Martin Edwards's Blog, page 114

Looking Ahead

So, a new year beckons. It's always a time of hope and anticipation, mixed in with uncertainty about what the future may hold. For you, my readers, I wish you health and happiness and lots of good reading. As for me, the plan is to do plenty of writing and so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll remain fit and energetic.

My first publication of the year will be an anthology for the British Library, Deep Waters. I've been putting the finishing touches to it over the break, and it's due to hit the shelves in June. It's my thirteenth anthology in the Crime Classics series, and the response to the books has confirmed my belief that readers have a hearty appetite for short stories.

I'll also be continuing to write introductions for books in the series, and I'm especially pleased that three titles by Michael Gilbert will be appearing before long. He's a writer who deserves to be remembered. I'm also reading avidly at present, trying to dig out some more books of the past that merit republication. And these researches have yielded plenty of Forgotten Books for Fridays yet to come...

If you'd told me twelve months ago how 2018 would work out, I'd have been absolutely thrilled. Who knows what 2019 will bring? Well, one thing it will bring in the spring is the end of my term as Chair of the CWA; It's been a privilege to hold this office, and I've much enjoyed getting to know even more of the members. Amazingly, I find that I'm now the longest-serving Chair since the CWA's founder, John Creasey. So - a good innings, and it's definitely time to declare! I aim, though, to stay very much involved with the CWA, a splendid and thriving organisation, and in particular to do more work on its archives, a subject that fascinates me.

There should also be some travel, and plenty of events. I'm looking forward to getting involved with various library activities and events; giving something back to the libraries that have given me so much over the years is a particular priority for 2019. I'd also like to do some more work with inexperienced writers, having run a number of workshops last year which proved interesting and fruitful. On this blog, I have in mind to talk a bit more about various aspects of the craft of writing.

And as I say, there's plenty of writing that needs to be done. So I'd better get on with it...

Forgotten Book - Murder Can Be Fun

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Happy new year! For all those of you who read this blog, may I send warm wishes that 2019 will be a happy and healthy year for you.

A new year is a time to look forward, and I'll be doing just that before long. But today's Friday, and it wouldn't be Friday without looking back at a Forgotten Book, would it? So I've picked a novel which has a title which seems appropriate. Not because murder in real life is fun - absolutely the contrary. But detective stories about the ultimate crime are hugely enjoyable, whether or not they also take a look at the more serious side of life.

I first came across Fredric Brown's crime fiction a long time ago, when Zomba Books, guided by the super-knowledgeable Maxim Jakubowski, published a terrific omnibus of four of his mysteries, including The Screaming Mimi. I was very impressed, and equally taken with a few short stories of his that I came across. Since then, it has been hard to find Brown's other books in the UK, but I chanced upon a copy of Murder Can Be Fun in Skoob Books in London, and snapped it up sharpish.

This novel was his third published book, and in fact it's an expansion of an earlier short story, which perhaps explains why the plot does not seem quite as taut as those in his very best books. Nevertheless, it's an appealing story with a splendid premise. Bill Tracy, a former journalist who has become a radio soap opera writer, comes up with an idea for a crime series called "Murder Can Be Fun". But the joke appears to be on him when life begins to imitate art, and someone starts committing murders which are evidently based on his plots.

This is a neat variation of a hook that has been used by a good many crime writers to produce novels of various types - examples include Roger East's Murder Rehearsal and John Franklin Bardin's The Last of Philip Banter, as well as the much more recent Disclaimer by Renee Knight. Of course, it's one thing to set up a baffling scenario, and quite another to resolve it satisfactorily. Brown does a pretty good, though not outstanding job of explaining how Tracy's plots came to be used.

Really, this is the work of a novelist who was still learning his trade, but several elements of the story are typically Brownian - the science fiction references, the heavy drinking (which can become a bit tedious), dreams, and Alice in Wonderland references. There's a "least likely person" solution which is passable rather than brilliant, but the lively prose often glints with humour. Not Brown's best book by a long chalk, but neatly crafted entertainment all the same.

