Mason Cross's Blog, page 18
August 22, 2015
John D MacDonald's Cape Fear
It's summer, and we all know what that means - reruns!
Here's another Murder Room blog I wrote earlier this year, on one of my favourite thrillers by one of my favourite writers.
Again, mine is one of several pieces on an underrated classic, and if you like this taster, you should click on over to The Murder Room to see what Steve Cavanagh, Barry Forshaw and Becky Masterman have to say about John D MacDonald's influential gem.
Mason Cross on Cape Fear The Murder Room , February 2015
John D. MacDonald’s classic novel of revenge and moral ambiguity was first published in 1957 under the title The Executioners. It would later become famous under a different name, when it was adapted for the screen twice as Cape Fear: J. Lee Thompson’s 1962 version starred Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck, and the 1991 remake by Martin Scorsese, this time starring Robert De Niro and Nick Nolte. The change of name was a good idea for a couple of reasons: for one, Cape Fear is just a better title. For another, its original moniker is kind of a spoiler.
MacDonald’s plot is artfully simple: a driven psychopath by the name of Max Cady is released from a long prison stretch, hell-bent on getting revenge against family man Sam Bowden, the person whose testimony sent him down. As Bowden discovers that the law has its limits when it comes to a man like Cady, he realises he’ll have to take matters into his own hands to protect his family.
If you’re only familiar with Scorsese’s slightly over-the-top film version, you may be surprised by how lean and linear MacDonald’s original is. A product of an era when not every thriller had to challenge the phone book for page count, the novel tells a simple but compelling story in fewer than two hundred pages. Its brevity makes it all the more impressive, in that it does double duty both as a page-turning revenge thriller and a complex, thoroughly examined morality play.
Bowden, like many of MacDonald’s protagonists, is a thoughtful and reflective man given to bouts of introspection. This character type really comes into its own in Cape Fear, because the central conflict is as much an intellectual one as it is a physical one. In the book, Bowden is pitched not just against the single-minded brutality of Cady, but against his own morality and regard for the rule of law.
I first read Cape Fear in my early twenties. Reading it again now, it’s easy to see how it’s influenced my work, as well as that of so many other writers. The psychopathic but wily antagonist of The Killing Season definitely has some of Max Cady’s DNA, and I’d like to think that some of MacDonald’s characterisation of his flawed, conflicted hero has rubbed off on me too. It’s that element that seems to have interested Scorsese, who upped the ante in his film by having Bowden deliberately suppress evidence to have Cady put away in the first place.
Cape Fear is a compelling study of what happens when the laws and safeguards of civilised society are a hopelessly inadequate response to an existential threat. But much more importantly than that, it’s a brilliantly written, unputdownable thriller.
Here's another Murder Room blog I wrote earlier this year, on one of my favourite thrillers by one of my favourite writers.
Again, mine is one of several pieces on an underrated classic, and if you like this taster, you should click on over to The Murder Room to see what Steve Cavanagh, Barry Forshaw and Becky Masterman have to say about John D MacDonald's influential gem.
Mason Cross on Cape Fear The Murder Room , February 2015
John D. MacDonald’s classic novel of revenge and moral ambiguity was first published in 1957 under the title The Executioners. It would later become famous under a different name, when it was adapted for the screen twice as Cape Fear: J. Lee Thompson’s 1962 version starred Robert Mitchum and Gregory Peck, and the 1991 remake by Martin Scorsese, this time starring Robert De Niro and Nick Nolte. The change of name was a good idea for a couple of reasons: for one, Cape Fear is just a better title. For another, its original moniker is kind of a spoiler.
MacDonald’s plot is artfully simple: a driven psychopath by the name of Max Cady is released from a long prison stretch, hell-bent on getting revenge against family man Sam Bowden, the person whose testimony sent him down. As Bowden discovers that the law has its limits when it comes to a man like Cady, he realises he’ll have to take matters into his own hands to protect his family.
