Little: A Novel by Edward Carey

Little: A Novel
By Edward Carey
Published by Aardvark Bureau (16 May 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

Born in Alsace in 1761, the unsightly, diminutive Marie Grosholtz is quickly nicknamed “Little”. Orphaned at the age of six, she finds employment in the household of reclusive anatomist, Dr Curtius. Her role soon surpasses that of mere servant as the eccentric doctor takes an interest in his newfound companion and begins to instruct her in the fine art of wax modelling.

From the gutters of pre-revolutionary France to the luxury of the Palace of Versailles, from clutching the still-warm heads of Robespierre’s Terror to finding something very like love, Little traces the improbable fortunes of a bloodstained crumb of a thing who went on to shape the world...

My verdict
Little is a unique gothic historical novel. Not only is it written beautifully but it is illustrated beautifully too.

This is the reimagined memoir of the little girl who became one of the world's renowned waxwork artists, Madame Tussauds. The writing is poetic, with often-humorous descriptions of its vibrant characters, as little orphaned Marie Grosholtz (nicknamed 'Little') is taken into employment by a reclusive anatomist and artist. I laughed, I grimaced, I cried and I winced, as the author transported me back in time to the French Revolution.

This book is rich in history and science, darkness and despair, power and intrigue, beauty and tenderness. It's gruesome and eccentric, wonderfully weird, whacky and even wicked in places, as is the concept of creating waxworks, not just of the best in society but also of the worst.

Little is like nothing I have read before, and I will possible never read anything like it again. As already mentioned briefly, the intricate illustrations are outstanding, bringing the author's descriptions to life. I read this book incredibly slowly, just so that I could savour the language of the prose.

Just like Madame Tussaud's legacy, this book is innovative, quirky and highly memorable - a story of an extraordinary life as well as a stunning work of art.

Breakers by Doug Johnstone

Breakers
By Doug Johnstone
Published by Orenda Books (Ebook - out now; Paperback - 16 May 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

A toxic family … a fight for survival…

Seventeen-year-old Tyler lives in one of Edinburgh’s most deprived areas. Coerced into robbing rich people’s homes by his bullying older siblings, he’s also trying to care for his little sister and his drug-addict mum.

On a job, his brother Barry stabs a homeowner and leaves her for dead, but that’s just the beginning of their nightmare, because the woman is the wife of Edinburgh’s biggest crime lord, Deke Holt.

With the police and the Holts closing in, and his shattered family in devastating danger, Tyler meets posh girl Flick in another stranger’s house, and he thinks she may just be his salvation … unless he drags her down too.

My verdict
Breakers is a compelling, gritty crime novel that shattered my heart. So different from the authors' previous novel, Faultlines, but just as brilliant.

Set mainly in a deprived area of Edinburgh, this is an honest, and often brutal, portrayal of a broken family ruined by drink, drugs and crime. Yet it's also filled with glimmers of light, as 17-year-old Tyler is determined to create a better life for himself and his younger sister Bethany.

I struggled to put Breakers down. This character-led psychological thriller is filled with astute observations, vivid descriptions and punchy dialogue. Taut writing means that every word counts. It's tense and shocking and felt very real. I was so invested in the characters that I had to know how it ended, holding my breath during some of the final chapters - I had to know that Tyler and Bethany were safe.

Breakers is a story of family, love and responsibility. A story of resilience and determination in a toxic world, with a teenager fighting against nature and nurture to do what's right. And a story that highlights the rich-poor divide and that possessions shouldn't (and don't) define us, as it's what's inside us that counts.

This is a book that will give you food for thought - and characters who will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

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BEST OF CRIME with Fiona Erskine

Welcome to my latest BEST OF CRIME feature, looking at crime writers' top picks, from their favourite author and fictional detective to their best writing tip. 

Today I'm delighted to welcome 

FIONA ERSKINE

to share her BEST OF CRIME ...

... AUTHORS

When it comes to thrillers, I adore Robert Harris, John Le Carré and Lee Child, but my current favourite is Lionel Davidson. I devoured Kolymsky Heights, raced through Rose of Tibet and lingered onthe delicate and tragic Smith’s Gazelle.

