News and Views

I had a marvellous time at the CWA Dagger Awards at the Four Seasons Hotel on Park Lane on 10 July, when 'The Bookbinder's Apprentice' won the award for best short story. A real honour, not least given that the short-list featured the legendary American best-seller Michael Connelly, another leading American writer, Laura Lippman, CWA Diamond Dagger winner Robert Barnard, and former CWA Chair, and previous winner of this very award, Danuta Reah. It was truly a night to remember.

Lakeland Book of the Year

The Arsenic Labyrinth was short-listed for the Lakeland Book of the Year Award 2008 and was runner-up in the Arts and Literature category.

Best British Mysteries

Maxim Jakubowski, who included 'The Bookbinder's Apprentice' in this year's collection of Best British Mysteries, has selected 'The Mystery of Canute Villa', a story featuring Charles Dickens and Mrs Gaskell, for inclusion in next year's volume.

Publication, Publication, Publication

I've had a great year in terms of publication. As well as the hardback and paperback editions ofWaterloo Sunset, there has been the paperback of The Arsenic Labyrinth, and the arrival of M.O.: crimes of method, the latest CWA anthology to appear under my editorhsip. And October sees the long awaited (at least by me!) publication in the UK of Dancing for the Hangman, my fictional take on the extraordinary case of Dr Crippen.
The Crippen novel is one I'm very proud of. It's quite different from all my other books and, arguably, less commercial. But I hope reading it will give people as much pleasure as writing it gave me.

Website

The photo album on the Events page of my website has been revamped, to include pictures from the CWA Dagger Awards. I'm also hoping soon to include a map of key locations in Waterloo Sunset

Short Story Competition

One of the incentives for me to write a new book set in Liverpool was that the city is European Capital of Culture in 2008. After years of preparation (and ongoing road works) the celebrations are well under way. My firm, Mace & Jones, is celebrating by sponsoring a short story competition: www.maceandones.co.uk. It was launched at the Hard Day's Night Hotel on 4 June to coincide with an official launch of Waterloo Sunset. Colin Hilton, Chief Executive of Liverpool City Council, kindly introduced the event, which was great fun. The competition closing date is 31 August - so if you plan to enter, please get your skates on!

Waterloo Sunset

I've just received an advance copy of the paperback edition of the latest Harry Devlin novel. Reviews of the book (which I'm glad to say was a January Magazine'pick of the week') have been very positive. The latest is from Morning Star, which says'This is a very welcome return for Edwards' original and best sersies character. As ever, the novel is carefully plotted and topical and Devlin is a charmingly human hero.'

Publishers Weekly describes it as a 'twisty whodunit' which is judged 'impressive'. Library Journal says 'Edwards never writes the same book twice; both his plotting and his settings are original.'Kirkus Reviews generously describes me as 'ever the professional' and says the plotting is handled 'densely but lucidly' with 'a surprisingly logical killer.' Booklist says 'the series is known for its wit, solid plotting, and likeable lead.' Mystery Scene says 'Edwards handles a complex plot and a vivid cast of characters with a sure hand...[and] mixes humour and suspense to good effect...an entertaining series.' I Love a Mystery says 'I recommend Waterloo Sunset for those who like mysteries with character and well drawn plots.' In the UK, feature articles have appeared in the regional magazines liverpool.com and Limited Edition, while Crime Time says the book is 'beautifully crafted' and praises the humour.Shots says: 'My four criteria for enjoying a crime fiction (or any) book are: character, plot, sense of place and atmosphere. Waterloo Sunset delivers on all counts.' There are also pleasing reviews from the Magistrates' Association book page ('a convincing hinterland of characters adding a realistic backdrop to the mystery...if you are looking for entertainment you will not put it down disappointed.' In the US, the Readers' Views and Betz Reviews coverage is equally positive.

On the blog scene, there are kind words on two of my favourite blogs, 'Musings from a Muddy Island' (not a crime blog, but fascinating and full of personality) and 'Books to the Ceiling.'

The Liverpool Daily Post has carried an article about the book which features me and one of sculptor Antony Gormley's Iron Men - here it is: Daily Post article

Bouchercon 2008

I'm looking forward to attending Bouchercon in Baltimore. I'm scheduled to appear on a panel which includes the excellent Laurie R. King and Martyn Waites.

Books to the Ceiling

Roberta Rood's blog 'Books to the Ceiling' has some generous things to say about my blog and the Lake District Mysteries. Much appreciated.

Library events
I enjoyed my brief visit to the official re-opening of Lymm Library recently. I've had a hectic five or six weeks of library events, but now there's a break until September, when my Victorian mystery returns - in Ashton. There's an event in Blackpool the following month.

The Lake District Mysteries

There has been a flurry of positive reviews for The Coffin Trail (including several new Amazon reviews) and The Cipher Garden and now the respected American blogger and critic Lourdes Fernandes has made The Arsenic Labyrinth her'pick of the month'. The same book earned nice reviews on Kerrie's Australian blog, 'Mysteries in Paradise' and on Harriet Devine's blog.

Meanwhile, Allison & Busby have reprinted The Cipher Garden - great news!

Crime Scene

David Stuart Davies' new anthology under this title includes two stories of mine: 'Eternally' and 'Melusine'.

Collecting Crime Fiction

I've acquired one or two interesting inscribed books lately, including signed copies from the king of the alibi mystery, Freeman Wills Crofts, and from Agatha Christie and the prolific Golden Age writer John Rhode. They will, in the not too distant future I hope, feature on this website along with the other rarities and oddities on the Collecting Crime Fiction page.

U3a

Just after Crimefest, I shared a platform with June Francis, an old friend and prolific writer of romances and sagas, before an audience of about 100 members of Formby U3a. Thanks to Tony of Pritchards Bookshop for his excellent organisation of an enjoyable event.

Meanwhile, in Germany..

The German translation of The Cipher Garden is due out soon. Petra, one of Germany’s biggest selling magazines, describes Luebbe’s translation of The Coffin Trail as ‘A great book for all England fans who prefer the not so gory crime novels with drive and a lot of atmosphere.’

Online reviews

There's another warm response to the new Harry Devlin book on a site called Genregoround. Meanwhile, there's great coverage of the first two Lakes books on a very well-regarded blog, Random Jottings of a Book and Opera Lover; the conclusion is - 'recommended reading if you like a good mystery.' Eurocrime's Maxine Clarke rates The Coffin Trail as 'an absorbing read...The central mystery is satisfyingly resolved, with a clever twist in the tale.' Harriet Devine's blog says The Cipher Garden 'is an intelligent and highly readable novel.'

True Crime

I really enjoyed Kate Summerscale's best-selling book about that early detective Mr Whicher, and his investigation of the Constance Kent case. Intensely readable.

New Reading

I've just finished Faces in the Dark, a frightening and intense psychological thriller by Boileau and Narcejac, and a couple of characteristically sound mysteries by Golden Age writer Henry Wade. My latest reviews on Tangled Web UK include a collection of Sherlock Holmes stories edited by David Stuart Davies, a first novel by Sally Hinchcliffe and an excellent whodunit from Kate Ellis.

Film viewing

I enjoyed 'Tell No One', a French film based on an American thriller. Very different, but even more gripping, is 'Notes on a Scandal' starring Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett.

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