Confessions of a teen fiction writer: my NZ Listener feature article on Harlan Coben now available to read in full online

As I said a couple of weeks ago, the 8-14 October 2011 issue of the New Zealand Listener (which came out on 1 October), included my large feature on award-drenched crime writer Harlan Coben, who's latest book SHELTER takes a turn into the teen fiction world, centring on the adventures and escapades of Myron Bolitar's nephew Mickey, and his new friends. The article also included a side-bar on other adult fiction thriller writers who had recently turned to the young adult market. The article, and side-bar, is now available to read in full online, at the Listener website here (or click on the image above).

I really enjoyed talking to Coben a few weeks ago for the article; he's an intelligent, interesting guy with a good sense of humour. I read SHELTER before the interview, and really enjoyed it - unlike some adult writers who've turned their hand to teen fiction, Coben hasn't simplified the storylines and issues too much - in essence, SHELTER is a good suspense novel that just happens to have a teenager at the centre of it.

Have you read SHELTER, or any of Coben's other tales? Do you like reading teen crime fiction, even as an adult? What do you think of the feature interview? What were your favourite crime or thriller novels as a teen reader yourself? Comments welcome.

Confessions of a teen-fiction writer

This week's issue of the New Zealand Listener (8-14 October 2011 issue) includes my large feature on award-drenched crime writer Harlan Coben, who's latest book SHELTER takes a turn into the teen fiction world, centring on the adventures and escapades of Myron Bolitar's nephew Mickey, and his new friends.

I really enjoyed talking to Coben a few weeks ago for the article; he's an intelligent, interesting guy with a good sense of humour. I read SHELTER before the interview, and really enjoyed it - unlike some adult writers who've turned their hand to teen fiction, Coben hasn't simplified the storylines and issues too much - in essence, SHELTER is a good suspense novel that just happens to have a teenager at the centre of it.

For those of you in New Zealand, go out and grab a copy of this week's Listener - I think you will enjoy the feature article on Coben, and some of his thoughts on writing crime and suspense for teen readers (there's also a little sidebar about some other crime/thriller writers who've turned their hand to the teen market). For those of you overseas, the feature article will be posted in full online on the Listener website in about three weeks - I'll make sure to link to it from here on Crime Watch.

Have you read SHELTER, or any of Coben's other tales? Do you like reading teen crime fiction, even as an adult? What were your favourite crime or thriller novels as a teen reader yourself? Comments welcome.

SHELTER: bestseller Harlan Coben takes on the YA market

Recently I read an advance copy of SHELTER, the first book in the new 'Mickey Bolitar' young adult suspense series from bestselling Harlan Coben. The book has now been released in New Zealand this week - and I'd recommend it to any teens (or adults) interested in a well-told suspense tale. I've read a few young adult crime/thriller novels in the past couple of years, and this is arguably the best of them - it doesn't 'talk down' to its readers, and over-simplify things - and instead is just a good, solid suspense novel that just happens to be told through the eyes of a teenage protagonist.

It's also very interesting to see Myron Bolitar - Mickey's uncle - in a different light from Coben's adult novels. To Mickey, Myron is an annoying uncle, someone who gets in the way of what he wants to do.

You can see a trailer about the book here:



I've got to say, that's one of the most professionally shot book trailers I've seen so far - it's almost as if it's a trailer for a TV or film adaptation of the novel. The book is well worth a read - it introduces some interesting new characters, has a page-turning plot, and I think it nicely captures the attitudes and viewpoints of teenagers who are coping with high school and everything that that brings, along with the events in the book.

I recently interviewed Coben about his foray into the world of young adult fiction - keep an eye out for my New Zealand Listener feature article, which I will of course link to here, once it becomes available online. In the meantime, here's the official publisher blurb about the book:

Description

Harlan's fresh new series will link in with the storylines of his hugely popular existing thrillers as Myron Bolitar discovers that his mysterious tearaway younger brother, Brad, has a son - now teenaged. When our series hero's father, Brad, dies in a mysterious accident in South America, Myron is his closest relative left, albeit estranged, and is assigned to be his legal guardian. Will uncle and nephew be able to live with one another and will our hero be able to resist getting involved in solving a mystery disappearance at his new high school?

Author Bio
Harlan Coben was the first ever author to win all three major crime awards in the US. He is now global bestseller with his mix of powerful stand-alone thrillers and Myron Bolitar crime novels. He has appeared in the bestseller lists of The Times, the New York Times, Le Monde, Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times. His books are published in over forty languages and there are more than 47 million of his novels in print worldwide. Harlan lives in New Jersey with his family.