... FILMS/MOVIES

An Oscar winning film, The Lives of Others, set in 1984 East Germany is a subtle but thrilling portrayal of good people betrayed by those who should protect them. Sebastian Koch is a joy to watch, but it is the internal journey of secret policeman Ulrich Mühe that captivates.

(2006 Das Leben der Anderen Florian Henckel von Dennersmark)

... TV DRAMAS

For its perfect combination of superb writing and faultless acting, I have to pick The Killing. The intricate plot, the honest exploration of bereavement, the charismatic politician, all arebrilliantly handled but it is Sofie Gräbøl’s gritty portrayal of Detective Sarah Lund that steals the show for me.

(2007 Forbrydelsen Birger Larsen)

... FICTIONAL KILLERS

It is very hard to think of a more chilling and compelling character than Dr Hannibal Lecter (in Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris). I like my antagonists cerebral, and my fava beans sautéed.

... FICTIONAL DETECTIVES 

I am more interested in reluctant detectives who operate outside the constraints of police procedure, which is why I warmed to the intrepid V.I. Warshawski (Sara Paretsky) and the naughty Nick Belsey (Oliver Harris). But I’ll make an exception for my current favourites Captain Sam Wyndham and Sergeant “Surrender Not” Banerjee of the Calcutta Police Force in the brilliant series by Abir Mukherjee set in 1920’s India.

... MURDER WEAPONS

An elephant (stomping in A Necessary Evil by Abir Mukherjee).

... DEATH SCENE

It’s a dead heat between the opening of Red Snow by Will Dean (man splats open in snow after falling from the tower of a salty liquorice factory) and the opening of Smoke and Ashes by Abir Mukherjee (man escapes police raid in opium den only to trip over enucleated corpse).

... BLOGS/WEBSITES

The sadly defunct WordCloud of the Writers’ Workshop kept me sane while I was starting to write. Now Emma Darwin’s wonderful this itch of writing helps me to improve.

https://emmadarwin.typepad.com/thisitchofwriting/resources.html

... WRITING TIPS

Read

Read outside your genre, fiction and non-fiction, poetry, drama and prose. Read inside your genre: the good – to push yourself; the bad – to avoid the same pitfalls; and the ugly - to work out why it doesn’t work for you as a reader. Act as a beta reader for others - not just so they return the favour, but to hone your surgical skills before you turn to murderous vivisection on your own manuscript.

Write

Write lots. Write every day. If you are stuck, write “I remember…” and just see what flows. If you’re stuck with the novel, write some flash fiction, poetry or short stories instead. Write for yourself. No writing is wasted. It’s a muscle that needs exercising.

... WRITING SNACKS

Prosecco.

About FIONA ERSKINE

Fiona Erskine is a professional engineer based in Teesside, although she travels often to Brazil, Russia, India and China. As a female engineer, she is often the lone representative of her gender in board meetings, cargo ships, night-time factories and offshore oil rigs, and her fiction offers an insight into this traditionally male world.

Find Fiona Erskine on her website and on Twitter - @erskine_fiona

About THE CHEMICAL DETECTIVE

Publisher's description

Dr Jaq Silver. Skier, scientist, international jet-setter, explosives expert. She blows things up to keep people safe. 

Working on avalanche control in Slovenia, Jaq stumbles across a problem with a consignment of explosives. After raising a complaint with the supplier, a multinational chemical company, her evidence disappears. Jaq is warned, threatened, accused of professional incompetence and suspended. Taking her complaint further, she narrowly escapes death only to be framed for murder. Escaping from police custody, she sets out to find the key to the mystery.

Racing between the snowy slopes of Slovenia and the ghostly ruins of Chernobyl, can she uncover the truth before her time runs out?

The Chemical Detective was published by Point Blank, an imprint of Oneworld, in hardback on 4 April 2019.

Look out for more BEST OF CRIME features coming soon.

Click here to read more BEST OF CRIME features.

