Crime in North London

It’s a bit like buses. Nothing for ages, then two turn up at once. First I had had an email to tell me that Macmillan had sold the US rights to Herring Seller ­– the New York based crime specialists Felony and Mayhem will be publishing it in late 2008 or early 2009. Then within an hour or so another email from Will saying that MNW had accepted my second novel – provisionally, but not definitively, entitled Reality Check – scheduled for publication in March 2009 (i.e. just after Doug’s).

I celebrated with a couple of purchases of high quality crime fiction. On Thursday I went to Waterstone’s in Hampstead to listen to Roger Morris and other crime writers (Frank Tallis, Andrew Martin, Lee Jackson) being interviewed on their work, including Roger’s new book, A Vengeful Longing. Contrary to the predictions on his blog, Roger seemed calm and relaxed, in a way that I’m not when being interviewed. It was a good evening. If you haven’t read Roger’s previous books, by the way, I would strongly recommend them. Taking Comfort is a really original book, full of ideas that I wish I had thought of myself! A Gentle Axe, set in C19th St Petersburg, is memorable and atmospheric, with plenty of good twists in the plot. I now also have a copy of A Vengeful Longing, which looks set to be every bit as good. Then, on Saturday, I dropped into Goldsboro Books and picked up a copy of Aliya’s Light Reading. I’m looking forward to reading that too, when I can get it back from the rest of the family!