Hello, world, I'd forgotten what you look like. You're really rather lovely, aren't you?
Essays are done, but were swiftly followed by more whooshing deadlines. This week's involved me sitting on a bus listening to conversations. This almost led to me getting my wee head kicked in. But it was fun. I also spent two and a half hours going through a large bin of shredded paper trying to piece together something which should never have been shredded. Successfully, I may add. I felt like I was in a really long, very boring version of CSI Glasgow.
Anyway, just a wee Scottish crime fiction update.
Some Sherlock stuff first: a review of the film A GAME OF SHADOWS, and another one, and Steven Moffat on the TV Sherlock (which I'm really enjoying).
Alex Gray, Caro Ramsay, G J Moffat and Craig Robertson at the Pitlochry Festival from January 27th.
A review of Ian Rankin's THE IMPOSSIBLE DEAD, one of Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, Josephine Tey's THE MAN IN THE QUEUE and reviews of Alexander McCall Smith's THE FORGOTTEN AFFAIRS OF YOUTH and THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TO RAIN.
Peter May on the Quercus Couch.
Peter Rozovsky at Detectives Beyond Borders gets into Allan Guthrie's shorts.
A really interesting interview with Louise Welsh about Scotland.
Hopefully, I will get back to normal posting some time soon...maybe by July...
Showing posts with label G J Moffat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label G J Moffat. Show all posts
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Sunday, 5 September 2010
It Can't Be Sunday Yet, Surely?
First of all huge thanks to everyone who has offered books for the charity raffle - I really appreciate it.
My weekends guests have now gone home and the flat is back to quiet normality (if you don't count Black Rebel Motorcycle Club who are currently blasting through the speakers and the bits of baby food I keep picking up off the floor) So, onto the news round-up.
Firstly, it's me, me, me (sorry!) I'm blogging here on the Busted Flush blog about the perils of research. And the Kindle version of OLD DOGS is now available in the US. Right, that's enough of that nonsense, back to proper news.
Some appearances - Louise Welsh in Canada in November, more on the Milngavie Book and Arts Festival with G J Moffat, Caro Ramsay and Shirley McKay, Philip Kerr will be at the Indie Alliance Weekend on 11th September, and Ken McClure will be speaking at the West Calder Library on 30 September.
And some reviews - Brit Grit, just like Badsville, loves Tony Black's Gus Dury novels and writes an excellent post to tell us so, here. Meanwhile, Bookmunch enjoyed Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, and The Shore Bookworm reviews Denise Mina's Garnethill series.
Oxfam's most wanted author for the second year in a row is Ian Rankin, whilst Dan Brown is most unwanted. And, on the topic of Ian Rankin, here's a review of the audio version of THE FALLS.
In an audio interview with 'Scottish National Treasure' Val McDermid at the Brisbane Writers' Festival, Val reveals that she was once beaten up by a wrestler and was recently insulted by being inadequately burgled. It's a fascinating interview with Val and journalist Jake Adelstein. Wonderfully entertaining stuff. And Crime and Publishing reviews TRICK OF THE DARK.
The Scottish Review of Books reviews Alexander McCall Smith at the Edinburgh Book Festival.
And, finally, watch out if you're making a film in Aberdeen.
My weekends guests have now gone home and the flat is back to quiet normality (if you don't count Black Rebel Motorcycle Club who are currently blasting through the speakers and the bits of baby food I keep picking up off the floor) So, onto the news round-up.
Firstly, it's me, me, me (sorry!) I'm blogging here on the Busted Flush blog about the perils of research. And the Kindle version of OLD DOGS is now available in the US. Right, that's enough of that nonsense, back to proper news.
Some appearances - Louise Welsh in Canada in November, more on the Milngavie Book and Arts Festival with G J Moffat, Caro Ramsay and Shirley McKay, Philip Kerr will be at the Indie Alliance Weekend on 11th September, and Ken McClure will be speaking at the West Calder Library on 30 September.
And some reviews - Brit Grit, just like Badsville, loves Tony Black's Gus Dury novels and writes an excellent post to tell us so, here. Meanwhile, Bookmunch enjoyed Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, and The Shore Bookworm reviews Denise Mina's Garnethill series.
Oxfam's most wanted author for the second year in a row is Ian Rankin, whilst Dan Brown is most unwanted. And, on the topic of Ian Rankin, here's a review of the audio version of THE FALLS.
In an audio interview with 'Scottish National Treasure' Val McDermid at the Brisbane Writers' Festival, Val reveals that she was once beaten up by a wrestler and was recently insulted by being inadequately burgled. It's a fascinating interview with Val and journalist Jake Adelstein. Wonderfully entertaining stuff. And Crime and Publishing reviews TRICK OF THE DARK.
The Scottish Review of Books reviews Alexander McCall Smith at the Edinburgh Book Festival.
And, finally, watch out if you're making a film in Aberdeen.
Monday, 30 August 2010
Canapes and Crime
Happy Monday, dear reader. I hope you had as grand a weekend as I did. Micky Flanagan at the Pleasance was hilarious. Since my dad reads this blog I can't possibly tell you what my favourite part of his show was, so you'll just have to take my word for how good he was. The birthday party was great fun and I danced my socks off. The football match was slightly tedious so I ended up counting the cameramen. There are an awful lot of cameramen at a football match. Then it was off to the Edinburgh Book Festival where I met up with the lovely Bookwitch and her daughter. I shall let her tell you all about it.
I then went to a party hosted by the Jenny Brown Literary Agency where I had good fun chatting to Super-Agent Al, Aly Monroe, Russel McLean and Helen Fitzgerald. I also met Doug Johnstone and Rosy Barnes (whose book SADOMASOCHISM FOR ACCOUNTANTS sounds right up my street). Helen is currently working on a young adult crime fiction novel called OOPS I KILLED MY SISTER'S BOYFRIEND. Can't wait.
By the time I got to the party I was absolutely starving. I was just about to tuck into Russel's left arm when a saviour appeared in the form of a small boy holding a tray with little biscuit things with cheese on. I watched him out of the corner of my eye as he negotiated various groups of people, gradually getting closer and closer. Then, just as he was about to reach our group, he veered away. I shot out an arm and stopped him in his tracks. "Oi, what are you doing, going in the other direction? Look at this face. This is a hungry face. If you're bringing food, make sure you come to us first, is that clear?"
The small boy looked shocked but nodded. I think he had understood. "Good," I said, scooping up 24 tiny biscuits smeared with cheese. "Now, run along and fetch another tray."