The Way of All Flesh by Ambrose Parry

The Way of All Flesh
By Ambrose Parry
Published by Canongate Books (2 May 2019)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher

Publisher's description

Edinburgh, 1847. Will Raven is a medical student, apprenticing for the brilliant and renowned Dr Simpson. Sarah Fisher is Simpson's housemaid, and has all of Raven's intelligence but none of his privileges.

As bodies begin to appear across the Old Town, Raven and Sarah find themselves propelled headlong into the darkest shadows of Edinburgh's underworld. And if either of them are to make it out alive, they will have to work together to find out who's responsible for the gruesome deaths.

My verdict
The Way of All Flesh is the first in a new series of historical crime novels. It's chilling, gripping and vivid and took me right into the heart of the darkness of 19th century Edinburgh.

I loved not only the historical background but the medical background too, both twined together by a common thread - the invention of anaesthesia and the rise of early modern scientific techniques. The authors have carefully placed real life characters and events within a largely fictional setting by focusing on a series of gruesome murders. Will Raven and Sarah Fisher make a believable pairing as they work together, somewhat reluctantly at first, to solve these crimes.

The Way of All Flesh is a must-read for all historical crime fiction fans. It was fun, entertaining, fascinating and brutal, with well-developed characters and a well-paced plot. The book features a strong mix of mystery, history of medicine, social history, science, art (photography) and even some romance. I can't wait to read the next one in the series (The Art of Dying), which is being published in hardback in August 2019.

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My Jewish-themed Reads Part 4

Earlier this year, I was an official book blog partner of Jewish Book Week in London. If you follow me on Twitter or follow Off-the-Shelf Books, you'll know that I'm writing Jewish-themed crime fiction and I've made it my mission to read more Jewish-themed books this year. Here are three more Jewish-themed reads - more to come soon!


Testament by Kim Sherwood 
Published in paperback by riverrun on 13 June 2019 (already out in hardback and ebook)

Publisher's description

Of everyone in her complicated family, Eva was always closest to her grandfather. She is making a film about his life. She is with him when he dies. 

It is only when she finds the letter from the Jewish Museum in Berlin, hidden in his painting studio, that she realises how many secrets he kept.

As she uncovers everything he endured in the Holocaust - and what it took to learn to live again - Eva is confronted by the lies that haunt her family, and a truth that changes her own identity.

My verdict
Testament is an outstanding debut novel about hope, survival, family and courage. Eva is the granddaughter of a world-renowned artist who 'reinvented' himself after surviving labour camps in Austria. Joseph Silk told his family nothing about his traumatic experiences, but now his testimony (which he wanted destroyed) has been found by the Jewish Museum in Berlin. Eva gradually pieces together the tragedy in his past and the grief he carried with him for most of his life. Testament is an exploration of how the past can shape our lives - not just our own past, but that of previous generations. It's beautifully written with vivid poetic descriptive prose. Eva has to make a decision - should her grandfather be remembered by his testimony or by the art he has created since. Unlike many other Holocaust-themed books, Testament explores how Holocaust survivors chose to live their lives afterwards, torn between putting the traumatic past behind them or sharing their stories to educate future generations. An enjoyable read - out in paperback soon!


The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin
Published by Tinder Press in July 2018

Publisher's description

It's 1969, and holed up in a grimy tenement building in New York's Lower East Side is a travelling psychic who claims to be able to tell anyone the date they will die. The four Gold children, too young for what they're about to hear, sneak out to learn their fortunes.

Such prophecies could be dismissed as trickery and nonsense, yet the Golds bury theirs deep. Over the years that follow they attempt to ignore, embrace, cheat and defy the 'knowledge' given to them that day - but it will shape the course of their lives forever.

My verdict
On the surface, The Immortalists is a family drama set against a backdrop of Jewish practices and family expectations. But the clever premise means there's so much more bubbling below. This is a story of mortality, fate, grief, love and guilt. Beautiful writing and a powerful story took me on a journey through the decades, as I immersed myself into the lives of the four Gold siblings. The book focuses on each sibling in turn, with the life decisions they made and any resulting consequences - some stories slightly stronger than others. The Immortalists isn't what I would call an uplifting read and wasn't always an easy one, but it's certainly thought provoking. How would you live your life if you believed that a particular day would be your last?


