8 January 2021

Turning over a not so new leaf

, , , ,

Living and coping: Year #2 of Covid-19 01 Jan 2021: AND so it goes; another New Year’s Day following yet one more New Year’s Eve. Ho hum. After enduring a long line of such pairings, I still have yet to gather much sense of endings and beginnings.  Something more than the mere flicking over a… Continue Reading

27 December 2020

Confused by sleuths of crime-ridden south coast

, , , , ,
Down to the Woods - MJ Aldridge

CONFUSION continues to await avid readers of two popular series of crime fiction tales centred on Britain’s south coast. They can be left flummoxed, not so much by the intricate plotting but rather by the naming of the two main characters. One wonders whether there is mutual admiration or deep rivalry between the books’ authors,… Continue Reading

10 December 2020

Garry dishes up Outback crime to rival the best

, , , , ,
Book review Bitter Wash Road Gary Disher

I HAVE been renewing acquaintance with an old friend. As always, it was a rewarding and compelling page-turning experience. It was also thought provoking, making me wonder yet again why so few Australian crime writers make it on to the international stage. Rather than becoming household names they are too often relegated to being the… Continue Reading

3 November 2020

Five Strikes and out; too much of a bad thing

, ,

THIS was a huge letdown. A thorough disappointment on so many fronts. And all the more so for one who has been a consistent fan of the Cormoran Strike tales from the very beginning. As evidenced by having ordered and paid for this latest saga well in advance of its publication day. We know better… Continue Reading

30 October 2020

Neither short nor to the point

, , ,
Final check before filing -daria-nepriakhina-unsplash

THE prime reason we write is to communicate with others. This applies whether it be with one other person or with the masses devouring the latest scandal or disaster. Nowhere is this more true than in the print media. Newspapers need to be quickly and clearly understood by the widest possible audience. No going back… Continue Reading

12 October 2020

Chasing killers through an opium induced haze

THERE are people who return year after year after year to the same place for their annual holidays. Familiarity apparently brings content. And probably boredom, as they are not averse also to sneaking away on an occasional  long weekend break which, if pressed, they will describe as “refreshing”. Which shows it is good to break… Continue Reading

2 October 2020

Adrenalin overload, excessive effort and a hangover haze

, , , , , ,

  NOW here’s a weird, even disturbing, thing; my trusty Garmin records a hilly four-mile run around the city where I live. Yet I have scant memory of it ever happening. How can this be? The watch tells of a continuous jog with every second accounted for. By contrast, my memory presents me with a… Continue Reading

25 September 2020

Delight in old master of writing, and crime fiction

, , ,

THERE’S nothing like revisiting an old friend. So much forgotten pleasure to be derived from taking giant steps back to the very early years. In so doing we revive  experiences that only now are revealed and recognised for their formative effect on so much that followed. As a youth, I voraciously and randomly devoured almost… Continue Reading

10 September 2020

Stop the clock; pause for reflection

, , , , ,

OKAY, so life’s a journey. We all know that; it has been stated often enough. We also know, as with any journey, there will inevitably be stops, delays, breakdowns, detours, U-turns and even the need for spare parts and replacements. There will be tears and laughter; excruciating sadness and unfettered joy. Far less certain is… Continue Reading

8 September 2020

Murdering bullies prove noir is noir wherever you are

, , , ,

THIS Icelandic journey into the dark side sparked something of a defining moment. Or, more precisely, a desire to have something defined. Better than that, a search for the definition of a definition; one that  entailed going beyond the resources of the OED or Mr Google. The puzzle centres on the proliferation of genres, sub-genres… Continue Reading

End of content

End of content

Receive my ‘Read. Write. Run. Repeat.’ newsletter

Regular updates of my reviews and commentary direct to your inbox.