BEST OF CRIME with Linda Green

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 

LINDA GREEN

to share her BEST OF CRIME ...

... AUTHORS

Louise Doughty is a hugely accomplished writer who manages to weave brilliantly addictive plots while writing beautiful prose and making us care about the characters she is writing about. 

... FILMS/MOVIES

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold is one of my favourite novels. It begins after a murder has been committed and the film adaptation is suitably chilling whilst beautifully conveying Susie Salmon's love for her family. 

... TV DRAMAS

Three Girls. I’m interested in crime stories from the victims’ perspective and the dramatised story of the appalling Rochdale sexual abuse grooming case was compulsive viewing. 

... FICTIONAL KILLERS

I'm more of a psychological thriller fan than a hard-core crime fan, so it's the people close to home who turn out to be killers who I find particularly unsettling. 

... FICTIONAL DETECTIVES 

I like my detectives to be human and have the ability to make me laugh and cry, which is why I'd have to say Olivia Coleman's brilliantly portrayed Ellie Miller in Broadchurch. 

... MURDER WEAPONS

I'm a great believer in less is more in terms of writing a terrifying scene, which is why I'm not going for a murder weapon but the scissors used to secretly cut off a child's hair during the night in The Night Visitor by Lucy Atkins. A truly chilling scene. 

    

... DEATH SCENES

I love Sister by Rosamund Lupton and the final scene in that (not wanting to give anything away) is one that stayed with me for a long time. 

  

... BLOGS/WEBSITES

I'm fortunate enough to have a friend who's married to a police officer, which has proved very helpful. Also, having worked as a journalist on regional newspapers for ten years, I managed to pick up quite a lot about how the police and the media operate in criminal cases. 

... WRITING TIPS

Read widely and try to work out why a book does or doesn't work for you, you can learn a lot by reading books which you don't like. And remember that it is characters who move us. You can have the best plot/twists going but if the reader doesn't actually care about any of the characters, it will be quickly forgotten after the last page. 

... WRITING SNACKS

Bananas and brazil nuts - I'm an annoyingly healthy eater! 

About LINDA GREEN

Linda Green is the bestselling author of eight novels. Her latest psychological thriller, After I've Gone, published by Quercus, is a top five Amazon kindle bestseller. Her previous psychological thriller, While My Eyes Were Closed, was the sixth bestselling novel on Amazon kindle in 2016, selling more than 450,000 copies across all editions. She lives in West Yorkshire with her husband and son. 

Find Linda Green on her website, on her Facebook page and on Twitter - @LindaGreenisms

About After I've Gone

Publisher's description

Status Update - You have 18 months left to live . . . 

Jess Mount goes online one wet morning in January, and discovers that her Facebook timeline appears to has skipped forward 18 months to a day when shocked family and friends are sharing heart-breaking tributes to her following her death in an accident. Jess is left scared and confused: is she the target of a cruel prank or is this a terrifying glimpse of her true fate? Amongst the posts are photos of a gorgeous baby son she has not yet conceived. But when a post from her best friend suggests her death was deliberate, Jess realises that if she changes the future to save her own life, the baby boy she has fallen in love with may never exist.

After I've Gone was published by Quercus Books on 15 June 2017.

Look out for more BEST OF CRIME features coming soon.

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BEST OF CRIME with Lloyd Otis

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 

LLOYD OTIS

for his Dead Lands blog tour

to share his BEST OF CRIME ...

... AUTHORS

To pick one wouldn’t be fair to the others so this is just a short list. Raymond Chandler, his pulp fiction noir set the standard for the time and captured flawed attitudes and landscapes. Agatha Christie, for giving us the masterful Hercule Poirot, and I’m going to throw in George Pelecanos, for the comprehensive detail in some of his storytelling. 

... FILMS/MOVIES

The Godfather 1 & 2. What great adaptations of Mario Puzo’s books, and they are done so well. The acting is out of this world from Sonny (James Caan) to Michael (Al Pacino) and Connie (Talia Shire) and of course The Don (Marlon Brando). 

... TV DRAMAS

It’s difficult to ignore The Wire for its sheer scope in storytelling but there’s also Romanzo Criminale which charts the rise of Italian friends, Lebanese, Freddo and Dandi. It’s pretty much in-your-face stuff but it’s frighteningly engrossing, watching these friends make their way up in the crime underworld. I thought Southland was really good too, as it brought a sharp sense of realism, no matter how uncomfortable. 

