Finally we have the full lowdown on the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate on the 18th – 21st July. And there are some corkers, too! It seems that all the stops have been pulled out and no one is pulling their punches in 2013. With a mega line up including Ruth Rendell, Lee Child, Susan Hill, Charlaine Harris, Kate Atkinson and a ton of other literary stars then this is one festival not to be missed!
June’s Author of the Month is Walter Mosley who returns with his main character, Easy Rawlins who most thought would never ben seen again at the end of his last Rawlins novel. However, as always, Rawlins’ demise was greatly exaggerated and here he is again in ‘Little Green’. Michael J Malone was adamant this brilliant novel and it’s author should be highlighted here on Crimesquad.com. So read Michael’s review and then see for yourself as you get lost in 1960’s L.A.
Fresh Blood is James Oswald’s debut, ‘Natural Causes’. I have held this title over to June as the response to this crime novel has been phenomenal to say the least. If you haven’t got a copy yet, then I strongly suggest you do as it is shaping up to be THE debut crime novel of 2013!
Reviews will be going online throughout May so keep an eye out for new ones – but for the moment here are some of the brilliant titles we have reviewed which include Mark Billingham and Sam Hayes and another blistering crime novel from Glasgow queen of crime, Alex Gray.
Classic Crime for May is the first in an exciting series from Oleander Press and Richard Reynolds who we all know is the mastermind of crime fiction in Heffers in Cambridge. If you haven’t been to Heffers then go – their crime fiction section is to die for and make sure you have plenty of money as you will spend loads! Back to the book for Classic Crime – the first in a new series called ‘London Bound’ is J.S. Fletcher’s ‘The Charing Cross Mystery’ which is a rollicking good romp from 1923. If like me you love to discover a classic you never knew about – then this is certainly the best time to climb aboard and enjoy this new series.
Don’t forget our brand new feature – the ‘Review Archive’ Search under author surname and author Christian name for those who can’t recall the surname. And for good measure you can also search under the title of the book. Simply click on the box at the top of the page and then click on to the letter of the author/title you would like to find. As you will see, we have reviewed our fair share of books during Crimesquad.com’s seven years. Have a wander round our archives and I hope you will find something new and exciting to read.
In April I gave you Christie's very own Top Ten of her own books. Now you can see MY Agatha Christie Top Ten novels (and boy, was it difficult!). There are so many to choose from that some titles which I love didn't quite make the Top Ten for various reasons. These were; 'A Caribbean Mystery', 'A Pocket Full of Rye', 'The Sittaford Mystery', 'The Hound of Death', 'Dumb Witness' and 'Death on the Nile'. And I could go on and on, but these ten made it. See if you agree. I am sure that everyone's Christie Top Ten would be subjective and open to debate. But these are mine - see if you agree or not with my choices!
If you have any comments or have a particular author you
would like to see highlighted on this website please e-mail
me at chrissimmons@crimesquad.com.
