Exit by Belinda Bauer BOOK REVIEW

Belinda Bauer is marketed as a crime writer, and yet she is only a crime writer in the sense that Stephen King is a horror writer, for like Mr King Belinda transcends a genre which is unable to contain her. Her previous book, the Booker Longlisted, Snap was one of the darkest and yet most heartwarming books I've read for many years and I raved about it to anyone who would listen. Her new book is much lighter in tone than the aforementioned masterwork, though it does concern a murder most foul. Trouble is it's the funniest murder any reader is likely to come across in all crime literature.

The cleverly constructed, ever so twisty plot concerns an organisation known as the Exiters - a group of kindly people who sit with terminally ill patients who have decided that suicide is the only way out of a life that has become nothing but misery and extreme pain. The exiters don't provide assisstance in the act of sucide but merely offer support when it is most needed - these people know how to stay on the right side of the law.

The book opens with 75 year old Felix, an experianced exiter and a young girl called Amanda (all good eyebrows and no experience) turning up at an address to aid in the suicide of an elderly man who is being tortured by cancer. However all is not as it seems and Felix and Amanda are horrified to discover that they have killed the wrong man. Felix being the noble sort decides to take the blame himself and keep Amanda out of it, but first he has to decide when to hand himself into the police but not, of course until he'd walked his dog.

 

What follows is an often hilarious thriller that keeps the pages turning as one unlikely event follow another until the final, didn't see that coming denouncement. In places the plot reminded me of Tom Sharpe, in others Agatha Christie but at the end of the day the book comes from an original voice and one of the most widly creative in all of the crime genre.

 Excellent.

Blog roundup - Crime and mystery

In the second of this series looking at blogs that entertain and inform I am looking at those dedicated to crime fiction.

Confessions of an idiosyncratic Mind is an awesome resource for crime fiction fans. Run by Sarah Weinman, a professional writer and critic, it is always current and can be relied upon for detailed analysis of the genre.

Eurocrime is another blog that is always up to date and provides thoughtful, well written articles. The emphasis is on crime from European writers and is a must visit.

Vintage Hardboiled Reviews - has not been updated since January but the blog owner does promise he will be back one daY. I'm including it here because there's a great archive bursting full of hardboiled crime reviews. Give the blog and visit and nag the author to return to regular updates.

The Rap Sheet is maintained by a bunch of talented crime writers and critics and it is an indispensable bookmark for the crime fiction fan. The blog is right on the button for breaking genre news and any crime fan will need to read this on a regular basis.

Independent Crime - Does what it says on the tin and concentrates on crime novels from smaller independent publishers which gives welcome publicity to some worthy writers.


This is just a selection of my own favourite crime fiction blogs but there are scores more out there. Check out the links sidebar of any of the blogs above and you will find links galore to other blogs with a crime interest.

CRIME RUNS RIOT AT ASDA

Supermarket giant ASDA have thrown their weight behind the Theakston's Crime Awards. Shock NEWS!!! - Mark Billingham attacks John Harvey, Val Macdermid bottles Chris Simms and Peter Robinson mingles. Award Shortlist On Special Offer In Asda Stores The 14 shortlisted titles hit the shelves in a very special 2 for £7 offer! Holmes and Watson, Morse and Lewis, Daziel and Pascoe - great things often come in pairs. And the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year is thrilled to announce a brand new partnership with Britain's most popular supermarket: Asda. Supermarkets and crime novels are two things destined to get the heart racing. The tackle of trolleys, battle for bread and milk mayhem: it's murder. And now customers can also be gripped and thrilled by some of the best crime novels of the year. As the only literary award voted by the general reading public, the 'people's award' has found the perfect partner in crime with the people's supermarket. Under the bright lights of Asda, the dark currents of crime fiction will rage as the 14 shortlisted crime novels vie for the readers' vote. And Asda will urge shoppers to vote for the 2009 award by selling the shortlist for a criminally low price of £7 for two novels. After the frozen pea aisle, get chilled to the bone by bagging a Mark Billingham with your beer, a Val McDermid with your McVities or a bit of Daziel and Pascoe with the Tabasco. Now in its fifth year, the Theakstons Old Peculier award is open to British and Irish paperbacks published in 2008. Supermarkets can be inspirational to crime authors - and not just because the queues fill them with criminal intent. One of the shortlisted authors is the bestselling (and tall) Lee Child who named his hero Jack Reacher after his wife told him if the novels didn't sell he could get a job reaching things down from supermarket shelves. The shortlist in full: Death Message (Mark Billingham) The Accident Man (Tom Cain) Bad Luck and Trouble (Lee Child) Gone to Ground (John Harvey) Ritual (Mo Hayder) The Garden of Evil (David Hewson) A Cure for all Diseases (Reginald Hill) The Colour of Blood (Declan Hughes) Dead Man's Footsteps (Peter James) Broken Skin (Stuart MacBride) Beneath the Bleeding (Val McDermid) Exit Music (Ian Rankin) Friend of the Devil (Peter Robinson) Savage Moon (Chris Simms). The novels will be promoted in selected stores nationwide from the 7 - 27 July. Steph Bateson, Books Buying Manager for Asda said: 'Asda are thrilled to be working with the Festival to promote the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. Crime is our biggest selling genre and the award represents the best novels within that genre. We are very much looking forward to working with the festival to drive voting and raise national consumer awareness of the Asda book offer.' Simon Theakston Executive Director of T&R Theakston said: 'The award is going from strength to strength and we are delighted to welcome Asda on board, they have fast become a force to be reckoned within book selling, bringing books to an ever wider audience, and I am looking forward to another exciting award.' And the winner is... The winner of the 2009 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, as voted for by the reading public, will be announced at the award ceremony hosted by BBC Radio 4 presenter Mark Lawson on the opening night of the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival on 23rd July 2009. Previous winners have included Val McDermid, Mark Billingham, Allan Guthrie and also Stef Penney in 2008 for The Tenderness of Wolves (pictured left with Simon Theakston). The winner takes home £3,000 and a handmade Theakstons Old Peculier Cask made by the last cooper in England. YOU can be there in person for the cheers and the tears. Tickets to the award ceremony and opening party are £15 per person and include the price of canapés and a glass of wine or Old Peculier. To book call the Ticket Hotline on 0845 130 8840 or Book Online. Photo Story: The Rivals With such a high quality shortlist, competition for readers' votes is hotting up between the nominees. Festival photographer Sam Atkins captured a number of the contenders canvassing votes at their local Asda stores. David Hewson with his book 'The Garden of Evil' Mo Hayder with her novel 'Ritual' Mark Billingham sends a 'Death Message' but John Harvey's far from 'Gone To Ground' Peter James and 'Dead Man's Footsteps' Val McDermid teaches Chris "Savage [Moon]" Simms the real meaning of 'Beneath The Bleeding' Stuart MacBride with his novel 'Broken Skin' Peter Robinson tries to win round the Book Buying Team at Asda House to vote for his novel 'Friend of the Devil' but it looks like they have already chosen their favourites... Have you? VOTE NOW!

