Debut Authors: An Infusion of Fresh Blood

On Thursday 19 May 2016 the first panel of the CrimeFest conference is:

Debut Authors: An Infusion of Fresh Blood:

Taking part are:

Simon Booker

Michelle Davies

Michael Grothaus

Vaseem Khan

 

Rod Reynolds

 

The panel moderatr is Jake Kerridge

Jake Kerridge

 Will you be there?  I will
www.crimefest.com

 

‘The Polar Bear Killing’ by Michael Ridpath

Published by Corvus,
7 January 2016.
Kindle Edition

Michael Ridpath has written four books set in Iceland featuring

Sergeant Magnus (Jonson) Ragnarsson.  It was with delight that I discovered that his latest book The Polar Bear Killing features Detective Vigdίs Audardtt who has assisted Magnus in his recent investigations. Vigdίs is an interesting character, single but weighed down with the responsibility of trying to keep her alcoholic mother Audur off the booze.  Following  a physical altercation with her boyfriend, Audur is now in prison for two months.

So Vigdίs is travelling from Reykjavίk to Raufarhofn in the north –east of the country to assist in the investigation into the murder of a local policeman.  She reports to Inspector Olafur who greets her with the words ‘Wasted your time, Vigdίs’.

It appears that Olafur has arrested two animal-rights activists, Alex Einarsson, and Martin Fiedle, a German citizen, who while protesting their innocence of the shooting of Constable Halldόr state that ‘he deserved to die for shooting a polar bear’.   The community is divided between those who hail Halldόr as a hero for shooting an animal who could be dangerous, and those who believe the bear should be protected.

Vigdίs is surprised to find that although Olafur has arrested the two animal-rights activists, he has no evidence but is quite complacent it must be the foreigners.  As the interrogation progresses Vigdίs becomes less and less certain that these are the killers.  So Vigdίs, against Olafur wishes starts to delve more deeply into the case. She talks with Halldόr’s daughter Gudrύn who was angry with her father for shooting the bear.  When she interviews old farmer Egill, he says’ well, well, a blue policeman’.   Vigdίs is Iceland’s only black cop, but to the Icelanders ‘blue’ As with all Michaels books whether they be his financial thrillers which number eight, or his WW2 series I always learn new things.  

Away from home, and lonely Vigdίs acts foolishly, and is pleased to see Magnus when he arrives unexpectedly. Together they work the case to uncover the killer, but will all be well for Vigdίs?

A most enjoyable whodunit in an interesting and atmospheric setting. Although a short novel, only 68 pages, the story moves along a good pace, and I was pleased to see development in Vigdίs character.  I look forward to the next instalment in this series.

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Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes

Michael Ridpath was born in Devon in 1961, but brought up in Yorkshire. He was educated at Millfield, Merton College, Oxford. Before becoming a writer, Michael Ridpath used to work in the City of London as a bond trader.  He has written eight thrillers set in the worlds of business and finance, but is now trying his hand at something slightly different.  Where The Shadows Lie, the first in the Fire and Ice series featuring an Icelandic detective named Magnus Jonson, was published in 2010.  He has published two further books in the series.  He now lives in North London.

http://michaelridpath.com/

‘House of the Rising Sun’ by James Lee Burke

Published by Orion Fiction,
28 January 2016.
ISBN: 978-1-4091-6344-2

The main story running through the book is of an ex Texas Ranger by the name of Hackberry Holland looking for his son Ishmael whom he deserted many years ago.

The book opens in 1916 in the American West with Hackberry coming across a house with four black soldiers hanging from the trees. After a Battle with the owner of the house, Hackberry steals an artifact believed to be the cup Jesus drank from at the Last Supper from him and destroys a hearse containing guns and ammunition. He later discovers these all belonged to an Austrian by the name of Arnold Beckham.

The story then goes back to 1891 to tell how Hackberry meets a Ruby Dansen and they have a son Ishmael, but Hackberry and Ruby have a big row and Hackberry walks out on them, he then becomes an alcoholic.

We then go to 1918 and Hackberry learns of Ishmael being injured in the war. He tries to find him but Beckham uses Ishmael to get Hackberry to return his atifact to him. Can his father get to Ishmael before Beckham carries out his threat to kill him?

There follows a cat and mouse game between the two making for exciting reading with a very satisfying Epilogue.

