Monday 19 December 2011

RADGEPACKET TALES FROM THE INNER CITIES VOLUME SIX


Radgepacket Tales from the Inner Cities Volume Six; scheduled to be released 10th March 2012 from those lovely folk at Byker Books.

The blurb:

Our Sixth volume of short stories is just pure quality.

You’ll find real industrial strength fiction in here as the best ‘unsigned and unhinged’ British talent regale you with stories of bad people doing bad things...and good people doing bad things....and lots of people doing naughty things!

In another snapshot of today’s Britain you’ll find twenty two ‘shorts’ that will entertain and appal you in equal measure. So sit down, have a stiff drink...have another two...then turn the page.

Cracking stuff!

ABIDE WITH ME


I was chuffed to hear from Chris Rhatigan that I’m the lucky winner of an early copy of Ian Ayris’ novel Abide With Me.

An early Christmas present that I’m really looking forward too. Cracking stuff! I’ll let you all know how the book treats me; pretty good I’m sure.

My thanks go to Chris and Ian.

Sunday 18 December 2011

BRIT GRIT TOO


Brit Grit Too is out NOW!

The blurb: Edited by Paul D Brazill, Brit Grit Too collects 32 of Britain's best up and coming crime fiction writers to aid the charity Children 1st children1st.org.uk/

The BRIT GRIT mob is coming to kick down your door with hobnailed boots. Kitchen-sink noir; petty-thief-louts; lives of quiet desperation; sharp, blood-stained slices of life; booze-sodden brawls from the bottom of the barrel and comedy that's as black as it's bitter--this is BRIT GRIT

Table of Contents:

1. Two Fingers Of Noir by Alan Griffiths
2. Looking For Jamie by Iain Rowan
3. Stones In Me Pocket by Nigel Bird
4. The Catch And The Fall by Luke Block
5. A Long Time Coming by Paul Grzegorzek
6. Loose Ends by Gary Dobb
7. Graduation Day by Malcolm Holt
8. Cry Baby by Victoria Watson
9. The Savage World Of Men by Richard Godwin
10. Hard Boiled Poem (a mystery) by Alan Savage
11. A Dirty Job by Sue Harding
12. Squaring The Circle by Nick Quantrill
13. The Best Days Of My Life by Steven Porter
14. Hanging Stan by Jason Michel
15. The Wrong Place To Die by Nick Triplow
16. Coffin Boy by Nick Mott
17. Meat Is Murder by Colin Graham
18. Adult Education by Graham Smith
19. A Public Service by Col Bury
20. Hero by Pete Sortwell
21. Snapshots by Paul D Brazill
22. Smoked by Luca Veste
23. Geraldine by Andy Rivers
24. A Minimum Of Reason by Nick Boldock
25. Dope On A Rope by Darren Sant
26. A Speck Of Dust by David Barber
27. Hard Times by Ian Ayris
28. Never Ending by Fiona Johnson
29. Faces by Frank Duffy
30. The Plebitarian by Danny Hogan
31. King Edward by Gerard Brennan
32. Brit Grit by Charlie Wade

I’m as proud as punch to be part of this project and what a line-up! My thanks go to the top-man, Paul D. Brazill and those wonderful folk at Trestle Press.

Sunday 4 December 2011

DRUNK ON THE MOON – IT’S A CURSE - VOLUME 7


Number seven in the cracking DRUNK ON THE MOON series has just been released. It’s been downloaded to my Kindle and will be my bedtime reading tonight.

My congratulations go to all those involved in this innovative series.

Saturday 3 December 2011

MATT HILTON’S DOMINION


I was interested to read on Matt Hilton’s blog that apart from the super Joe Hunter series of novels he has also been hard at work on other standalone projects. I shouldn’t be surprised by this news as Matt is a talented, hardworking and prolific author. He’s also a really nice bloke and tremendously supportive of other budding writers.

Read more about Matt’s eBook projects HERE and HERE for details of his new horror/thriller: DOMINION.

The blurb for DOMINION is terrific and after reading a couple of the Joe Hunter novels I know that this will be a fast paced page turner of a read; perfect format for the Kindle.

I’m wishing Matt every success with this venture and all his other writing projects.

Friday 11 November 2011

HOW THE BOOK TREATED ME: VIVA LA MADNESS BY J.J. CONNOLLY


Okay, I posted a few weeks back that I’d picked up a copy of Viva La Madness by J.J. Connolly and I said I’d let you all know how the book treated me. This is the sequel to Layer Cake, a long-time favourite read of mine, which went on to become a favourite film; J.J. Connolly wrote the screenplay and did a mighty fine job.

