The importance of cover art?

One of my favourite crime fiction-related websites is the excellent EuroCrime (which I occasionally review for) run by the irrepressible Karen Meek. For the blog part of the website, Karen often features various European crime novel cover art. It's always interesting to see the different ways publishers in various countries try to steer the readers attention towards a book.

Inspired by her efforts, and by the fact that one of New Zealand's best-kept creative secrets (in English language countries at least), crime writer Paul Cleave, is increasingly being published in a variety of European and Asian languages - each edition with its own specific cover - I thought I would share this latest cover art (above) from the Polish edition of Cleave's outstanding debut novel THE CLEANER, which is available this week. Quite striking, in my opinion.

What do you think of the cover? Have you read THE CLEANER or any of Cleave's other stories? How important do you think cover art is, in terms of grabbing a casual readers attention or the book's success? Do we in fact judge a book by its cover, at least somewhat?

My review of DARK BLOOD on EuroCrime

Further to my post back in August about the excellent crime fiction website EuroCrime, and how the hundreds of reviews there can now also be searched and listed by reviewer, in recent days my review of the latest thriller from Scottish crime writer Stuart MacBride, DARK BLOOD, was published on EuroCrime.

DARK BLOOD is the latest in MacBride's enjoyable Aberdeen-set DS Logan McRae series. The publisher's blurb states: Richard Knox has served his time, so why shouldn't he be allowed to live wherever he wants? Yes, in the past he was a violent rapist, but he's seen the error of his ways. Found God. Wants to leave his dark past in Newcastle behind him and make a new start. Or so he says.

Detective Sergeant Logan McRae isn't exactly thrilled to be part of the team helping Knox settle into his new Aberdeen home. He's even less thrilled to be stuck with DSI Danby from Northumbria Police -- the man who put Knox behind bars for ten years -- supposedly here to 'keep an eye on things'. Only things are about to go very, very wrong. Edinburgh gangster Malk the Knife wants a slice of the development boom Donald Trump's golf course is bringing to the Granite City, whether local crime lord Wee Hamish Mowat likes it or not. Three heavies from Newcastle want a 'quiet word' with DSI Danby about a missing mob accountant. And Richard Knox's dark past isn't done with him yet!

"There is plenty to like about DARK BLOOD, which although still very gritty and grim takes a bit of a step back from the full-on brutality (even gore) of the last two McRae novels, FLESH HOUSE and BLIND EYE, where unintentional cannibalism and very-intentional ocular mutilation were on MacBride’s murderous menu," I said in the review.

You can read my full review of DARK BLOOD here. You can see my full list of previous reviews for the excellent EuroCrime website, here.

My review of CAPTURED on EuroCrime

Further to my post of last week about the excellent crime fiction website EuroCrime, and how the hundreds of reviews there can now also be searched and listed by reviewer, today my review of the latest thriller from Wellington-based crime writer Neil Cross (who was born, raised, and had his early career in the UK), CAPTURED, was published by EuroCrime.

CAPTURED features Kenny, a terminally ill young man who wants to find his childhood friend Callie Barton and thank her for her past kindness, before he dies. But when Kenny begins his search, he discovers that Callie has gone missing. Although cleared of any involvement, her husband Jonathan seems to be hiding something. Kenny has no choice but to take matters into his own hands. And knowing that time is running out on him, he's prepared to do whatever it takes...

"Cross hooks the reader early and has you completely engrossed," I says in the review. "Once you start, you'll struggle to put it down (and want to immediately get back to it if you do)."

CAPTURED is now available in paperback in the UK (see new cover above right), and you can read my full review of the book here.

You can see my full list of previous reviews for the excellent EuroCrime website, here.

My EuroCrime reviews

The indefatigable Karen Meek of the excellent EuroCrime website has been at it again - making more improvements to what is already a terrific resource for crime fiction fans around the globe.

For those of you that aren't yet familiar with EuroCrime, it is a site for fans and would-be fans of British and European crime fiction. It includes both British and other European crime fiction writers (that have been published in English) as well as non-European born authors who are strongly associated with European crime fiction (eg. Donna Leon). Euro Crime reviews the latest books and its other features include a comprehensive bibliography section, a summary of upcoming titles, author websites, details of events, links to newspaper reviews, crime fiction award results and a regular competition.

It's a fantastic website, and a must-visit for any keen crime fiction fan.

One of the improvements Karen Meek has made recently is a list of reviews by reviewer. I have sporadically reviewed for EuroCrime, and you can see a list of my reviews for EuroCrime thusfar, and click through to the reviews themselves, here.

Yes, it's a rather meagre tally at the moment compared to some of the other fantastic EuroCrime reviewers (and there is no way I will ever catch the relentless Maxine Clarke - I started counting her reviews and gave up after I was at 40-something and still in the 'Cs'), but hopefully I will add more EuroCrime reviews over time. There are already a couple more pending, and there are some fantastic European authors waiting to be read on my TBR bookshelves.

In the meantime, swing by the site and have a look around. It'll be worth your while.