If you’re only familiar with Scorsese’s slightly over-the-top film version, you may be surprised by how lean and linear MacDonald’s original is. A product of an era when not every thriller had to challenge the phone book for page count, the novel tells a simple but compelling story in fewer than two hundred pages. Its brevity makes it all the more impressive, in that it does double duty both as a page-turning revenge thriller and a complex, thoroughly examined morality play.
Bowden, like many of MacDonald’s protagonists, is a thoughtful and reflective man given to bouts of introspection. This character type really comes into its own in Cape Fear, because the central conflict is as much an intellectual one as it is a physical one. In the book, Bowden is pitched not just against the single-minded brutality of Cady, but against his own morality and regard for the rule of law.
I first read Cape Fear in my early twenties. Reading it again now, it’s easy to see how it’s influenced my work, as well as that of so many other writers. The psychopathic but wily antagonist of The Killing Season definitely has some of Max Cady’s DNA, and I’d like to think that some of MacDonald’s characterisation of his flawed, conflicted hero has rubbed off on me too. It’s that element that seems to have interested Scorsese, who upped the ante in his film by having Bowden deliberately suppress evidence to have Cady put away in the first place.
Cape Fear is a compelling study of what happens when the laws and safeguards of civilised society are a hopelessly inadequate response to an existential threat. But much more importantly than that, it’s a brilliantly written, unputdownable thriller.
August 14, 2015
Reviews and readings
Wow, is it really over two weeks since I last blogged? What have I been doing with my time?
Since last we met, there have been a couple of great new reviews, one online and another one in an actual newspaper.
The Peterborough Evening Telegraph liked it:
"If you love Michael Connelly and Robert Crais thrillers that pack action and nerve-shredding suspense while moving to a cool Los Angeles vibe, you'll rave about this ... Cross - amazingly a Glasgow writer - makes the manhunt so intensely gripping it plays like a Hollywood blockbuster in your head."
Euro Crime posted a fantastic review, saying:
"I was fascinated by the story and once started I just could not put it down. This author who has only published one other book so far, writes with such dexterity and expert plotting that one would think he has many, many titles to his credit. I must try and get hold of his earlier book as I don't think I can wait until next year to read more about Carter Blake. Extremely well recommended."
I'm really pleased that for the most part people seem to be enjoying book 2, and I'm always happy when someone likes it without having read the first one. It can be a tough balance to get right, making sure a book works in the context of a series and in its own right, but so far the feedback is good.
The Daily Record ran a nice feature on The Samaritan as part of their Book Club on Saturday too:
In general, the publicity for The Samaritan is going really, really well. Waterstones have been great as usual, hosting me not just for the launch, but for readings and signings at the East Kilbride store and the brand-new refitted Braehead store as well.
At times, the business of writing a novel can feel like butting your head against a brick wall, so it's actually rather nice to get out and talk to people who are enjoying what you do.
I'm going to be pretty busy over the next few weeks - I have rewrites on the third Blake book to complete, and I'm going to be at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on 21st August with fellow-Orion dude, legal eagle, and all round good guy Steve Cavanagh.
I've decided to simplify things by hosting all events on the main website, so if you'd like to find out more about Edinburgh and where I'm going to be next, best have a look at the events page!
Since last we met, there have been a couple of great new reviews, one online and another one in an actual newspaper.
The Peterborough Evening Telegraph liked it:
"If you love Michael Connelly and Robert Crais thrillers that pack action and nerve-shredding suspense while moving to a cool Los Angeles vibe, you'll rave about this ... Cross - amazingly a Glasgow writer - makes the manhunt so intensely gripping it plays like a Hollywood blockbuster in your head."
Euro Crime posted a fantastic review, saying:
"I was fascinated by the story and once started I just could not put it down. This author who has only published one other book so far, writes with such dexterity and expert plotting that one would think he has many, many titles to his credit. I must try and get hold of his earlier book as I don't think I can wait until next year to read more about Carter Blake. Extremely well recommended."
