Clea Simon's Blog, page 5
May 24, 2024
Instagram loves BAD BOY BEAT
A quick search of #BadBoyBeat gathers these lovely blossoms:
“Fast-paced, intriguing and suspenseful. I love strong female characters and Em was a feisty and complex heroine, I just loved her character. A great mystery that will keep you at the edge of your seat.” – @booksandcoffeemx
“A page turner! I just had to see how this all came together and admit that I was blown away by a part of the ending…I just didn’t expect a certain plot point at all.” – @Sarahs.bookstack
“Gritty. This book has such great atmosphere. It’s like a noir detective novel except instead of a detective it’s a hard-boiled female newspaper writer.” – @rozierreadsandwine
I couldn’t be more thrilled!
May 23, 2024
HOLD ME DOWN will be back in print!
As some of you know, dear Polis Books has called it quits. That left us Polis authors out in the cold… but I’m thrilled to announce that Bloodhound Books has picked up HOLD ME DOWN! This UK publisher will re-publish my dark rock ‘n’ roll standalone in e-book and trade paperback on Sept. 9. Working with the team now on a new cover… very exciting!
In preparation, I’ve sent them this list of blurbs. Fun, huh?
HOLD ME DOWN, a Massachusetts Center for the Book “must read”
“Clea Simon knows how to capture the texture of the rock club — its heat, sex, power, energy, and danger, too. … In electric prose, Simon conjures the rock-and-roll world, its drink, drugs, and band-dynamics, and the twin seductresses of excess and success, as she makes a penetrating portrait of friendship.” — Boston Globe
With Hold Me Down, Simon “stakes her claim as crime fiction’s foremost purveyor of tales that blend mystery with music. … this is a character that demands to be invested in.” — BOLO Books
“Hold Me Down is terrific. Its power lies in the vitality of Clea Simon’s prose and her insider savvy.”— ArtsFuse
“Simon perceptively illustrates the sacrifices one makes for art. Simon’s tour of the Boston music scene will make readers wish ‘Hold Me Down’ included a link to iTunes.” — Oline Cogdill, Sun-Sentinel
“A mystery that explores character motivations … For fans of Alexander McCall Smith and Janet Evanovich.” — Library Journal
“Simon draws on her career as a journalist, in particular her reporting on Boston’s music scene in the 1990s, for the setting, concert scenes, and flashbacks, bringing a gritty reality to this dark suspense tale.” — Booklist
“This devastatingly powerful mystery hits like a punch to the heart.” — Caroline Leavitt, New York Times-bestselling author of Days of Wonder
“A flat-out, stoked-up, red-alert blistering justice-gets-done story that you can’t put down.” — E. Jean Carroll, author of What Do We Need Men For?
“Lyrical, layered, and full of surprises. Simon has penned a raw and emotional thriller with a heartbeat, about lost dreams and missing friends, regrets and buried memories, the final note reminding us that it’s never too late to start again. Provocative, moving, and suspenseful.”
— Lisa Unger, New York Times-bestselling author of Last Girl Ghosted
“Gripping and intense, a darkly suspenseful dive into friendship, fame, murder, and the thrilling power of rock music. I couldn’t put it down.” — Meg Gardiner, author of the UNSUB series
“The big mystery in this exquisite novel is not the one in the story but the one in the way Clea Simon tells it. We hear music that never existed, pine for memories we couldn’t have, and mourn for the survivors.” —David Hajdu, author of Lush Life and Positively 4th Street
“This pitch-perfectly dark psychological suspense underscores the price of fame, the price of friendship, and the temptations of success. Sharp and insightful, and written with exquisite detail, this story has a soundtrack that will linger long after the final page.” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today-bestselling author of Her Perfect Life
“HOLD ME DOWN is a joyous novel about friendship and survival, but what dark, bitter joy. Simon has gone deep into a world many women know all too well, where pride, guilt, and pain do battle inside the stories we tell. A cracking plot in a rich setting round out this important, timely book to perfection.” —Catriona McPherson, Edgar-nominated author of A Gingerbread House
“Powerfully written and compulsively readable. Part murder mystery and part wistful history of a one-time rock star and her deeply buried secrets.” —Dave Zeltserman, award-winning author of Small Crimes
“A hard-rocking riff of a novel, HOLD ME DOWN explodes with a passion for music while also probing the intimate betrayals buried under a haze of alcohol and pills. Simon expertly explores how music seeks to embody truth, even when musicians hid their own pain behind the melodies.” —Joanna Schaffhausen, winner of the MWA/St. Martin’s Minotaur first crime novel award for The Vanishing Season
May 20, 2024
“Darker and grittier…” Bristol Library weighs in
Bristol Public Library librarian and book blogger Jeanne Powers loves BAD BOY BEAT! Her in-depth review concludes:B “Good mystery, strong characterization, some fast-paced action and a few twists and turns make for a most enjoyable read.”