Bless his heart, he kept us stocked up on nibbles for the rest of the evening. We were always his first port of call when he came out to where we were standing. Then, towards the end of the evening he tapped me on the arm.
"No tray, young man?"
He shook his head. "I have good news and bad news."
"Tell me the bad news."
"There's only one tray of food left, and I'm not allowed to bring it outside. I have to serve it to all the people inside."
"And the good news?"
"I'm getting paid."
"How much?"
He beamed. "Ten pounds."
"It's not enough. Tell them you deserve at least fifteen."
A little later I felt a small presence at my elbow. "I have something important to say," he said.
"I'm all ears, young man."
"I have to tell you that I accept tips."
Needless to say, he got one. Brilliant.
And now, on to the crime fiction news.
The Guardian rounds up literary book tours - including both Ian Rankin and Irvine Welsh in Edinburgh. I can see the appeal of the Oxford Bar and Fleshmarket Close but... Irvine Welsh's drug dens?
And, talking of Ian Rankin, he will be appearing on a panel as part of the Tesco Bank Summer Reads programme on September 2nd in Edinburgh.
And if you like champagne, chips and crime (and, let's face it, who doesn't?) here's a great event in Milngavie on 12th September featuring G J Moffat, Shirley McKay, Caro Ramsay and Len Murray. I would go, but I'm in Berlin.
BBC Radio Scotland will feature Val McDermid in a forthcoming My Life in 5 Books.
Louise Welsh reveals that she is afraid of Tories.
A couple of reviews - firstly Christopher Brookmyre's QUITE UGLY ONE MORNING, Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, and Irvine Welsh's REHEATED CABBAGE.
And, finally, in the Lothians book crime is, apparently, a big thing. In Clackmannanshire, however, they prefer manhole covers.
I then went to a party hosted by the Jenny Brown Literary Agency where I had good fun chatting to Super-Agent Al, Aly Monroe, Russel McLean and Helen Fitzgerald. I also met Doug Johnstone and Rosy Barnes (whose book SADOMASOCHISM FOR ACCOUNTANTS sounds right up my street). Helen is currently working on a young adult crime fiction novel called OOPS I KILLED MY SISTER'S BOYFRIEND. Can't wait.
By the time I got to the party I was absolutely starving. I was just about to tuck into Russel's left arm when a saviour appeared in the form of a small boy holding a tray with little biscuit things with cheese on. I watched him out of the corner of my eye as he negotiated various groups of people, gradually getting closer and closer. Then, just as he was about to reach our group, he veered away. I shot out an arm and stopped him in his tracks. "Oi, what are you doing, going in the other direction? Look at this face. This is a hungry face. If you're bringing food, make sure you come to us first, is that clear?"
The small boy looked shocked but nodded. I think he had understood. "Good," I said, scooping up 24 tiny biscuits smeared with cheese. "Now, run along and fetch another tray."
Bless his heart, he kept us stocked up on nibbles for the rest of the evening. We were always his first port of call when he came out to where we were standing. Then, towards the end of the evening he tapped me on the arm.
"No tray, young man?"
He shook his head. "I have good news and bad news."
"Tell me the bad news."
"There's only one tray of food left, and I'm not allowed to bring it outside. I have to serve it to all the people inside."
"And the good news?"
"I'm getting paid."
"How much?"
He beamed. "Ten pounds."
"It's not enough. Tell them you deserve at least fifteen."
A little later I felt a small presence at my elbow. "I have something important to say," he said.
"I'm all ears, young man."
"I have to tell you that I accept tips."
Needless to say, he got one. Brilliant.
And now, on to the crime fiction news.
The Guardian rounds up literary book tours - including both Ian Rankin and Irvine Welsh in Edinburgh. I can see the appeal of the Oxford Bar and Fleshmarket Close but... Irvine Welsh's drug dens?
And, talking of Ian Rankin, he will be appearing on a panel as part of the Tesco Bank Summer Reads programme on September 2nd in Edinburgh.
And if you like champagne, chips and crime (and, let's face it, who doesn't?) here's a great event in Milngavie on 12th September featuring G J Moffat, Shirley McKay, Caro Ramsay and Len Murray. I would go, but I'm in Berlin.
BBC Radio Scotland will feature Val McDermid in a forthcoming My Life in 5 Books.
Louise Welsh reveals that she is afraid of Tories.
A couple of reviews - firstly Christopher Brookmyre's QUITE UGLY ONE MORNING, Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG, and Irvine Welsh's REHEATED CABBAGE.
And, finally, in the Lothians book crime is, apparently, a big thing. In Clackmannanshire, however, they prefer manhole covers.
Friday, 20 August 2010
We Are Family - My Dad and I Read...G J Moffat's DAISYCHAIN
First of all, a reminder of what my Dad and I like and dislike...Dad
LIKES: thrillers, spy novels, war stories and books with elves in (the elves can swear their 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.
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 too.
PREFERS: Philip Marlowe to Miss Marple, Inspector Morse to Homicide.
Me
LIKES: noir, hard-boiled, capers, PI novels, police procedurals, warped, quirky and funny books.
DISLIKES: cosies - especially those where the protagonist has a heavily featured hobby (I once got a gluten allergy from reading a book where the heroine made bread every three pages), or books where an animal solves the crime. Unless it's a dinosaur (as in Eric Garcia's wonderful series about basil addicted Vincent Rubio).I'm not a big fan of serial killer books (and I'm not talking books that just happen to have a serial killer in (I love books by Steve Mosby, Mark Billingham etc)), I mean books where it's all about the quirks. The more patterns or quirks the killer has, the more blood is spilled and body parts mutilated, the more good writing, character development and a decent plot seem to go out of the window. The ones I don't like are where the author seems to think that making their killer a murderer of blue eyed women with one arm (the women, not the murderer), who drowns his victims in an increasingly violent way in a vat of hot chocolate, while narrating The Rhyme of The Ancient Mariner, drawing a picture of a squirrel on the wall and scattering rose petals around the bathroom is all the character development and justification the avid reader needs. A-ha - the serial killer was burned by a scalding mug of hot chocolate as a baby, force-fed him by his mother Rose, a blue-eyed ex-Womens' Royal Navy sailor who lost an arm in a bizarre accident involving a rabid squirrel.
