPherson - DANDY GILVER AND THE PROPER TREATMENT OF BLOODSTAINS
Denise Mina - STILL MIDNIGHT
G J Moffat - DAISYCHAIN
Aly Monroe - WASHINGTON SHADOW
Grace Monroe - BROKEN HEARTS
Caro Ramsay - SINGING TO THE DEAD
Ian Rankin - THE COMPLAINTS
Ian Rankin - A COOL HEAD (novella)
Craig Russell - LENNOX
Craig Russell - THE VALKYRIE'S SONG
Alastair Sim - THE UNBELIEVERS
Alexander McCall Smith - TEA TIME FOR THE TRADITIONALLY BUILT
Alexander McCall Smith - THE LOST ART OF GRATITUDE
Aline Templeton - DEAD IN THE WATER
Peter Turnbull - INFORMED CONSENT
Sue Walker - THE BURNING

My Dad Reviews...Singing To The Dead - Caro Ramsay

Just a reminder of my Dad's tastes:

DISLIKES: romance, books that have too much swearing in (I guess that's my Dad not going to read my next book either, then - I thought it was just my Mum I had to keep away from it). 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.

PREFERS: Philip Marlowe to Miss Marple, Inspector Morse to Homicide.

SINGING TO THE DEAD - Caro Ramsay

Publisher: Penguin
Published: May 2009
First Lines: Detective Inspector Colin Anderson held a handkerchief to his nose, trying not to breathe, his eyes watering in the acrid smoke, and looked at the remains of the ground floor flat, 34 Lower Holburn Street.

This is an extremely well written story.It is mainly about two boys who go missing on the streets of Partick, just west of Glasgow city centre. The police, who are the remains of Alan McAlpine's team, (you can read about them, and what happens to Alan in Caro's book Absolution) so it is like old friends time. There are two new members of the team, DCI Rebecca Quinn who appears as a hard nosed *****(another name for a female dog) and DS Katherine Lewis who tries to charm everybody and doesn't quite make it - she even got up my nose. *

The story is quite involved and features two storylines, the second being a poisoner using a form of cyanide ( I say a form of cyanide as it was different to the one I used to test in the toolroom, which appeared to be more deadly**).

During the investigations many other characters are introduced and the son of one of the policemen also disappears, feared to be kidnapped by the same perp(s)***.

The reasons for the kidnappings are woven into the story. Whilst it is fairly easy to work out who did it, it is not easy to work out why. It is the same with the poisonings, even though the twist at the end came as a bit of a surprise. This was a very well written story, the characters developing as the tale progressed, most of them likeable.

Notes from me:

* Even I don't do that very often
** A note to the police - I had no idea that I am Dr Crippen's daughter.
*** Sometimes I think my dad watches too much CSI

Pre-Festival Round Up

A fairly short post today and a long weekend off for me as I'm off to this festival early on Friday morning to see Sonic Youth, Primal Scream, the Buzzcocks, The Pastels, Yo La Tengo, My BloodyValentine, The Membranes...and loads more. The great thing about this festival is that I get to sleep in a proper bed, and wee in a proper loo. Bliss.

So there'll be a review from my Dad tomorrow and then I'm back on Monday. Have a lovely weekend.

It's obviously Russel McLean Day today as my favourite Dundonian (admittedly, I don't know that many, but he'd still be my favourite) is all over the place. First of all, a review of THE GOOD SON at January Magazine. Next another great review - this time of THE LOST SISTER in the always excellent THE SKINNY. And finally, Russel himself on what books he's looking forward to in 2010, including Tony Black's LOSS, which I am very excited about myself.

Robert Downey Jr talks about Sherlock Holmes.

Philip Kerr interviewed in The Socialist Worker.

Alexander McCall Smith on Corduroy Mansions.

And, finally, lovely to read something about children getting excited about books.

A Win LOSS Situation

Based on previous posts about what's coming up in Scottish crime fiction in 2010, here's a summary by month. Let me know if I've missed any out. And now, over to you. What are you looking forward to crime fiction wise (Scottish or otherwise) in 2010. Let me know either in the comments or via e-mail to the usual address and I'll draw two random lucky winners who will each receive a copy of Tony Black's LOSS, which is the one I'm most looking forward to in January. Of course, you'll have to wait until January to get your prize but if you've read the first two in the series, you know it will be worth waiting for.