... FICTIONAL KILLERS

I’m going to go for Patrick Bateman from American Pyscho. The book perfectly captures his menacing blood thirst. It’s all too unsettling. 

... FICTIONAL DETECTIVES 
I want to say Columbo, I do, but that wouldn’t be fair to Batman. The Bat has got a cool suit, hi-tech gadgets, a supercomputer, and he can handle himself. The end.

... MURDER WEAPONS
A slice of toast with extreme butter. Someone must have met their end with something like

... DEATH SCENES
(Possible spoiler alert!)  Paula Hawkins’ Girl on the Train.

I was totally unprepared for Anna helping Rachel out –  and I mean with the corkscrew. Ouch! I never went near a corkscrew for a whole week afterwards.

  

... BLOGS/WEBSITES
Believe it or not http://ebay.co.uk. It has a vintage clothing section which is really good when wanting to get a visual on clothing of yesteryear. And http://walkit.com, for getting the approximate walking time between two locations.

... WRITING TIPS

Simple. Read your story and be true to yourself. If you still believe in it afterwards, then don’t give up. 

... WRITING SNACKS

A healthy sounding, coffee and doughnuts. 

About LLOYD OTIS

Lloyd was born in London and attained a BA (Hons) in Media and Communication. After gaining several years of valuable experience within the finance and digital sectors, he completed a course in journalism. Lloyd has interviewed a host of bestselling authors, such as Mark Billingham, Hugh Howey, Kerry Hudson, and Lawrence Block. Two of his short stories were selected for publication in the ‘Out of My Window’ anthology, and he currently works as an Editor.

Find Lloyd Otis on his website, on his Facebook page and on Twitter - @LloydOtisWriter

About DEAD LANDS

Publisher's description

Dead Lands is a thrilling crime story set in the 1970s. When a woman's body is found a special team is called in to investigate and prime suspect Alexander Troy is arrested for the murder. Desperate to remain a free man, Troy protests his innocence, but refuses to use his alibi. Trying to protect the woman he loves becomes a dangerous game - questions are asked and suspicions deepen. When the prime suspect completes a daring escape from custody, DI Breck and DS Kearns begin the hunt. Breck wants out of the force while Kearns has her own agenda and seeks revenge. Breck has his suspicions and she wants to keep it from him, and a right-wing march provides an explosive backdrop to their hunt for Troy. Dead Lands is the thrilling debut of award winning short story writer Lloyd Otis, and intelligently covers issues of race, discrimination and violence in a changing 70s landscape.    

Dead Lands is published by Urbane Publications on 12 October 2017.

Look out for more BEST OF CRIME features coming soon.

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Follow the Blog Tour

MY PUBLISHING LIFE with Rebecca Gray

Welcome to my latest MY PUBLISHING LIFE feature, an interview with a literary agent, publisher, publicist or editor about their publishing career to date. Some serious questions, and some just for fun!

Today I'm delighted to welcome 

REBECCA GRAY

Head of Fiction Publicity

at
Orion Publishing

What and when was your first job in publishing?
I started at Midas PR in 2002 as an Admin Assistant. 

How long have you been working in your current job/role?

I’ve been Head of Fiction Publicity at Orion Publishing for about a year, but I worked in the company as Publicity Manager and Senior Publicity Manager for nine years before that. 

Which books have you worked on recently/are you working on?

I’m currently working on an amazing debut called FEAR by Dirk Kurbjuweit, which we’re publishing in January 2018 and is getting an extraordinary reaction from booksellers – it’s the most original literary debut of 2018.  Another exciting debut for 2018 I’m working on is THE LIDO, which we’re publishing in May.  Recently I did the campaigns for GREATEST HITS, Laura Barnett’s follow-up to THE VERSIONS OF US, HISTORY OF WOLVES which has just been longlisted for the Man Booker prize, and I also run the in-house publicity for Ian Rankin. 

Which qualifications/life skills/experience have helped you get to where you are today?