I'm also not big on spy thrillers and medical thrillers. If I see a jacket blurb which mentions the White House, and the words 'explosive' and 'conspiracy' and which has a shadowy picture of someone rappelling down a big building, carrying a large knife dripping blood, or an enormous syringe, then I'm more likely to put it down in a hurry than slap in into my shopping basket with glee. I have the same reaction to 'Knights Templar' and 'Illuminati'. I will pass all of those to my Dad.
I don't like gratuitous anything - but then, one person's gratuitous is another person's prerequisite. My Mum would definitely find most of the books I read have gratuitous sex, violence and swearing. I find the books she likes have gratuitous cats. And butlers. And people being poisoned with rare poison from the Three Kneed Scarlet Guatemalan Tree Frog. And gentility. As for the sex, well, if it fits (oo-er missus) then it's fine. I read a mystery a few years ago where the woman was asleep and the man slid one hand between her thighs and the other into her mouth. And this was supposed to be erotic. I'm sorry, but if anyone slides anything in my mouth while I'm sleeping, then I'm probably going to dream it's a chocolate eclair and chomp down hard. On the other hand, there are plenty of books that do it well, but I'm not going to mention any of them just in case you tell my Mum.
PREFERS: Raymond Chandler to Miss Marple, Homicide to Inspector Morse.
Anyway, enough of that. On to the reviewlets:
FALLOUT - G J Moffat
Published: 2010
Publisher: Hachette Scotland
Setting: Mostly Glasgow
Protagonist: Logan Finch
Series?: 2nd
First lines: "How long is it now that you've been killing for me Carl?"
What Donna Says:
Glasgow lawyer Logan Finch's new sort-of-girlfriend DC Rebecca Irvine has taken off on a road trip to the north of Scotland with her drug-addicted rock star ex-boyfriend, and Logan's friend Alex Cahill and his team have been hired to babysit an actress who has come to Glasgow for a film premiere, and who has been receiving death threats. Things are going to get a tad stressful for Logan, Rebecca, Alex and everyone around them. What follows is a tense and exciting race against the clock for all of them. It was partly the short chapters with their alternating focus, and partly the cliffhanger format, but I found this a very fast and furious read. This is more of a straight thriller type of book, which is not my usual fare, but I really enjoyed it. The characters are interesting and well-developed and I really like the way that Logan - the main character - is kept slightly aside from the action. He's essentially an ordinary man on the street who has to deal with the aftermath and consequences of his friends and loved ones being the people at the heart of the action.
What Donna's Dad Says:
Take one lady policeman, one assassin with three assistants, a group of ex special forces operatives who have set up as personal bodyguards; mix with an airhead actress, an ex-boyfriend turned rock singer, an egocentric millionaire, a current boy friend with a thirteen year old daughter, and what do you have? (Note from Donna - I don't know, Dad, do you have FALLOUT?). The story is creepy, explosive, and totally entertaining. There are one or two surprises, which will come to you as you read the book. The main characters are truly likeable, and can be forgiven their past mistakes. The main assassin is a creepy sort and his assistants appear to be rather inept. This is a story that I enjoyed reading, and is one that I could recommend to my wife, as there is only a little bad language. This is a story that I enjoyed immensely and I will definitely read more by this author. The setting in Glasgow and the Western isles made a refreshing change to the usual one location. I deliberately keep it short as I do not want to give too much of the story away. The author wants to sell books, not have it given away for free. (another note from Donna - those last two sentences are because my Dad's original reviewlet was too short and I asked him for more. As you can see, he gets a tad stroppy sometimes...)
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
It's All About The Book Festival...Except For The Bits That Aren't
Sadly, due to other commitments, I'm not going to be able to make it through to any of the events I'd like to go to at the Edinburgh Book Festival, although I am hoping to get through to meet the lovely Bookwitch, who is blogging about events. Another excellent blog of festival events is the wonderfully named Crivens, Jings and Help Ma Blog who has so far posted excellent reports of events with Iain Banks and Christopher Brookmyre. And more splendid festival coverage by both Alistair Braidwood of Scots Whay Hae! and Colin Galbraith (a crime writer himself), who attended the event with Craig Robertson and Gillian Galbraith,
And, in other book festival news, the BBC's arts editor speaks to Ian Rankin about Scottish arts funding as The Bookseller reports that the festival expects to cut author events.
The List on Louise Welsh's NAMING THE BONES.
One great thing about the internet is that so many people are willing to share their thoughts on books they've enjoyed. I love that. So here are a couple of book-loving bloggers on Caro Ramsay's ABSOLUTION, and Craig Russell's LENNOX.
And, finally, more reviews - first of all Eurocrime on G J Moffat's FALLOUT, and then The Telegraph, The Guardian and The Herald all review Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG.
And, in other book festival news, the BBC's arts editor speaks to Ian Rankin about Scottish arts funding as The Bookseller reports that the festival expects to cut author events.
The List on Louise Welsh's NAMING THE BONES.
One great thing about the internet is that so many people are willing to share their thoughts on books they've enjoyed. I love that. So here are a couple of book-loving bloggers on Caro Ramsay's ABSOLUTION, and Craig Russell's LENNOX.
And, finally, more reviews - first of all Eurocrime on G J Moffat's FALLOUT, and then The Telegraph, The Guardian and The Herald all review Kate Atkinson's STARTED EARLY, TOOK MY DOG.
Monday, 14 June 2010
National Crime Fiction Week
It's National Crime Fiction Week from 14th to 20th June. Here are the crime fiction events with a Scottish connection. Contact details at the site.
Monday - 14th June
7.00 pm
Tuesday - 15th June
2.00 pm
Wednesday - 16th June
6.00 pm
Thursday - 17th June
7.00 pm
7.00 pm
Saturday 19th June
10.00 am - 4.00 pm
Monday - 14th June
7.00 pm
- Alex Gray at Falkirk Library, Hope Street, Falkirk, FK1 5AU
Tickets £2, available from Falkirk Council Libraries.
- 'Lady Killers' - Aline Templeton Glenwood Library, Glenrothes, Fife
Tickets cost £2.50 (£2 for super and premier fifestyle cardholders) which includes refreshments. Booking advisable. - 7.30 pm
- Book Group Social Evening: Read any book in the series by Jo Nesbø and join in our evening discussion at the Carnegie Library, 12 Main Street, Ayr, KA8 8EB; (their blog)
Tickets are £2 (includes refreshments), available from Carnegie Library.
