2025
2025 has been a terrific year so far. Hemlock Bay, runner-up for crime novel of the year by The Critic magazine, was shortlisted for the CrimeFest eDunnit award for best crime novel of the year. The expanded second edition of The Golden Age of Murder, celebrating the book’s tenth anniversary, was acclaimed by the Daily Mail: ‘it would be hard to imagine a better dip-into book for summer’. And right now I’m awaiting with some excitement the UK publication on 11 September of my first stand-alone puzzle mystery, which is….
Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife
I’m thrilled by the gorgeous look and feel of this book, as well as by lovely advance quotes for the book from such authors as Janice Hallett, Ian Moore, Mary Grand, Kate Ellis, Alex Pavesi, and Orlando Murrin as well as early reviews. It was also exciting to record some segments of the audiobook edition recently (although fortunately top-notch actors are doing most of the reading!) I’m undertaking many promotional events around the country, while the book appears in the US in September and several translations will be appearing soon.
A New Life for The Lake District Mysteries
I’m absolutely delighted that Joffe Books have acquired the ebook rights to my Lake District Mysteries and are relaunching the series with elegant new artwork. The Coffin Trail, once shortlisted for the Theakston’s Prize for best crime novel of the year, appeared in July and will be followed each month by the remaining titles in this series, which (at present) extends to eight books. I’m also glad that I’ve been reunited with my former editor Kate Lyall Grant, who published my Harry Devlin books many years ago and who is now my editor at Joffe.
Howdunit and Crafting Crime
Howdunit is a masterclass in crime writing, conceived and edited by me, and written by members of the Detection Club, is now available as a paperback. Almost every living member of the Club has contributed new essays, while there are also contributions from distinguished former members. So – everyone from Len Deighton and John Le Carre to Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Felix Francis, Ann Cleeves, Peter James, Mark Billingham, Peter Robinson, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Agatha Christie. To name but a few….The book won the CrimeFest H.R.F. Keating award and earned five other award nominations. The book’s success has prompted me to collaborate with Fiction Feedback on an online course for people who want to write crime novels – it is called Crafting Crime.
Harry Devlin is 30!
I recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of publication of my first novel, All the Lonely People., which introduced Harry Devlin and was nominated for the CWA award for best first crime novel of the year. To mark the occasion, Andrews UK relaunched the seven Harry Devlin books I wrote way back in the 1990s with jazzy new cover artwork. The books are available as hardbacks and paperbacks as well as in ebook form. Incidentally, after a gap of a decade, Harry returned in Waterloo Sunset, which is also available.
This Deadly Isle and The Traitor
Two interesting and unusual projects. I was commissioned to create This Deadly Isle, a Golden Age Mystery Map, quite beautifully produced by Herb Lester Associates. And Otto Penzler, the legendary editor and proprietor of the Mysterious Bookshop, commissioned me to write a 15,000 word story – a novella, really – for his famous series of Bibliomysteries, which are available in signed limited edition hardback as well as in paperback.
Anthologies
As if By Magic is my latest anthology of vintage mysteries in the British Library’s Crime Classics series, and is themed around locked room mysteries. Earlier this year I published Cyanide in the Sun in the same series, with a focus on summer crimes. Then There Were More (Flame Tree Press) is my latest anthology of CWA members’ work and this time focuses on older stories, including my own ‘War Rations’. It’s another beautifully produced book.
Alibis in the Archives
The historic and wonderfully atmospheric Gladstone’s Library is the home to the British Crime Writing Archives, which I established there a few years ago. This year’s weekend, featuring Orlando Murrin, Caroline England, and many others, was great fun and we’ll be back next summer. Make a note of the dates – the weekend of 5-7 June 2026, and do book early, as places are always in demand.
Short Stories
My short story ‘The Butler’ recently appeared in Leaving the Scene, an anthology celebrating that lovely festival CrimeFest.
Other events
My first event of the year is the Lansdowne Literary Festival in London. I will be in conversation with Andrew Taylor and also hosting a crime writing workshop.
Around the world
The Golden Age of Murder has been published in Chinese and Japanese, while The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books has recently been translated into Korean..
The New Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes
My collection of Sherlock Holmes stories is available as an ebook on Amazon. As well as the stories, the book includes various articles and a splendid introduction by leading Sherlockian David Stuart Davies. I’ve also contributed an introduction to a handsome, slip-cased edition of a selection of Sherlock’s greatest cases, published by Arcturus.
TV, DVD and Film viewing
Films I’ve enjoyed recently include Carry-On and Calibre, along with older movies such as the under-rated Mr Brooks. On TV, I’ve enjoyed Patience and Ludwig.
Latest Reading
I’m currently reading Donna Moore’s The Devil’s Draper and greatly admired Peter Lovesey’s Against the Grain, the final Peter Diamond book. ‘Forgotten books’ feature on my blog each Friday.
Collecting Crime Fiction
I’ve acquired several fascinating inscribed books, including an inscribed copy of Raymond Postgate’s The Ledger is Kept. I’ve also picked up a number of books inscribed by Catherine Aird, a delightful writer and friend who sadly died just before Christmas.
Writing about crime fiction
I contributed an essay on ‘Plotting’ to an award-winning volume about the genre, The Routledge Companion to Crime Fiction. My fellow contributors are academics from around the world.
Website
I’ve continued to revamp the site, and very much welcome any constructive suggestions from readers.