JANUARY
M C Beaton - DEATH OF A VALENTINE
Tony Black - LOSS
Quintin Jardine - BLOOD RED
Alanna Knight - QUEST FOR A KILLER
Peter May - VIRTUALLY DEAD
Manda Scott - THE FIRE OF ROME

FEBRUARY
Gerald Hammond - SILENT INTRUDER
Charles Maclean - NIGHT

MARCH
Shona Maclean - A GAME OF SORROWS
Alexander McCall Smith - THE DOUBLE COMFORT SAFARI CLUB
Louise Welsh - NAMING THE BONES

APRIL
Chris Ewan - THE GOOD THIEF'S GUIDE TO LAS VEGAS
Stuart MacBride - DARK BLOOD
G J Moffat - FALLOUT
Craig Robertson - RANDOM
Peter Turnbull - DELIVER US FROM EVIL

MAY
Alex Gray - FIVE WAYS TO KILL A MAN
Peter May - FREEZE FRAME
Ken McClure - A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE
Shirley McKay - LINES OF INQUIRY
Aline Templeton - THE ROAD TO NOWHERE

JUNE
Kate Atkinson - STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG
Karen Campbell - FADE TO GREY (or perhaps it's called SHADOWPLAY)

JULY
Allan Guthrie - BYE BYE BABY (novella)
Pat McIntosh - A PIG OF COLD POISON
Sean Black - LOCK UP

REST OF THE YEAR
Helen Fitzgerald - HOT FLUSH - Autumn
Helen Fitzgerald - AMELIA O'DONOHUE IS SO NOT A VIRGIN

So, over to you...

Ideas, Sex and Comedy

Iain Banks banks on banks.

Val McDermid and Lindsey Davis on tomorrow's FOUL PLAY with Simon Brett. And for those not in the UK, there's usually a 'Listen Again' option after the show has aired.

The smallest library in Britain - what a great idea. I hope we see more of these, although in Glasgow it would smell of wee and have been taken over by a drunk.

And another idea - this time from the very funny Douglas Lindsay - a Barney Thomson story advent calendar style - "Told in 19 parts and finishing on Christmas Day, BARNEY THOMSON AND THE WESTMINSTER CHRISTMAS MASSACRE tells a heartwarming and festive tale of murder, greed, death, blood and mince pies."

The Indian Express on Ian Rankin's THE COMPLAINTS. Just to warn you, this one probably has an annoying pop-up, so my pop-up blocker tells me.

And more sex please, we're British.

Looking Forward To 2010 - Part 4

G J Moffat - FALLOUT
Publisher: Hachette Books Scotland
Date: April 2010
From Amazon: 'Logan Finch has made a new life for himself with his daughter Ellie. But a blossoming relationship with DC Rebecca Irvine is about to be put to the test when Irvine's old flame, drug-addicted rock star Roddy Hale, enters her life again. And there's a small matter of a professional killer following her every move. Alex Cahill, close-protection operative and ex-US army special-forces soldier, hates babysitting celebrities. Maybe this time will be different. Kara Priest is a Scots girl about to break into Hollywood and is back in Scotland for the premiere of a low-budget film as a favour for a friend. She is the target of a disturbed stalker and needs Cahill and his team to watch her back. As the clouds roll in to blanket the sky at the end of an Indian summer, violence erupts all round, putting everyone at risk. For Logan, there are impossible choices to be made: between his best friend and the woman he loves. Between who lives and who dies.' I still haven't read the first one, but this looks good.

Craig Robertson - RANDOM
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Date: April 2010
A debut novel. This from the publisher: 'Glasgow is being terrorised by a serial killer the media have nicknamed The Cutter. The murders have left the police baffled. There seems to be neither rhyme nor reason behind the killings; no kind of pattern or motive; an entirely different method of murder each time, and nothing that connects the victims except for the fact that the little fingers of their right hands have been severed. If DS Rachel Narey could only work out the key to the seemingly random murders, how and why the killer selects his victims, she would be well on her way to catching him. But as the police, the press and a threatening figure from Glasgow's underworld begin to close in on The Cutter, his carefully-laid plans threaten to unravel - with horrifying consequences.'