2018: People

Over the past couple of days, I've indulged myself with reflections on this year's writings and travels, but it remains true that people matter more than publications and places. And today I'd like to mention (inevitably in a highly selective way) some of the people who have, in various ways, made this such a lovely literary year for me. The photo above, taken in Reykjavik after an excellent dinner, and including colleagues from Germany, Russia and the US, reflects the international cameraderie of crime.





From the day when I started this blog, I've endeavoured to spread the word that writing can give great enjoyment in all sorts of ways, whether you are an author or a fan or (like me) both. Over the years, I've become increasingly conscious of the ways in which writing and reading can be extremely valuable in therapeutic terms. But I'm also acutely aware that the writing life can be a tough one. I've not talked much on this blog about my role as CWA Chair, but I can say that one thing I'm especially pleased about is the work we've begun within the CWA, and in collaboration with other organisations, to try to support writers facing mental health challenges. 




This work wouldn't be possible without the contribution of many good people. The CWA Board members and staff do a great deal for fellow writers, and it's a privilege to work alongside them. The CWA Daggers Dinner was, as I've said before, memorable for me personally, but it was also a chance to socialise with some wonderful men and women who play a key part in CWA activities; some of their photographs illustrate this post. Back in February, the northern chapter of the CWA celebrated its 30th anniversary with lunch in the Crown Hotel, Boroughbridge, where it all began with Peter Walker, Reg Hill, Bob Barnard et al.



The same's true of friends in the Detection Club, whose company makes our dinners so pleasurable. I've also enjoyed working with some lovely people in publishing: David Brawn at Harper Collins, the team at the British Library and that at Head of Zeus as well as my agent James Wills and the Watson, Little folk. I talked about libraries yesterday, and my admiration for the librarians I work with is unbounded. I must make special mention of Louisa Yates and the team at Gladstone's Library, who look after the British Crime Writing Archives on behalf of the CWA and the Detection Club, and ensure that Alibis in the Archives is as smoothly organised as it is convivial.
Now that I'm no longer a full-time lawyer, I've had the chance to catch up with people from my school and university days, and this has been a source of delight this year. I mentioned Tim Benson yesterday, and the fact that two guys I last saw at Oxford more than forty years ago took the trouble to turn up at the launch of Gallows Court was a real treat.       

One of the crime festivals I most enjoy is Malice Domestic, and over the past few years it's been great to become good friends with the Board members who do such a fine job: Verena, Joni, Shawn, Tonia, and the rest of the crew. I won't be able to make it in 2019 (though I have a good excuse, more of which another day!) but I'll be there in spirit.


Bouchercon takes place in a different venue, with different organisers, each year, but it's a great opportunity to catch up with people from various parts of the world, as well as fellow Brits. These things are always a whirl, but at St Petersburg I had the chance to have meals with some terrific writers, the likes of Art Taylor, Bruce Coffin, Shawn Reilly Simmons, Shelly Dickson Carr, Gigi Pandian, Paul Charles, Elly Griffiths, and Ragnar Jonasson, and a host of other good companions, as well as wandering around the town with Kathy Boon Reel.  Moments to treasure. 


Speaking of Ragnar, I'm so glad he persuaded me to visit Iceland. The photograph at the top of this post was taken there following a get-together of the International Association of Crime Writers. Naturally, I can't resist including a photograph of the only Prime Minister I'm ever likely to share a panel with, Katrin Jakobsdottir. And yes, that was her own copy of The Golden Age of Murder! 

Last but certainly not least, can I say that, for all the downsides of technology, and for all the failings of social media, blogging and connecting with people across the world who share my love of crime writing has been an absolute blessing. Through this blog, I've been able to get to know a great many people I'd never otherwise have come across, and that's been wonderful. Some of you I'll never manage to meet in person, but the positive messages that you send really are a boost to my morale. And all writers need morale boosts. So - thank you!


