Sarah Ward's Blog, page 17

Review: Laura Lippman – Wilde Lake

I’m a big fan of Laura Lippman’s writing and have enjoyed her standalone books as much as her Tess Monaghan series. The  Power of Three is one of the best books I’ve read on how a missing person can impact on a community. Her latest book, Wilde Lake, is the story of the newly elected state attorney of Howard County, Lu Brant. Lu comes from a prestigious legal family, her father also once holding the state attorney job. The only blight on this seemingly perfect life is that her brother was once involved in an incident which led to a man’s death. Although he was exonerated from blame, the past comes back to haunt Lu’s new job and a current investigation. She is forced to reconsider her family dynamics and ‘truths’ that have been peddled in the past.

The story is told in chapters alternating between Lu’s investigation into a woman beaten to death by a homeless man and the story between 1970 and 1980 of her childhood with her father and brother. Both facets of the narrative are interesting and I particularly enjoyed reading of a Maryland childhood that is less innocent than it appears. There’s sense of how far privilege can take you and what people are prepared to do to protect their status. The tension is gradually rolled out although much of the reveal is stacked towards the end of the book.

Lipman can always be relied upon to provide an excellent mystery combined with strong writing and Wilde Lake is no exception. It’s interesting to learn that she grew up in Maryland and attended Wilde Lake High School. There’s certainly a sense of nostalgia in the book and a sense of how the past and present sit uneasily together. I’m sure fans of Lippman will love it and if you haven’t tried this author before, Wilde Lake is a great place to start.

 

 

 

Competition time: A Deadly Thaw and Cake

A year ago today I was in London getting ready for the launch of In Bitter Chill on what was a scorching day. It’s been quite a year!

To celebrate, I’m giving away a signed proof of my new book A Deadly Thaw which is out in September along with a Bakewell tart from the original shop in Derbyshire. I’ll post to anywhere in the world so you can enjoy it with your cup of tea or coffee

All you have to do to enter is fill out your name, e-mail address and the name of your favourite crime writer. Your e-mail will only be used for my newsletter and adding the name of your favourite author helps me filter out spam. The competition ends at 8pm on Sunday 3rd July.

Thank you! The countdown to A Deadly Thaw’s publication has begun. Don’t forget you can pre-order it now on Amazon UK and Amazon US as well as in your local bookshop.

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Review: Paula Hawkins – The Girl on the Train (audio)

I love audio books and I often listen to them in the car. I tend, however, to focus on my existing library rather than downloading new titles. My subscription to Audible lapsed as I don’t have time to listen to the books I was downloading. In April, however, I flew to Iceland and knew that I’d then have a long five hour drive ahead of me. As a crime fiction reviewer I’m often asked what I think of a particular title. I tend to shy away from what’s being heavily promoted. As regular readers of this website know, I like translated crime fiction and books that are a little bit different. No-one, however, could failed to have noticed the juggernaut which is the phenomenon of The Girl on the Train. A long car journey was the perfect way to form an opinion on the book.

Rachel is an overweight, divorced alcoholic who, despite losing her job in the city, continues to make the commute into London every day. She passes the house where she once lived and where her ex-husband now resides with his new wife and baby. The train  regularly stops outside a neighbouring house where Rachel fantasises about the life of a couple who have a seemingly perfect relationship. When the woman, Megan, goes missing, Rachel feels she has important news to tell the police about Megan and a man she was seen with. But her alcoholism and obsession with her former husband make her an unreliable witness.

I’ve read mixed reviews of this book from ‘over-hyped’ to ‘excellent’. I have to say that I’m firmly in the second camp. Partly, I think, this is due to the premise of the book. I too used to commute into central London and remember the days of the train stopping at a particular junction and staring into bedroom windows. The book also brought back the culture of long hours, drinking on an empty stomach and aspirational lifestyles. Hawkins is also excellent at keeping the tension going throughout the book. I found listening compulsive and couldn’t wait to return to the book.

There are three female narrators: Rachel, Megan in the months leading up to her disappearance and Anna, the new wife of Rachel’s former husband. I have seen comments about the difficulty in distinguishing between these three voices. This certainly wasn’t the case with the audio book and all three narrators were excellent. Hawkins takes the concept of the unreliable narrator and multiplies it threefold. It was a clever device.

