Denise Mina talks about doing things differently

Recently it has been announced that acclaimed Scottish crime writer Denise Mina would be visiting New Zealand early next year, as part of the 2012 New Zealand International Arts Festival.

As noted on the Festival website, "Mina is a Scottish crime writer and playwright whose style has been described as ‘tartan noir’. She is the author of the Garnethill trilogy and another series featuring Patricia ‘Paddy’ Meehan, a Glasgow journalist. Mina’s first Paddy Meehan novel, The Field of Blood, has become a BBC drama."

Ian Rankin has previously described Mina as "one of the most exciting writers to have emerged in Britain for years". Last month, Mina was interviewed by my fellow Ngaio Marsh Award judge Bernard Carpinter, who writes the monthly crime fiction column for the New Zealand Listener. That article is now available to read in full online. Amongst other things, Mina talks about being bored by "everything's awful endings", her most recent novel, THE END OF THE WASP SEASON, writing about a sex worker as "a full human being" rather than a caricature just to be brutally killed, why she began writing crime fiction, and much more.

It's a good piece by Carpinter, and I recommend you go and have a read (click here).

Local and international crime featured in the New Zealand Listener's 100 Best Books of 2011

Last year, you might recall, I was very pleased to see several crime novels make the annual 100 Best Books list put out by the New Zealand Listener magazine (especially as the list the year before had had a distinct lack of crime, mystery or thriller fiction titles, New Zealand or international). The New Zealand Listener has long been considered one of our premier magazines. It is a weekly current affairs and entertainment magazine, renowned for having one of the best books sections around.

Near the end of each year the Listener has a “100 Best Books of the Year” issue, where its reviewers, with help from nominations from booksellers and others, compile their list of best novels, short stories, poetry, biography, memoir, and other non-fiction (eg history, science, journalism and essays, art, and food and drink) books of the year.

The 100 Best Books issue (see cover image above right) for 2011 has now hit newstands etc, and I am very pleased to share that it too includes several crime, mystery or thriller titles on the latest list:

• BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP by SJ Watson
• BOUND by Vanda Symon
• DEATH COMES TO PEMBERLEY by PD James
• FEAST DAY OF FOOLS by James Lee Burke
• LUTHER: THE CALLING by Neil Cross
• AN UNCERTAIN PLACE by Fred Vargas
• THE WRECKAGE by Michael Robotham

So a nice mix of UK, US, New Zealand, Australian, and continental European authors, and a variety of different 'types' of crime or thriller fiction there, which is cool to see. Some cracking books there, and hopefully more Kiwi readers might give some of them a go, after reading about them in this week's issue of the Listener. Congratulations to the Kiwi crime writers who made the list.

Have you read any of the crime novels mentioned? If so, what did you think? If not, which ones catch your eye? Thoughts and comments welcome.

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.

Exploring the mysteries within: my NZ Listener feature article on double Edgar winner John Hart (full version now online)

Last month my latest feature article for the New Zealand Listener was published - a two and a half page article on Edgar and Dagger Award-winning crime writer John Hart, who will be visiting New Zealand in two weeks in support of his fourth literary and layered thriller, IRON HOUSE.

The Listener puts the full versions of its articles online about 2-3 weeks after the print issue, and you can now read my full article, "Exploring the mysteries within" at the Listener's website. Click here, or on the image above.

Hart will be appearing at Hagley Park in Christchurch on Sunday 21 August as part of the "Setting the Stage for Murder" event where the 2011 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel will be presented, and at Takapuna Library in Auckland on Tuesday 23 August for a solo event (see further details below).

I really enjoyed talking to Hart, who is one of my favourite 'new to me' author 'finds' of past few years (I first read THE LAST CHILD in 2009 - it was my personal top-ranked crime novel of that year, so I was glad to see it win the Edgar and the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger - a rare double - and I also really enjoyed DOWN RIVER, his other Edgar winner, and IRON HOUSE). Over the course of a very relaxing and good-humoured hour, we discussed everything from the literary merit of crime fiction, to the importance of compelling characters and treating a setting honestly (it's good and bad aspects), to getting gripping drama from 'small-scale' personal stories rather than world-coming-to-an-end plotlines, to the fact we'd both left the law to do something else, something better (hopefully) with our lives. Hart was a really humble, down-to-earth guy, and I'm looking forward to meeting him in person when he visits New Zealand this month.

John Hart will be making two public appearances - I hope to see plenty of NZ-based readers at what should be two great events:

Sunday 21 August – CHRISTCHURCH

Setting the Stage for Murder with author Tess Gerritsen and chaired by Graham Beattie
Location: Crystal Palace, Hagley Park
Time: 11am – 12 noon
Tickets: go to www.artsfestival.co.nz/show/106/setting-the-stage-for-murder.aspx
to order tickets.