A long awaited sequel; it’s something like ten years since Layer Cake was first published but well worth waiting for.

Almost 450 pages, Viva La Madness is long and sometimes I struggle with this length of novel. I’m happy to report I had no such problems. The narrative hooked me from page one, keeping me wriggling on the line like an exhausted kipper.

Set in 2001, Viva La Madness picks up the story of the anonymous drug dealing hero from Layer Cake; now retired, keeping his head down and picking up a suntan in the West Indies. But he is soon pulled back to Blighty and the cut-throat, murky drug business by his friend and associate Mister Mortimer.

Cue an amazing cast of characters and a story line with heavy London underworld gangsters, gun toting Venezuelan drug cartels, international money laundering and high tech banking fraud.  

Written in the same first person point of view as Layer Cake, Viva La Madness has a truly authentic voice, witty sharp dialogue, and a complex plot. Moving at breakneck pace; Viva La Madness is believable, farcical and violent at times as our hero finds his life literally on the line and begins to regret his decision to come out of early retirement, longing again for the sunny, easy life of the Caribbean.

Viva La Madness treated me well and is highly recommended reading.

Friday 4 November 2011

DRUNK ON THE MOON: 6


The latest instalment of the innovative Drunk on the Moon series has just been released. For those of you not in the know Drunk on the Moon is an inspired succession of hardboiled noir/horror short stories featuring Roman Dalton; a retired detective and once a month, barking at the full moon werewolf.

Paul D Brazill wrote the first instalment and from there different writers have picked up the keyboard and baton. This concept allows the writers to have fun and take the characters and tales in a different direction.

The latest, Silver Tears, penned by John Donald Carlucci finds Roman in the sights of a nasty serial killer who wants a bite of the action. Another terrific story, as are the previous five.

The series brought to you by those lovely people at Trestle Press currently stacks up like this:

Drunk on the Moon by Paul D Brazill
Drunk on the Moon 2: Fear the Night by Julia Madeleine
Drunk on the Moon 3: The Darke Affair by Allan Leverone
Drunk on the Moon 4: Insatiable by BR Stateham
Drunk on the Moon 5: Getting High on Daisy by Richard Godwin
Drunk on the Moon 6: Silver Tears by John Donald Carlucci       

At just £0.86p or $1.34 a pop all are tremendous value for money and just the perfect story format for the Kindle.

Go on treat yourself and give it a clickety-click!

Tuesday 1 November 2011

BLASTED HEATH


Blasted Heath has launched today. An innovative and exciting digital publishing venture; congrats and good luck go to all involved.

Saturday 29 October 2011

ABSOLUTE ZERO COOL BY DECLAN BURKE

I downloaded to my Kindle last weekend Declan Burke’s latest novel, Absolute Zero Cool. And without a shadow of a doubt it’s cool with a capital C.

I rattled through AZC. It’s highly original, witty, laugh out loud at times, thought provoking and sprinkled with cracking dialogue that, I think, is a hallmark of Declan’s writing. AZC is a terrific read.

AZC has been nominated for the Irish Book Awards in the Ireland AM Crime Fiction Award category; a tremendous achievement and many congrats go to Dec. He’s in very good company though - the other nominees are:

Taboo by Casey Hill, A Death in Summer by Benjamin Black, Bloodland by Alan Glynn, The Bloody Meadow by William Ryan and The Reckoning by Jane Casey.

Thursday 27 October 2011

RADGEPACKET – TALES FROM THE INNER CITIES VOLUME 6

I’m chuffed to bits this evening and will be for a while. I submitted a story to the upcoming Radgepacket anthology and it’s been accepted.

Yippee!

Radgepacket - Tales from the Inner Cities Volume 6 is due for release in March 2012, published by those wonderful people at Byker Books. I can’t wait.

Many congratulations to the other twenty one writers also accepted; I’m sure I’ll be in good company.

Finally, a huge thank you to Ed and all the folks at Byker Books.

Nice one!

Saturday 15 October 2011

BEAT to a PULP: HARDBOILED

My congratulations go to all involved in this PROJECT. The cover is stunning and I’m sure the stories will be too.

Sunday 2 October 2011

VIVA LA MADNESS

I’m a big fan of Layer Cake. The film, which I have watched several times but more so the book from J.J. Connolly. I picked up Layer Cake many moons ago from a long closed and much missed local independent bookshop. This was also many moons before Layer Cake was made into the film.