Inevitably a book that’s had this much attention will fall short in some areas but overall I thought it an excellent story and I can understand it’s popularity. There’s always something attractive about a protagonist that’s full of faults and character of Rachel was the element that pulled this story together.

I’d love to hear what other readers thought of the book.

 

 

Five Books for the Summer

Summer did arrive in the Peak District for around a week. It’s now beaten a hasty retreat and I’m left with long dandelion-infested grass and a soggy vegetable patch. All is not lost if you like reading, however. I’ve read some great books recently, a mixture of crime and other genres and they’d be perfect books for your summer holidays wherever you’re lucky enough to go away or if, like me, you’re staying put.

Here are my summer reading recommendations.

Making It Up As I Go Along by Marian Keyes is a selection of newspaper articles, blog posts and previously unpublished material that contain the essence of Keyes’s effervesce. She has a joyful outlook on life and whether she’s talking about Strictly Come Dancing, boots that make her look like Bono or therapies she has tried, it’s all done with a lightness of touch and very good writing. It’s a book both to dip into and to read from cover to cover.

Babylon Berlin by Volker Kutscher is set in late Twenties Berlin and we see the city in all its seedy splendour. We’re immersed in drug dealing, prostitution and gun-running through the work of the Vice Squad and, in particular, DI Gereon Rath. It’s soon to be made into a TV series and it’s the evocation of a fascinating period that stands out in this novel translated by Niall Sellar.

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware is a modern take on a locked room mystery.  Lo Blackwood is on cruise ship as part of a trip arranged for travel journalists. She witnesses a body being thrown overboard but records show the room was unoccupied. Lo is trapped at sea with a murderer responsible for a crime no-one believes has been committed. The book is satisfyingly claustrophobic and moves and a cracking pace.

Tastes Like Fear by Sarah Hilary is the third book in her excellent series featuring DI Marnie Rome. The novel opens with a teenage girl causing a fatal car crash and then disappearing.  Rome and her partner, Noah, investigate a complex case with a frightening nemesis. As we’ve come to expect from Hilary, the book is very well written with a strong cast of supporting characters.

The Saddest Sound by Deborah Delano is that rare beast, a genuinely original crime novel. The presence of a misogynist serial killer in a northern town is seen through the eyes of radfem characters including a feminist academic and lesbian prostitutes. Never stereotypes, Delano uses her characters to highlight violence against woman and feminist reactions to it,

Review: Anya Lipska – A Devil Under the Skin

A review of Anya Lipska’s latest book by guest reviewer, Rachel Hall

A Devil Under the Skin reunites the pairing of Janusz Kiszka, unofficial ‘fixer’ to the Polish community in East London and young and headstrong female cop Natalie Kershaw. In the first book Kershaw started out as Kiszka’s nemesis  but, over time, the pair have gradually acquired a begrudging respect and more recently an admiration for each other.

One of the attributes which has made the exploits of Kiszka and Kershaw such a gripping series is Lipska’s focus on character development. Lipska’s characters drive the plot forward and once again A Devil Under the Skin ensures the protagonists are taken outside of their comfort zones. This brings a realism to the series which is so often lacking once a successful formula is chanced upon and Lipska’s willingness to tamper with the status quo and test her characters delivers a dose of fresh energy to each instalment.

In A Devil Under the Skin, Kiszka is on the verge of welcoming his girlfriend of three years, Kasia, to share his home as she finally decides to leave her work-shy husband of twenty years. When Kasia vanishes on the eve of the move, a new side to Kiszka is revealed and his fragility is evident. Despite having worked in tandem with Kershaw before, albeit in an unofficial capacity, Kiszka still retains his reluctance to turn to the police, a lingering legacy of his bitter experiences from his earlier days lived under a communist regime.   Against every instinct he succumbs to contacting ‘the girl detekyw’ and as the bodies pile up he concedes that this is one case he cannot solve alone.

Just about to turn thirty, PC Natalie Kershaw is facing big dilemmas. With the second book concluding with Natalie’s stabbing, this fresh episode rejoins her as she prepares to return to her new role, as a Armed Response Officer. After a lengthy inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the shooting of a suspect, Natalie is awaiting her clearance to return to duty. Drinking too much and spoiling for a fight, Kershaw is loathing her psychology sessions as she finds herself justifying her actions all over again. Kiszka recognises her problems and is reminded of the miseries of his life under a communist regime when he himself sought solace through alcohol.

