Tiller Thrillers by Andy GriffeeJust when you thought it was safe to go out on a canal, another Tiller-Thriller comes along. At a time of plague and pestilence it is tempting to think that a peaceful cruise to remote and isolated lo...
Poisoned at the Priory, from the Cold Case Jury series by Antony M BrownBalham, 1876. When the newly-wed barrister Charles Bravo ingests a rare poison, all evidence suggests suicide. But in one of the most infamous inquests of all time, a coroner finds it to be an unlawfu...
Judging a Book by Its Cover, by Pauline RowsonPauline is author of the DI Andy Horton crime series (14); Art Marvik mystery thrillers (3) and the 1950 set mystery Death in the Cove, the first in the Inspector Ryga series. Book covers are a...
HOLD THE FRONT PAGE! (While I take a few notes…) – tips on historical research from Karen CharltonAlthough the Internet is still the first port of call for historical crime writers who want to research an era, many of us still glean a wealth of knowledge and inspiration from the old newspapers of...
A virtual book festival for crime fiction – and it’s free!MyVLF.com, the multi-award winning virtual book festival venue, is holding a dedicated Crime & Thriller Fest on March 28th, and it is totally free to attend, wherever you are in the world. Launche...
‘From Trilogy to Series – how a forgotten manuscript in a drawer led to publishing success’ by Anne CoatesPerdition’s Child, the fourth book in my Hannah Weybridge crime thriller series is published on 6 February, 2020 and my protagonist, a freelance journalist and single mother in her 30s, has come a lon...
The ‘Museum Murder’ series by Jim Eldridge – a BBC scriptwriter’s journey to becoming a novelist2018 saw the publication of Murder at the Fitzwilliam, the first in my historical crime series ‘The Museum Mysteries’. Set in Cambridge in 1894, it introduced Daniel Wilson, a private investigator and...
A fond farewell to MC BeatonBarry Forshaw, author of Crime Fiction: A Reader’s Guide, on MC Beaton (aka Marion Chesney), the creator of Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth, who has died at 83. Although many crime novels fit more or...
‘The Abduction’ by A.A. ChaudhuriTHE ABDUCTION by Alex Chaudhuri Hot on the heels of serial killer whodunnit, The Scribe, Kramer & Carver are back in new twisty thriller, The Abduction, published by Endeavour Media, 20 December 2...
What Women Want – Graham Brack takes a view on the sometimes differing tastes of female readersBy Graham Brack I am writing this in the United States where I have been amusing myself by, among other things, visiting bookshops. Needless to say, I focus on the crime fiction shelves where two thou...
Laid in Earth by Graham BrackCould this be Josef Slonský’s final case…? Perfect for fans of Ian Rankin, Jo Nesbo and Peter Robinson, and for those who like an unusual setting and more than a dash of wry humour. Why dig a new grav...
The Peter Lovesey First Crime Novel ContestMultiple CWA Dagger winner Peter Lovesey (including the prestigious Diamond Dagger in 2000) is launching a competition for new authors, along with his publisher, Soho Press. It is open to the world. A...
The ‘other’ Golden Age Knitting Sleuth – Alice K. Boatwright on Miss SilverIn December 1927, the world’s most famous knitting detective made her first appearance in the pages of The Royal Magazine. Dressed in Victorian black brocade and lace mittens, Miss Jane Marple knitted...
How to start your novel – a step-by-step guide by Cal MoriartyWe at the CRA know that many of our readers also dream of one day, themselves, being writers. Our sister organisation, the CWA, offers you an opportunity to submit your fledgling novel for the Debut D...
Case Files 41Case Files issue 41 – out soon! Case Files is an ezine that profiles new or forthcoming novels from members of the Crime Writers’ Association. Subscribing is free – and it lets you discover whic...
Domestic Noir – crime that’s close to home by Alice CastleDomestic noir is not new. Ever since the first performance of Medea in 431 BC, or Mrs Bluebeard’s first peek into that forbidden chamber, women have been confronting horrible truths close to home. The...
Daggers announced in glittering gala dinner eveningM.W. Craven has won the CWA Gold Dagger for his novel The Puppet Show. The Daggers, which were announced (24 October) at a glittering awards ceremony at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, London, are regarded...
The Inaugural Capital Crime Event by Ali KarimIt was a brave decision for thriller writer Adam Hamdy and his partner the literary agent David Headley (and bookseller) to start a new convention (Capital Crime) showcasing the crime and thriller gen...
Bloody Scotland on a Desert Island, by Caro RamsayIt was the Bloody Scotland crime writing festival one weekend in September. The sun shone, the torchlight parade down from the castle was spectacular. The winner of the McIlvanney Prize Manda Scott s...
Morecambe and Vice Crime Writing Festival Brought Me Sunshine, by Rachel SargeantEver thought of going to a crime fiction festival but not really sure what to expect? I felt the same, and given my tendency to shyness, I couldn’t imagine plucking up the courage to attend one. That...
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Case Files 52
The CRA Newsletter: September 2021
The CRA Newsletter: August 2021