Reluctant spy Gabriel shapes up as Smiley’s successor
A mesmerising tale that seduces with the numerous facets of the plot
Nordic noir novel not to be judged by its cover
‘Never judge a book by its cover’ may be a tired old warning, but it still deserves an occasional airing. Such as for the one pictured here.. The excessively busy artwork is intended as an instant eye-catcher. But the author’s name probably means little to all except deeply committed lovers of nordic noir. It is…
Artist paints vivid picture of tragic rural threesome
The bright clarity of the Provence countryside makes a strong contrast to the threatening darkness in which much of the story of The Artist unfolds. Passions are forever simmering just below the surface
Blog | Book reviews | Books | Crime fiction | Uncategorised | Writing
Cop killings thriller earns top Mark for Billingham
Every crime fiction addict has a top of the pops list. Or should that be top of the cops? Slow days on social media often mean someone will post a request for “Your top ten cosy crime writers.” Or “Who is best at tartan noir?” or “Scandi noir” or “Old school cop with drinking habit.”…
Blog | Book reviews | Books | Crime fiction | Uncategorised | Writing
Enthralling trio of tricky tales
Dire and deadly start for plush Dorset coast resort
Book world infected by the plague of the tribute act
A twisting tale knitted seamlessly into all that has gone before
Everything old becomes new again in the book marketing world
Dressing up old books in new covers seems to be a growing ploy of publishers’ marketing departments. Authors’ names are emblazoned in bold type – more prominent than that used for the actual title – on redesigned covers enclosing novels written decades ago. It is an eye-catching trick that can bamboozle avid readers into thinking…
Love-lorn PM’s steamy backseat affair makes intriguing wartime tale
Imagine any prime minister of recent times having regular trysts with a woman many years their junior and expecting no one to breathe a word. Or a love-lorn prime minister taking his paramour for regular cosy drives in the official limousine, with its blacked out windows, without a hint of a whisper beyond their inner…
Because I have a mobile phone it doesn’t mean I want to talk to you
Since when did it become compulsory to have a mobile phone? Why is it almost universally assumed that I am the owner of such an annoying and unwanted device? Without warning or reason it has become almost mandatory that I not only possess this accursed accessory but that I carry it with me at all…
Sentenced to lengthy spells when coping with action-filled thriller
Shorter sentences are all the rage among the judiciary and the anti-jail do-gooders. They are also something long recommended (and widely practiced) among most forms of writing. After all, brevity is the path to comprehension. But there are always the recidivists and mavericks. The pseudononymous Elly Conway, alleged creator of the excessively hyped Argylle, is…