Kiszka and Kershaw may appear to have little in common but they both like to challenge expectations and in a similar way that Kiskza is always quietly amused to see his fellow mansion blocks residents confused by having a Polish builder as a neighbour,  Kershaw is equally happy conquering the inherent prejudices surrounding female firearms officers. These two love proving people wrong hence why the sparks often fly and a well drawn chemistry between the pair has evolved into a mutual attraction.

The cross-cultural differences are highlighted and subtly placed and it is the smallest details which add so much, one such an example is in seeing Kiszka’s bafflement at the extravagance of the funerals of East End gangsters, an occasion that only bear comparison to those of the leading lights of the communist movement in his equivalent homeland.  One of the pleasures with having read the two earlier books in the series is in witnessing just how brilliantly the characters have developed. Secondary characters most notably DS ‘Streaky’ Bacon and Kiszka’s lifelong pal Oskar make welcome returns. Socially and culturally aware, yet replete with distinctive characters and black humour Lipska brings a fresh take to a changing London.

Whilst each of the three novels in this series can be read as a standalone, an appreciation of the journey Kiszka and Kershaw have made probably serves this to best effect. Vibrant, fresh and the most well constructed of the three novels, Lipska remained one step ahead of me all the way. Whilst some may question the likelihood of such an alliance between private investigator and a relatively junior cop, I simply went with the entertainment value and Lipska left her mark with sharp dialogue and infectious characters. The knowledge of police procedures is second to none and despite its social and cultural emphasis there is no doubting Lipska’s knowledge of forensics. Gritty and gripping, the Kiszka and Kershaw series has gone from strength to strength and comes very highly recommended.

Forgotten crime: Desmond Bagley – Running Blind

I read a lot more books than I manage to review here and I think it’s time that I did a series of posts on the more obscure or ‘forgotten’ books that I read. Of course, I run the risk of readers pointing out that a particular author most certainly hasn’t been forgotten by them. I take this completely on board as I know after nearly five years of blogging that readers of Crimepieces are an eclectic bunch.

This week’s writer, Desmond Bagley, is a name I remember from my childhood along with Alistair McLean and Len Deighton. Unlike the latter two authors, I’ve neglected to read any of Bagley’s books but a Tweet pointed out that Running Blind, published in 1970, is set in Iceland, a country I know well. I tracked down a copy in one of my favourite second hand bookshops, Tim Smith Books in Horncastle, Lincolnshire.

In many respects it a run-of-the-mill spy novel. Alan Stewart has been delivered of a package that assailants are trying to steal from him. He’s not sure if it’s Russian spies, the CIA or his own British secret service who are his enemies. What elevates the book is that the majority of it is set in Iceland before the ring road which encircles the country was built. Keflavik and Reykjavik are easily accessible but to escape his attackers Stewart, partly helped by his able Iceland girlfriend, Elin, traverses the country by jeep and boat.

I found myself reading in-between the fast-paced plot for the incredible descriptions of Iceland before the tourist invasion. The river crossings and deserted lagoons portray a country where a body can be disposed of easily. It’s not a great book but I do appreciate its significance and it was worth a read. Whether I read any more of this writer is debatable unless anyone can suggest one of his better books. Still, Running Blind is a book for Icelandophiles and those with nostalgia for fiction that can be read in a couple of hours.

Review: Chris Ewan – Long Time Lost

It’s a mark of a good writer when they produce something a bit different with each book. Chris Ewan’s latest novel, Long Time Lost, is a thrilling read that takes you from the Isle of Man to mainland Europe via Weston-super-Mare and Lake Windermere.

Nick Miller has created a team who relocates at-risk individuals across Europe. He’s an expert in this field because he himself has had to acquire a new identify after his family was killed. He’s developed a complex system where each of the protected individuals have to check-in at the same time every week. Kate Sutherland is hiding as part of a witness protection programme in order to give evidence against Connor Lane’s brother. Connor is determined to ensure the case never comes to trial but Miller’s interference in the hitman’s plans mean that the whole team are now under threat.

The action in Long Time Lost is fast-paced from the off. Kate shows herself more than capable of defending herself and it’s nice to see a female character who’s a victim but proactive in her defence. Her chemistry with Miller is perhaps inevitable but it does take unexpected turns and Ewan never veers into cliché. I enjoyed the broad sweep of the book after a raft of claustrophobic novels that I’ve been reading recently.