As I say, this is a time of year when I feel a bit of self-indulgence is in order, and I'm fortunate to have pleasant memories to look back on. For me, 2018 has been a very happy and lucky year, something I don't take for granted. Tomorrow, a new year begins, and who knows what ups and downs it will bring? But I look forward to it with hope. And sometimes, hopes are fulfilled. On that note, here's a picture taken of me, waiting for the announcement of the CWA Dagger in the Library!

2018: Places

In 2018, I was lucky enough to travel a good deal, both in Britain and overseas, and my trips yielded some magical moments. An unforgettable evening for me was spent at the Grange City Hotel in London in October. I was hosting the CWA Daggers Dinner, and presented the CWA Diamond Dagger to Michael Connelly, and Red Herring awards to four worthy winners in Ali Karim, Ayo Onatade, Mike Stotter, and David Stuart Davies.


And it was a great thrill also to be on the receiving end, and to be awarded the CWA Dagger in the Library. Quite simply, it was one of the best moments of my writing life. Sue Wilkinson, the chair of the panel of librarians which took the decision, said: "We chose Martin because he has a very varied output, covering both Golden Age mysteries and modern psychological suspense.  He has done a great deal to popularise crime writing, and through his editing of anthologies has brought a lot of long-forgotten crime stories to new audiences.  In addition, he is also a passionate advocate for libraries." I'll cherish this accolade in years to come.


Libraries play a very important part in my life, and in my writing career. Close to home, it was a huge relief when Lymm Library was saved for the community, and I was also glad to collaborate with the Friends of Stockton Heath Library in the neighbouring village. In fact, I spent a lot of time in some terrific libraries during 2018. There were talks in libraries in Guernsey and (on two separate occasions) Jersey, as well as in places as diverse as Woking and Penketh, Frodsham and Knowsley, Birkenhead, and Sandiway. I loved my first visit to the Highgate LSI, with its unique atmosphere, while Bodies from the Library, at the British Library, was as good as ever; there, I gave a talk about Richard Hull, and was kindly invited to take part in a podcast by impossible crime experts Daniel Curtis and Jim Noy; they are members of a growing new, younger generation of Golden Age fans, and such enthusiasm for classic crime augurs well for the future.

At Alibis in the Archives, at Gladstone's Library in north Wales, there were many highlights during a fantastic weekend. I was so glad that Jessica Mann agreed to take part; she was in great form, and it came as a huge shock when she died just a few weeks afterwards. She was valiant to the end, and had become a very good friend. At the time of her death, we'd been discussing a joint writing project, and losing her was perhaps the saddest time of the year. The other speakers who made Alibis work so well included Peter Lovesey, Andrew Taylor, James Grieve, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Sarah Ward, and Simon Brett.

There were several enjoyable festivals. I shared a platform again with Ruth at Southend for the Essex Book Festival, and with Sarah (and Kate Ellis) at the Lymm Festival. In Salisbury, I talked at the Playhouse about Dorothy L. Sayers, and had the pleasure of spending the night in the gorgeous Cathedral Close. I also gave the after dinner speech to the Sayers Society at Lancaster University. At the French Protestant Church in Soho, I gave a talk to the Oxford University Society, one of the occasions at which I had the delightful experience of meeting again people I'd not seen for decades.


It's simply not possible to accept every invitation, partly because of double-booking, and partly because I really do need to get some work done - sometimes. But I like to accept invitations when I can, and I was asked to give talks by Warrington Lit and Phil Society, the Society of Authors (during the Harrogate Festival) and the Kirby Lonsdale branch of Mencap, which set up a lunch in aid of a very worthwhile charitable cause; my trip to Kirby also gave me the chance to revisit some favourite haunts in that part of the world. Other fun events included CrimeFest in Bristol (where I presented Peter James with his Diamond Dagger, delayed from two years earlier), the ALCS winter reception at the House of Commons, and the CWA conference in Shrewsbury.