I’d read here and there that JJC was working on a sequel to Layer Cake but nothing transpired. Until today when I was browsing my local Waterstone’s and came across this cracking looking trade paperback. The Viva La Madness blurb runs like this:

The long-awaited sequel to the cult classic Layer Cake. The authentic voice of British gangster fiction returns with a tour de force in this long-awaited sequel to Layer Cake, the bestselling debut by J.J. Connolly that 'jump-started British crime fiction into the present' (Uncut). More authentic in its language and scene-setting, smarter in its characterisation and plotting than anything that had previously gone by the name of gangster fiction, Layer Cake attracted a big cult following and became a Crime bestseller (it also became the most shop-lifted book in Britain). The Get Carter of the noughties, Layer Cake has also been made into a highly-praised film by Matthew Vaughn, starring Daniel Craig, Michael Gambon and Sienna Miller. Now J. J. Connolly is back with a sequel that sees him on the same stunning form, with his trademark razor-sharp dialogue and quick-fire violence, but also finding dark humour and pathos in the lives of violent men. From the many levels of the London underworld portrayed in Layer Cake, Viva la Madness moves to international crime with trans-Atlantic drug deals, money laundering and high-tech electronic fraud, portrayed with the same uncanny believability. The anonymous hero of Layer Cake is pulled back into the drug game before he can escape to a sunny retirement: in an authentic but dazzling combination of London low-life, Caribbean high-life and Venezuelan drug cartels toting machine-guns in Mayfair. The brilliance and the madness is back: 'Viva la madness!'

So out the window went my promise to only buy new books for my Kindle to save my groaning bookshelves. Well who could resist…

I’ll let you know how the book treats me.

Friday 16 September 2011

HARD BITE AND OTHER SHORT STORIES

If, like me, you like your Noir and Horror hardboiled, quirky and sprinkled with a delicious dark humour then this collection is a must. And an absolute snip of a price. Go get it HERE.

The mysterious Anonymous-9 is an award winning and very classy writer – go on give it a punt.

Wednesday 24 August 2011

Monday 22 August 2011

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Sunday 7 August 2011

Wednesday 3 August 2011

BRIT GRIT COMING SOON….


Yes, I’m still alive and scribbling my nonsense and flim-flam here and there.

My thanks go in advance to Elaine Ash for posting my flash piece “Two Fingers of Noir” at her terrific and informative blog ASHEDIT.

Friday 18 March 2011

RADGEPACKET VOLUME 5 LAUNCH PARTY

Some pretty major technical problems have kept me off-line for the last week but I’m relieved they are now sorted and in time for me to post this reminder from Ed at Byker Books:

Evening,

Just a reminder that the fifth volume in our mighty Radgepacket series hits the streets this weekend and we're celebrating the fact that we've got away with it five times now with a little launchy soiree type thing. We've got a guest speaker (Rod Glenn - proper novelist and proper bloke), some booze, some nibbles, and plenty of banter so come along and meet some of the crew, have a drink and a laugh. What else would you do on a Saturday (19th) man? Ikea? Pah!

The whole Radgepacket series has, over it's short life, attracted praise from various writers and critics - here's a selection of views :-

'Imaginative writing in this collection which offers a sharp critique of the trashy, beer-and-a-kebab culture.' - The Crack

'Top notch stuff. Seriously impressed.' - Ray Banks, Author

'An anthology for those who like their fiction twisted, profane and depraved. Me, I loved it.' - Big Beat from Badsville

'Within these pages you will find gem after gem.' - Sheila Quigley, Author

The launch is at the 'The Back Page' in Newcastle city centre and, for those of you who don’t know it, it's one of Britain’s best (if not the actual best) sports book shops and carries a massive range of books and other sporting paraphernalia, not to mention the friendliest staff you’ll ever meet anywhere…ever!

The full address is:

56 St. Andrews Street
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE1 5SF

So come along, have a drink with us, get a copy of the new and improved Radgepacket, get it signed by the contributors in attendance and hear a bit of spiel from my good self – you can even heckle...a little bit. Be nice to see you.

Cheers.

Ed

Tuesday 8 March 2011

HARD BITE BY ANONYMOUS-9

Pop over to Col Bury’s excellent blog and read what I have to say about Anonymous-9’s blistering short story Hard Bite. And stay a while; Col’s blog is full of great articles, interviews and links to his terrific stories.