I'm really pleased that for the most part people seem to be enjoying book 2, and I'm always happy when someone likes it without having read the first one. It can be a tough balance to get right, making sure a book works in the context of a series and in its own right, but so far the feedback is good.
The Daily Record ran a nice feature on The Samaritan as part of their Book Club on Saturday too:
In general, the publicity for The Samaritan is going really, really well. Waterstones have been great as usual, hosting me not just for the launch, but for readings and signings at the East Kilbride store and the brand-new refitted Braehead store as well.
At times, the business of writing a novel can feel like butting your head against a brick wall, so it's actually rather nice to get out and talk to people who are enjoying what you do.
I'm going to be pretty busy over the next few weeks - I have rewrites on the third Blake book to complete, and I'm going to be at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on 21st August with fellow-Orion dude, legal eagle, and all round good guy Steve Cavanagh.
I've decided to simplify things by hosting all events on the main website, so if you'd like to find out more about Edinburgh and where I'm going to be next, best have a look at the events page!
July 28, 2015
Samaritan reviews
A couple more excellent reviews of The Samaritan - great to see it's going down well so far.
Geoffrey Wansell in the Daily Mail (who also liked Killing Season ) said:
"Cross has a fine grasp of Angelino authenticity, and puts it to full use. He's a writer who has his own voice and likes to use it, and the locale, to heighten the tension to breaking point."
It's increasingly rare for new authors to be reviewed in the national press, so I'm incredibly pleased that The Samaritan has notched up great reviews in both the Mail and the Independent.
I'm also really pleased that it's going down well with bloggers, particularly this excellent write-up from blogger, writer and all-round crime fic expert Crime Thriller Girl:
"Set in Florida and California, The Samaritan showcases some great locations (including one very creepy and atmospheric one that I can’t mention – sorry, it’d be too much of a spoiler) to create a vivid backdrop to the story. With great characters, fab locations and a super-twisty plot, The Samaritan is an absolute page-turner. And I already can’t wait for the next Carter Blake novel – I think this is a series that’s going to run and run."
It's also been picking up mostly great Amazon and Goodreads reviews. These are really important for reaching new readers, so if you liked the book, please take a minute to leave a review. Whether it's from newspaper critics, bloggers or readers, it's really good to get feedback.
The Samaritan isn't out in the US until February, but here's a sneak peak of the American cover, which I really like.
Geoffrey Wansell in the Daily Mail (who also liked Killing Season ) said:
"Cross has a fine grasp of Angelino authenticity, and puts it to full use. He's a writer who has his own voice and likes to use it, and the locale, to heighten the tension to breaking point."
It's increasingly rare for new authors to be reviewed in the national press, so I'm incredibly pleased that The Samaritan has notched up great reviews in both the Mail and the Independent.
I'm also really pleased that it's going down well with bloggers, particularly this excellent write-up from blogger, writer and all-round crime fic expert Crime Thriller Girl:
"Set in Florida and California, The Samaritan showcases some great locations (including one very creepy and atmospheric one that I can’t mention – sorry, it’d be too much of a spoiler) to create a vivid backdrop to the story. With great characters, fab locations and a super-twisty plot, The Samaritan is an absolute page-turner. And I already can’t wait for the next Carter Blake novel – I think this is a series that’s going to run and run."
It's also been picking up mostly great Amazon and Goodreads reviews. These are really important for reaching new readers, so if you liked the book, please take a minute to leave a review. Whether it's from newspaper critics, bloggers or readers, it's really good to get feedback.
The Samaritan isn't out in the US until February, but here's a sneak peak of the American cover, which I really like.