Tuesday - 15th June
2.00 pm
- Round Old Ayr Crime Walk Led by Tom Barclay: Meet at the Carnegie Library, 12 Main Street, Ayr, KA8 8EB; (their blog)
Come with local history librarian Tom Barclay on a walking tour of town centre sites associated with the rebels, smugglers, body-snatchers, common criminals and thief-takers who have all played dramatic parts in the town's colourful past.
Tickets are £2 (includes refreshments), available from Carnegie Library.
- G J Moffat will discuss his writing, read from his new thriller Fallout and answer questions from the audience at the Carnegie Library, 12 Main Street, Ayr, KA8 8EB
For information about ticket pricing, and to book, please contact Carnegie Library. - 7.30 pm
- Tony Black, Karen Campbell and Helen Fitzgerald at Soutar Theatre, AK Bell Library, York Place, Perth, PH2 8EP
Tickets costing £5.00 are available from the AK Bell Library. Booking is advisable.
Wednesday - 16th June
6.00 pm
- Quintin Jardine, Alex Dryden and Barbara Nadel at Idea Store, Canary Wharf, Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London E14 5RB
Capital Crimes - Crime scene - books from around the World
No need to book. - 7.00 pm
- Murder Mystery Night 'A Body in the Library' at Troon Library, 5 South Beach, Troon, KA10 6EF; (their blog)
Written by members of Ayr Writers' Club and performed by willing volunteers.
Tickets £3 (including refreshments), available from Troon Library. - 7.30 pm
- 'Lady Killers' - Karen Campbell Glenwood Library, Glenrothes, Fife
Tickets cost £2.50 (£2 for super and premier fifestyle cardholders) which includes refreshments. Booking advisable.
Thursday - 17th June
7.00 pm
- Round Old Ayr Crime Walk Led by Tom Barclay: Meet at the Carnegie Library, 12 Main Street, Ayr, KA8 8EB; (their blog)
Come with local history librarian Tom Barclay on a walking tour of town centre sites associated with the rebels, smugglers, body-snatchers, common criminals and thief-takers who have all played dramatic parts in the town's colourful past.
Tickets are £2 (includes refreshments), available from Carnegie Library.
- 'Lady Killers' - Gillian Galbraith Glenwood Library, Glenrothes, Fife
Tickets cost £2.50 (£2 for super and premier fifestyle cardholders) which includes refreshments. Booking advisable.
7.00 pm
- Murder Mystery Night 'A Body in the Library' at Carnegie Library, 12 Main Street, Ayr, KA8 8EB; (their blog)
Written by members of Ayr Writers' Club and performed by the staff of Carnegie Library.
Tickets are £3 (includes refreshments), available from Carnegie Library.
Saturday 19th June
10.00 am - 4.00 pm
- Crime writing workshop with Sue Walker Guildford Library, 77 North Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4AL
How to write a crime novel in one day. Investigative television journalist and novelist Sue Walker explains what makes a good crime story and how to keep your readers hooked and guessing from gripping opening to breathtaking denouement. Be prepared to undertake writing exercises. Suitable for everyone.
Tickets £15 (not including lunch) available six weeks before the event from Guildford Library in person or by e-mail or telephone.
- 'Help ma Bob - there's been a MURDER!' - Forensic Science Crafts for Kids at at Carnegie Library, 12 Main Street, Ayr, KA8 8EB; (their blog)
Qualify as a South Ayrshire Crime Scene Investigator and get your badge to prove it. Discover how CSI investigators interpret paper chromatography, dust for fingerprints, handwriting analysis and blood splatter evidence. Suitable for ages 8 - 11 years
Entry is FREE, but booking is essential - sign up at Carnegie Library before the event.
Thursday, 15 April 2010
In Which I Realise My Dad Is A Secret Agent
A youtube interview with Craig Robertson about his recently released book RANDOM and his next novel SNAPSHOT (which sounds great). And an interview with the author on booksfromscotland.com.
Caro Ramsay (who should blog more often!) on the good times and bad times of writing.
The Glasgow Herald features G J Moffat in an article on how Scottish crime fiction leads the way in law and disorder.
Peter May on being a prowler. And an audio interview on the Stuph File.
And, finally, even spies have to move with the times. Although it strikes me that if they can't use Facebook and Twitter, how do they cope with all those little pens that take photos and bugs in flower vases, and lovely stuff like that? Blimey, even my Dad uses Facebook and he's in his mid 70s. (Luckily, he hasn't yet discovered Twitter. It's the only place I am safe on the Internet. (Dad - you really wouldn't like Twitter by the way. Trust me.)) Wait...maybe my Dad is secretly a spy. All those trips to take the rubbish out aren't to have a secret cigar but to test out his night vision goggles. Then he cleverly sprays himself with Eau De Cigar, just so that my Mum gets the pleasure of saying "Have you been smoking those foul things again Patrick?" and he keeps his cover. And perhaps when I was down at Christmas and he whispered in the ear of the next door neighbour's dog "The daffodils in Prague are blooming early this year" that wasn't senility, but spy talk.
Caro Ramsay (who should blog more often!) on the good times and bad times of writing.
The Glasgow Herald features G J Moffat in an article on how Scottish crime fiction leads the way in law and disorder.
Peter May on being a prowler. And an audio interview on the Stuph File.
And, finally, even spies have to move with the times. Although it strikes me that if they can't use Facebook and Twitter, how do they cope with all those little pens that take photos and bugs in flower vases, and lovely stuff like that? Blimey, even my Dad uses Facebook and he's in his mid 70s. (Luckily, he hasn't yet discovered Twitter. It's the only place I am safe on the Internet. (Dad - you really wouldn't like Twitter by the way. Trust me.)) Wait...maybe my Dad is secretly a spy. All those trips to take the rubbish out aren't to have a secret cigar but to test out his night vision goggles. Then he cleverly sprays himself with Eau De Cigar, just so that my Mum gets the pleasure of saying "Have you been smoking those foul things again Patrick?" and he keeps his cover. And perhaps when I was down at Christmas and he whispered in the ear of the next door neighbour's dog "The daffodils in Prague are blooming early this year" that wasn't senility, but spy talk.
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Offensive Weapons and Duelling Donkeys
The Guardian on how the novel can be an offensive weapon (and they're not talking about sharp corners).
An interesting (as ever) blog from Margot Kinberg on creating a protagonist in your likeness or not.
Enjoy Alexander McCall Smith with appetizers and complimentary beverages (presumably some f-f-f-fave beans and a nice chianti). And, talking of Alexander McCall Smith, here he is on drinking whisky and running upstairs (but not at the same time).
