Rowland White
If there’s one thing Penguin does well (other than publish books that is) it’s throw a great party and Wednesday night’s crime gathering was no exception, hosted in a stylish (and packed) room in London’s Soho. After a welcome from Rowland White there was plenty of opportunity to sample the canapés and wine chat with authors, journalists, bloggers and others from the book trade.
Of the forthcoming titles that got a mention on the night it’s probably Thursday’s Children by Nicci French that I am most looking forward to. The Frieda Klein series has been excellent and I can’t wait to read the next instalment.
There was another crime writing duo represented – Paul Perry and Karen Gillece – who are published under the pseudonym of Karen Perry. Their title The Boy That Never Was was published just a few days ago “a deeply atmospheric and masterfully crafted tale of love and loss that will chill you to the bone”.
As is inevitable with these events, there’s not enough time to talk to everyone that you would like to, but I did have a brief chat to Matthew Frank, whose debut If I Should Die is due out in June. This is the first in a series featuring a police detective who is an Afghan veteran. It was interesting to discover that Matthew’s day job is as an architect and I was as interested in quizzing him on that as his writing! I’ve spotted that Matthew will be on a couple of panels at Crimefest in May and I’m looking forward to catching up with him then. I also spoke to Tim Relf about his forthcoming book – although we have to wait until 2015 for that!
Penguin Crime Top Trumps
Other new titles to get a mention included After the Silence by Jake Woodhouse, the first in a police procedural series set in Amsterdam, to be published later this month. Eeny Meeny is s serial-killer thriller debut from M. J. Arlidge, due to be published in early May. James Oswald was also present – the third instalment of his Inspector Mclean 3 series The Hangman’s Song having been published at the end of February.
Apologies to any author’s I’ve neglected to mention, and many thanks to the organisers for a great evening.
Novel Heights 
Sounds like a great even, Sue! Thanks for sharing.
I’m so jealous, this sounds like a great event. I’m really looking forward to reading Nicci French’s Thursday’s Children as I’ve enjoyed the previous books in this series so much!
It was a lovely evening. I wasn’t brave enough to speak to Nicci or Sean – but they will be at Crimefest in May so will need to pluck up my courage!
Oh you must be brave 🙂
Thanks for the reminder of these books, Sue! Good to read you had a great time. No pics though? No one caught in flagrante in a tangle of legs on a distant sofa? Ooh you are discreet m’dear.
Sorry – no piccies or gossip (discretion is my middle name). They have some interesting sounding titles coming out – I’m looking forward to Mathew Frank’s.
Yes, that looks interesting. As does the one set in Amsterdam by Jake Woodhouse. The Boy That Never Was also looks intriguing.
PS: re Nicci French – you will see them differently after watching this. Not so scary … I promise.
Awwww! Am more scared of embarrassing myself. The inevitable “I’ve read all your books, I think you’re wonderful…”
To which you can add (or start with) “Oh you love puppies!”
True!!
Hello,
Did you mean ‘…masterly crafted’ or ‘..masterfully crafted’?
Best regards,
Ade Oduyemi 07952 216780
>
‘masterfully’ and whilst that seems fine to me, any quibbles you might have are with Penguin – I was just quoting!!