John Dean Crime Novelist is a social network
John Dean's books;
To Catch a Lie – a DCI Jack Harris mystery eb/pb
Blizzard box-set - seven books for 99p
Welcome to my site. I am a crime novelist living in South West Scotland who was published by Robert Hale between 2004 and 2014 and now by The Book Folks. I have had twenty four titles published
The Book Folks titles are
Dead Hill eb pb/audio
The VIxen's Scream eb pb/audio
To Die Alone eb pb/audio
The Long Dead eb pb/audio
Strange Little Girl eb pb/audio
The Railway Man eb pb/audio
The Secrets Man eb pb/audio
To Honour the Dead eb pb/audio
A Breach of Trust eb pb
Thou Shalt Kill eb pb
Death List eb pb
Error of Judgement, eb pb
The DCI Blizzard Murder Mysteries Books 1 to 3
A Collection containing the first three books in the DCI John Blizzard series of murder mysteries (The Book Folks) has been published in e-book format, as well as second one containing another three and, most recently, one with the first seven for just 99p
A Flicker in the Night eb pb
The Killing Line eb/pb
The Latch Man eb pb
Kill Shot eb pb
No Age to Die eb pb
Last Man Alive eb/pb
The Vengeance Man eb/pb
The Girl in the Meadow eb/pb/hb
The Name on the Bullet eb/pb/hb
Writing as John Stanley
The Numbers Game – a DCI Danny Radford novel
Sentinel – a DCI Danny Radford novel
You can buy my Book Folks titles at:
Dead Hill
The Vixen’s Scream https://www.amazon.co.uk/VIXENS-SCREAM-captivating-mystery-featuring-ebook/dp/B06Y45R6B4/ref=pd_sim_351_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=6QY89RN533S2REGRQBZB
Strange Little Girl https://www.amazon.co.uk/STRANGE-LITTLE-GIRL-Detective-Blizzard-ebook/dp/B076TBXS9W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1509018472&sr=8-2&keywords=strange+little+girl+and+john+dean
To Honour the Dead
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07CMK9GYW/
A Breach of Trust
Thou Shalt Kill
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07HKQL7XS
Death List
Error of Judgement, eb pb
The DCI Blizzard Murder Mysteries Books 1 to 3
A Collection containing the first three books in the DCI John Blizzard series of murder mysteries (The Book Folks) has been published in e-book format.
You can find out more and buy the book at
The DCI Blizzard Murder Mysteries Books 4 to 6 is out.
This is a collection containing the second three books in the DCI John Blizzard series of murder mysteries (The Book Folks) published in e-book format.
A Flicker in the Night
The Killing Line - The Book Folks (eb/pb to come) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B084WR73YH/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=john+dean&qid=1582032771&s=digital-text&sr=1-1
The Latch Man
The DCI Harris Murder Mysteries Books 1-3
The box set featuring the first three DCI Jack Harris mysteries published by The Book Folks, is on sale. DCI Jack Harris loves the peace and solitude of the rolling hills of the Pennines in the north of England so when criminals interrupt his quietude, he makes no qualms about catching them, even if his actions run the townsfolk and his fellow officers up the wrong way.
You can find out more, or buy the boxset, at
The second DCI Jack Harris boxset has been published by The Book Folks in Kindle format, including books four to six in the series.
You can find out more, or buy the book, at
No Age to Die
Last Man Alive eb/pb
The Vengeance Man
eb /pb
The Girl in the Meadow
The Name on the Bullet A DCI John Blizzard mystery
Pb eb hb https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C1GNRDRS/
To Catch a Lie DCi Jack Harris
Writing as John Stanley
The Numbers Game
Sentinel
Courses and mentoring
Crime novelist and creative writing tutor John Dean, who is based in Dumfries and Galloway, has launched an online Crime Fiction Course.
John, author of 24 crime novels and currently published by London-based The Book Folks, is the creator of DCI John Blizzard and DCI Jack Harris.
The online course, which runs in eight parts and can begin at a time and date to suit the student, will help writers to improve their technique and improve their chances of being successful, either in competitions or admissions to publishers.
When they enroll, students will be offered ongoing one-to-one feedback on their work, be it short stories or novels.
John, who is a member of the UK-based Crime Writers’ Association, said: “Writing can be a lonely pastime and my aim is to help aspiring writers to improve their technique and improve their chances of being successful in a very competitive market.
“Crime fiction remains hugely popular and, hopefully, I can help aspiring writers to develop their ideas, and because it is online it does not matter where they live.
"In recent years, I have worked with writers from everywhere from Croatia to Australia and New Zealand.”
There is no official certificate of qualification at the end of the course, which will be led by John.
The course costs £75.
For further details you can contact John at deangriss@btinternet.com
Mentoring
A reminder that, in addition to the various free things we do, one of the paid-for services I offer is one supporting writers.
Why should you hire a professional writing mentor, though?
Isn’t it enough to attend a class/workshop or a writing group? Or ask a friend or relative to comment?
Well, it depends what you want and need and bespoke mentoring can help some writers, providing the experience and expertise to -
• understand your work
• nurture you and your writing
• let you retain control of your ideas and your writing
* provide expert, specific advice about what is working and what isn’t.
I focus on major issues, such as how your story hangs together, what your characters are doing or could be doing, what is hurting your story’s momentum, what story elements are not pulling their weight.