A plethora of reviews. First of all, Mike Dennis is impressed by Ray Banks' hard-hitting prose in SUCKER PUNCH. And quite rightly so - Ray is a wonderful writer. Not being a boxing aficionado,
I'm not sure why the title was changed from the UK version DONKEY PUNCH, but here's a picture of a pair of donkeys. Lourdes at Lost In Books had a good time with Ian Rankin's short story collection A GOOD HANGING, while the marvellously named Bad Tempered Zombie enjoyed EXIT MUSIC . Here's Rob Kitchin over at View From The Blue House with one of his invariably perspicacious reviews, this time of Tony Black's PAYING FOR IT. Fay Scheco with an excellent review of Denise Mina's GARNETHILL. And The Truth About Books reviews Val McDermid's FEVER OF THE BONE.
Christopher Brookmyre, amongst others, will be appearing at the Nairn Arts Festival in June.
And finally, Mr Cunard, if you need me, I can fill in any time you like.
An interesting (as ever) blog from Margot Kinberg on creating a protagonist in your likeness or not.
Enjoy Alexander McCall Smith with appetizers and complimentary beverages (presumably some f-f-f-fave beans and a nice chianti). And, talking of Alexander McCall Smith, here he is on drinking whisky and running upstairs (but not at the same time).
A plethora of reviews. First of all, Mike Dennis is impressed by Ray Banks' hard-hitting prose in SUCKER PUNCH. And quite rightly so - Ray is a wonderful writer. Not being a boxing aficionado,
I'm not sure why the title was changed from the UK version DONKEY PUNCH, but here's a picture of a pair of donkeys. Lourdes at Lost In Books had a good time with Ian Rankin's short story collection A GOOD HANGING, while the marvellously named Bad Tempered Zombie enjoyed EXIT MUSIC . Here's Rob Kitchin over at View From The Blue House with one of his invariably perspicacious reviews, this time of Tony Black's PAYING FOR IT. Fay Scheco with an excellent review of Denise Mina's GARNETHILL. And The Truth About Books reviews Val McDermid's FEVER OF THE BONE.Christopher Brookmyre, amongst others, will be appearing at the Nairn Arts Festival in June.
And finally, Mr Cunard, if you need me, I can fill in any time you like.
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Vampires, Dodgy Tummies and Sneezing Fines
He's not Scottish, but here's an article on Mike Hodges whose WATCHING THE WHEELS COME OFF was published earlier this month by maXcrime - the lovely people who are publishing OLD DOGS in April. The Times describes WATCHING THE WHEELS COME OFF as 'Viz meets Raymond Chandler' which is brilliant. I read it a couple of weeks ago and it's a darkly comic, slightly surreal romp, full of grubby people doing grubby things. Really good stuff. A fuller reviewlet will follow in my monthly reads summary. Mike Hodges will also be at CrimeFest and there will be a special screening of Hodges' brilliant film Get Carter. And, if you're hesitating about CrimeFest, The Times have a special offer over at the link.
A slew of reviews as Denise Mina and Philip Kerr are reviewed in the New York Times, and also in the Dayton Daily News, while Eurocrime reviews Louise Welsh's NAMING THE BONES, and the lovely Crimeficreader reviews G J Moffat's DAISYCHAIN. Declan Burke, one of my favourite people, also reviews Louise Welsh's NAMING THE BONES, and here's yet another review for Philip Kerr's IF THE DEAD RISE NOT in the Washington Post Bookworld.
And, talking of Louise Welsh, here's more on The Gorbals Vampire, presented by Louise Welsh and on Radio 4 on Tuesday night at 11pm.
Allan Guthrie talks to Chris Ewan in the iomtoday.com. This event is looming far too close for my liking - my stomach's already doing flip-flops. Full interview here. And, talking of the delightful Chris Ewan (aka my son) he's been shortlisted for the Last Laugh Award at the aforementioned CrimeFest. Well done Chris.
Ian Rankin on the ten greatest crime novels of all time. I'm sure these must have been some tough choices. What, dear reader, would your own top 10 be?
Alexander McCall Smith is called to the bar (I'll have a Southern Comfort and lemonade please, Mr Smith).
The sweet and cosy guys at Radgepacket have just posted 6 new stories online. (No, Dad, these aren't suitable for your tender eyes either).
And, finally, a Scottish policeman known as PC Shiny Buttons hands out a sneezing fine, only a couple of months after fining a man £50 for dropping £10 out of his pocket.
A slew of reviews as Denise Mina and Philip Kerr are reviewed in the New York Times, and also in the Dayton Daily News, while Eurocrime reviews Louise Welsh's NAMING THE BONES, and the lovely Crimeficreader reviews G J Moffat's DAISYCHAIN. Declan Burke, one of my favourite people, also reviews Louise Welsh's NAMING THE BONES, and here's yet another review for Philip Kerr's IF THE DEAD RISE NOT in the Washington Post Bookworld.
And, talking of Louise Welsh, here's more on The Gorbals Vampire, presented by Louise Welsh and on Radio 4 on Tuesday night at 11pm.
Allan Guthrie talks to Chris Ewan in the iomtoday.com. This event is looming far too close for my liking - my stomach's already doing flip-flops. Full interview here. And, talking of the delightful Chris Ewan (aka my son) he's been shortlisted for the Last Laugh Award at the aforementioned CrimeFest. Well done Chris.
Ian Rankin on the ten greatest crime novels of all time. I'm sure these must have been some tough choices. What, dear reader, would your own top 10 be?
Alexander McCall Smith is called to the bar (I'll have a Southern Comfort and lemonade please, Mr Smith).
The sweet and cosy guys at Radgepacket have just posted 6 new stories online. (No, Dad, these aren't suitable for your tender eyes either).
And, finally, a Scottish policeman known as PC Shiny Buttons hands out a sneezing fine, only a couple of months after fining a man £50 for dropping £10 out of his pocket.
