Thursday 1 August 2013

Life's Minor Mysteries





One of the minor mysteries of cyber-life: last week, after appearing on Radio 4’s Any Questions programme, I wrote a long post about the experience. It disappeared into cyberspace at some point between then and now. Can it have been censored? Hardly: it was a very innocent piece! Perhaps if I rewrote it with the addition of a little vitriol, the cyber-censors would leave it up. But rewriting is no fun. I will do some more posting and  boasting,  instead, because Dead  Woman Walking, though not officially published for another week, has already had reviews worth reading.
N. J. Cooper, herself one of today's best crime writers, and  most original commentators on the subject of crime fiction, has written an interesting piece about my book in the online book review magazine, Book Oxygen - a site that anyone interested in contemporary writing should follow.
And here is Lizzie Hayes, in  Mystery People.

 The characterisation is masterly, gives the reader the person without the need for description. Isobel recounts at one point: "When I left him, Hector blamed 'those bra-burning harpies' and if he could he would have cited the woman’s movement as the co-respondent in our divorce."
As the story progress more and more layers are stripped away from the characters, and a sad but gripping tale of mystery and vengeance is revealed. If the novel has a message it is that one should be careful of making decisions that not only effect but can change and destroy lives. This book is highly recommended.

Thanks, N.J.Cooper and Lizzie Hayes: you've made my day, week, month or even year!



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