Tuesday 23 August – AUCKLAND
An evening with John Hart
Location: Takapuna Library, The Strand, Takapuna
Time: 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start.
Tickets: Entry: $5 ($2 Friends of the Library)
RSVP to 486-8469 or helen.woodhouse@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Have you read IRON HOUSE, or do you intend to? Are you a fan of John Hart's literary thrillers? Will you be heading along to the Auckland or Christchurch events? Thoughts and comments welcome.

Exploring the mysteries within: my feature article on Edgar winner John Hart in this week's New Zealand Listener

This week's issue of the New Zealand Listener (July 30-August 5 2011 issue) includes my large feature on double Edgar Award-winning crime writer John Hart, who's latest book THE IRON HOUSE was released earlier this month, and who will be visiting New Zealand for some public events in August.

I really enjoyed talking to Hart, who is one of my favourite 'new to me' author 'finds' of past few years (I first read THE LAST CHILD in 2009 - it was my personal top-ranked crime novel of that year, so I was glad to see it win the Edgar and the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger - a rare double - and I also really enjoyed DOWN RIVER, his other Edgar winner, and IRON HOUSE). Over the course of a very relaxing and good-humoured hour, we discussed everything from the literary merit of crime fiction, to the importance of compelling characters and treating a setting honestly (it's good and bad aspects), to getting gripping drama from 'small-scale' personal stories rather than world-coming-to-an-end plotlines, to the fact we'd both left the law to do something else, something better (hopefully) with our lives. Hart was a really humble, down-to-earth guy, and I'm looking forward to meeting him in person when he visits New Zealand next month.

For those of you in New Zealand, go out and grab a copy of this week's Listener - I think you will enjoy the article. For those overseas, the article will be posted in full online in about three weeks - I'll make sure to link to it from Crime Watch. John Hart will be making two public appearances next month - I hope to see plenty of NZ-based readers at what should be two great events:

Sunday 21 August – CHRISTCHURCH

Setting the Stage for Murder with author Tess Gerritsen and chaired by Graham Beattie
Location: Crystal Palace, Hagley Park
Time: 11am – 12 noon
Tickets: go to www.artsfestival.co.nz/show/106/setting-the-stage-for-murder.aspx
to order tickets.

Tuesday 23 August – AUCKLAND
An evening with John Hart
Location: Takapuna Library, The Strand, Takapuna
Time: 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start.
Tickets: Entry: $5 ($2 Friends of the Library)
RSVP to 486-8469 or helen.woodhouse@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz

Have you picked up this week's Listener, and perhaps read my article? If so, what do you think? Have you read IRON HOUSE, or do you intend to? Are you a fan of John Hart's literary thrillers? Will you be heading along to the Auckland or Christchurch events? Thoughts and comments welcome.

THE REVERSAL named winner of The Strand Magazine Critics Choice Award for Best Novel

Thanks to one of the best book blogs on the Internet, The Rap Sheet (a must-read for any crime fiction fan), I've ltoday learned that Michael Connelly's excellent crime novel THE REVERSAL, which brought Mickey Haller and Harry Bosch together to 'solve' a case, was this week named the winner of the Critics Awards, organised by Strand Magazine. I'm pleased to see THE REVERSAL get this recognition, as it was one of my very favourite reads of 2010 (out of 70-plus crime novels), and Connelly remains one of my all-time favourite crime writers.

You can read my 2010 Weekend Herald article based on an interview with Connelly about THE REVERSAL, here.

It was the second win in a row for Connelly, as he also won the Critics Choice Award last year for NINE DRAGONS, a tale that takes Harry Bosch to Hong Kong. Debutant author Paul Doiron won Best First Novel for THE POACHER'S SON.

Recognising excellence in the field of mystery fiction, the Critics Awards were judged by a select group of book critics and journalists, including Dennis Drabelle (The Washington Post), Dick Lochte (Los Angeles Times), Jordan Foster (Publishers Weekly), Jack Batten (Toronto Star), Jeff Ayers (Associated Press), Mary Ann Gwinn (Seattle Times), Jeff Johnson (Chicago Sun Times), Sarah Weinman (Los Angeles Times), and Larry Gandle (Tampa Tribune). In the Best Novel category Connelly had been up against:

• Faithful Place by Tana French (Viking)
• The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson (Knopf)
• Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane (William Morrow)
• I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman (William Morrow)

"This was a great group of nominees," said Andrew F. Gulli, the managing editor of The Strand. "Connelly’s win is a true testament to his talents as a crime writer and Paul Doiron is a writer who has a great future."