Unbroken by Madeleine Black
Published in April 2017

Publisher's description: 

Violently gang-raped when she was thirteen years old, and raped three more times before the age of eighteen, Madeleine has experienced more trauma in her life than most ever will.

Living in a state of shock and self-loathing, it took her years of struggle to confront the buried memories of that first attack and begin to undo the damage it wrought, as men continued to take advantage of her fragility in the worst possible way.

Yet, after growing up with a burden no teenager should ever have to shoulder, she found the heart to carry out the best revenge plan of all: leading a fulfilling and happy life. But the road to piecing her life back together was long and painful. For Madeleine, forgiveness was the key. True forgiveness takes genuine effort. It takes a real desire to understand those who have done us so much harm. It is the ultimate act of courage.

My verdict
Unbroken is a hard-hitting memoir. This is the story of a thirteen-year-old Jewish girl from North-West London who was brutally raped, not just once but several times - a horrific night that shaped the rest of her life. This was a painful book to read, so I can't even comprehend how difficult it must have been to write. Some of the descriptions are brutal and graphic, yet Unbroken is much more than just a book about rape. Following years of struggle and self-loathing, Madeleine Black found the strength to embark on a journey of self-discovery and to learn to forgive, love and hope. And this book IS her journey, dwelling far more on her search for acceptance and peace as she comes to terms with the past. This isn't a book that you can 'enjoy' but it's a powerful story of a woman's resilience and courage. A lesson to us all.


So that's it for now! But I have many more Jewish-themed books on my list and will reading (and reviewing) them over the coming months. So do pop back to Off-the-Shelf Books for more updates!

BEST OF CRIME with Andy Griffee

Welcome to my latest BEST OF CRIME feature, looking at crime writers' top picks, from their favourite author and fictional detective to their best writing tip. 

Today I'm delighted to welcome 

ANDY GRIFFEE

to share his BEST OF CRIME ...

... AUTHORS

Raymond Chandler.  I have always been a sucker for Philip Marlowe (who, of course, I picture as Humphrey Bogart).  I love the concept of a hero prowling the mean streets who 'is not mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid' and who likes a glass or five or whisky. But most of all, I love the sardonic deadpan wit of someone who is immersed in the messy corruption of venal people and yet somehow, also seems to hover above it.  I still have a quiet chuckle to myself when I remember lines like, 'she was a blonde, a blonde to make a bishop kick in a stained-glass window' or 'he looked about as inconspicuous as a tarantula on a slice of angel food cake.' He took crime fiction by the scruff of the neck and kicked it out of the Home Counties drawing rooms. His hero has been often-imitated but rarely, if ever, improved upon. He created the original hard-boiled gumshoe detective and I have been a fan since I read The Big Sleep as a teenager.

... FILMS/MOVIES

Okay…it's not a crime movie and it may not be the finest film ever made, but my DVD copy of Master and Commander: Far Side of the World is easily the most viewed film in my collection. I am a huge admirer of the 21 seafaring novels by Patrick O'Brian which follow the fortunes of the British naval officer, Jack Aubrey and his friend, the naval surgeon, naturalist and spy Stephen Maturin.  Having read the entire series from cover to cover, twice on the trot, I was nervous that Peter Weir's 2003 film would fail to do justice to the books. I need not have worried. He uses some of the characters, plot and dialogue from the books without faithfully reproducing any single book's plot. The film captures the spirit of the amazing friendship at the heart of the series of novels and respects O'Brien's painstaking historical authenticity without getting in the way of a rollicking good story. The movie captures the awesome scale of the sea and the hardships of life on board. It is a really satisfying movie which I return to again and again. 