Manda Scott - THE FIRE OF ROME
Publisher: Bantam Press Date:
January 2010
From the Random House website: 'AD 34: Sebastos Pantera is twelve. Training for the time when he too will be a soldier of Rome, he follows his father to a garden tomb on the outskirts of Jerusalem where he watches him greet two men and a heavily pregnant woman. In a moment that changes his life forever, he sees a wounded revolutionary being brought out of the tomb alive . . .Twenty years later, Pantera returns from five years undercover in Britannia as assassin and spy for the Legions. He is sick of spying, but a deadly combination of old loyalties and a sense of unfinished business combine to lure him homeward to the city of Rome where, his former mentor and spymaster, the Machiavellian Seneca the Younger, charges him with rooting out the revolutionaries responsible for the city’s seething unrest. Pantera discovers that the main troublemaker is none other than his closest friend, Saulos, a recent convert to the new religion of Christianity, and Saulos is planning the biggest single act of terrorism the Roman Empire has known. Spying, forbidden secrets, an ancient manuscript and an apocalyptic fire combine in a gripping thriller that will change the way we think about the ancient world.'

Alexander McCall Smith - THE DOUBLE COMFORT SAFARI CLUB
Publisher: Little Brown Date:
March 2010
Eleventh in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. From Amazon uk 'Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi are called to a safari lodge in Botswana's Okavango Delta to carry out a delicate mission on behalf of a former guest. The Okavango makes Precious appreciate once again the beauty of her homeland: it is a paradise of teeming wildlife, majestic grasslands and sparkling water. However, it is also home to rival safari operators, fearsome crocodiles and disgruntled hippopotamuses. What's more, Mma Makutsi still does not have a date for her wedding to Phuti Radiphuti and is feeling rather tetchy herself. But Precious knows that with a little patience, just as the wide river will gently make its way round any obstacle, so will everything work out for the best in the end ...'

Aline Templeton - THE ROAD TO NOWHERE
Publisher: Hodder
Date: May 2010
From Hodder's catalogue: 'A young woman has been wrongly accused of murder - or is she devious and deadly? When a landslide crushes the cottage she has been living in, she becomes engulfed in events she struggles to understand, and DI Marjorie Fleming herself is drawn into a nightmare of danger and death.'

Peter Turnbull - DELIVER US FROM EVIL

Publisher: Severn House
Date: April 2010
The nineteenth in the Hennessy and Yellich police procedural series and another one I can't find anything about other than that.

Louise Welsh - NAMING THE BONES
Publisher: Canongate Books
Date: March 2010
From Amazon 'Some secrets are best left buried - Knee-deep in the mud of an ancient burial ground, a winter storm raging around him, and at least one person intent on his death: how did Murray Watson end up here? His quiet life in university libraries researching the lives of writers seems a world away, and yet it is because of the mysterious writer, Archie Lunan, dead for thirty years, that Murray now finds himself scrabbling in the dirt on the remote island of Lismore. Loaded with Welsh's trademark wit, insight and gothic charisma, this adventure novel weaves the lives of Murray and Archie together in a tale of literature, obsession and dark magic.'

Internationally Flavoured Sunday Summary

Posh people can be neds too.

More on the Mma Ramotswe Cookbook.

Un orage dans une tasse de thé? And, continuing the European theme, I think this article about the filming of Craig Russell's book BROTHERS GRIMM - or Wolfsfährte in German - says that Craig Russell leaves his corpses in Hamburg. Or maybe not. My German is slightly rusty.

David Ashton has written a screenplay about Shah Jahan, which is being filmed with Ben Kingsley.

Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh visits an Edinburgh project which helps to get people off drink and drugs.

Guest Blogger - My Dad

Since I am busy this weekend, I am handing over today's blog post to my Dad. It all started when he rang me up last week (not like him, as my regular reader will know - it's usually "Hello Dad," "I'll pass you over to your mother.") Anyway, this is how the conversation went.

"Donna, I'm reading a book by Charles Cumming."

Now, all well and good, but somehow, underneath the seemingly innocuous words, I could hear an accusatory tone. "Are you, Dad?" I said.

"Yes, I am." Again, the slightly clipped and accusing tone.

"And...errrrr...is it good?"

"He was born in Scotland, you know." Ah, here it was.

"Oh, was he?"

"Yes, but he's not on your list of Scottish authors." I could actually hear the italics.

"Oh dear, I'd better sort that out then, hadn't I, Dad?"

"Yes." That word conveyed so much. That's all he said but what he meant was "Yes, young lady, because right now you are, most definitely, the world's worst blogger of Scottish crime fiction. I am convinced the stork dropped you on your head from a great height."

"Then you can write me a review, right?"

"Yes." That one was chock full of smugness.

"So, how would you like to do a guest blog for me?"

"What about?"

"Anything you like?"

"Really?"

OK, so that was a mistake. "Well, no, within limits."