I hope Sid, the thirteen-year-old capuchin monkey helper, is behaving but I fear not… Col, only monkey porn and beer will do the trick!

My thanks go to Col for having me over.

Sunday 27 February 2011

PATTI ABBOTT’S SCARRY NIGHT FLASH FICTION CHALLENGE

Here's the details of Patti’s challenge; Scarry Night.

And here's my story:

RAZORBLADE KISSES

Priest stood in front of the mirror, flinching at the patchwork of raw slashes.

I really don't mind the scars. It’s betrayal that cuts to the friggin’ bone.

Until this was settled he knew his constant companions would be a junkies craving for revenge and anger in the pit of his stomach burning like a pus filled ulcer.

Razorblade kisses I’ll wear for the rest of my days.

He’d been double crossed after a successful little tickle in leafy Surrey. Beaten senseless and carved up like a greasy kebab by Nick the Nonce and his goons.

Left for dead, amongst the mud and the cow shit.

The sound of car tyres on slick tarmac interrupted his reverie.

Priest snuck into the garage and unscrewed the light bulb. Rain beat a tattoo, cleansing the Saturday night detritus. A torrent of water flushing all the piss and puke and blood from the London gutters.

Could it purify my dark soul?

The garage doors swung up. A BMW saloon edged into the garage; came to a halt and the engine died.

“It’s bloody dark in here, Ernie.”

“Shut it you tart. Where’s the bleedin’ light switch?”

Ernie Bradshaw, the Nonce’s six-foot-six enforcer, got out of the motor.

“Switch the headlights on, Razorblade I can’t see a fuckin’ thing.”

White light blazed. Priest swung the Louisville Slugger; splitting Ernie’s skull down the middle like a walnut.

“Timber!” said Priest, pointing a Glock at Razorblade. “So much as sneeze and I’ll blow your swede clean off. Get out!”

Razorblade got out.

“You’ve got this coming, Razorblade,” Priest said. “Tell me where the Nonce is and I’ll do it quick. Boy Scout's honour.”

“You know the boss don’t like that name.”

Priest threw a hammer of a punch, spreading Razorblade’s nose like strawberry jam and dumping him on the floor.

Razorblade spat claret and, “At the club but he’ll be here later.” A dirty laugh came out as a whimper. “We came ahead with a little something in the car boot.”

“Who’s gonna be with him?” Priest said, pushing the pistol into his waistband.

“Phil the Greek.”

“I’d best get ready then,” Priest said, hefting the Slugger. He beat Razorblade to a pulp and added; “Now that’s what I call a homerun.”

Priest dragged Ernie and then Razorblade through to the utility room, stuffing the two bodies into a chest freezer. Sat down and sparked up a Silk Cut. Puffing hard and wiping sweat from his brow he said, “Blimey, it’s all go around here.”

He made a pot of tea and a cheese and pickle sandwich. Ate half and supped his brew in the dark thinking dark thoughts.

The blade sunk deep. Grazing cheekbone and paring back a long ribbon of stubbly skin; a fat maggot wriggling out from beneath-

Priest jolted awake, sheathed with perspiration. He’d only closed his eyes for a few seconds. But it was enough. He drank deeply from a bottle of Chivas Regal, berating himself for his carelessness.

Razorblade kisses I’ll wear for the rest of my days.

Night was turning to day when he heard the revving of a throaty car engine; a Porsche reversing into a parking space on the other side of the mews.

The gang’s all here.

Five minutes passed. Phil the Greek entered the darkened room. “Boys. You there?”

“They’re both on ice,” Priest said, cutting Phil’s throat from behind with a bread knife as easily as slicing a peach.

The Nonce was coming up the stairs talking into a mobile phone. Priest’s smile was wolverine. “Hello, Nonce. You’ve got something of mine,” he said and swung a steel toe cap. “And I want it back.”

The Nonce came to, bound to one of his Georgian dining room chairs. Naked save a pair of soiled budgie smugglers.

“A fine morning for it, Nonce,” Priest said.

The Nonce spat broken teeth and, “For what you fuckin’ hooligan?”

“A spot of pruning,” Priest said, snipping off the Nonce’s left little pinky with a pair of wire cutters.

The Nonce roared curses; wailing like a tight fan belt.

“Swallow the pain you pussy and grow yourself a pair,” Priest said, shredding the Nonce’s discarded shirt. “You’re gonna take this like a man and then you’ll tell me where those gems are hidden.” Stuffing cotton strips between the Nonce’s swollen lips he added; “So cowboy up partner.”