Read the full review here.
May 11, 2024
KRL loves BBB!
“If you want a swift mystery with plenty of clues, you’ll enjoy this,” writes Kings River Life critic Claire A, Murray. “Bad Boy Beat brought me back into the heart of Boston—night club life, numbered alleys, and an incredible lack of parking spaces…”
Read the full review as well as an interview I did with the magazine here.
May 10, 2024
What writers read
Before we can write, we read – and, ideally, we never stop! In fact, the first and best advice I can give aspiring authors is read. Read everything! First, read it for fun, but then read like a writer. Figure out why the good parts work, and why the bad parts don’t, and then read more.
Makes sense then, that the lovely Marshal Zeringue hosts a blog called “What Writers Read.” I was proud to check in with what I was reading (below). You can also check it out here: https://whatarewritersreading.blogspot.com/2024/05/clea-simon.html
Clea Simon is the Boston Globe-bestselling author of three nonfiction books and thirty-one mysteries, including World Enough and Hold Me Down, both of which were named “Must Reads” by the Massachusetts Center for the Book.
A graduate of Harvard University and former journalist, she has contributed to publications ranging from Salon.com and Harvard Magazine to Yankee and The New York Times.
Simon’s latest mystery is Bad Boy Beat, which kicks off a fast-paced amateur sleuth series starring Em Kelton, a Boston crime reporter with a nose for news.
Recently I asked the author about what she was reading. Simon’s reply:
This is such a great topic because, of course, writers are first and foremost readers first. The problem comes when I’m asked to name just one book. Like a lot of us (I suspect), I’ve always got a couple of books going.
I recently finished Caroline Leavitt’s new Days of Wonder and I’ve been dipping into Philippa Gregory’s Normal Women, a massive history of the half of humanity that’s been left out of 800 years of English history.
But the books I keep coming back to these days are Deanna Raybourn’s. I had not thought myself interested in her – too romance-y! Too soft! But after devouring her Killers of A Certain Age, I realized she was one of the smartest writers in any genre! Now that I’ve read through her Veronica Speedwell series, I’m devouring her Lady Julia Grey books. Yes, they are historical mysteries with a heady dash of romance (thanks to the infuriating Nicholas Brisbane), and they’re just wonderful! I’m currently out on the windswept moor with Silent on the Moor and loving it.
Visit Clea Simon’s website.
May 8, 2024
Zoom on in!
Long before Bad Boy Beat was even a dream, I wrote a fun little mystery about cats – specifically about a young woman who meets a possible cat hoarder – a “crazy cat lady” – and who, when that poor older woman is killed must figure out not only who killed her but what to do with all those cats. That funny little story became my first mystery, Mew is for Murder, and it was published by Poisoned Pen Press.
Tonight at 7 p.m. EST (4 p.m. Mountain Time), I’ll be chatting with Barbara Peters, who was the editor of Poisoned Pen Press while I was there. She’s now reverted to her original post, as the owner of the esteemed Poisoned Pen bookstore in Scottsdale, Arizona, a mystery-specializing megastore where she hosts a ton of great book events. Tonight, I’ll get to chat with her again about Bad Boy Beat and all things mystery virtually. If you’d care to join us, you can on either the bookstore’s website, its Facebook page, or its Youtube channel – please feel free to ask your own questions too! (You can also help this wonderful independent bookstore stay in business by buying Bad Boy Beat directly from them here.)