"Maps?"

"No, Dad. Stuff you read."

"I read maps."

Sometimes it's tough, dear reader. "OK Dad, point taken. But I was thinking more books and things."

"I'll have a think about it. I probably won't do it. But I'll have a think. Not promising anything, mind."

"And remember, pater, it can't all be about Lord Of The Rings."

"Pearls before swine" said my Dad, before the phone was slammed down.

Ten minutes later, this appeared in my inbox. Obviously, I have been forgiven. Although, given the amount of digs...maybe not. It was accompanied by a little note that said "Please do not take anything out." As in "Please leave in the bits where I have been horrible to my only daughter."


That lazy little blogger's been at it again. She phones to say "Dad will you write something for my blog." I think she must have a mental block, or maybe just mental.

She disturbs me as I was reading a novel by Caro Ramsay. there were no Elves, Orcs or damn great Spiders, only that DCI Quinn who seems a bit of an ogress. When I asked what I was to write about she suggested one or two things which at the time did not appeal, and said to write about anything.

My liking for books covers many subjects and authors, spy novels, mystery stories and general fiction, books that grip my imagination from the beginning or tell of social issues. In the past I have read Hemingway, Dickens, Steinbeck, Robert Ludlum and Colin Forbes. My bookcase has a book by Donna Moore, plus others by authors you may actually have heard of, such as a complete set by Stephen Booth.*

Yes,the book I am reading at the moment is by Caro Ramsay. SINGING TO THE DEAD. I have only got to page 218 so I will probably give the verdict at a later date. This is the second one by this author that I have managed to obtain from our local library, the first one I enjoyed a few weeks ago. The library I speak of is part of Cambridgeshire Libraries and has a good selection of both fiction and non fiction with a section for crime novels which are mostly paperback, some of those authors I even know or have met.**

I think that all habits form when one is young, such as reading habits, I try to read books by an author in sequence, a habit formed many years ago when I read books by W E Johns. I think as a lad with scabbed knees I read most of his books, along with the Beano, Dandy and Eagle comics.There was no television in those days, just the radio and reading to pass the time, if we heard a doodlebug pass over, and we heard a bang it was OK to carry on reading. When Donna was smaller (yes she was smaller***) I would tell her stories, usually Enid Blyton or fairy stories that I could remember, she was quite happy if I had forgotten and made it up as I went along.

So much for trying to think of something to write, now that bit that Winnie the Pooh had a little of, is beginning to hurt, so goodnight till it be the morrow (with apologies to Bill Shakespeare).

* I shall ignore the slight and just mention that the set of Stephen Booth books actually belongs to my Mum, if we're being picky here.

** My Mum and Dad both loved their visit to Crimefest in Bristol earlier this year. They were so thrilled that 'proper authors' (as in, 'not our Donna') actually took the time to chat to them.

*** Everyone's a critic. I AM BIG BONED, ok?

Bad Sex and Nymphomaniac Nuns

Alex Gray's play about domestic abuse, IN MEMORIAM, staged at Paisley's Outrage Conference.

The Australian Independent Weekly calls Philip Kerr's IF THE DEAD RISE NOT 'hypnotic'. And, talking of Philip Kerr, more on the Literary Review's bad sex award (at the bottom, right after the piece on how easy it is to abscond from an open prison (really? I'm shocked)),

A pretty good showing from Scotland in Amazon.uk's best of 2009 list.

The serial novel - apparently, Alexander McCall Smith was 'put up to it' by Armistead Maupin. And finally, on the topic of Alexander McCall Smith, apparently he is being stalked by a man who's written a book called 'When The Beer Runs Out', about a man stranded on a ship crewed by nymphomaniac nuns. I just have one question - why is the guy worried about beer? Sorry, it's from the Mail Online and there's two thirds of a page of rubbish to wade through before you get to this bit.

