Review: Murder at the Caravan by David Pearson (The Book Folks)

Review Status Drift by Ian Robinson (The Book Folks)

As regular readers of my reviews may well be aware, I am a huge fan of Ian Robinson’s work and a major reason in this series is the central character DS Sam Batford, who walks the fine line between corrupt cop and heroic…

Review: The Counterfeit Detective by Simpson Grears (Rymour Books)

The problem with even the very best crime fiction, as well written as it may be, is that a lot of it can feel very similar. That is why we readers should welcome something that’s a bit different, and why we should welcome books like The Counterfeit Detective by Simpson…

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…

I was pleased to hear that crime writer Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin has been elected as the new Chair of the Society of Authors.

The novelist takes over from Joanne Harris to begin a two-year term as Chair of the SoA’s board of directors. Joanne has held the position since 2020 and has now come to the end of her second two-year term.

Vanessa, who…

I am delighted to announce that that my twenty fourth crime novel has been published and it plunges DCI Jack Harris into a murder investigation that takes him to Scotland in search of a killer.

In To Catch A Lie (The Book Folks) a man’s body is found on a country estate in the North Pennines area for which Harris is responsible.

The DCI…

Much of the writing process relies on catalysts, little bombs that explode and infuse the narrative with energy (I appreciate that chemistry practitioners may now be yelling at the page in protest at the mixed metaphors contained in that sentence but you get the idea).

So what do these catalysts look like? Well, an example from the new DCI…

Author Ian Robinson has a new crime novel out - and it’s attracting plenty of glowing reviews.

Criminal Justice (The Book Folks) introduces undercover police officer Sam Batford, a man who walks the narrow line between successful detective and corrupt cop. The novel sees him sent to work with a serious crime team in London in an…

I have just started writing my next crime novel and I have more time to concentrate on it now that Kirkcudbright Book Week, which I help organise, has come to an end for this year.

In fact, the subject of how best to begin a story cropped up during Book Week, not least when I chaired an in-conversation event at the Selkirk Arms, featuring…

I am working on a new DCI John Bizzard crime novel for my publisher The Book Folks, and that means being faced with the dreaded blank first page.

So, how do writers get going under such circumstances? How do they start writing their story? Well, in this hectic world, I have always felt that there is a lot to be said for holding back and…

Traditionally, events featuring crime writers are very popular at Kirkcudbright Book Week in Dumfries and Galloway and tend to sell out. However, with just three weeks to go until the beginning of the event, there are still plenty of tickets available for the three crime fiction offerings.

Crime writers due to appear…

I am delighted to have played a small part in this book making it into print

Castle Douglas writer David L Haigh has had his first novel published, telling a  tale of murder in a rural community.

Crime novel Land Kill, which has been published by Michael Terence Publishing, tells the story of a former stockbroker turned pheasant farmer,…

I have just started writing my next crime novel for my publishers The Book Folks and as with every new book, that blank first page is at once exciting and daunting.

The excitement comes because it takes all that planning that I’ve been doing over recent weeks…

Audience members attending a specially-organised night of crime fiction during Kirkcudbright Book Week will be given a free copy of a 100-page deluxe brochure exploring crime fiction across the British Isles.

The brochure has been put together by the expert team at publisher The Book Folks, which has four of its authors attending the…

Contemplating a spring holiday/short break? Then why not choose the stunning scenery of Dumfries and Galloway and combine it with your love of crime fiction and choose Kirkcudbright when the town’s annual Book Week is on between March 4-10? I will be chairing one of the events.

You can check out the details at…

I have been editing the working draft of the latest Jack Harris crime novel before sending it off to my publishers The Book Folks at the end of the month.

For me, as I have mentioned in previous blogs, this is the most intense and most enjoyable stage of the writing process and it’s worth recapping why all writers need to give the process due…

I am absolutely delighted that my recently-released DCI John Blizzard Kindle box-set of crime novels (The Book Folks) has hit Number One in three of Amazon's crime anthology charts, earning the coveted Orange Bestseller Logo.

Thank you to everyone who bought the box-set and has supported me down the years…

Ever thought about writing a bestseller? Well, if you have, the talk to be given by author Ryan Stark during Kirkcudbright Book Week is well worth attending.

Ryan moved from IT Specialist to full-time novelist eight years ago. The learning curve was steep and, with no knowledge of the writing process, it was quite a journey. Yet from a…

Crime writer James Davidson has been added to the panel for an in-conversation evening staged by publisher The Book Folks during Kirkcudbright Book Week.

He has agreed to appear following the recent death of author James Andrew, who was due to appear.

Event details: Wednesday March 6 In Conversation with the Book Folks Crime Writers…

The process of writing continually teaches the author new lessons. It also reiterates the wisdom behind old ones. The truth of that statement has been proved to me yet again as I write the final chapters of my latest DCI Jack Harris novel for my publisher The Book Folks.

I have found myself struggling with pulling together the threads of the…