I read English at the kind of university that more or less leaves you to get on with it yourself and definitely expects you to form your own opinions without much assistance, and I’ve found that very useful in being able to talk confidently about books to journalists and booksellers.  In terms of being a publicist, you really have to learn it on the job – every time you do a campaign you learn something new, and the business of making and selling books changes so regularly that you have to rethink your approach constantly. 

How do you relax after a busy working day?

I have two children so my version of relaxation is different to some other people!  I make sure I get home to read them a bedtime story and listen to their day, which helps me switch off, and I love running as well.  I also sing in a choir and listen to a lot of music.  And, busman’s holiday as it may seem, reading is the thing I love to do most in the world. 

What was the last book you read for pleasure?

I’m currently reading WE ARE ALL COMPLETELY BESIDE OURSELVES (I’m late to that party), which is incredible in terms of marrying an unusual structure and narrative style to a compelling story.  I read LINCOLN IN THE BARDO on holiday, which is one of the most moving novels I’ve read for a while.  I thought the structure might be off-putting, but he never lets it get in the way of the story. 

Describe your job in 15 words or less...

When you read, see or hear about a book in the media, that was my work.  (That’s sixteen words but I hope you will forgive me.) 

What have been the highlights of your publishing life so far

I did the campaigns for GONE GIRL, which was a rollercoaster of a ride the like of which I doubt I’ll ever see again.  I loved doing the campaign for THE VERSIONS OF US and seeing all that hard work pay off once it became a bestseller.  I once toured with Julie Walters, who was as lovely as you could expect.  I really love working with my team now and helping them to become brilliant publicists. 

If you could try out any other job for one day (with no limits on money, travel etc.), what would you choose?

I think I would like to try being a film director.  I don’t think I’d be very good at it, but I’d love to be at the centre of a huge enterprise like that. 

If your publishing life was a book, what would the title be?

Oh lord, we put so many agonising hours into getting titles right….  I’ll have a brainstorm and get back to you.

  

Thanks so much for taking part, Rebecca!

Look out for more MY PUBLISHING LIFE features coming soon.

Click here to read more MY PUBLISHING LIFE features.

If any literary agents, publishers, publicists or editors would like to take part, please contact me through my blog or Twitter for the full list of questions.

BEST OF CRIME with Lilja Sigurdardóttir

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 

LILJA SIGURDARDÓTTIR

for her Snare blog tour

to share her BEST OF CRIME ... 

  

... AUTHORS

Arnaldur Indridason is our own Icelandic giant of crime writing. November 1^st each year is a date to look forward to, as it is the yearly publishing date of his new book. He writes Icelandic crime with international quality. 

... FILMS/MOVIES

Angel Heart from 1987. The symbolism, the voodoo, the search for self... so good. 

... TV DRAMAS

Wire in the Blood, based on Val McDermid´s stories and characters, is a favourite. 

... FICTIONAL KILLERS
The very talented Tom Ripley, created by Patricia Highsmith.

... FICTIONAL DETECTIVES 
Pierre Lemaire´s Camille Verhœven. Very short but very clever!

... MURDER WEAPONS

Well, Icelandic queen of crime Yrsa Sigurdardóttir has to own it with the vacuum cleaner. 

    

... DEATH SCENES

Peter James´s horrific and claustrophobic scene in Dead Simple, when a man is buried alive in a coffin, is stuck in my mind. 

  

... BLOGS/WEBSITES

www.bizarrepedia.com has all sorts of lists and links to all things bizarre and a collection of true crime blogs.

http://internationalcrimeauthors.com I read for my enjoyment. 

... WRITING TIPS

Write a story you love! 

... WRITING SNACKS

I know I should use the opportunity and name some of the traditional Icelandic foods that horrify the civilized world, like seared sheepshead or fermented shark … but, no. Just coffee! 

About LILJA SIGURDARDÓTTIR

Icelandic crime-writer Lilja Sigurdardóttir was born in the town of Akranes in 1972 and raised in Mexico, Sweden, Spain and Iceland. An award-winning playwright, Lilja has written four crime novels, with Snare, the first in a new series, hitting bestseller lists worldwide. Translation rights have been sold in eight countries to date, and film rights have been bought by Palomar Pictures in California. Lilja has a background in education and has worked in evaluation and quality control for preschools in recent years. She lives in Reykjavík with her partner.

