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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