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A tale of two Lucys - and both are shockers
I’m offering a big thank you this week to everyone who’s bought my new girl-cop novel, STRANGERS, because thus far at least, in the 18 days since publication, it’s been a runaway success. We’re...
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My most blood-chilling moments in movies
Well, it’s almost Halloween, and so we’re sticking firmly in horror mode today. To start with, for this week’s book review, I’ll be discussing Peter James’s uber-scary haunted house chiller, THE HOUSE...
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Sad losses, big gains: life on the book trail
There is all sorts to talk about this week, some of it exciting, some of it rather sad. We’ll be discussing book festivals, both past and future, and also, because we’re back on the crime trail today,...
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Detective fiction: just how dark can it go?
We’re deep in the darkness this week, focussing exclusively on the grimmer end of the crime fiction spectrum. In that vein, I’ll be reviewing David Pinner’s famous horror/thriller of the 1960s, RITUAL–...
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Admit it, you're all just dying for Christmas
I don’t know about you, but whenever we get to December, I start thinking scary. I’m sure it’s as much to do with the short days, long dark nights and desolate, frozen landscapes as it is our midwinter...
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Time for another tale of Christmas terror
Okay, it’s that time of year again. Evergreens on the mantelpiece, logs crackling in the hearth, frost on the window panes. And spooky stories.Ah yes … always the spooky stories.How I love them....
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When terror cuts through to our very souls
Uh-oh … it’s all getting personal this week, as we take a long, hard look at Scottish crime superstar James Oswald’s hit novel THE BOOK OF SOULS– because trust me, that is one investigation that takes...
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Human monsters from a world of darkness
Okay, we’re talking serial killers this week – not exactly a new experience for regulars on this blog, I suppose. But today we’ll be looking at two particular instances of fictional monsterdom: the...
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I hope everyone wants a piece of this action
Okay, today we’re talking action thrillers: cynical, hardboiled characters embroiled in kill-or-be-killed adventures, often in hellish urban settings, and pitted against foes who are the essence of...
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Fancy a little touch of terror in the night?
I’m pleased to be able to report that the TERROR TALES series is back on track. If you look left, you’ll see that the final proof of TERROR TALES OF CORNWALL has arrived. After months of unavoidable...
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In your face crime and grime, British style
This week we’re on the dark, rain-wet streets and grimy urban landscapes of the British crime thriller. Firstly, because we yet again are going to be talking about my forthcoming new release, ASHES TO...
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Publication day loometh - and Heck is back
Okay then, it’s publication week, this week, so forgive me if I’m going to be talking rather a lot today about my latest novel, ASHES TO ASHES. However, the ego can’t be allowed to run away with itself...
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Terror Tales of Cornwall hits the shelves
And here we are at last. After much frantic scampering about, I can announce that TERROR TALES OF CORNWALL is done, dusted and ready to buy. And yes, it does exactly what it says on the tin. It takes...
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Making our gory mark in far distant places
Fast on the heels of my last blog, I’m posting a new one today, and this is mainly in anticipation of CRIMEFEST at Bristol, later this month. In addition, in rather timely fashion, I’ll also be...
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Villains beware ... these hunters never tire!
Today, we’re talking cop heroes who come back again and again … whether that be in book form, on TV, the cinema, or preferably all three!We’re doing that first of all because I intend to wax lyrical...
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When our favourite heroes face true peril
It’s a big news week this week, at least for those interested in the respective futures of Detective Sergeant Mark ‘Heck’ Heckenburg and Detective Constable Lucy Clayburn. Before we get to that, and on...
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Following in the footsteps of a true legend
I hope you don’t mind me adopting a bit of a personal tone this week. But today is the tenth anniversary of my late father, Brian’s death, and I just want to take the opportunity to honour his memory...
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Hearts of darkness, both fictional and real
We’re talking gangsters this week, and by that I mean serious gangsters, nasty gangsters. Firstly, this is because I’ve now delivered my final copy-edit to HarperCollins for the next book in my Lucy...
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At last, the reading season is finally here
Okay, summer is finally turning glorious, and for me that usually means two things, often both at the same time: travelling and reading.I mean, don’t get me wrong … I read all the time, but for some...
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Darker days: the 60s/70s maniac explosion
We’re lowering the tone to a dangerous level this week, conjuring up memories of a past so dark that many among us who were there at the time have likely blotted them out. We’re going to be...
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