... TV DRAMAS

At the moment, there is only one compelling British-made TV crime drama which is appointment-to-view and towers over the competition. It is Peaky Blinders. The BBC gangster family epic is set in 1919 Birmingham and describes the expansion of a criminal gang who sew razor blades into the peaks of their caps and is led by their charismatic and cunning boss, Tommy Shelby.  The acting by Cillian Murphy, Helen McCrory, Sam Neill, Paul Anderson, Tom Hardy, Benjamin Zephaniah et al is outstanding.  Although it was mostly filmed in Yorkshire, its sense of place is rooted in the industrial grimness of England's second city in the aftermath of the World War 1. The strongly drawn characters and high-stakes plotting is complemented by great costume design and a directorial flair that at times is breathtaking. Four series have been screened so far and there are another three to look forward to. I am counting the days. 

... FICTIONAL KILLERS

My favourite fictional killer is, with no shadow of doubt, Tom Ripley. Patricia Highsmith described her anti-hero as a 'suave, agreeable and utterly amoral' con-artist and serial killer who always evades justice. You find yourself admiring his sophisticated taste for fine food, wine and art and the depth of his love for his partners – and then you realise with a jolt that you are rooting for a violent psychopath. You know you shouldn't be hoping he thrives, let alone survives, and yet you do. I was transfixed by the sequence of Ripley novels and slightly horrified by how drawn I was to Tom's character.  Therein lies Highsmith's magnificent achievement. 

... FICTIONAL DETECTIVES 

Whilst I have a weakness for P.D.James's Commander Adam Dalgleish with his calm manner, Jaguar sports car and poetry writing, perhaps he is a little too superior and detached. I feel much the same about Susan Hill's Detective Chief Inspector Simon Serrailler, another middle-aged and slightly aloof English bachelor whose spare-time sketches are worthy of gallery space but who struggles with close personal relationships. No, when it comes to fictional detectives, I'm looking for the wit, character and uncompromising courage of a Philip Marlowe - and so I finally choose Philip Kerr's detective, the Berlin private investigator Bernie Gunther.  Bernie served 11 years as a homicide detective in Berlin just as Hitler's National Socialists were coming to power. I love his jaundiced commentary on both his own failings and the corrupt and deviant viciousness of the Nazis who are all around him.  He compromises to survive during hellish times, but maintains a personal bravery, honesty and overwhelming decency as well as a brilliant mind.  The atmosphere and detail of the 14-book series is so convincing that I was amazed when I discovered that Kerr was a British writer. Sadly, he died in March 2018 and I am so sad that I shall no longer be able to read of Bernie Gunther's trials and tribulations. 

... MURDER WEAPONS

The murder weapon which still stabs deep into my memory is the Marttiini, a slim Finnish-made blade which is kept in a lightly oiled sheath and belongs to the serial killer who haunts Complicity, a crime thriller by the late Scottish writer Iain Banks. This is one of the most dog-eared paperbacks on my book shelves which I re-read every couple of years. Its chapters alternate between a troubled newspaper reporter's first-person narrative and a second person account of a serial killer's activities in and around Edinburgh.  The bizarre and sadistic murders are acted out on a series of unpleasant right-wing capitalists in ever more ingenious ways.  Slowly, a connection between the killings and a previous article by the journalist is established.  In one, an arms-dealing MP is tied to a chicken wire gate and has an artery slashed after watching his much-loved fox-hounds get shot. The methods of killing match the immoral activities of the victims in a gruesome way and the plot drives forward in a bleak but compellingly imaginative way.  As a former journalist, I enjoyed the underlying focus on journalism and the extreme nihilism which is uncompromised by the book's ending. The surprises in Complicity linger long in the memory and, although not as famous as Banks's Wasp Factory and The Crow Road, is well worth seeking out by crime fiction aficionados. 

... BLOGS/WEBSITES

My fictional hero, Jack Johnson, lives on a 64 ft long canal boat and moves around the country's canals and waterways - so the most vital source material I use is the series of excellent pocket guide books by J.M.Pearson & Son Ltd which map out every single lock, bridge and towpath pub.  Pearsons have kindly allowed me to replicate some of their maps so readers can trace the fictional journeys with their fingers and even explore the geography of the novels for themselves should they wish. 