Whistling ‘This Little Piggy’ tunelessly, Priest trimmed the right pinky at the knuckle. The Nonce bucking and squirming did his best to swallow the gag, passing out as his bloody thumbs fell onto the shag-pile.

Priest sucked a Silk Cut down to the filter then slapped the Nonce around until he revived.

“Now for the tiny todger,” Priest said.

The Nonce peed his pants and started to blub. When he was finished Priest said, “Back in a jiffy.”

The jewellery was in the safe along with a pile of cash. “It’s all gravy,” Priest said, scooping the lot into a holdall. He poured a large glass of whisky to celebrate and ate the rest of his sandwich.

Sated and with the swag counted Priest returned to the dining room.

“Nice doing business, Nonce,” Priest said. “I’d shake on it but you’re all fingers and thumbs.”

The Nonce croaked, “You can’t leave me like this you fuckin’ psychopath.”

“Too right,” Priest said, and in a heartbeat put a bullet into the Nonce’s canister. “No loose ends or happy ending.”

On the way out Priest heard muffled sounds coming from the garage. He popped the boot of the Beamer with the ignition fob, pointing the semi-automatic.

Trussed up like a Christmas turkey a young girl stared up at him with big, teary eyes.

Just like my own precious daughter.

Cracking what he hoped was a warm smile he gently helped her out. Looking up to the heavens Priest said, “Okay, just this friggin’ once.”

(c) Alan Griffiths 2011

Friday 25 February 2011

RADGEPACKET 5 - TALES FROM THE INNER CITIES

An invite from Ed at Byker Books:

***

How the devil are you? 2011 getting on your nerves yet? Well I’ve got just the thing…the launch date and venue for the latest edition in our short story collections - the mighty ‘Radgepacket 5’.

Now then, the previous four 'Radgepacket' collections have shaken up the established literary order and this one will be no exception. With twenty different stories of madness, murder and mayhem Radgepacket Volume Five will be launched on Saturday 19th March at ‘The Back Page’ in Newcastle upon Tyne between the hours of 15:00 and 17:00.

We’ve tweaked the format slightly from the first four volumes and have made the last story something of a novella (‘The Estate’ a cracking read from Danny Hill) yet Radge5 is still very cheap at only £5.99. It features contributions from 'up and comers' like Ian Ayris, Carol Fenlon and Paul Brazill and, of course, our usual mix of the unsigned and the unhinged!

As you know (or maybe you don’t!) Radgepacket was conceived and set up to promote those authors who write 'industrial strength fiction' but who never get a look in because they haven't been on Big Brother or had their bits out in the paper but we also want to produce a quality publication that gives the reader value for money and we think we've done that. In fact in this austere day and age it’s probably a crime not to buy something that works out at about 30p per story – it’s for nowt man!

For those of you who don’t know it ‘The Back Page’ is one of Britain’s best (if not the actual best) sports book shops and carries a massive range of books and other sporting paraphernalia, not to mention the friendliest staff you’ll ever meet anywhere…ever!

The full address is:

56 St. Andrews Street
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE1 5SF

So come along, have a drink with us (might even get some nibbles – I said might…) get a copy of the new and improved Radgepacket, get it signed by the contributors in attendance and hear a bit of spiel from my good self – and hopefully a mystery guest speaker - what’s not to like?

Cheers.

Ed

***

I’m thrilled to be one of the unsigned and the unhinged!

Thursday 24 February 2011

A COUPLE OF THINGS

Very sad to read this today; an actor and television series I remember fondly...

But, very happy to read this today; can’t wait…

Saturday 12 February 2011

TRUTH LIES BLEEDING BY TONY BLACK

I treated myself to this cracking looking book today – Truth Lies Bleeding by Tony Black.

The cover is terrific and I’m looking forward to finding out where Tony Black takes a police procedural. Tony is an author I admire tremendously. His Gus Dury novels are brilliant; Tartan Noir at its very best.

Have you treated yourself to a good book lately?

Enjoy the weekend folks!

Sunday 6 February 2011

DISCOUNT NOIR – REVIEWED AT THE DROWNING MACHINE


Naomi Johnson has kindly put together a very nice and very thorough review of Discount Noir.

Check it out over at The Drowning Machine - HERE.

PULP CARNIVALE

I’m probably a little late to the party (usually am) but browsing around the blogosphere this morning I came across a brash new kid that has rocked-up in town.

Check out the terrific looking Pulp Carnivale HERE.