At the start of the year, I was invited by the Baker Street Irregulars to give their annual lecture at the legendary Yale Club (see the above photo, with Les Klinger, taken during the Q and A) in New York City. I stayed for three nights at the Yale, and had the pleasure of dinner with Les, plus brunch with Michael Dirda, followed by a trip to the Top of the Rock with its views over the city. Returning to the library theme, I was greatly taken with New York City Library, and seeing the original Winnie-the-Pooh. The trip to NYC gave rise to an invitation to visit Toronto, next April, a real bonus.


I returned to the US for Malice Domestic, and hosted a standing-room only interview with Brenda Blethyn and Ann Cleeves. There was also a sightseeing trip to Washington DC, including dinner at Martin's Tavern, of all places, which I loved. My final American trip was to Florida for Bouchercon. A sunset cruise was a stunning highlight, but there were plenty of other fun things to do with fellow crime writers and fans.





The Tallinn HeadRead Literary Festival was a great experience. My literary commitment was to take part in a discussion about the Golden Age with Sophie Hannah and Jason Goodwin, and the organisers also laid on several trips which enabled me to see more of the area. And then there was Iceland Noir in Reykjavik, and participation in a panel moderated (very well) by Iceland's Prime Minister, an expert on Agatha Christie. Like Estonia, Iceland is a lovely country to visit, and I enjoyed exploring.



There were plenty of other places that linger in the memory, including Avebury Stone Circle (on a beautiful day in late summer), Delamere Forest, a boat trip to Puffin Island off Anglesey, and my first visit to the Ritz Hotel, hosting the Detection Club's main dinner of the year. Tim Benson, an old schoolfriend, took me behind the scenes at the Royal Academy (which will feature in my next novel) and the Anglo-Saxons exhibition at the British Library was full of interest. Leo and Cassandra McNeir kindly invited us to stay with them, and this gave me the chance to visit Stowe, Buckingham, and Bletchley Park.


Further afield, I went to Amsterdam and Gothenburg for mini-breaks with the young Edwardses and to Germany on a coach tour, visiting places like Wurzburg, Speyer, and lovely Heidelberg. I've mentioned before that I like to write stories set in places I've visited and researched, and this year I've managed one which combines two trips. The story is set in Jersey and Bletchley Park and it's been accepted for an anthology of historical fiction to be published next year. So it's not all hedonistic swanning about! Though I admit, there's been quite a lot of that in 2018, and very pleasurable it's been too...















 

2018: Publications

At this time of year, I like to indulge my nostalgic instincts by looking back on the events of the past twelve months and picking out special memories, before turning to the year to come. 2018 was no question, amazing, a year rich in terms of exciting experiences. So I'll group them under three broad headings, starting with publications. And there's no doubt about the stand-out moment for me - it was the publication in the UK of Gallows Court, by Head of Zeus, celebrated with a delightful launch event at historic Hatchard's in Piccadilly. Pictured above are Nic Cheetham of Zeus, Barry Forshaw, and Robert (Death in Paradise) Thorogood.


This novel, very different in so many ways from my other novels, was a project I'd worked on for about three years, without a contract, and without any guarantee that anyone would want to publish it. So it's been an absolutely thrill to see it produced in a lovely edition (complete with ribbon bookmark!) and also now in special limited, signed, lettered and numbered, editions. And then there was the reception accorded to the book. I've mentioned before that I was very uncertain about how people would react to it. This anxiety is pretty common with authors, but all the more so when one is experimenting with something fresh. But the pre-publication endorsements, from luminaries ranging from Lee Child and Peter James to Laurie R. King and Peter Robinson, were fantastic, while the reviews in the national newspapers and in magazines and on blogs were everything I could have dreamed of. And I've enjoyed talking about the book at a variety of events, for instance the Jersey Festival of Words:



The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books appeared in paperback. This book had a fantastic year, earning nominations for three awards in the US and two in the UK. Receiving the Macavity award in St Petersburg, Florida, from Mystery Readers International, in the person of the wonderful Janet Rudolph, was a moment to savour. An evening of thoroughly enjoyable celebration duly followed...