Sunday, 21 March 2010
She Flies Through the Air With the Greatest of Ease
First of all, a huge thank you to all those who sponsored me for my death-defying dive across the Clyde. It was today and I survived, despite all pronouncements to the contrary - my caring partner, Ewan, asked the woman who gave me the number to stick on my helmet when I would get my toe tag. How nice. One of the pictures here is a bit fuzzy because it's the official one taken when I was 130 feet up. I don't have a scanner so had to take a photo of a photo. However, it does clearly answer the question "Does my bum look big in this?" with a resounding yes.We had a great time and the team raised over £2000 for Action For
Children. My only moment of fear was when we were going up in the basket, being hoisted 130 feet in the air and I was standing at the edge, next to an open gate in the basket. "Do you think you could shut that?" I said. "Why, are you cold, hen?" said the heartless safety guy. Our team paid the sponsorship for some of the young people helped by one of Action For Children's projects to do the zipslide and I was in the basket with them. I thought that since I was the responsible adult (yes, I know, things are bad 
when you have to rely on me as the responsible adult) I had better not either swear or cry. I jumped first and managed to do it without sobbing, or clutching the safety guy around the knees. Amanda, who went after me, was really nervous. I forgave Ewan for the toe-tag gag when I saw the video later of her nervous wee face - a video taken by her boyfriend, William. Yes, instead of reassuring and comforting her, he was videoing her as she stood at the edge of the basket, sobbing. After she eventually jumped she started screaming. Our joker of a safety guy turned to William and said "Did you hear what she screamed as she went?" "No, said William, what did she say?" "She said you're never getting your hole ever again, son." You've got to love that Glaswegian humour.This is going to be a very cinematic week - I have a screenwriting class tomorrow, and also I have to work on a scene from OLD DOGS as somehow I seem to have agreed to workshop a scene at the next Write, Camera, Action - eeeek! Last night we went to see SHUTTER ISLAND. I had a huge, huge problem with the book so I was interested to see whether I found the film any better. It was interesting, and well done, but I still had the big problem I had with the book. Since it's to do with the overall premise, I can't say what it is, but if you've seen the film and/or read the book, do send me an e-mail and let me know what you thought of it.
And on Tuesday I'm going to a premiere of this film which looks like it will be a lot of fun.
Talking of films, here's more on the Irvine Welsh film THE MAGNIFICENT ELEVEN which looks great.
Eurocrime reviews G J Moffat's DAISYCHAIN and Val McDermid's FEVER OF THE BONE.
A very original interview as a virtual reality TV station speaks to the protagonist of Peter May's VIRTUALLY DEAD. And here's a review of the book by Mysterious Reviews.
And, finally, Karen Campbell answers the question as to whether female authors are too gloomy in a debate in The Herald.
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
We Return You To Your Regularly Scheduled Blogging
A brief summary of some very, very, very old news (I still have another 700 Google Alerts to read, so you can expect old news for the foreseeable future as I catch up. Meanwhile, hot off the press in Scottish cultural news, John Logie Baird invents television.
A seasonal story from Alexander McCall Smith. Happy Christmas. I'm either late or early - you choose.
A very interesting blog post about Gordon M Williams, author of THE SIEGE OF TRENCHER'S FARM, which was made into the film STRAW DOGS.
G J Moffat on YouTube, talking about his books.
Scotland to get its own Walk Of Fame. I wonder what they will use instead of stars.
The Edinburgh Evening News looks back at the best of Scottish writing in 2009. They missed some, but it's a good start.
And, finally, it's neither Scottish nor crime fiction related, but, from The Boston Globe a warning - should one be needed - never to complain about a review. I love the phrase "a litany of unjolly spankings" and am going to find cause to use that one on a regular basis.
Monday, 14 December 2009
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.
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.
Monday, 30 November 2009
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 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
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.'
Monday, 16 November 2009
Some Well-Deserved Good Words
A rather spiffing review of Helen FitzGerald's BLOODY WOMEN which says, in part "So this novel has it all – thriller, drama, whodunit, comedy, great characters and good humour."
And Brian over at BSC Review reviews Allan Guthrie's SLAMMER, saying "When we speak of those on the forefront of dark fiction; those whose work scares people at a fundamental level; and those whose work we are hard pressed to try to define and pigeon hole, but can’t, Guthrie’s name is near the top of the list, and Slammer proves why." Niiiiiiiiiiiice.
And more reviews - Alexander McCall Smith's THE LOST ART OF GRATITUDE in the Winston-Salem Journal and Iain Banks TRANSITION at Cultural Pilgrim.
In other news - Tony Black - one of my favourite authors - on one of his big influences, (another favourite of mine) Ken Bruen over at the always excellent blog of Paul Brazill. "It wasn't, for me, the story, - not the story alone, anyway - but the sheer power of the writing. It was like being engulfed by a tsunami of talent - a writer with so many skills that the pages, every one of them, contained moments of breathtaking beauty, flights of linguistic gymnastics and...real heart." Totally agree Tony old fruit.
Ian Rankin chooses his 'best books'.
Russel McLean and GJ Moffatt in pictures.
And Brian over at BSC Review reviews Allan Guthrie's SLAMMER, saying "When we speak of those on the forefront of dark fiction; those whose work scares people at a fundamental level; and those whose work we are hard pressed to try to define and pigeon hole, but can’t, Guthrie’s name is near the top of the list, and Slammer proves why." Niiiiiiiiiiiice.
And more reviews - Alexander McCall Smith's THE LOST ART OF GRATITUDE in the Winston-Salem Journal and Iain Banks TRANSITION at Cultural Pilgrim.
In other news - Tony Black - one of my favourite authors - on one of his big influences, (another favourite of mine) Ken Bruen over at the always excellent blog of Paul Brazill. "It wasn't, for me, the story, - not the story alone, anyway - but the sheer power of the writing. It was like being engulfed by a tsunami of talent - a writer with so many skills that the pages, every one of them, contained moments of breathtaking beauty, flights of linguistic gymnastics and...real heart." Totally agree Tony old fruit.
Ian Rankin chooses his 'best books'.
Russel McLean and GJ Moffatt in pictures.
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Shattered: Every Crime Has A Victim
SHATTERED: EVERY CRIME HAS A VICTIM
Published: 2009
Publisher : Polygon
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 organisation set up to provide emotional support, practical help and information to victims of crime, as well as raising the profile of victims and witnesses in the public, parliamentary and criminal justice arenas.
Ian Rankin says in his introduction to the collection “...Crime writers want to tell the truth about the world we all live in. Reading a book may be a form of escapism, but that doesn’t mean readers want to be wrapped in cotton wool, and writers have responded by tackling serious subject matter and asking big moral questions...But crime writers must also pay attention to the victims in all these stories. They can’t just be cardboard cut-outs from central casting. We have to put flesh and blood on them and explore their inner lives, showing their hopes as well as their lives, giving them life as well as death.”