This is only the second book that I’ve read by Chris Ewan and I clearly need to read more. I was supposed to be working today but the whole point of books is to make it impossible to put them down. Chris Ewan certainly succeeded with this one.

Review: Jane Corry – My Husband’s Wife

Marriage is getting quite a battering in crime fiction at the moment and it’s easy to see the appeal of domestic noir. Unlike the serial killer novels that I read in my twenties, there’s something horribly close-to-home in reading about the disintegration of a marriage, especially when a crime is involved. The latest book to deal with the subject is a debut novel, My Husband’s Wife, by Jane Corry.

Lawyer, Lily is married to artist Ed and the pair of them befriend a little girl, Carla, whose Italian mother is having an affair with a married man. The marriage is fractured from the beginning. Lily is still traumatised from the death of her brother and is violently jealous of Ed’s ex girlfriend. She defends and befriends Joe Thomas who is accused of murdering his girlfriend. As the trial progresses, professional and personal boundaries become blurred. The book then forwards a number of years. Carla is now an adult who returns from Italy keen to settle scores and will willingly sacrifice marriages and her own sanity to avenge her mother.

My Husband’s Wife is a complex book firmly in domestic noir territory. Lily and Ed are cleverly shown as not woven together in the early scenes in the book. The possibility of an affair on either side is ever present and the relationships around them do nothing to provide a role model for their future. In the latter half of the book, the tension ratchets up as Carla looks to do her evil work. Carla is a difficult character to relate too but provides an interesting contrast to the fragile but determined Lily and the weak Ed.

I’m sure fans of psychological thrillers will love My Husband’s Wife. It’s a meaty read with plenty of twists and turns and with some redemption for the characters.

Competition: Win Four Nordic Noir Books

On Saturday, we’re awarding the 2016 Petrona Award for the best Scandinavian crime novel in translation. This is the award’s fourth year and it’s going from strength to strength. Details, for example, of the Petrona accolade has appeared on the UK and US covers of last year’s winner, Yrsa Sigurdardottir.

If you’re going to CrimeFest in Bristol, as well as appearing on a panel, I’ll also be doing a twenty-minute ‘In the Spotlight’ slot on the Petrona on Friday at 4.30pm. For those of you who can’t make it to Bristol, to celebrate four years of the Petrona Award I’m doing a giveaway of four great Nordic Noir books.

To enter, simply fill in your name and details in the contact form below.  Your e-mail address will only be used for this competition and to receive my quarterly newsletter. The winner will be chosen at 12 midday (UK) time on Saturday 21st May. The giveaway is open to everyone regardless of geographic location.

Good luck and look out for me on Twitter (@sarahrward1) where I’ll be Tweeting live the winner announcement on Saturday evening. [contact-form]

Review: Peter Hanington – A Dying Breed

There are quite a few novels written by current and former journalists but I’d be hard pressed to think of a crime book that has brought alive so vividly the passion and politics that goes into producing a radio news programme. Peter Hanington has worked on BBC Radio 4’s Today for fourteen years and has used his experience to interweave the intricacies of putting a news story together with a crime plot set in Afghanistan.

William Carver is a veteran journalist that the BBC is trying to make redundant. He goes to Afghanistan and is sleeping off a hangover when a bomb goes off which kills a prominent local official. Back in England Rob Mariscal, the editor of Today strikes fear into all who work for him, including young producer, Patrick Reid, who is desperate to make his mark in his job. Patrick is sent to Afghanistan to keep an eye on Carver but runs into a conspiracy involving influential stakeholders who don’t want Carver to run his story.

A Dying Breed is a fascinating book. It’s extremely well written and, unusually for me, I enjoyed the incidentals about news production as much as the crime story itself. Bureaucracy within the BBC is shown as demoralising and stifling creativity and egos abound amongst its personnel. Hanington is much warmer towards the people of Afghanistan and the daily struggle they endure while under the scrutiny of politicians and the media worldwide. Particularly well drawn is Karim, Carver’s fixer in Afghanistan who is invaluable to win in his work.

There are some amusing moments for speculation for those of us familiar with BBC news, even on the outside. Who is news presenter and face of the Ten O’Clock news  John Brandon based on, for example? I’m sure this is the start of a bright new career for Peter Hanington. A Dying Breed is an excellent read and distinguished by bright, clean prose that never gets in the way of the story.  It’s a little bit different from other crime novels out there and I’d highly recommend it.