I was delighted to be associated with Ten Year Stretch, an anthology which I co-edited with Adrian Muller, celebrating ten years of CrimeFest, and raising money for the RNIB, with stories by Deaver, Rankin, Child, Herron, Sjowall, and other superstars. The signing session is pictured above. Will any of those stories feature in award nominations next year? We'll have to wait and see, but I was so pleased that Christine Poulson's excellent "Accounting for Murder" from Mystery Tour was shortlisted for the CWA Short Story Dagger. That story is a real favourite of mine.


The British Library published two anthologies of mine during the year. Blood on the Tracks, a collection of railway-related mysteries, and the seasonal collection The Christmas Card Crime, both fared well in sales terms and were prominent in the Amazon bestseller lists. Meanwhile, I continued to write introductions to British Library Crime Classics; this year saw the appearance in the series of old favourites Richard Hull and Julian Symons, as well as The Arsenal Stadium Mystery, The Division Bell Mystery, and more titles by the long-undervalued E.C.R. Lorac. The continuing popularity of Golden Age reprints is illustrated by the enthusiasm shown by those attending two events in June, Bodies from the Library, and Alibis in the Archives. Events which will be returning next year - space at Alibis in particular is limited, so do register your interest in good time if you'd like to attend. 

As well as writing a story for Ten Year Stretch ("Strangers in a Pub") I also contributed "Farewell Cruise" to Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine. And then there were articles for a variety of publications, as well as introductions to books published by Harper Collins - for instance, Donald Henderson's splendid A Voice Like Velvet - and Flame Tree Press. I find these side projects fun to do, and although they do take up a bit of time, I think it's worth it. Mind you, a key resolution for the coming year is to make sure I write plenty of fiction! 

Forgotten Book - They Can't Hang Me!

James Ronald was a writer of lively Golden Age crime novels whose work fell into obscurity long ago. He was first and foremost an entertainer, but his books (or at least those I've read) seem to me to be rather more gripping and cleverly put together than those of some of authors of the era whose names may be better known. They Can't Hang Me!, which dates from 1938, is a case in point.

At first, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this one. Young and lovely Joan Marplay finds out (in a slightly contrived way) that her father Lucius, whom she believed to be dead, is actually alive and well but in a mental hospital, a long-term patient diagnosed with homicidal tendencies. The way that people with mental health problems were presented in almost all Golden Age fiction is rather unsatisfactory, and I did worry at first that this would affect my enjoyment. On the whole, though, I found myself willing to accept the story as simply being "of its time".

The cause of Marplay's troubles was the collapse of his newspaper business. It's now run by four untrustworthy chaps (including one grotesque sexual predator) and when Marplay escapes from the hospital it seems that he is about to embark on a campaign of multiple murder, wiping out the men he blamed for his predicament. What follows is an entertaining game of cat and mouse, and there are two examples of "impossible crimes".

Ronald combines elements of the pulp thriller with those of the classic detective story, and towards the end, to my surprise, I even found myself comparing the way he approached constructing the story with my own approach to Gallows Court. The two novels are very different in lots of ways, but I can see some correspondences. This thriller is exuberant and entertaining, and it deserves to be better known.



 

Merry Christmas!

I'd like to send season's greetings to all my friends and readers. I do hope you have a wonderful Christmas. I've been hugely grateful for the messages I've received, through the year and in recent days. The connections I've made through this blog and otherwise are precious to me.

Lately I've managed to fit in quite a lot of reading, but somehow the TBR pile never seems to diminish - on the contrary. In fact, an interesting-looking book (a proof of a newly discovered novel, never published, by a major thriller writer) arrived only this morning. Ah well, thank goodness there are many books to look forward to...