View our conversation here: https://fb.watch/rXPLGmmlaT/
Join in here: https://poisonedpen.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTbRuLNmD8EhT4WrGGMVW-w
I’ll post a link to the recording once the event is done, too! (I think it will be available here: https://poisonedpen.com )
(Note: The Zoom is 4 p.m. PDT – Scottsdale – time. That’s 7 pm EST.)
May 2, 2024
BAD BOY BEAT takes the p. 69 test!
Do you know about the p. 69 test? It’s when you open a book to page 69 (in other words, some random point well in) and see if that page touches on the major themes and/or action of the book in ways that will ideally clue in and entice the reader. The test, referenced by John Sutherland in his How to Read a Novel: A User’s Guide, was supposedly first invented by Marshall McLuhan: Sutherland explains: “McLuhan, the guru of The Gutenberg Galaxy (1962), recommends that the browser turn to page 69 of any book and read it. If you like that page, buy the book. It works. … [B]rowse powerfully and read page 69.”
So does Bad Boy Beat pass the test?
Here’s the text of that page in Bad Boy Beat and my thoughts:
From page 69:
that again—she’d confirmed what Simpson already knew. Nicky’s wasn’t the first body on that gun. I guess it’s some satisfaction to know it would be the last.
It’s not much, but it’s a start. I cruise by the cop shop on my way to the Standard but I don’t stop. Wherever he slept, Jack’s probably only now rousing, and with everyone back in their offices once again, I don’t see a place to park. Besides, I don’t want to push Saul more than I need to. I can spend an hour looking up city councilors on the parking lot break-ins while I wait for Jack to surface. Maybe I’ll even try Benny again, now that I’m pretty sure I’m not stepping on Roz’s painted toes.
“Earth to Em.”
Damn it! I sit up with enough of a start that I have to grab my mug. From the eyes on me, I can tell I’d visibly nodded off, right in the ten o’clock meeting. Maybe even snored. But my mug had stayed upright, so I couldn’t have been out that long. Could I?
“Sorry, boss.” Sometimes it’s best to just own up to it. Truth be told, Saul looks worried rather than angry. “I was staking out a source’s place last night and slept in my car.”
“So, what did you get?” He’s not sure he believes me, and I don’t have anything to make my case.
“He didn’t come home.” Borelli, over to my right, ducks his head, but I can see he’s smirking. Ruggle is staring at me with puppy dog eyes. He can tell this is personal for me, and at that moment I hate him. “Waste of a night,” I push back. God help me, I toss my hair. “Most of my other contacts aren’t up at this hour, but I’ll get more tonight.”
“Not by deadline then.” Saul, moving on.
Ruggle is waiting when the meeting ends, bouncing on the balls of his feet as if he’s about to attempt a jump shot. I don’t see myself as a basket, so I do my best to rush by him.
“Wait, Em.” He’s too close behind me to ignore, so I turn with a glare designed to shut him down.
“What?” If the glare doesn’t do it, the bark should.
“I was wondering, do you need some help with the database?”
Now he’s got my attention. I stare, waiting for the second head to appear.
“You know, the ATF database of ballistics records.”
It rings a bell in my tired brain. “Yeah, that’s national, right?”
Yes! Bad Boy Beat passes! Page 69 drops readers right into the middle of Em Kelton’s determined search for a mystery killer and also shows the obstacles – some self-imposed – that she faces.
The page opens with a confirmation: “Nicky’s wasn’t the first body on that gun.” That lets you know you’re dealing with murder, more than one, and that Em has already started to put together her case that the one random street crime that starts this book is really part of a series of planned killings.
It also has her dozing off at an editorial meeting at the Standard, the newspaper where she works, which is for better or worse, pure Em. When I was revising this book, my agent expressed the concern that Em wasn’t “likable.” I countered that she didn’t have to be likable as long as she was relatable (and what’s with insisting that women characters be likable anyway? Should we also tell them to smile more?). Em has some bad habits, and she’s not a model employee. Here, we see her at her worst: not only nodding off but disappointing her editor, all while she watches the male reporters at the meeting with suspicion. Are they out for her or are they allies? Em’s not one to take any chances, and the reference to “Roz’s painted toes” hints that the only colleague she fully trusts is her BFF Roz, a City Hall reporter. But the page does end with another avenue for investigation opening up. I’ll leave it up to the reader to figure out if Em has enough sense to follow through.
