James Bond in a Toga and Sherlock Holmes with a Rapier, by Peter TonkinSince bringing the 30-novel Mariner series of action adventures to a close and retiring from full-time teaching, I have been working on two parallel series of historical novels. One is a sequence of...
The most prolific murderer in history? (And the chances are you won’t have heard of her) by Tessa HarrisAsk a serious crime buff to name the most prolific serial killer in history and many will no doubt say Harold Shipman, the Lancashire doctor who is thought to have killed more than 200 victims. Others...
A Day in the Life… by Abi Silver, author of The Aladdin Trial, out 28 June, published by Lightning BooksI find myself lurching into the morning routine around 6.45; rousing the boys for school (I have three, in their teens), sorting the washing (whites/colours), including remembering to put to one side...
CWA Diamond Dagger Winner Michael Connelly InterviewMichael Connelly – winner of the CWA Diamond Dagger 2018 Michael Connelly is to receive this year’s CWA Diamond Dagger, the highest honour in British crime writing. The Dagger award recognises autho...
Forgotten Classics: Cornish Author Katherine Stansfield’s ChoiceKatherine grew up in Cornwall, and though she now lives in Cardiff, she can’t stop writing about her former home. Her historical crime series, Cornish Mysteries, blends real crimes with local folklore...
Interview with Simon Michael, who writes about 1960s LondonGood afternoon, Simon and welcome to the CRA blog. Hello, and thank you for inviting me. For those of us who haven’t yet encountered the Charles Holborne series, would you object to the books being ca...
Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining… by Paul GitshamOne of the dirty little secrets that we crime writers are sometimes loathe to admit in polite society, is that when something really bad happens to a loved one, our second thought (after checking they...
Why Do We Write Fiction? by Patricia FinneyYes, I know Terry Pratchett got here first but I can’t find the relevant quote from his Witches Abroad. I mean seriously. Why? Why do we sit down for many many many hours, busily writing long ex...
CWA Announce Longlists for Prestigious Crime Writing DaggersThe Crime Writers’ Association announced the much anticipated longlists for the annual Dagger awards at a reception during CrimeFest in Bristol on the evening of Friday 18 May. Several titles ap...
National Crime Reading Month 2018 UnderwayNational Crime Reading Month, an initiative promoted by the CWA, is now underway, with libraries, bookshops and writing festivals throughout the country hosting events and talks this month with author...
Where do you get your ideas? Crime writer Peter Bartram lifts the lid on his source…When people hear that I’m a crime writer, the question they ask most often is: where do you get your ideas from? I guess I’m not alone among crime writers in finding that’s the numbe...
Writing as Escapism by AJ WainesHave you ever been caught daydreaming? Missed your stop on the bus because your mind was miles away? Been hauled up for staring out of the classroom window as a child? If so, you probably learnt that...
Going Fishing, by Gary ConnollyFor me, stories begin with images more often than not. Sometimes they’re grainy, but more often visceral and clear. Blood Will Be Born started in this way and was written on and off between 2014 and 2...
2000 Years in 900 Words: Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine’s Innovative Crime Flash FictionWilliam Burton McCormick Flash fiction is not a genre that often allows room for substantial flashbacks, backstory or large degrees of introspection. When writers do include these elements, they must...
Turning real historical crimes into cosy fiction, by Karen CharltonKaren is author of The Detective Lavender Mysteries. I first came across Stephen Lavender, a Principal Officer with the Bow Street Police Office while researching one of Northumberland’s biggest robbe...
Finding the Plot by Bill Kitson‘There’s always a story. It’s all stories, really. The sun coming up every day is a story. Everything’s got a story in it. Change the story, change the world.’ Terry Pratchett One of...
Going Against the Grain by Antony JohnstonIt’s time to admit that I enjoy going against the grain. Until now I’ve been best known as a graphic novelist, and I’ve had my share of success; a couple of New York Times bestsellers, some critical a...
CWA Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition 2018 Now OpenThe Crime Writers’ Association are once again running the prestigious Margery Allingham Short Story Competition in 2018. The international competition is for an unpublished story in under 3,500 words...
Lady First by Lea O’HarraLea O’Harra on her new novel, the third in the Inspector Inoue mystery series, published by Endeavour Press, and the themes and concerns that underpin it. Fujikawa, a small town in rural, western Japa...
Balkan Noir and the Woman with a Bullet in her Leg by Cal SmythI wanted to write a crime novel set in Belgrade for a long time as it’s a fascinating city and perfect for Balkan Noir. I’ve also loved two Serbian women, my son is half Serbian and I lived in Belgrad...
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Case Files 50
The CRA Newsletter: May 2021