On the writing front, I've also been busy recently and I'm hoping to work pretty hard during January as I have three distinct projects currently on the go. Yesterday, I received a kind email from a fan in the US expressing dismay that I was giving up writing fiction. This stemmed from my reference in the acknowledgements to Gallows Court that the book was a "departure".

Well, it just goes to show that even a lawyer and author can write something that has a meaning quite unintended. I simply meant that it was a very different book from the others I've written. I hastened to assure her that, with any luck, I'll be writing at least as much as ever next year. And, I'd like to think, for the foreseeable future.

But for now, on with the festivities...

Forgotten Book - Five Roundabouts to Heaven

I've become increasingly interested in the work of John Bingham in recent times, and having enjoyed the film Married Life, I decided to read the book on which it is (rather loosely, it has to be said) based. This is Five Roundabouts to Heaven, which first appeared in 1953. It's an unusual book, again in my opinion betraying the influence of Francis Iles, especially in the deployment of irony, notably with the final sentence of the book.

The story is told, though, in Bingham's rather discursive style, and it does take some time to get going. The narrator, Peter Harding, is a hotel owner, and the story focuses on his relationship with a friend called Philip Bartels. I have to say that I felt the early pages moved slowly, which is usually a great weakness in a crime novel, but Bingham wrote readable prose, and he maintained my interest, even when I was becoming a bit impatient.

Friendship - of a kind - is also at the heart of Bingham's first novel, My Name is Michael Sibley, and the relationship between two friends where one is a much stronger character than the other, and where one covets the other's lover, obviously fascinated him. Peter is more forceful than Philip, and this drive determines the course of the narrative.

Philip marries a pleasant and attractive woman, but then falls in love with someone else, called Lorna Dickson. Unfortunately, when he introduces Peter to Lorna, Peter immediately falls for her as well. To make matters more complicated, Philip decides to murder his wife. His motive for so doing, rather than simply seeking a divorce, is not easy to fathom, but Bingham makes a reasonably good fist of his attempt to explain the seemingly absurd. The explanation is rooted, in fact, in Philip's weakness of character.

Overall, the story is interesting and out of the ordinary; one can see why its potential for filming was spotted, and the film-makers made a good job of it too. Despite the fact that Bingham does meander at times, I can recommend this one.

Golden Age Books for Christmas

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Following on from my last post, today I'll focus on books for Christmas with a strong Golden Age connection. And a good place to start is Agatha Christie's Golden Age by John Goddard, sub-titled: "An Analysis of Poirot's Golden Age Puzzles". It's a meaty tome, with a short intro from Christie expert John Curran. Publishing non-fiction books traditionally isn't easy these days, because publishers are wary about the reams of factual information freely available on the internet. So John Goddard produced this book himself, via the Stylish Eye imprint, but that should certainly not put you off. The analysis is extremely cogent. It's best to read the book when you are already familiar with the stories, because John Goddard explores the plots in great detail. I have been dipping into the book over the past few months, perhaps the best way to tackle a densely written volume of this kind, and I've very much enjoyed so doing.

Now for fiction. I have to start, of course, with the British Library's Crime Classics, a series which continues to lead the market. This year, once again, there has been a diverse range of stories. Among the Golden Age mysteries, I'm especially fond of those by E.C.R. Lorac, which are in the orthodox mould, such as Murder by Matchlight, and those by Richard Hull, such as Excellent Intentions, which are anything but.

Harper Collins have continued with their nicely produced Detective Story Club hardback series, and among the titles for which I've contributed an intro is Donald Henderson's A Voice Like Velvet, which I found delightful and gripping. It's such a shame that Henderson died young. The diverse mix of titles to have appeared in the series this year include Freeman Wills Crofts' The Pit-Prop Syndicate and Vernon Loder's The Shop Window Murders, both of which I've reviewed on this blog, and Lynn Brock's The Deductions of Colonel Gore, which I hope to cover in due course. Brock was another very interesting writer; although his books are variable in quality, I find his ambition as an author generally admirable.

