The Crime Time Christmas Debate is back 7.30pm GMT, Tuesday, 6th December, 2022. As we go to print there are a only a few places free so get in quickly. Critics Maxim Jakubowski, Laura Wilson, Jake Kerridge, Ayo Onatade, Victoria Selman and Paul Burke have chosen five novels each and will battle it out, naturally, Barry Forshaw chairs. It’s going to be a lot of fun, plenty of bookish banter and last minute Christmas present ideas – the other critics’ choices cost me a fortune every year! SIGN UP: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-crime-time-christmas-debate-best-crime-novels-of-2022-tickets-461757337627
This month’s InPersonWithPaul interviews have been a delight. First up was Mike Lupica, successful children’s writer, top US sports journalist and critically acclaimed crime writer. Lupica asked the Robert B Parker estate why they hadn’t picked a writer to carry on the Sunny Randall stories so they gave him the job. He took on the Jesse’s Stone mysteries after that and next year will be writing the iconic Spenser series as Ace Atkins retires. We chatted about his friends Bob Parker, Elmore Leonard and William Goldman and a life full of serendipity, (aided by talent). Next up was a legend of the spy/crime world, James Grady, author of Six Days of the Condor filmed as Three Days Of The Condor by Sydney Pollack and staring Faye Dunaway and Robert Redford, both iconic portraits of the 1970s. Grady is a modest man with a fascinating take on life and fiction. His latest novel This Train is both a heist thriller and a satire on modern America. Jerome Charyn’s latest novel Big Red tells the unhappy story of Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth’s marriage, stars of the noir era living rather noirish lives. Hayworth is no Gilda, she’s a shy depressive person tied to a force of nature, Welles. Maxim Jakubowski joined us, Charyn’s friends since he published the Isaac Quartet in 1984 (out 5/12). Verve Publishing editor Jenna Gordon was the special guest interview chatting with historical crime writer Georgina Clarke and Laura Wilson rounds out a month of top shows in style. She has just written her first YA novel under the name Jamie Costello. Monochrome is a zeitgeisty drama/thriller with a unique take on climate change at its heart. Wilson tells us it’s the most fun she’s has had writing in ages, (out 1/12).
Victoria Selman continues to put together brilliant panels featuring top crime writers for OnTheSofa . Mari Hannah and Ian Rankin tackled series fiction, keeping the characters fresh, continuity, craving overnight success, bent cops and why you should never work with children or animals. Next up Vaseem Khan and Janice Hallett chatted cosy crime. What is it, who qualifies as a cosy writer and how does it relate to the golden era of crime and Agatha Christie. Khan has a different take on animals to Rankin/Hannah – always have an elephant in your story but be sure to treat him or her well. Araminta Hall, Erin Kelly and CL Taylor are the illustrious guests for the season finale (13/12). A one off Christmas special will be aired on 27th December featuring Victoria in conversation with, no less than, uber bestseller, Jeffery Deaver.
Plenty to get your teeth into there and look out for info on our OnTheSofa roadshow in 2023.
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