Read my recent New Zealand Listener article on Connelly, about his latest novel THE FIFTH WITNESS and the film version of THE LINCOLN LAWYER, here. You can also read 2010 Ngaio Marsh Award finalist Neil Cross's interesting piece on Connelly from the same issue of the Listener, here.

Finding TV fame: Father Brown, Sherlock Holmes, and why some fictional detectives fare better than others...

I was browsing the Internet this weekend, reading several crime fiction-related news stories and articles, when I cam across an interesting piece by Guy Somerset, Arts & Books Editor at the New Zealand Listener. As part of a review of two now-available DVD box sets of British TV series based on famous fictional detectives, Somerset raised an interesting question; why are some detectives more adapted than others? In his article he focuses on GK Chesterton's Father Brown and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes (the stars of the respective DVD releases, the 1974 Father Brown series starring Kenneth More, and the modern Sherlock starring Benedict Cumberbatch), noting the differing treatment of the two famous (at least in a literary sense) characters throughout TV/film history.

Somerset begins his article with: "Poor Father Brown. How it must rankle. It’s a good thing he’s a man of the cloth or who knows what evil might worm its way into his heart were he to dwell on all those classic detectives who have fared better than him when it comes to film and television adaptations. Dare one even whisper the words Sherlock Holmes?"

It's a topic which has intrigued me for a while - how some detectives, and therefore their books and writers, become more famous due to numerous adaptations, how some terrific characters aren't adapted for film and TV, or aren't repeatedly adapted, etc? Of course, when it comes to the film business (and probably TV too, by extrapolation), William Goldman's famous quote: "Nobody knows anything" is very appropriate.

Somerset mentions the likes of the much-adapted Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, as well. Sherlock Holmes has of course been adapted many times over. Could it just be that those characters have been around for so long? Well, no - because as Somerset points out, Father Brown hasn't fared so well. Dame Ngaio Marsh's Inspector Roderick Alleyn has been adapted for both British and New Zealand television, but I'm not sure how Wimsey and other Golden Age characters have fared. They're certainly not being regularly remade for modern films or TV shows like the drug-taking, violin-playing resident of 221B.

You can read Somerset's article in full here.

Why do you think some crime fiction characters have been remade more than others? Is it just that the most popular characters or authors have been most remade? Or does that become self-fulfilling (ie remakes generate more popularity)? What about modern detectives? Which more recent characters would you most like to see adapted for the big or small screen? Which older characters would you like to see given a modern twist in an updated film or TV series, ala Sherlock?

Riding with the Lincoln Lawyer: my large feature article on Michael Connelly in the New Zealand Listener

While I was away in Turkey and Greece, my large feature article based on a recent interview with Michael Connelly, one of the world's most consistently outstanding crime writers and a modern great of the genre, was published in the Arts & Books section of the New Zealand Listener, one of NZ's best magazines. "Riding with the Lincoln Lawyer" is my second large feature for the Listener, following my article on Henning Mankell in April. As of yesterday, you can now read the article in full online.

READ THE FULL VERSION OF MY ARTICLE BY CLICKING HERE.
In the same issue, New Zealand-based thriller writer Neil Cross also wrote a great piece on Connelly's writing ("he’s still the only writer whose novels I buy on the day of publication”).

I particular like Neil's observation that "Connelly’s not a stylist – he’s far too good a writer for that, with too much respect for the reader. But he’s a subtle and fabulously deft craftsman, happy to step back and conceal his guiding hand. This allows his prose to do what only the best prose can do: get out of your way and let you enjoy the book you’re reading by letting you forget you’re reading a book." You can read Neil's article in full here.

Have you read THE FIFTH WITNESS, THE LINCOLN LAWYER, or any of Connelly's other crime novels? What do you think of his writing? Will you be going to one of his upcoming New Zealand, Australian or US events? Comments welcome - on Connelly, my article, or anything else...

In search of answers: my feature interview with Henning Mankel in this week's New Zealand Listener (full version now available online)

My first-ever large feature article for the New Zealand Listener was recently published in the April 9-15 2011). It's a three page article, "In search of answers", based on my interview with Henning Mankell. I was fortunate enough to be the only New Zealand journo granted an interview with Mankell in the lead-up to the release of his tenth and latest Wallander title, THE TROUBLED MAN. Although, as anyone who's spent some time on the Internet recently will realise, Mankell has given plenty of interviews about this book to other overseas publications.

Still, I think my article is well worth reading, and that I've taken a somewhat different tack to many of the other features out there. And now, the full version is available online.

In search of answers
A decade after his last Inspector Wallander novel, Henning Mankell has brought back his most popular creation for a final encore. By Craig Sisterson

It always starts with a question, says acclaimed Swedish writer Henning Mankell, his heavily accented voice resonating down the phone line. “In everything I write, there must be a question, there must be something I do not know, something I would like to find an answer to, something I would like to explore,” he says.