July 25, 2015
Robert Bloch's Psycho
I wrote about Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho for The Murder Room last year, so it was nice to be asked to contribute another piece this year about the source material: Robert Bloch's original novel.Some other writers were asked to pitch in with articles to coincide with Orion bringing the novel out as a UK ebook for the first time, and if you're a fan of Norman Bates, you should really over head to The Murder Room to see what the likes of RJ Ellory, Steve Cavanagh and Barry Forshaw have to say about it. Before you rush over there, you can read my contribution right here.
Mason Cross on PsychoThe Murder Room, January 2015
Being a perverse sort, I tend to do things in completely the wrong order.
For example, I actually watched Psycho 2 before I saw the original, on late-night TV some time past my bedtime in the early 1990s. It wasn’t until a couple of years later that I finally saw Alfred Hitchcock’s classic original, which blew me away and still rewards repeat viewings to this day. It’s one of my absolute favourite films, and a masterclass in the art of the cinematic thriller.
Two decades on, I belatedly got around to reading the book that started the whole thing. As a voracious reader of thrillers, it seems strange that I’ve left it until now to read Robert Bloch’s Psycho, but in my defence it’s been hard to get hold of until recently.
It was difficult to know what to expect from the novel. Often, you’re judging how a movie holds up to the book from which it was adapted. In this case, it’s very much the other way around. The basic story is pretty much exactly the one that Hitch filmed: a bored secretary steals forty grand to start a new life, goes on the lam and is murdered in the shower of the Bates Motel. Her fiancé and sister investigate, only to discover more than they bargained for.
It’s a great plot, and you can see what attracted Hitchcock to it – to the extent that he reputedly bought up every copy of the novel in order to preserve the twist. Of course, people no longer read or watch Psycho to be surprised by the twist, any more than they go to McDonald’s to be surprised by the menu.
Following an expanded opening that helps us get to know Marion Crane a little better than her literary counterpart, the film sticks very closely to its source. The fact that it was made within a couple of years of the book’s publication probably made that more feasible – nothing needed to be updated or modernised. While it’s easy to see the added value Hitchcock brought to the visuals, there’s a pleasant surprise in the way the book makes use of the advantages of its own medium, giving us much more insight into Norman Bates’s inner life. It ends up complementing the movie very well, showing us the same events from a different point of view.
Reading Bloch’s Psycho gave me a new appreciation for how much his story and Hitchcock’s film have influenced me as a writer. When I’m plotting a novel, I tend to come up with the big scenes first: the sudden outbursts of violence and dramatic reversals that will, I hope, hook the reader. When I’m writing, I’m always imagining the visuals: how a particular shot will be framed, the expression on a character’s face as they deliver a line of dialogue. Psycho, on both page and screen, is a textbook thriller: it sucks the audience in and then mercilessly pulls the rug out from under them. I’m always looking for a way to wrong-foot the reader in my books, although it’s unlikely I’ll ever come up with a twist that rivals the secret of Norman Bates.
This isn’t the first time I’ve read the book that inspired a classic movie, and often I’ve been underwhelmed by the source material: Peter Benchley’s Jaws is a case in point. The fantastic thing about Psycho is that even if you’ve seen the movie a dozen times, the book still delivers its own unique thrills.
July 24, 2015
The Samaritan launch
So The Samaritan had a pretty solid welcome into the physical world last week.
Once again, Waterstones Argyle Street did a fantastic job of hosting, making sure everyone had a glass of wine, and that almost everyone had a seat. Craig Robertson was on hand this time to do the Q&A, and did an amazing job. Craig's an ex-journalist, so it was my first time being grilled in front of an audience by somebody who used to do it for a living. He went fairly easy on me though, thankfully, except for a devilishly difficult quiz about Los Angeles. I think I might have got about two questions right...
We talked about a lot of things, from Carter Blake's motivations (I think I summed him up as 'a badass with a heart of gold'), the advantages of making your hero an outsider, the long line of authors who inspired me with their own LA thrillers, and the different ways to escape when your hands are bound by zip ties. You learn a lot at these events.