Currently reading: SHELTER by Harlan Coben

Last night I started the upcoming crime novel from popular bestseller Harlan Coben, who is of course the author of the Myron Bolitar series, along with some award-winning standalones. This upcoming book (released in early September) is a little different though - it's Coben's first young adult thriller.

Here's the backcover blurb:

Mickey Bolitar’s year can’t get much worse. After witnessing his father’s death and sending his mom to rehab, he’s forced to live with his estranged Uncle Myron and switch high schools.

A new school comes with new friends and new enemies, and lucky for Mickey, it also comes with a great new girlfriend, Ashley. For awhile, it seems like Mickey’s train-wreck of a life is finally improving—until Ashley vanishes without a trace. Unwilling to let another person walk out of his life, Mickey follows Ashley’s trail into a seedy underworld that reveals that this seemingly sweet, shy girl isn’t who she claimed to be. And neither was Mickey’s father.

Soon, Mickey learns about a conspiracy so shocking that it makes high school drama seem like a luxury – and leaves him questioning everything about the life he thought he knew.

First introduced to readers in Harlan Coben’s latest adult novel, Live Wire, Mickey Bolitar is as quick-witted and clever as his Uncle Myron, and eager to go to any length to save the people he cares about. With this new series, Coben introduces an entirely new generation of fans to the masterful plotting and wry humor that have made him an award-winning, internationally best-selling, and beloved author.

I am about 3/4 through, and quite enjoying it. The plot is interesting, there is plenty of Coben's classic humour, and the character of Mickey - who as an adult reader, starts as a little bit of a whiny brat - is really growing on me. It's also really interesting seeing Myron through the eyes of a teenager who doesn't exactly love him, and getting a different perspective on some of the things that happened in Coben's latest Myron tale, LIVE WIRE (released earlier this year) - though I wonder what some teen readers will think of Myron (if they haven't read Coben's adult books). He's more an an annoying uncle than a heroic leading man in this one.

Do you like reading teen fiction? What do you think of the increasing number of adult crime fiction writers turning their hands to the teen fiction market (eg Coben, Reichs, Grisham, Patterson, etc)? Which other adult authors would you like to see write teen fiction? Comments welcome.

My Herald on Sunday reviews: LIVE WIRE, THE FIFTH WITNESS and SHADOW SISTER

This year I've been asked to provide a monthly crime fiction round-up for the Herald on Sunday, one of New Zealand's most well-known newspapers. I'm very pleased to be able to contribute in my small way to getting crime fiction into the books sections of some local media.

My fourth 'column' was published while I was away in Turkey and Greece, in the 'Detours' lifestyle supplement to the newspaper, so I apologise for the delay in sharing it with you here. Here is my latest column.

Crime picks
Book blogger Craig Sisterson reveals his top picks from his recent reading

Live Wire
By Harlan Coben (Orion, $39.99)
When her musician husband vanishes following internet rumours about her fidelity, a pregnant former tennis starlet turns to sports agent-cum-amateur sleuth Myron Bolitar for help. Meanwhile Bolitar’s dealing with his own family crisis; a dying father and the possible return of his long-lost brother, with trouble close behind. Then things take a deadly turn. Bolitar is a fascinating, at times funny, hero who’s easy to follow. Coben’s storytelling hooks early, then takes us on a twisting ride towards a thrilling conclusion.

The Fifth Witness
By Michael Connelly (Allen & Unwin, $39.99)
‘Lincoln Lawyer’ Mickey Haller, who’s happy to use a few tricks to help clients facing the might of the state, has been hit hard by the recession; he’s now defending clients more from mortgage foreclosures than criminal charges. But then an outspoken protestor is arrested for murdering a bank CEO, and Haller is back in criminal court, fighting a case that will cause him to reexamine everything. A legal thriller about much more than its plot, Connelly shows once more that he’s right at the top of the crime writing tree.

Shadow Sister
By Simone van der Vlugt (Text Publishing, $39)
Lydia and Elise are twin sisters, identical in appearance but not in personality. Lydia’s an opinionated teacher with a husband, daughter, and relatively settled life. Elise is a photographer: quieter, darker, and troubled. However, it’s Lydia’s life which becomes truly troubled, starting when a student pulls a knife on her, and ending with a violent death. The second novel from ‘Holland’s Queen of Crime’ to be translated into English, this psychological thriller conveys plenty of creepiness and a brooding sense of unease.

Craig Sisterson was one of the judges of the inaugural Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel last year. He blogs about crime and thriller fiction at http://goldenglobenominees.blogspot.com/.

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This column was first published in the Herald on Sunday, and is reprinted here with permission.

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What do you think of my mini-reviews? Of having such a regular column in one of New Zealand's major newspapers? Have you read (or do you intend to) any of these titles? What are some of the upcoming titles I should definitely include in future columns? Comments welcome.