This was certainly a very different book, apparently the fifth involving Hackberry Holland. It is very well written and although quite brutal in places, there were some “laugh aloud” moments. Hackberry does have a tendency to shoot people and try to ask them questions after!

I know some people do not read Epilogues but this is not to be missed, one of the best chapters of the book!

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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

James Lee Burke is the author of many previous novels, many featuring Detective Dave Robicheaux. He won the Edgar Award in 1998 for Cimarron Rose, while Black Cherry Blues won the Edgar in 1990 and Sunset Limited was awarded the CWA Gold Dagger in 1998. He lives with his wife, Pearl, in Missoula, Montana and New Iberia, Louisiana.

jamesleeburke.com

Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf  (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.

‘The Babylon Gene’ by Alex Churton

Published by Head of Zeus.
8 September 2012.
ISBN: 978-1-90880011-4

This is a lengthy and complex thriller, initially ranging from Istanbul to Oxford, before proceeding to embrace most of the civilised (if that's the correct word, given the amount of bloodshed!) world.

The story begins with the blowing up of a Freemasons' Lodge in Istanbul and spreads out from there.  The two main protagonists are polymathic Dr Toby Ashe (recruited by the SIS during his Oxford days) and cynically brusque Colonel Mahmut Asla (a career soldier), both trying to find out who was responsible for the Istanbul disaster and both, in their entirely different ways, very likable heroes. 

Throw loads of intrigue and danger into the mix, add firefights in the desert, the CIA, global threats and an Iranian scientist attempting to use genetic engineering as a weapon of mass alteration, plus a realistic combination of recent fact and believable fiction and you have a novel which will keep you engaged for much longer than the average adventure story.

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Reviewer: Susan Moody

Alex Churton is a writer and composer. An acknowledged expert on Western Esotericism. He is the author of ten non-fiction titles on subjects such as alchemy, magic and Middle Eastern religions. The Babylon Gene is his first novel.

Susan Moody was born in Oxford is the principal nom de plume  of Susan Elizabeth Donaldson, née Horwood, a British novelist best known for her suspense novels. She is a former Chairman of the Crime Writer's Association, served as World President of the International Association of Crime Writers, and was elected to the prestigious Detection Club. Susan Moody has given numerous courses on writing crime fiction and continues to teach creative writing in England, France, Australia, the USA and Denmark.  In addition to her many stand alone books, Susan has written two series, on featuring PI Penny Wanawake (seven books) and a series of six books featuring bridge player Cassie Swan.

‘The Crime of Julian Wells’ by Thomas H Cook

Published by Head of Zeus,
4 October 2012. 
ISBN: 978-1-90880-014-5

I found this a moving and insightful book. 

The story opens with the death by his own hand of Julian Wells, a writer, who explored through his writing the crimes of man against his fellow man in the twentieth century.  Asked by Julian’s sister to give a eulogy at Julian’s funeral, Philip Anders, literary critic and Julian’s best friend looks back over his friend’s life, and in doing so becomes convinced that his friend had a secret, and that maybe it was because he was haunted by a crime that he had committed that caused him to end his life.

And so Philip Anders sets out on a journey to revisit the places that Julian visited to attempt to uncover the mystery.  It is a journey that spans several decades and takes him to Paris, South America and Spain. He has few clues, but like all good mysteries he picks up clues along the way.  As he becomes immersed in his investigations he relives conversations with Julian and wonders if he knew him at all.  He is also plagued by the belief that had he been a better friend he could have prevented Julian’s death.  

This is the story of an intelligent, clever and complex man, who introspection and desire for experience, knowledge and understanding takes him to dark places. And equally as we learn through Philip about Julian, Philip is revealed.

As the story progresses the reader is directed to certain conclusions, but the ending is unexpected with horrific implications, and will give pause for reflection long after the last page has been turned.  Highly recommended.

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Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes

Thomas H Cook  is the author of eighteen books, including two works of true crime. His novels have been nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award, the Macavity Award and the Dashiell Hammett Prize. The Chatham School Affair won the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel in 1996. His true crime book, Blood Echoes, was nominated for the Edgar Allan Poe Award in 1992, and his story "Fatherhood" won the Herodotus Prize in 1998 and was included in Best Mystery Stories of 1998. His works have been translated into fifteen languages.