IT'S A CRIME! (OR A MYSTERY...)

Rupture – Simon Lelic

In another debut for 2010, Simon Lelic’s Rupture concerns a school shooting in London.  Teacher Samuel Szajkowksi walks into the school assembly opening fire and killing three pupils and a colleague, before taking his own life.  The policewoman assigned to the case, Lucia May, is expected to wrap it up quickly and quietly because the perpetrator is clearly identified, with no margin for error.  But as May collects statements from witnesses and others associated with the school, she becomes both defiant and intrepid in her determination to seek the truth of the reason for the crime.  Szajkowksi was a mild-mannered man, a bit of a mouse, and May wants to discover what provoked him to commit such a heinous act.  Was he really a psychopath, or was there something more going on to explain his actions?

Rupture makes for an absorbing, compelling and challenging read.  In the case of the latter, it is not only the subject matter but also the novel’s highly original style that throws up the challenge.  Many of the chapters are laid out in the form of one-sided dialogue from the witnesses as their statements to the police are recorded.  As they introduce further characters, the narrative presents a jigsaw puzzle for the reader to put together, as well as for our protagonist, May.

The Pull of the Moon – Diane Janes

Diane Janes was shortlisted and highly commended for the CWA’s Debut Dagger in 2006 for what has become this novel.  (The Debut Dagger requires a submission of the first chapter, up to 3,000 words, plus a short synopsis.)  Does it deliver on its promise?  For this reader, that is a ‘yes’.

As a psychological thriller, The Pull of the Moon opens with a fifty-something Kate Mayfield in her current day circumstances, at a local swimming pool and pondering on how well people actually know one another.  The question is acute in Kate’s mind as she has recently received a letter from the aged and frail Mrs Ivanisovic, asking her to visit.  This is a woman she has not seen in many years, the mother of her long-dead teen boyfriend Danny, although they have exchanged Christmas cards.  Kate chooses to sit on an appropriate response for some time, not wanting to relive her teenage years in the 1970s.  But Mrs Ivanisovic’s next letter proves to be more demanding, potentially threatening, so Kate eventually complies.

Dr Who – New Series, Easter Weekend 2010

He’s hungry; he craves an apple.  She gives him one; he hates it and spits it out.  Same with the yoghurt that follows.  As he says, it’s a new mouth and new rules.  A new Doctor to food has more potential margin for error than a newbie at Weightwatchers.  Then comes the sly but beautiful joke from a Scottish writer/producer in Steven Moffat: ‘Why can’t you give me any decent food? You’re Scottish; fry something!’  But not one Mars Bar in sight…

Yes, this Easter weekend, Dr Who was back and regenerated, with Matt Smith in the main role as the youngest Doctor yet.  Promised a return in ‘just five minutes’, our new assistant had to wait upwards of twelve years, and the slightly cynical Amelia Pond of apples, yoghurt and bacon-frying offerings was fully grown when the Doc returned, making her living as a kissogram, currently in policewoman mode.  But, as can be assured in Dr Who, Amelia – now Amy – Pond had not forgotten our Doc, even if she had forgotten his penchant for Heston Blumenthal-style edibles in the form of fish fingers and custard.

Medieval Murderers at a venue near you…

On World Book Day in March, four members of the Medieval Murderers writing team held court at Newport Central Library in south Wales.  The nearest thing to armour present was a metal walking stick in the possession of someone in the audience, indicating what a jolly time was had by all.

The Medieval Murderers holding court were Bernard Knight, Philip Gooden, Susanna Gregory and recent recruit, Karen Maitland.  (Others members of the group are Michael Jecks, Ian Morson and C J Sansom.)  If anyone arrived thinking this would be an event in which to sit and listen, this was ‘think again’ time.  No sooner than the quartet started to speak, questions from the audience ensued and a proper conversation developed.  It was like a party where everyone gets to hear the conversation.

Interesting points of note included the following:

Gooden had a few ‘bottom drawer’ manuscripts of the satirical novel variety before heading out on historical crime.  He was put off writing contemporary novels because of the need for research to get the detail right.  He feels freer in the past.  (The first time I have heard that one!)  Knight added to this, proving he is the standard-bearer for changing times, by saying that today it’s all boring and citing ‘health and safety’ and ‘bureaucratic nonsense’. Given the collective age of the audience this was ‘Go Bernard!’ time.

Maitland explained her writing production process; for it can only be described as this.  She writes a book based on a detailed plan that is a series of bullet points for each chapter at the start.  It takes her about a year to produce one and she is under contract for 150,000 words on each.

Knight’s Crowner John series may continue in publication but the stories are coming to an end shortly.  But, fear not avid-Knight-reader, because the author is introducing a new series with Severn House.  Here, we have a forensic pathologist in the 1950s, based in the borders of England and Wales.  Three might be expected for the series.

All Medieval Murderers present were great fun – as they promise – and no one shirked any questions, with attendees liking to probe all matters writing and every detail checked.

Keep your eyes peeled for further Medieval Murderers events; the next one that I know of is the Reading Festival of Crime Writing in September (successfully extended this coming year).

What Lies Within – Rutger Artur Robinson-Pratt

With a unique marketing concept from independent publisher Pedant Books, the cover of this debut novel perfectly portrays its title.  Indeed, what does lie within?  First there are the credits.  Reflecting his Swedish, German and British heritage and his ever-changing mood, RA - as he likes to be known - wrote the chapters of this novel in Swedish, German, pigeon English and decent English (but not the Queen’s).  In total, this required a full complement of seven translators; all are listed for their sterling work.

What Lies Within is a story based on RA’s own life as the perpetual victim of crime. We kick off with our protagonist, thirteen year old Evan Sumner, kidnapped from his expensive private school.  His parents are faced with a ransom demand of 2m US$.  They deliver – it’s small fry to parents in the shipping industry – and await the return of their son.  However, instead of their son, they receive a further demand for another 5m US$.  This continues on a weekly basis for varying amounts, until a total of 100m US$ is paid over and Evan returns home.  Mr and Mrs Sumner hardly recognise their boy with his deeper voice and waist-length curly hair.