Principal Partners Theakstons Old Peculier Leeds Metropolitan University Premier Partners

Looking to make a late break this July? Treat yourself for an entire weekend's worth of thrills, chills and kills by booking a Festival Weekend Break Package and enjoying all four days of the biggest and best crime writing Festival in the world. Weekend Break Packages include 3 nights accommodation in the beautiful Victorian Spa Town of Harrogate, located at the gateway to the spectacular Yorkshire Dales, and tickets to all Festival events* from the announcement of the Crime Novel of the Year Award and Opening Party on Thursday evening to the last event on Sunday. With prices starting from just £359 per person when sharing double or twin accommodation, why not stay in the UK this summer and experience the cultural delights of the North of England's friendliest and most fun literature festival! To book now or for more information on accommodation options, call: 01423 562303 or email: crime@harrogate-festival.org.uk ____________________________________________________ *Weekend Break tickets include admission to all festival events excepting the dinner event on Saturday 25 July and Creative Thursday places. These must be booked separately. ____________________________________________________ The Harrogate International Festival is not responsible for the content of external websites. email: crime@harrogate-festival.org.uk phone: +(0)1423 562303 web: http://www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime

CRIME'S BIG GUNS

UK publishers are gearing up for the Autumn season by announcing some enticing crime and thriller novels from both newcomers and masters of the field.

One of the more interesting titles is, Talking About Detective Fiction by P.D.James. After fifty years thrilling readers with her cerebral crime fiction the author here talks about the genre that has been so good to her.

James Patterson's Cross Country will be published in paperback this October by Arrow - this time the writer is all on his own, no co-writers, for this Alex Cross mystery which is bound to sell like hot cakes.

Jeffrey Deaver also has a new UK paperback in October with The Bodies left Behind.

Avon books are banking on introducing a new series hero in James Steel's December. The press release states that Alex Devereux will be a series character for a line of books that are very much in the Len Deighton, Alister Maclean tradition.

Crime and thrillers made a healthy showing in the top ten mass market paperbacks in the UK for the week ending 30th June.

Sail by James Patterson
The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
Azincourt by Bernard Cornwell
The Beach House by Jane Green
Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Someone Special by Sheila O'Flanagan
Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
Silks by Dick Francis with Felix French
Devil May Care by Sabastian Faulks


Hard Case Crime are offering T-shirts featuring their stunning pulp style book covers on their website. You can look trendy and wear your love of pulp fiction at the same time. Check them out.

Seth Harwood who took on the publishing industry by podcasting his novel, Jack Wakes up before securing a publishing deal with Random House, is making announcements of his latest stops in his signing tour. Find details on his website. If anyone hasn't bought Jack Wakes Up yet or listened to it in Podcast form then I urge you to do so. All details are available from Seth's own website.

Check out The Globe and Mail which is now updated by-weekly with the latest in crime fiction. The website has a US slant and seems to often delivered the goods on new releases before anyone else.

NEW FICTION ONLINE

The Way to a Man's Heart is a curious story for me. I was never sure if it was comedy, horror, noir or what. It was originally going to be published on Beat to a Pulp but after a rewrite it clashed with two other stories the webzine had in the works and so, David Cramer reluctantly suggested I try another webzine for it. Still, unsure of the story, I sent it to A Twist of Noir and got this response.

Gary,

THE WAY TO A MAN'S HEART is now up at A Twist Of Noir.

I think the outstanding thing about this story is, while it's about
cannibalism as a last resort, it's funny as hell.

Nothing wrong with a comedic noir or crime story.

I think my favorite line is how Rose came at Stanley "like junk mail". 
Cracked me up good.

Excellent story and I think you'll get a great response from the readers.

Christopher


Anyway, the story's up so take a look HERE

Let me know what you think.