Whether it’s his internationally bestselling series of crime novels starring dogged and dour Inspector Wallander, his gripping stand-alone thrillers, his 40-plus radio and theatre plays, his socially conscious children's stories or his atmospheric novels set in Africa, Mankell is always inspired by questions, by a need to tackle the things that concern him about society, about our modern world, about life.

READ FULL ARTICLE BY CLICKING HERE or by clicking on the image above.

Comments welcome - on Wallander, Mankell, the article, or whatever you wish...

In search of answers: my feature interview with Henning Mankel in this week's New Zealand Listener

My first-ever large feature article for the New Zealand Listener has been published in this week's issue (dated April 9-15 2011). It's a three page article, "In search of answers", based on my recent interview with Henning Mankell.

I was lucky enough to be granted the only New Zealand interview with Mankell in the lead-up to the release of THE TROUBLED MAN, the final Wallander novel (note - a NZ newspaper also published an interview with Mankell recently, but this was a republication of a Guardian article). So for all of you in New Zealand, go out and grab a copy of this week's issue of the New Zealand Listener. The feature is on pages 34-36.

I've been fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to write for many great publications here in New Zealand and overseas, and I'm very pleased to now be contributing (occasionally) to the New Zealand Listener as well. It's a great magazine.

Traditionally the New Zealand Listener places the first paragraph of its articles online, and then about three weeks after an issue is published in print places the entire article online for anyone to read. However, just this week the magazine's website has had a major overhaul (it looks terrific), and it doesn't seem the entire contents of the current issue are listed. I'm not sure if or when my feature will now be placed online - I will let you know as soon as I do. [EDIT: I have this afternoon been told by the NZ Listener Books Editor that articles will continue to be freely available online two weeks after the issue is no longer current - so for all of you overseas I will link to the online version of my feature when it's available].

You can search for and read previous Books articles from the Listener, here. For example, you can read Guy Somerset's terrific feature on New Zealand crime fiction and the Ngaio Marsh Award here, and Jane Bowron's feature on Paul Cleave here.

The New Zealand Listener has long been considered one of our premier magazines. It is a weekly current affairs and entertainment magazine, renowned (amongst other things) for having one of the best books sections around. Near the end of each year the Listener also publishes a “100 Best Books of the Year” issue, where its reviewers compile their list of best novels, short stories, poetry, biography, memoir, and other non-fiction books of the year. You can see the crime fiction content from last year's Top 100 list here.

Have you picked up this week's Listener, and perhaps read my article? If so, what do you think? Have you read THE TROUBLED MAN, or do you intend to? Are you a Wallander fan (in books or on TV)? What do you think of the Listener's new website? Thoughts and comments welcome.

Crime Wave: New Zealand highlighted by prestigious current affairs magazine (read in full online)

The excellent recent New Zealand Listener article on the Ngaio Marsh Award and New Zealand crime fiction is now available to be read in full online. Click on the image above to read, or here.

Comments and feedback welcome. And yes, it is me looking all strange in the photo.

Local and international crime featured in the New Zealand Listener's 100 Best Books of 2010

Last year, you might recall, I was a little disappointed at the relative lack of crime, mystery or thriller fiction titles, New Zealand or international, in the annual 100 Best Books list put out by the New Zealand Listener magazine. Especially as there were several very good crime novels that came out, and despite its literary leanings, the Listener had listed crime novels, including New Zealand crime novels, in the past, such as those of Paul Cleave and Vanda Symon.

As I said last year, the New Zealand Listener has long been considered one of our premier magazines. It is a weekly current affairs and entertainment magazine, renowned for having one of the best books sections around. Near the end of each year the Listener has a “100 Best Books of the Year” issue, where its reviewers compile their list of best novels, short stories, poetry, biography, memoir, and other non-fiction (eg history, science, journalism and essays, art, and food and drink) books of the year.

Well, this week the 2010 100 Best Books List has been published (in the issue pictured), and I am very pleased to say that there are several crime fiction titles amongst the 'best books' of the year, according to the reviewing team of the Listener. The crime fiction titles on the list are:

• BLACKLANDS by Belinda Bauer
• BLOOD MEN by Paul Cleave
• THE FALLEN by Ben Sanders
• HUNTING BLIND by Paddy Richardson
• THE REVERSAL by Michael Connelly
• SURRENDER by Donna Malane

Some cracking books there, and hopefully more Kiwi readers might give some of them a go, after reading about them in this week's issue of the Listener. Congratulations to the Kiwi crime writers who made the list.

Have you read any of the crime novels mentioned? If so, what did you think? If not, which ones catch your eye? Thoughts and comments welcome.