My congratulations go to the Editor in Chief, Tracy Austin. I hope Tracy gets all the support needed to make a success of this fine project – knowing the online writing community I’m sure Tracy will.

There are a couple of nasty but nice pieces of flash by Ian Ayris and Charlie Wade over there, which you really need to read.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend folks!

Saturday 22 January 2011

I DIDN’T SAY THAT, DID I?: BRIT GRIT BY PAUL D. BRAZILL

There’s a terrific article over at Pulp Metal Magazine penned by the terrific Paul D. Brazill.

Check it out HERE.

And stay a while over there folks; chill out, make a nice cuppa something and take your time checking out some cracking stuff.

Have a great weekend all.

Thursday 20 January 2011

RADGEPACKET - TALES FROM THE INNER CITIES VOLUME 5

Last night a long awaited email from Ed of BYKER BOOKS popped into my in-box.

A double digit tap and I held my breath.

My story, Say Hello Wave Goodbye, had been accepted for Radgepacket - Tales from the Inner Cities Volume 5.

I was over the blooming moon. I read it twice to make sure.

Yes!

Yippee!

I’m thrilled, honoured and privileged to be accepted into this anthology. The planned release date is March/April…ish. As soon as I get more news I’ll let you know.

I’ll be interested to see the full list of contributors. I’m sure I’ll be in good company doing what I do best; holding onto the coattails of a talented bunch of authors - all with terrific stories. Congratulations to you all.

If you are not familiar with the books then please check out the last Radgepacket HERE. Go on treat yourself!

As Ed says (and Ed knows best):

“Byker Books will use profits from sales to fund basic operations and new titles (including the Radgepacket series). We’re not evil millionaires. We’re people trying to get good books and new authors out in to the market and we need your help to do that.”

Says it all, Ed.

Byker Books has exciting plans to launch the Radgepacket series as well as their other novels (old and new) in ebook form.

So, great news all round.

I can’t wait to see a story of mine in print for the first time. What a blast that will be. What an inspiration to keep scribbling down the nonsense that is inside my head.

Man-O-Man!

Right-O, I’m off for a celebratory drink or three.

Take good care folks.

Saturday 8 January 2011

COLD KISS

I wanted to post a few words about the book I have just finished reading: Cold Kiss by John Rector.

I’d picked the book up several times and browsed it. Each time, although very tempted to buy a copy, I’d put it back saying to myself, “No! You already have too many books on that darned TBR pile.”

Then I read Keith Rawson’s top five books of 2010 and Cold Kiss was his number one pick. Well, Keith’s review did the trick and I picked up a copy last weekend.

Was I glad I did? Hell yes!

I blasted through the book in five days, which is exceptionally fast for me. I could have cracked it in much less time if it was not a working week and my reading time was limited.

I was also trying to take my time and savour it.

Cold Kiss is Nate and Sara’s story: A young couple who are broke and on the run from the past. A shady hitchhiker offers cold hard cash for a lift. They can’t afford to say no.

As the front cover blurb says: Fear never travels alone...

So, what is it about this book that, in my opinion, makes it so exceptionally good and John Rector so talented?

The narrative is fast paced, tightly plotted and full of suspense with an air of claustrophobic menace. Simon Kernick’s quote on the back cover captures the essence of the story: “You know something bad’s going to happen and just have to keep reading.”

But for me it is also John Rector’s writing style. Clean, hardboiled prose, pared to the bone so that not one gritty word is wasted and dialogue that is sparse and authentic.

Noir with a capital N!

From reading John’s blog it comes as no surprise that Cold Kiss has been optioned for film.

Cold Kiss is a terrific debut and John’s second novel, The Grove, is available in Kindle format – also to shortly be published in paperback.

So, my thanks go to Keith for a fine recommendation and to John for writing a superb book.

I’d recommend Cold Kiss in the blink of an eye and I’m sure Mr Rector will soon be a huge name and bestselling author.

Now, back to that darned TBR pile...

Monday 3 January 2011

DSD CHRISTMAS NOIR FLASH CHALLENGE

DO SOME DAMAGE has been hosting an inspired Christmas Noir Flash challenge and my effort, Secret Santa, has been posted. You can check it out HERE.

If you have not read the other fine pieces of writing then please spend a while over there and check them all out – the standard has been absolutely terrific. It’s a thrill and an honour to be part of it and a great start to the New Year.

My thanks go to the DSD crew who run a super blog all year round.

Finally, a belated Happy New Year to you all!