Then there is Dean Street Press, which continues to do splendid work in producing a large number of books in ebook and print on demand format. Thanks to their efforts, many of the books written by the prolific and capable Christopher Bush, among others (for instance, the long-neglected Francis Vivian), are now available at a reasonable price.

Finally, an anthology of a different sort, a handsome collection of five anotated American classics from Les Klinger, whose company I enjoyed when visiting New York in January to deliver the annual lecture for the Baker  Street Irregulars. Les is a leading Sherlockian, but his full range of interests is extensive. Classic American Crime Fiction of the 1920s includes books by Queen, Van Dine, Biggers, Hammett and Burnett. On the back cover are endorsements from A.J. Finn and a number of leading American novelists - plus myself. And we all agree that it's a splendid volume.   

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Books for Christmas (and any other time of year...)

If you're anything like me, you still won't have finished your Christmas shopping. So today let me highlight a few books you might like to seek out. Naturally, I can't resist reminding you about my own titles. Not only Gallows Court, but also the Macavity-winning The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books, available in paperback as well as hardback. Then there's The Christmas Card Crime and other stories, a British Library anthology that's been in the small publishers' charts for weeks, and has dodged around and about the number one spot in the Amazon anthology bestseller lists for as long. To say nothing of Ten Year Stretch (the CrimeFest anthology), Blood on the Tracks....no, no, I must stop!

And one reason I must stop is because there are loads of other books I'd like to mention. And if I may, I'll begin with a few titles that may not be on your radar from authors of talent who don't have massive publicity budgets behind them, but who are certainly worthy of serious consideration by crime fans. End of Term by A.C. Koning, for instance, is definitely worth a look. It features a blind detective, Fred Rowlands, and is set in Cambridge in the 30s. I met the author at a crime event in Cambridge a year ago, and I think her work deserves to be better known.

Someone I first met a couple of years back, at the Essex Book Festival in Southend, is Leye Adenie. He's a really talented writer, and I was delighted that a short story of his featured in last year's CWA Short Story Dagger shortlist. His latest novel is When Trouble Sleeps. Again, he's a writer who will in my opinion become increasingly well-known.

Guy Fraser-Sampson is an experienced author, someone else I met at the festival in Southend. Guy is one of that increasing band of novelists making very good use, in a variety of ways, of the settings, characters, or conventions of Golden Age detective fiction (Alison Joseph and Andrew Wilson are among the others). Guy's latest is The House on Downshire Hill.

Now for books for which I've given blurbs during the course of this year. It's impossible, of course, to respond to every such request - life is simply far too short, and from time to time I have to go into blurb purdah. (As now, when I really need to get on with the next novel....) But here are three of the books I managed to read, and with enjoyment.

Abi Silver, a fellow lawyer, is responsible for The Aladdin Trial, which I described as "An enjoyably elaborate and distinctive variation on the courtroom thriller." Of Gigi Pandian's The Cambodian Curse and other stories, I said: "Mysteries about seemingly impossible crimes have a long and distinguished pedigree and in this collection Gigi Pandian keeps the tradition going with verve and ingenuity." Another collection of short stories comes from Teresa Solana, who comes from Spain but now lives in the UK. The First Prehistoric Serial Killer and other stories is a collection of which I said: "Teresa Solana's distinctive writing is humorous yet thought-provoking, and her short fiction is as entertaining as her novels."

If you're not already spoiled for choice, I could go on and on, mentioning books by splendid authors whom so many of you love such as Ann Cleeves, whose latest Shetland novel I reviewed recently; Kate Ellis, who has just published The Boy Who Lived with the Dead (I'm also desperate to get round to The Mechanical Devil, which has been high on my TBR list for a while) Sarah Ward, author of The Shrouded Path, and...well, it's getting late, and time's running out on me. Happy gift-buying!