I'd been a little worried about less people coming to my second book launch now that the novelty has worn off a little. Lots of people warned me about Second Book Turnout Syndrome, and Nick Quantrill told me you really find out who your friends are on the second book. But it turned out I needn't have worried - the shop was packed, and I was reminded I have a lot of friends, as well as a few new faces.
And I have a cool poster too...
I have a few more events coming up soon, including Waterstones East Kilbride on 6th August, Waterstones Braehead on the 8th, and I'm back at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on the 21st - check out my events page for all the details.
Once again, Waterstones Argyle Street did a fantastic job of hosting, making sure everyone had a glass of wine, and that almost everyone had a seat. Craig Robertson was on hand this time to do the Q&A, and did an amazing job. Craig's an ex-journalist, so it was my first time being grilled in front of an audience by somebody who used to do it for a living. He went fairly easy on me though, thankfully, except for a devilishly difficult quiz about Los Angeles. I think I might have got about two questions right...
We talked about a lot of things, from Carter Blake's motivations (I think I summed him up as 'a badass with a heart of gold'), the advantages of making your hero an outsider, the long line of authors who inspired me with their own LA thrillers, and the different ways to escape when your hands are bound by zip ties. You learn a lot at these events.
I'd been a little worried about less people coming to my second book launch now that the novelty has worn off a little. Lots of people warned me about Second Book Turnout Syndrome, and Nick Quantrill told me you really find out who your friends are on the second book. But it turned out I needn't have worried - the shop was packed, and I was reminded I have a lot of friends, as well as a few new faces.
And I have a cool poster too...
I have a few more events coming up soon, including Waterstones East Kilbride on 6th August, Waterstones Braehead on the 8th, and I'm back at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on the 21st - check out my events page for all the details.
July 16, 2015
The Samaritan - UK publication day
The Samaritan
is now available in all formats from all good offline and online bookstores
Hardcover Waterstones
Amazon
WHSmith
Trade paperbackWaterstones
Amazon
WHSmith
ebook Kindle
Kobo
iBook AudioAudible Or order from your local independent bookshop
July 14, 2015
Bookmass Eve
The Samaritan is finally published in hardcover and trade paperback this Thursday!
Although it's been out in ebook for a while, it doesn't feel quite published until I see it on the shelf in a bookshop. The launch is tomorrow night at 7pm at Waterstones Argyle Street in Glasgow, and if you're in the neighbourhood it would be great to have you along. You can register for a free place and get full details here.
Rebecca Bradley was kind enough to host me on the What's Your First Draft Like? feature on her blog - you can see my contribution here and check out how other writers have answered this question. No two are the same and these posts are fascinating for anyone interested in the craft of writing.
Bloody Scotland kindly asked me to blog about my inspiration for the new Blake book, which I've done here.
Elsewhere, I've been blogging the new season of True Detective along with Steve Cavanagh over on The Murder Room.
I had my first interview for a broadsheet newspaper last week with the Glasgow Herald, and you can read it in full here. It's a great feature, loads of column inches and for once a pretty decent photograph. I'm really pleased with it.
And just when I thought all of the Killing Season reviews were over, I got this great American blog review from Leaning Tower of Tomes. "There is plenty of action to be found here, and it’s so intense and well-visualized that I really felt like I was watching a movie." That's it for now - looking forward to a busy few days as The Samaritan hits the shelves.
Although it's been out in ebook for a while, it doesn't feel quite published until I see it on the shelf in a bookshop. The launch is tomorrow night at 7pm at Waterstones Argyle Street in Glasgow, and if you're in the neighbourhood it would be great to have you along. You can register for a free place and get full details here.
Rebecca Bradley was kind enough to host me on the What's Your First Draft Like? feature on her blog - you can see my contribution here and check out how other writers have answered this question. No two are the same and these posts are fascinating for anyone interested in the craft of writing.
Bloody Scotland kindly asked me to blog about my inspiration for the new Blake book, which I've done here.