This is 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. love short story collections because they introduce me to writers I have never read, and give me a little bit extra from authors I enjoy. Here is a mini summary of the stories, and of my reactions to each of them:
DADDY’S GIRL – KAREN CAMPBELL
A mother struggles to explain to her little girl who her father is. This was a really touching story that brought a lump to my throat. Karen Campbell is fast becoming one of my favourite writers, and this story was one of the best in the collection.
RUN, RABBIT, RUN – RAY BANKS
A man sets out to get his revenge on a young smackhead who has wronged him. Ray Banks – another favourite of mine - always writes the most brilliant short stories and this one is no exception.
BYE, BYE, BABY – ALLAN GUTHRIE
A woman is distraught when her son goes missing. A thoroughly chilling, yet moving story from yet another of my favourite authors. These first three stories were stand outs for me.
THE BEST SMALL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD – LOUISE WELSH
A young Polish man arrives in Glasgow and finds that the grass may not always be greener. Some excellent characterisations in this one.
ONE GOOD TURN – LIN ANDERSON
A young man lets a girl have the last spot on the night bus. A very sad, vivid story.
WITH TENDER VIOLENCE – STUART MACBRIDE
A man is arrested for beating his wife. Powerful, moving, unexpected. Another favourite.
THE ROAD TAKEN – GILLIAN GALBRAITH
A woman finds it difficult to love her son, but keeps the secret of his birth from him. Similar in theme to Karen Campbell’s story, but treated in a completely different way.
VOICES THROUGH THE WALL – ALEX GRAY
A woman whose child turns out bad is also a victim of his crimes. A really interesting take.
OUT OF THE FLESH – CHRISTOPHER BROOKMYRE
Restorative justice – a man tells a would-be thief he used to be just like him. An odd story. My least favourite in the collection (although I love Brookmyre’s full length fiction).
ZAPRUDER - G J MOFFAT
A man whose wife has been killed has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Well-written and interesting, but it didn’t grab me as much as some of the others.
Published: 2009
Publisher : Polygon
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 organisation set up to provide emotional support, practical help and information to victims of crime, as well as raising the profile of victims and witnesses in the public, parliamentary and criminal justice arenas.
Ian Rankin says in his introduction to the collection “...Crime writers want to tell the truth about the world we all live in. Reading a book may be a form of escapism, but that doesn’t mean readers want to be wrapped in cotton wool, and writers have responded by tackling serious subject matter and asking big moral questions...But crime writers must also pay attention to the victims in all these stories. They can’t just be cardboard cut-outs from central casting. We have to put flesh and blood on them and explore their inner lives, showing their hopes as well as their lives, giving them life as well as death.”
This is 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. love short story collections because they introduce me to writers I have never read, and give me a little bit extra from authors I enjoy. Here is a mini summary of the stories, and of my reactions to each of them:
DADDY’S GIRL – KAREN CAMPBELL
A mother struggles to explain to her little girl who her father is. This was a really touching story that brought a lump to my throat. Karen Campbell is fast becoming one of my favourite writers, and this story was one of the best in the collection.
RUN, RABBIT, RUN – RAY BANKS
A man sets out to get his revenge on a young smackhead who has wronged him. Ray Banks – another favourite of mine - always writes the most brilliant short stories and this one is no exception.
BYE, BYE, BABY – ALLAN GUTHRIE
A woman is distraught when her son goes missing. A thoroughly chilling, yet moving story from yet another of my favourite authors. These first three stories were stand outs for me.
THE BEST SMALL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD – LOUISE WELSH
A young Polish man arrives in Glasgow and finds that the grass may not always be greener. Some excellent characterisations in this one.
ONE GOOD TURN – LIN ANDERSON
A young man lets a girl have the last spot on the night bus. A very sad, vivid story.
WITH TENDER VIOLENCE – STUART MACBRIDE
A man is arrested for beating his wife. Powerful, moving, unexpected. Another favourite.
THE ROAD TAKEN – GILLIAN GALBRAITH
A woman finds it difficult to love her son, but keeps the secret of his birth from him. Similar in theme to Karen Campbell’s story, but treated in a completely different way.
VOICES THROUGH THE WALL – ALEX GRAY
A woman whose child turns out bad is also a victim of his crimes. A really interesting take.
OUT OF THE FLESH – CHRISTOPHER BROOKMYRE
Restorative justice – a man tells a would-be thief he used to be just like him. An odd story. My least favourite in the collection (although I love Brookmyre’s full length fiction).
ZAPRUDER - G J MOFFAT
A man whose wife has been killed has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Well-written and interesting, but it didn’t grab me as much as some of the others.
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
It's All About Ian Rankin (Except For The Bits That Aren't)
As Philip Kerr wins the CWA's Historical Dagger award, Rob Kitchin reviews IF THE DEAD RISE NOT, and Norm from Crimescraps with a very interesting post reviewing the reviewers on the same book.
The Canadian Chronicle Herald reviews Ian Rankin's THE COMPLAINTS. And, talking of Mr Rankin, read the transcript of a chat with him at Toronto's IFOA. And the Malaysian Insider on Rebus and Fox. Closer to home, a report on Ian's appearance at the Biggar Little Festival.
And, talking of the Toronto International Festival of Authors, he's not a crime writer, but here's a Q&A with Alan Bissett, author of the brilliant THE INCREDIBLE ADAM SPARK. And one with Martin McIntyre who, when asked what it is in Scotland's water that means there are such a lot of crime fiction writers coming out of Scotland says "A darkness."
I just received a copy of this today. Stories from some great Scottish writers (Lin Anderson, Ray Banks, Christopher Brookmyre, Karen Campbell, Gillian Galbraith, Alex Gray, Allan Guthrie, Stuart MacBride, G J Moffat, Louise Welsh, with an introduction by Ian Rankin) and all proceeds to Victim Support Scotland. Looks good.
The Canadian Chronicle Herald reviews Ian Rankin's THE COMPLAINTS. And, talking of Mr Rankin, read the transcript of a chat with him at Toronto's IFOA. And the Malaysian Insider on Rebus and Fox. Closer to home, a report on Ian's appearance at the Biggar Little Festival.
And, talking of the Toronto International Festival of Authors, he's not a crime writer, but here's a Q&A with Alan Bissett, author of the brilliant THE INCREDIBLE ADAM SPARK. And one with Martin McIntyre who, when asked what it is in Scotland's water that means there are such a lot of crime fiction writers coming out of Scotland says "A darkness."