I identify the differences between good and great and point out your writing strengths, so you become confident about what not to change.
I also give suggestions and help you establish good processes and writing goals and suggest markets for your work.
If long-term mentoring does not appeal, I run short writing courses as well.
You can contact me at deangriss@btinternet.com
Events
Blog Posts
An exciting time
Having just completed my latest DCI Blizzard crime novel for my publisher The Book Folks, this is both a nervous time and an exciting time. Nervous because, however experienced you are (and this is Book 25), it’s always a tense time as you wait for feedback from your publisher. You are never too old to learn!
Exciting because your thoughts…
ContinuePosted by John Dean on November 20, 2024 at 9:50
Injecting energy into your crime novel
I am currently 43,000 words into my latest DCI Blizzard crime novel for The Book Folks and key to getting the process right is to ensure that the story continually benefits from injections of energy to maintain its momentum - and increase it, where necessary.
But how do you do that? It’s not as simple as the old crime writers adage that if you…
ContinuePosted by John Dean on October 14, 2024 at 17:02
A challenge for the reader
Crime writer Ian Robinson has a new novel out, marking the return of renegade police officer Sam Batford in his latest undercover assignment for the Metropolitan Police.
In Lines Crossed (The Book Folks), an armed gang is robbing cash vans in North London, and Detective Sergeant Batford’s bosses want his help catching them. That’s not all that…
ContinuePosted by John Dean on October 2, 2024 at 8:49
How far is far?
As I have said in past blogs, the wise author listens when the story speaks to them and if that means changing the original plan then so be it.
But how far should the author be prepared to change the story that they originally decided to write? I mean, it was the author’s idea long before those pesky character stuck their oar in, wasn’t it?…
ContinuePosted by John Dean on September 18, 2024 at 9:33
Talks, festivals, workshops, courses and manuscript assessments
Author re-launches online crime fiction course
Best-selling crime novelist and creative writing tutor John Dean has launched the latest version of his online Crime Fiction Course.
The course, which runs in eight parts and can begin at a time and date to suit the writer, helps emerging authors to improve their writing and aims to increase their chances of being successful, either in competitions or admissions to publishers and agents.
Several emerging writers who have completed the course have gone on to secure publishing contracts.
John, who lives in Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland and has run the course for a number of years, including throughout the covid lockdowns, has updated its content to take into account the latest thinking on crime writing as well as changes in the publishing industry.
The course sees him share the experience gained from more than than twenty five years as a crime writer. In that time, he has had 24 novels published and is currently published by London-based The Book Folks. He is the creator of the best-selling DCI John Blizzard and DCI Jack Harris series.
When students enrol, they can either choose to complete a series of writing exercises or base the course on existing novels, either method supported by ongoing one-to-one feedback taking in everything from plotting, creating characters, how best to use sense of place and how to write with pace.
John, who is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association and is the organisation’s Libraries Champion in Scotland, said: ‘Writing can be a lonely pastime and my aim is to help emerging writers to improve their technique and their chances of being successful in what is a very competitive market.
‘Crime fiction remains hugely popular and opportunities are opening up for emerging writers all the time, particularly as new publishing companies spring up and grow through outlets like Amazon, meaning that they are constantly looking for new talent. Hopefully, I can help aspiring writers to take advantage of those opportunities.
‘Because the course is online, it does not matter where the writers live. In recent years, I have worked with writers everywhere from Croatia to Australia and New Zealand, as well as in the UK, and have been delighted to see several of them go on to secure contracts with publishers. It’s very gratifying to see them in print.’
There is no official certificate of qualification at the end of the course. For further details, you can contact John at deangriss@btinternet.com or ring 07889 554931. His website also contains plenty of free material about the craft of crime writing and can be found at www.johdean.ning.com
Manuscript assessments
John works with his daughter Laura, a skilled editor and manuscript assessor, to provide manuscript assessments. Should you be interested in finding out more, then feel free to drop John a line and he and Laura can discuss your needs. For further details, you can contact John at deangriss@btinternet.com or ring 07889 554931.
Talks
John gives talks on crime writing to organisations ranging from library reading groups and writing groups to men's forums. He also delivers creative writing workshops at venues including arts centres and libraries. He can be contacted on deangriss@btinternet.com
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About
Latest Activity
An exciting time
Injecting energy into your crime novel
A challenge for the reader
How far is far?
Festival announces top quality line-up
Videos
Forum
Manuscript assessments
Are you an aspiring crime writer who is keen to develop your craft? Then perhaps I can help. I work with my daughter Laura,…Continue
Started by John Dean Feb 23, 2021.
Mentoring programmes and online writing courses
Novelist John Dean is offering online courses for writing groups who may be struggling to meet in person during the current coronavirus restrictions.Crime writer John, who is based in Dumfries and Galloway and has been a creative writing tutor for…Continue
Started by John Dean Feb 7, 2020.
Libraries Champions
John Dean is one of three UK Libraries Champions appointed by The Crime Writers’ Association.Key elements of the role…Continue
Started by John Dean Sep 12, 2018.
Blizzard series 1 Reply
I have read a number of the Blizzard series on Kindle—Strange Littke Girl,The Railway Man, The Secrets Man and The Long Dead. Got The Latch Man from a third party seller on Amazon. Are there others in the series?
Started by Deborah Kaback. Last reply by John Dean Aug 8, 2018.
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