April 30, 2024
Readers love BAD BOY BEAT
“Bad Boy Beat is a fantastic book that I couldn’t put down.”
“This is one of Simon’s best.”
“I am a bit of a fan of this author’s Blackie and Care series of books so I was eager to see what she did with a more conventional mystery. And I wasn’t disappointed at all…”
These are just bits of three reviews up on Goodreads, where Bad Boy Beat is earning multiple four- and five-star ratings. I’m so thrilled that readers are connecting with Em Kelton, the protagonist of Bad Boy Beat, and her determination to track down a possible serial killer.
What do you think? Will you let me know?
A reminder: I’ll be at Harvard Book Store on May 9, but if you can’t make it, you can still order a copy of Bad Boy Beat and I’ll personalize it for you that night! The store’s event site has a special link for ordering signed books – and they can either mail it out or hold it for pickup! (Look in the upper left for “Order Signed Books.”) https://www.harvard.com/event/clea_simon4/
April 25, 2024
Want a signed book?
I’ll be at Harvard Book Store on May 9 (7 pm) but if you can’t make it, you can still order a copy of Bad Boy Beat and I’ll personalize it for you that night! The store’s event site has a special link for ordering signed books – and they can either mail it out or hold it for pickup! (Look in the upper left for “Order Signed Books.”) https://www.harvard.com/event/clea_simon4/
I’m only doing a few events this time out – you could say I’m getting back in the saddle! And I’d love to see you if the timing works out. If not, please consider supporting my hometown book store – and get yourself a signed and personalized copy of my new mystery* as well!
*Check out all the five-star ratings on Goodreads here!
March 4, 2024
Kirkus loves BAD BOY BEAT!
Bad Boy Beat, my new amateur sleuth mystery, doesn’t come out until May 7, but the advance reviews have started to come in. First up is Kirkus, known for its nasty “Kirkus kick.” Only this time the professional publication is full of praise, saying:
“Simon’s staccato prose sets a tense mood that keeps readers on the edge . . . New territory for Simon that’s definitely worth another chapter”
The full review will be in the April issue, which goes online March 9. But I’m sneaking you a preview below. And, yes!, you can pre-order Bad Boy Beat now. In fact, I hope you do!
BAD BOY BEAT
Author: Clea Simon
https://amzn.to/3TmXm9F
Review Issue Date: April 1, 2024
Online Publish Date: March 9, 2024
Publisher:Severn House
Pages: 224
Price ( Hardcover ): $29.99
Publication Date: May 7, 2024
ISBN ( Hardcover ): 9781448313044
Section: Fiction
Simon, noted for pet-themed cozies, turns her hand to something darker.
Buttercup, Emily Kelton’s cat, is a bit player, relegated to hunting for treats and twining around the legs of visitors. Instead of focusing on her feline, Em trains her sights on making her way up the ladder at the Standard, “Boston’s smaller, scrappier morning paper.” Still on probation, she keeps trying to offer her editors something juicy to print without breaking rules whose violation could get her fired. Her latest case on the police beat could go either way. The murder of a low-level drug dealer is sure to pique the interest of a crime-conscious public, even though there’s no name and no motive—yet. But poking at Ruiz, the beat cop, for details may alienate a valuable source of information. In the other direction, Em clearly runs the risk of becoming too close to tall, handsome detective Jack Harcourt, whose information comes at a price. As more murders follow, Em senses a pattern, but details that would confirm her suspicions are hard to come by. As she struggles to find her place in a male-dominated newsroom, Em runs the risk of spoiling her relationship with her best friend, city hall reporter Theresa “Roz” Roscommon, and missing the opportunity to bond with intern Krista Lolly. Simon’s staccato prose sets a tense mood that keeps readers on the edge as Em keeps threatening to go over it.
New territory for Simon that’s definitely worth another chapter.