I just received a copy of this today. Stories from some great Scottish writers (Lin Anderson, Ray Banks, Christopher Brookmyre, Karen Campbell, Gillian Galbraith, Alex Gray, Allan Guthrie, Stuart MacBride, G J Moffat, Louise Welsh, with an introduction by Ian Rankin) and all proceeds to Victim Support Scotland. Looks good.
Monday, 26 October 2009
A Miscellany of Links
G J Moffat and Caro Ramsay at the Imprint 2009 Book Festival in East Ayrshire on 11th November.
Is the UK film industry struggling?
Vote for your favourite neglected book at BBC Radio 4's Open Book site.
The lovely Dorte from DJ's Krimiblog reviews Helen Fitzgerald's DEAD LOVELY. And, talking of Helen Fitzgerald, why does she always manage to do events when I'm not in town? This one's on in Glasgow's Borders on Saturday 31st October. See also further down the page for an event by Gordon Brown, author of FALLING, on Thursday 10th December.
A report on Val McDermid at Warwick Words.
Ian Rankin's new sleuth. And here, he talks about his Edinburgh.
Alexander McCall Smith on playing Bridge.
More on the violence and misogyny brouhaha,
Is the UK film industry struggling?
Vote for your favourite neglected book at BBC Radio 4's Open Book site.
The lovely Dorte from DJ's Krimiblog reviews Helen Fitzgerald's DEAD LOVELY. And, talking of Helen Fitzgerald, why does she always manage to do events when I'm not in town? This one's on in Glasgow's Borders on Saturday 31st October. See also further down the page for an event by Gordon Brown, author of FALLING, on Thursday 10th December.
A report on Val McDermid at Warwick Words.
Ian Rankin's new sleuth. And here, he talks about his Edinburgh.
Alexander McCall Smith on playing Bridge.
More on the violence and misogyny brouhaha,
Friday, 29 May 2009
It's All About Dundee...Except For The Bits That Aren't
Ewan McGregor has apparently ruled out any possibility of starring in Trainspotting 2 (based on Irvine Welsh's Porno).
Here's a great post from Martin Edwards about David Ashton's Inspector McLevy. Whilst a young Conan Doyle was still toddling about in the 1860s, real-life detective James McLevy, who had a reputation for always getting his man, published collections of the cases he solved. When actor and writer David Ashton (who appeared in the excellent filmThe Last King of Scotland, as well as Dr Who and Monarch of The Glen) discovered the stories he developed the character of McLevy and his colleagues into a radio play and then two (so far) novels. In addition, Ashton is also adapting the books for a film starring Dundee actor Brian Cox (who plays McLevy in the Radio plays).
'Dundee, you say, Donna?' 'Why yes, Dundee.' How serendipitous, since that segues nicely into more Scottish book events (Scotland is, I am happy to say, getting all crime fiction-y these days - and long may it last). First of all, Russel D McLean and GJ Moffat are doing a new writers panel at the Dundee Literary Festival on Fri 26 June. And for those of you thinking of holidaying in Dundee (and why not, indeed) David Peace is appearing the day before.
I read Russel's first book THE GOOD SON at the end of last year and it was excellent. It's a gritty PI novel set in Dundee, featuring an intriguing protagonist called J McNee, who is struggling to come to terms with the death of his fiance (sorry can't work out how to do accents). He's hired by a man who has found the dead body of his estranged brother hanging from a tree and doesn't agree with the suicide theory the police are going with. There's a great interview with Russel on Pulp Pusher.
As for Russel's partner in crime fiction at the event, I'd never heard of G J Moffat before, so did a bit of digging. He's a lawyer and he has been described as 'the Scottish John Grisham'. His first novel - DAISYCHAIN - is set in Glasgow. You can read the prologue here.
No blog post tomorrow (no, please, at least pretend you will miss me). I have a busy day, culminating in a visit to the theatah dahling to see Ibsen's Ghosts - a tale about 'an upstanding woman in Norwegian society haunted by her dead husband’s adulterous past. Having sent her son Oswald away to protect him from his father’s treachery, his return makes the issues of incest, venereal disease and euthanasia stark realities in her life.' Yes indeedy - I know how to enjoy myself, don't I? :o)
Have a lovely weekend.
Here's a great post from Martin Edwards about David Ashton's Inspector McLevy. Whilst a young Conan Doyle was still toddling about in the 1860s, real-life detective James McLevy, who had a reputation for always getting his man, published collections of the cases he solved. When actor and writer David Ashton (who appeared in the excellent filmThe Last King of Scotland, as well as Dr Who and Monarch of The Glen) discovered the stories he developed the character of McLevy and his colleagues into a radio play and then two (so far) novels. In addition, Ashton is also adapting the books for a film starring Dundee actor Brian Cox (who plays McLevy in the Radio plays).
'Dundee, you say, Donna?' 'Why yes, Dundee.' How serendipitous, since that segues nicely into more Scottish book events (Scotland is, I am happy to say, getting all crime fiction-y these days - and long may it last). First of all, Russel D McLean and GJ Moffat are doing a new writers panel at the Dundee Literary Festival on Fri 26 June. And for those of you thinking of holidaying in Dundee (and why not, indeed) David Peace is appearing the day before.
I read Russel's first book THE GOOD SON at the end of last year and it was excellent. It's a gritty PI novel set in Dundee, featuring an intriguing protagonist called J McNee, who is struggling to come to terms with the death of his fiance (sorry can't work out how to do accents). He's hired by a man who has found the dead body of his estranged brother hanging from a tree and doesn't agree with the suicide theory the police are going with. There's a great interview with Russel on Pulp Pusher.
As for Russel's partner in crime fiction at the event, I'd never heard of G J Moffat before, so did a bit of digging. He's a lawyer and he has been described as 'the Scottish John Grisham'. His first novel - DAISYCHAIN - is set in Glasgow. You can read the prologue here.
Dundee is going to be up to its oxters in crime writers over the next month, as I understand that Stuart MacBride and Aline Templeton may be appearing at Waterstones in Dundee on June 16th. More details to follow.
No blog post tomorrow (no, please, at least pretend you will miss me). I have a busy day, culminating in a visit to the theatah dahling to see Ibsen's Ghosts - a tale about 'an upstanding woman in Norwegian society haunted by her dead husband’s adulterous past. Having sent her son Oswald away to protect him from his father’s treachery, his return makes the issues of incest, venereal disease and euthanasia stark realities in her life.' Yes indeedy - I know how to enjoy myself, don't I? :o)
Have a lovely weekend.
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