Looking Forward To 2010 - Part 3

Stuart MacBride - DARK BLOOD
Publisher: Harper Collins
Date: April 2010
6th in the Aberdeen set police procedural series featuring Logan McRae. From Harper Collins' website: 'Martin Knox has served his time, so why shouldn’t he be allowed to live wherever he wants? Yes, in the past he was a violent rapist, but he’s seen the error of his ways. Found God. Wants to leave his dark past in Newcastle behind him and make a new start. Or so he says.Detective Sergeant Logan McRae isn’t exactly thrilled to be part of the team helping Knox settle into his new Aberdeen home. He’s even less thrilled to be stuck with DSI Danby from Northumbria Police – the man who put Knox behind bars for ten years – supposedly here to ‘keep an eye on things’.Only things are about to go very, very wrong.Edinburgh gangster Malk the Knife wants a slice of the development boom Donald Trump’s golf course is bringing to the Granite City, whether local crime lord Wee Hamish Mowat likes it or not. Three heavies from Newcastle want a ‘quiet word’ with DSI Danby about a missing mob accountant. And Martin Knox’s dark past isn’t done with him yet…'

Charles Maclean - NIGHT
Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton
Date: February 2010
A psychological suspense thriller apparently. And that's all I can find out about it- sorry.

Shona Maclean - A GAME OF SORROWS
Publisher: Quercus
Date: March 2010
From Amazon's website: 'It is 1628, and Seaton's happily settled life as a university teacher in Aberdeen is shattered by the arrival in town of a stranger carrying a plea for help from his dead mother's family in Ireland. The family has been placed under a poet's curse, elements of which have begun to come true. Reluctantly answering the call, Alexander travels to Ulster, to find himself among a family riven by secrets and long-standing resentments. In the course of seeking out the author of the curse, Alexander becomes increasingly entangled with both sides in the conflict - fugitive priests, displaced poets, rebellious plotters and agents of the king. His life and liberty are threatened as he is confronted with murder within his own family, and he finds the lines between superstition and faith, duty and loyalty blurred to the extent that he begins to question his own identity, and is forced to face up to the destructive power of love.'

Ken McClure - A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE
Publisher: Polygon
Date: May 2010
Eighth in the series featuring Dr Steven Dunbar of the Sci-Med Inspectorate. From Amazon: 'John Motram, a cell biologist at Newcastle University firmly believes that Black Death was not caused by bubonic plague but by an unknown virus. He is excited when Oxford University tell him that they have come into possession of information suggesting there might be preserved bodies of victims from the time of Black Death hidden under Dryburgh Abbey. Motram sees this as an opportunity to settle the argument once and for all. An excavation is mounted but comes to a disastrous end when Motram apparently loses his mind after entering the secret tomb. Dr Steven Dunbar of the Sci-Med Inspectorate is sent to investigate fearing that a new killer virus has been let loose.'

Pat McIntosh - A PIG OF COLD POISON
Publisher: Soho Constable
Date: July 2010
Seventh in the series set in medieval Glasgow, featuring the Archbishop's investigator, Gil Cunningham. From BooksFromScotland.com: 'Danny Gibson and Nanty Bothwell, rivals for the affections of Agnes Renfrew, the apothecary's pretty daughter, are also good friends. When they both take part in the festive play at the house of Gil's sister Kate, it ends in Danny's death, apparently by poison from his friend's flask. But was it deliberate?'

Shirley McKay - LINES OF INQUIRY
Publisher: Polygon
Date: May 2010
Second in the Hew Cullan series set in late 16th century St Andrews. From the Fantastic Fiction website: 'The year is 1581, and the young St Andrews academic Hew Cullan is unhappy with his life and disillusioned with the law. After his father's death, he is invited by the advocate Richard Cunningham to complete his legal education in Edinburgh as Richard's pupil at the bar. Hew resists, but, later, as he looks through his father's things, he finds a manuscript entitled 'In Defence of the Law'.With it is the promise of publication from the Edinburgh printer, Christian Hall. Hew resolves to deliver the manuscript, and takes up Richard's offer. He is surprised to find Christian Hall is a young widow, the mother of a small child. Hew is attracted to Christian, but as they grow close it becomes apparent that the relationship is fraught with danger. Christian is under attack, culminating in the brutal killing of her nursemaid and the disappearance of her child. As Hew begins a frantic bid to find Christian's son, he suspects links with the murder of a young girl in St Andrews. The truth lies much closer to home.'

Good Reviews, Bad Reviews

Gravetapping with a most excellent review of Allan Guthrie's SLAMMER, calling it "a fine example of the new noir".

And the Glasgow Herald pronounces Helen Fitzgerald "a writer to be reckoned with" in a review of the marvellous BLOODY WOMEN.

Sam Marlowe at the Times Online reviews the latest play by Glenn Chandler, creator of Taggart, and really doesn't like it very much.

And finally, he's not Scottish, and he's probably never even eaten a deep fried Mars Bar, but, dear reader (I know that's just you, pater) do yourself a favour and go and check out Colin Cotterill over at the International Crime Authors blog. He's a very, very funny man.