Find Lilja Sigurdardottir on her website and on Twitter - @lilja1972

About SNARE

Publisher's description
After a messy divorce, attractive young mother Sonja is struggling to provide for herself and win sole custody of her son. With her back to the wall, she resorts to smuggling cocaine into Iceland, and finds herself caught up in a ruthless criminal world. As she desperately looks for a way out of trouble, she must pit her wits against her nemesis, Bragi, a customs officer, whose years of experience frustrate her new and evermore daring strategies. Things become even more complicated by the fact that Sonja is in a relationship with a woman, Agla. Once a high-level bank executive, Agla is currently being prosecuted in the aftermath the Icelandic financial crash.

Set in a Reykjavík still covered in the dust of the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption, and with a nail-bitingly fast-paced and chilling plot and intriguing characters, Snare is an outstandingly original and sexy Nordic crime thriller, from one of the most exciting new names in crime fiction.

A snippet of my review

Snare is fresh and different, raw yet sophisticated with fleshed out characters and beautiful literary writing. This is a very dark yet easy read, with plenty of heart within its pages. 

Read the rest of my review here.

Snare is being published by Orenda Books on 1 October 2017.

Look out for more BEST OF CRIME features coming soon.

Click here to read more BEST OF CRIME features.

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Snare by Lilja Sigurdardottir

Snare
By Lilja Sigurdardottir
Published by Orenda Books (1 October 2017)
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher.

Publisher's description

After a messy divorce, attractive young mother Sonja is struggling to provide for herself and win sole custody of her son. With her back to the wall, she resorts to smuggling cocaine into Iceland, and finds herself caught up in a ruthless criminal world. As she desperately looks for a way out of trouble, she must pit her wits against her nemesis, Bragi, a customs officer, whose years of experience frustrate her new and evermore daring strategies. Things become even more complicated by the fact that Sonja is in a relationship with a woman, Agla. Once a high-level bank executive, Agla is currently being prosecuted in the aftermath the Icelandic financial crash.

Set in a Reykjavík still covered in the dust of the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption, and with a nail-bitingly fast-paced and chilling plot and intriguing characters, Snare is an outstandingly original and sexy Nordic crime thriller, from one of the most exciting new names in crime fiction.

My verdict
Snare is fresh and different, raw yet sophisticated with fleshed out characters and beautiful literary writing. This is a very dark yet easy read, with plenty of heart within its pages. 

Both drug-smuggling young mother Sonja and soon-to-retire customs officer Bragi have hard exteriors yet are soft inside once you delve further into their lives. I found myself wanting a happy ending for both characters, even though in Sonja's case I realised I shouldn't - she's smuggling cocaine, a drug that is likely to kill people and ruin lives. Yet I just couldn't help but feel for her, stuck in a situation with no easy way out and driven by her love for her young son. The airport scenes left me holding my breath - would Sonja find a way to beat the system?

Snare is a cat and mouse game. It's a fast paced read, but it's not one filled with car chases. It's a slower, more intelligent and more measured chase. Sonja is always planning ahead, trying to keep one step ahead, but Bragi isn't far behind. He knows something is going on, but isn't quite sure who is involved or how - and even when he works out the who, he realises Sonja isn't a straightforward cocaine drugs mule. She doesn't fit the mould. I loved the depth not only of the characters, but also the situation they find themselves in - even Bragi isn't as 'straight laced' as he appears. 

Agla wasn't someone I warmed to so well. She's a businesswoman, and likes to be in control - a major problem for her as when she's with Sonja she isn't in control at all. She becomes someone she doesn't recognise - and someone she isn't sure she wants to be - but just can't help her feelings. She's being investigated for financial crimes - again something that's out of her control, and she feels trapped.

This is a book about love - and how far people will go for it, whatever the consequences. A mother's love, a young son's love, a husband's love, a lover's love ... and maybe even a father's love. Love of money, drugs, sex, thrills and control. It's also a book about hate - and how far people will go for that too.

Set in Iceland, with its short days and volcanic ash at a time of a major financial crash, Snare is a compelling, suspenseful and chilling thriller. I must also add that the translation by Quentin Bates is top notch - it doesn't read like a translation at all. I can't wait for the next book from Lilja Sigurdardottir.