Elsewhere, I've been blogging the new season of True Detective along with Steve Cavanagh over on The Murder Room.
I had my first interview for a broadsheet newspaper last week with the Glasgow Herald, and you can read it in full here. It's a great feature, loads of column inches and for once a pretty decent photograph. I'm really pleased with it.
And just when I thought all of the Killing Season reviews were over, I got this great American blog review from Leaning Tower of Tomes. "There is plenty of action to be found here, and it’s so intense and well-visualized that I really felt like I was watching a movie." That's it for now - looking forward to a busy few days as The Samaritan hits the shelves.
July 10, 2015
New website
Ahead of the publication of The Samaritan, I've given my website a long-overdue overhaul.
Go to www.masoncross.net to check it out - I've kept most of the original content, but updated some of the reviews and added covers from different territories. There's also a new mailing list, which means I can let you know when a new book's coming out.
I think it looks pretty good, and more importantly it's much easier to keep up to date.
Let me know what you think!
#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */
Go to www.masoncross.net to check it out - I've kept most of the original content, but updated some of the reviews and added covers from different territories. There's also a new mailing list, which means I can let you know when a new book's coming out.
I think it looks pretty good, and more importantly it's much easier to keep up to date.
Let me know what you think!
#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */
July 9, 2015
Kindle Summer Sale (UK)
I'm pleased to say that both The Killing Season and The Samaritan have been selected for Amazon UK's Kindle Summer Sale, so if you're in the UK, click on the links below to buy them for just 99p or £2.99 respectively.
Kindle Summer Sale: 99p
Kindle Summer Sale: £2.99 Already seen a nice sales boost - Killing Season is ranked #24 in crime and #60 in... literary fiction? Really?
Kindle Summer Sale: 99p Kindle Summer Sale: £2.99 Already seen a nice sales boost - Killing Season is ranked #24 in crime and #60 in... literary fiction? Really?
June 25, 2015
The finished product
Hot off the presses, I got to hold my first copies of The Samaritan yesterday - as with Killing Season, it's initially published in trade paperback (on the right hand side in the first pic, top in the second) and a more limited and even better-looking hardback edition (left hand side in pic 1, bottom in pic 2).
It's always nice to have a finished product at the end of the long process that starts with scribbled notes and evolves through typing the first draft, making structural and line edits, incorporating changes after expert feedback, bug-fixing and page proofs. It helps when the product looks as good as this (particularly the beautiful hardback).
I suppose this marks the moment where I officially cease to be a debut novelist, which I'm a little sad about, but it also means I'm a novelist with multiple books to his name, which of course is a good thing. Anyway, I don't think I'll ever get used to the amazing experience of opening a proper printed book and seeing a bunch of words I made up filling it from cover to cover. It's a pretty awesome feeling.
The ebook edition has been on sale for a while, but if you want a physical copy, these babies are available in the UK from all good bookshops on 16th July. And if you want one slightly earlier than that, come along to the book launch at Waterstones Glasgow (Argyle Street) at 7pm on 15 July!
It's always nice to have a finished product at the end of the long process that starts with scribbled notes and evolves through typing the first draft, making structural and line edits, incorporating changes after expert feedback, bug-fixing and page proofs. It helps when the product looks as good as this (particularly the beautiful hardback).
I suppose this marks the moment where I officially cease to be a debut novelist, which I'm a little sad about, but it also means I'm a novelist with multiple books to his name, which of course is a good thing. Anyway, I don't think I'll ever get used to the amazing experience of opening a proper printed book and seeing a bunch of words I made up filling it from cover to cover. It's a pretty awesome feeling.
The ebook edition has been on sale for a while, but if you want a physical copy, these babies are available in the UK from all good bookshops on 16th July. And if you want one slightly earlier than that, come along to the book launch at Waterstones Glasgow (Argyle Street) at 7pm on 15 July!