... WRITING TIPS

It would be presumptive for this debut novelist to give writing tips before finding out whether anyone actually enjoys my books. However, I have now learnt the difference between a pantster and a plotter.  My first book, Canal Pushers, took more than two years to complete because I made it up as I went along and needed to juggle the interconnections between three distinctly different plotlines. Long daily dog walks proved to be the answer to filling the day's blank pages. The second book (provisionally entitled River Rats) had every chapter carefully plotted out from beginning to end and took just six months to complete.  The third, I hope, will benefit from experience and be a blend of the two. However, I have found the snooker table in my study to be very convenient to lay out 30 small sheets of paper – one for each chapter – and juggle the contents accordingly. 

... WRITING SNACKS

I write from 10 am to 4pm – stopping for a brief sandwich lunch and then to make sure dinner is on the table for my hard-working wife after her day at St Richard's Hospice in Worcester. The odd chocolate biscuit has been known to join the morning coffee at the desk, but other than that the snacks are all given to the three dogs (two border terriers and an English springer spaniel.)

About ANDY GRIFFEE

Andy Griffee is a former BBC journalist and media consultant with a fascination for stories. He began his journalism career at the Bath Evening Chronicle, and then spent twenty-five years at the BBC, culminating inhis role as Editorial Director of the redevelopment of Broadcasting House.Andy lives in Worcestershire and, when he isn’t writing, rears rare breedpigs, struggles to keep a 1964 Triumph Spitfire on the road and enjoys hiringnarrowboats and dreaming up new plot twists as the towpath rolls past.

Find Andy Griffee on Twitter - @AndyGriffee

About CANAL PUSHERS

Publisher's description

Jack Johnson is newly divorced, recently made redundant from his job as a journalist and in search of a fresh start. But when a young boy he meets on the canals turns up drowned, trouble seems determined to follow him. With the encouragement of Jack’s unlikely companion, Nina, who’s come aboard his narrowboat, Jumping Jack Flash, to help him navigate the waterways of the Midlands, Jack is soon tangled up in a police investigation that doesn’t quite add up. Is there a serial killer stalking the towpaths? Jack’s got more pressing problems too: can a canal boat outrun an organised crime syndicate and a media manhunt?

Canal Pushers was published by Orphans Publishing on 2 May 2019.

Look out for more BEST OF CRIME features coming soon.

Click here to read more BEST OF CRIME features.

First Monday Crime - what do you need to know?

The First Monday May Panel is on 7th May 2019 (yes, I know that's a Tuesday but it's a bank holiday the day before and this is crime fiction after all - you need a twist somewhere apparently). The authors on this killer panel are Vanda Symon (all the way from New Zealand) Chris Carter, Mark Billingham and Deborah O'Connor, moderated by the brilliant Laura Wilson. 

Here's a quick pictorial guide to getting the best out of First Monday Crime:

1. Reserve your seat in advance
Yes, the event is free, but the organisers need to get an idea of numbers.

You can reserve your free seat by clicking here.


2. Check the address
First Monday Crime is in the College Building (Room A130) at City University London.
How do you find it? Here's a map (though you may prefer one that actually zooms!).

City University is slightly nearer Angel Station than Farringdon.

 You need College Building (which is building A on the map above and below).

To retain some mystery, I'll leave you to find Room A130 yourself!

3. Check the start time
First Monday starts at 6.30pm. Best to get there early to get a good seat!


4. Bring money or your credit card!
You'll not only get the opportunity to buy some amazing books but the authors can sign them too. Here are some recent books written by these brilliant authors:

5. Check the finish time
Actually don't bother. After the panel, everyone heads to the pub so you can stay as long as you like (until closing time).


If you can't come along on Monday, you can still keep in touch with what's coming up.

1. Follow First Monday on Twitter - @1stMondayCrime 
Look out for live tweeting or RTs on the night!

2. Follow First Monday on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/1stMondayCrime/
You'll get to read the First Monday news, including reviews and author interviews by the blogging team.

3. Visit the First Monday website - https://www.firstmondaycrime.com
Sign up for emails!

I should be at First Monday (Tuesday) May so you're welcome to follow me on Twitter too, as I may do some live tweeting on the night as well. @VictoriaGoldma2