Looking Forward To 2010 - Part 2

Following on from my earlier post here are the next seven Scottish crime fiction books due out in 2010.

Alex Gray - FIVE WAYS TO KILL A MAN
Publisher: Sphere
Date: May 2010
Seventh in the Glasgow set police procedural series. From Amazon: 'As DCI Lorimer sees in the New Year, an unpredictable killer is loose on the streets of Glasgow . Hood up, suddenly appearing out of the shadows, this dark figure is experimenting with murder, again and again. Faced with a string of seemingly unconnected victims, and picking up the case of a horrific fire that murdered a wealthy couple, Lorimer turns to psychologist and friend Solly Brightman for his insights. As the killer comes to closer to Lorimer himself and his family, can he unmask the serial murderer before the next victim is found too close to home?'

Allan Guthrie - BYE BYE BABY
Publisher: Barrington Stoke
Date: July 2010
According to the lovely Mr Guthrie this is 'a detective novella (loosely based on the short story in SHATTERED) about the disappearance of a young boy, in which the investigating officers find out that nothing is quite what it seems...' Since that story was one of my favourites from SHATTERED, I am most chuffed to hear this.

Gerald Hammond - SILENT INTRUDER
Publisher: Severn House
Date: February 2010
From BooksFromScotland.com: 'When Michael McGinnis and Hilda Gilmour return from holiday to find two plain clothes police officers waiting for them it marks the start of a terrifying journey. The police have had an anonymous tip-off about child pornography being stored on Michael's computer. It's easy to prove his innocence but who would do such a thing?'

Quintin Jardine - BLOOD RED
Publisher: Headline
Date: January 2010
From Amazon (although I have deleted some bits because I think it spoils previous books from the look of it): 'Primavera is enjoying the quiet life in an idyllic village on the Catalan coast of Spain. ... But her close friendship with the parish priest has eyebrows rising and tongues wagging. Then a dispute explodes with a powerful councillor who refuses to allow the village wine fair to go ahead. When his body is found, head caved in, some ominous questions are asked...'

Alanna Knight - QUEST FOR A KILLER
Publisher: Allison and Busby
Date: January 2010
Sixth in the Rose McQuinn series set in Victorian Edinburgh. From the Books From Scotland website: 'It's 1899 and strange things are happening in Edinburgh. The arrival of a circus, seems to set in train a terrible series of events: the death of a clerk during a bank robbery and the suicides of two girls within mere hours of one another. Could the deaths be related?'

Peter May - FREEZE FRAME

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Date: May 2010
Fourth in the Enzo Files series, which features half-Scottish, half-Italian Enzo Macleod, a former forensic scientist who now lives in France and works as a university professor in Toulouse. From the Fantastic Fiction site: 'A promise made to a dying man leads forensics ace Enzo Macleod, a Scot who's been teaching in France for many years, to the study which the man's heir has preserved for nearly twenty years. The dead man left several clues there designed to reveal the killer's identity to the man's son, but ironically the son died soon after the father. So begins the fourth of seven cold cases written up in a bestselling book by Parisian journalist Roger Raffin that Enzo rashly boasted he could solve (he's been successful with the first three). It takes Enzo to a tiny island off the coast of Brittany in France, where he must confront the hostility of locals who have no desire to see the infamous murder back in the headlines. An attractive widow, a man charged but acquitted of the murder--but still the viable suspect, a crime scene frozen in time, a dangerous hell hole by the cliffs, and a collection of impenetrable messages, make this one of Enzo's most difficult cases.'

Peter May - VIRTUALLY DEAD

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Date: January 2010
From the Fantastic Fiction site: 'Crime-scene photographer Michael Kapinsky is a man whose first life is in a mess. But his second life is about to get a whole lot messier. Staggering under the financial burden left by his recently deceased wife, Michael struggles to come to terms with her death - until his psychologist persuades him to enter a virtual world called Second Life to participate in a new kind of group therapy. Once there, his persona, Chas Chesnokov, discovers that victims whose crime scenes Michael has attended in the wealthy Southern California resort of Newport Beach have had their avatars clinically executed in the virtual world. Co-opted into the Twist of Fate Detective Agency, Chas embarks on an investigation with an exotic dancer and escort girl. They uncover a series of killings and a financial scam that is netting the murderer millions of dollars. And when Michael is tempted by money that mysteriously appears in Chas's Second Life account, both his real and his virtual lives are in danger.'