Reviews

‘I opened this book with high expectations. They have been admirably fulfilled.  Here we have a stand alone thriller about two lonely people who pursue a relationship of monthly weekends together in remote spots.  Suddenly one of these two fails to get to the rendezvous-vous and the other realises how very limited her knowledge of her  companion is . . . Gradually the reader pieces together some of the facts as an atmosphere of rising tension envelops everything. The intelligent way Jay, Lisa and others plan their actions is enjoyable and the suspense of the tale is palpable.’

- MYSTERY PEOPLE

Judging a book by its cover

Posted on Aug 25, 2017 in Agatha Christie, Andrea Camilleri, book covers, Clothes in Books, Lion Fiction, The Mirror Crack'd From Side to Side, Tom Adams | 10 Comments

I was thrilled when my friend Moira over at ClothesinBooks.com gave me a copy of this splendid book which brings together Tom Adams’s original cover designs for Agatha Christie’s novels. They are works of art in their own right. If I am looking to buy a second-hand paperback of an Agatha Christie, I always prefer […]

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Book-lover’s Christmas

Posted on Dec 27, 2013 in Andrea Camilleri, Collected Stories, Edmund Whitle, James Salter, John Williams, Kathleen Jamie, Michael Pollan, Nele Neuhaus, Sightlines, Snow White Must Die, Stoner, the Dance of the Seagull, The Flaneur | 2 Comments

Some of my new books were really for my birthday, but one way and another I’ve got a good haul this year. Not many suuprises as most of the books were on my wish-list. They include a couple of books that have been highly praised this year: John Williams’s Stoner and James Salter’s Collected Stories, […]

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Montalbano

Posted on Sep 24, 2012 in Andrea Camilleri, Maigret, Montalbano, Wallander | No Comments

Readers of my earlier blogs might remember my admiration for Andrea Camilleri’s Montalbano series. I’ve read all those that have been translated into English and have enjoyed them all. And I’ve enjoyed the series of TV programmes based on them, too, showing on BBC 4 on Saturday evenings. Luca Zinagretti is excellent as Montalbana and […]

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The Art of Not Writing Too Much

Posted on Jan 14, 2011 in Andrea Camilleri, Freedom, Jonathan Franzen, The Track of the Sand | No Comments

I’ve been neglecting my blog a bit. It’s been very busy time for me as the CWA membership secretary. Subscriptions were due on 1st January and we have around 500 members so that’s an awful lot of renewal forms and cheques. (And by the way, if you’re a crime writer and you’re not a member, […]

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Colin Cotterill

Posted on May 24, 2010 in Andrea Camilleri, Colin Cotterill, Donna Leon | No Comments

When people hear that I write crime fiction, they often ask me ‘who’s your favourite crime writer?’ Immediately my mind goes blank. ‘Ruth Rendell? P. D. James? Ian Rankin?’ they prompt, taking pity on me. Well, yes, great writers, who have beguiled many a weary hour for me, but . . . By this time, […]

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