Crime Page
We know that many of you love a good thriller. Many groups read crime, some occasionally and some exclusively, so we've put together some recommendations for writers, series, festivals, events and websites that you might find useful. This is a work in progress and we'd love to hear from you if there's anything you feel we've missed out. Email us at info@bookgroup.info with your suggestions.
The winners of the last three CWA Daggers were revealed at the Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards as:
The CWA Gold Dagger: Tom Franklin Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter (Macmillan) see our review
The CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger: Steve Hamilton The Lock Artist (Orion)
The CWA John Creasey Dagger: S.J. Watson Before I Go To Sleep (Doubleday)
The Lye Down With a Good Book group sent us this:
R J (Roger John) Ellory was coming to Lye Down With a Good Book Reading Group. We wondered if we’d like him and if he would he have anything interesting to say. Two and a half hours later we didn’t want him to go and asked him when he could come back!
He told us about his life; how he was born in 1965 in Birmingham, orphaned at 7 and sent to boarding school by his grandmother who died in 1982. R J then tried then to support himself and his brother and was eventually arrested for poaching and sent to jail.
He has published eight books but wrote many more before finding a publisher. His books are set in the US and are all very different. CANDLEMOTH tells the story of Daniel Ford who is on death row for killing his best friend and only has 30 days left to live. In A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS Joseph Vaughan’s life has been dogged by tragedy. While growing up young girls were being murdered in his community - later in his life the killing starts again.
Roger has been shortlisted for the CWA Steel Dagger and has won numerous awards.
Lye Down With A Good Reading Book so enjoyed his talk that we are booking him to return when his new book BAD SIGNS is published in October.
Sara Nixon
Authors, their sleuths and series
Inspector Montalbano series by Andrea Camilleri
Like Montalbano’s driving and the beautiful island of Sicily, in which these crime thrillers are set, the Inspector Montalbano books move at an unhurried pace. They’re not the most complicated of stories but they have a great cast of characters. They’re atmospheric, occasionally very funny, and if you love Italian food, mouth-watering.
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George Pelecanos
‘The Wire’ writer gets down and dirty in the streets of Washington D C.
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Inspector Ghote novels by H R F Keating
Inspector Ganesh Ghote of the Bombay CID is not your average fictional detective – he doesn’t have a drink problem, is happily married and plays it by the book. One thing he does have in common with his fellow fictional detectives is bloody-mindedness - he has to see things through to the bitter end.
The Harry Hole novels by Jo Nesbo
One of the ever-expanding Scandinavian school Nesbo has created a great cop in Harry Hole. This seemingly indestructible character bounces back from every bender, beating, sacking and heart break that life throws at him.
The Dr Siri series by Colin Cotterill
Set in 1970s Laos these stories feature the only coroner in Laos, Dr Siri Paiboun, in the early days of the communist takeover. By turns amusing, thrilling and highly informative Cotterill had created an unusual but entertaining hero with an equally entertaining team.
The Wallander books by Henning Mankell
The Scandinavian crime writer of the last 15 years, the creator of the laconic Wallander just keeps churning them out – quality and quantity!
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Crime Websites
The Crime Writers Association lists countrywide events, prizes, writing competitions and more.
The Crime of it All is, in its own words, “at the critical edge of crime fiction”. Go there to read insightful interviews and reviews.
Crime Festivals and Events
CrimeFest International Crime Fiction Convention 2012 Bristol, 24 May - 27 May 2012
2012 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival The Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate, 19 Jul - 22 Jul 2012
See the festivals and events page for more events in your area.