About Crime and Publishing
Apr 13th, 2010 by Thomas
Welcome to Crime and Publishing, a crime and thriller book review blog that will also include links to articles that have intrigued me, as well as bits and pieces about other books, tv shows and films that have taken my fancy. This blog is still only recently birthed onto the wide world of the web, so you can expect more content in the coming months, as well as the odd mishap as I become used to the workings of my blog!
Don’t feel shy about leaving comments.
A refreshing start and much needed. I think it wold be good to also review books that you feel do not work. There is no need to be rude, but it is part of sharpening your tools as a reviewer and will help to expand the critical debate. Naturally, I am talking about constructive criticism that may, or may not, give the reader and the receptive and grounded author a perspective on how his/her work is perceived out there.
I understand what you mean about having perspective and saying in my review if there was an element of a book that didn’t totally work for me, but I don’t want to write negative reviews. I only write about the books I have enjoyed [so for every book that I review there are a few that I have read and not enjoyed as much]. I know that my opinion is exactly that; something that I like, someone else won’t – and vice versa. The topic of negative reviews are a quandary for book bloggers but darkfictionreview has a really interesting post about it that I would recommend.
Hi, Thomas. I noticed you’ve got a link to my old blog address for Dark Fiction Review up on your links. I’ve got my own domain now so it’s changed from wordpress.com to just .net. Any chance you could update for me, please?
Off to add this site to my own blogroll now.
Just came across your website Thomas – it’s a good one, so will add to my blogroll on Crime Watch. If you think your readers might enjoy some of the content at my site, feel free to do the same.
I hear what you’re saying about reviewing – I do a lot, for magazines, newspapers and websites in New Zealand, Australia, Europe and North America, and I don’t particularly like reviewers who seem intentionally nasty, almost to get a reaction from the reader, show how ‘smart’ they are, or to make things more about them than the book.
However, over the past year and a half that I’ve been regularly reviewing crime fiction, I’ve decided that I do need to review some of the books I don’t enjoy as well – the 2 out of 5 star types etc, because if I’m only ever publishing reviews of 4 and 5 star books, then people won’t be able to trust the reviews, so to speak, in terms of wondering whether I just give all the books I read a good grade etc.
I think it’s important, in terms of highlighting the best books that you think people need to pay more attention to, to also have reviewed some of the other ones you don’t think match up, for comparative/relative purposes. But of course, to do this in a constructive, evidenced way – not just being nasty or trying for plays on words or puns to show how clever you are etc (I’m using the universal ‘you’ here, not talking specifically about you Thomas).
Hi Thomas
Only recently discovered this site. A welcome addition to the crime blogosphere. Happy to exchange links with you. I’m sure our readers will benefit from our sites.
Best
Mike
I’m looking for a British mystery fiction author’s name, male, first book published after 2000 . I glanced at a book in the library,and here’s what I know – – Main person is a woman police detective in Yorkshire, Bradford or Huddersfield. She transferred there after serving in CO19, after an incident where she killed 3 hostage takers. She has a teenage daughter. They live with a Sikh police officer who she wants to leave. She has a brief affair with her new boss,who subsequently dies of a stroke – The book’s characterisations were very similar to Stephen Booth’s books, but NOT his. -Also NOT Graham Hurley, NOT Simon Kernick, Peter James, Stuart McBride ,Mark Billingham,
thanks, charlie
Hi Charlie,
could you be thinking of The Night Ferry by Michael Robotham?
all the best
Matt
Hi Thomas,
I have looked around your blog, it seems to be pretty great. I get your point about no wanting to write to write negative reviews (who wants to spread unhappiness ?), and even I mostly post positive reviews. However, some books are bad enough that I review them to caution my fellow bookworms not to buy them. I have subscribed to your blog and will be making regular visits.
Cheers
Akshay