Newbooks crime-fiction supplement

I picked up a copy of newbooks magazine (May/June issue) in W H Smiths the other weekend, no doubt because of the words "including our special crime-fiction supplement" on the cover. The magazine itself is for readers and reading groups, and is pretty interesting - not least containing special offers and some free giveaways on several rather good novels, including Andrea Camilleri's August Heat. (You pay the postage: I suspect this offer is for the UK only but am not sure.)

The crime-fiction supplement is certainly impressive, and I recommend you try to get hold of a copy if you can (the magazine's main website is here). It is produced in conjunction with the Theakston's Old Peculier crime writing festival, Harrogate, which this year happens on 22-25 July, and is full of articles by or about crime authors, and a few extracts. The first article is an impressive piece by M. R. Hall, author of The Coroner and The Disappeared, on why he stopped being a barrister and turned instead to crime - in the authorial sense, that is - and, indeed, why he chose a coroner as his main character. He writes: "It seems to me that we live in a society which as sought not only to insulate itself from death, but which has increasingly lost the emotional mechanisms and belief systems for dealing with it."

I enjoyed reading the other articles, most particularly one by R. J. Ellory about his awful childhood, his persistence in pursuing his dream of being a writer, and why he chose crime fiction as his topic. (He has now published many successful novels, including A Quiet Belief in Angels and The Anniversary Man.) There are short reviews of new books, alerts of forthcoming titles, and more.

I highly recommend this crime supplement - if you can't get hold of it via the parent magazine, it might be worth trying the Harrogate festival office directly, as I would not be at all surprised if they turn out to have the odd copy.

Comments

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Dear Maxine,
I only recently came across your website - and the particular reference to our crime fiction supplement which was very heartening. Thank you so much for your kind words. Your readers may be interested to know that we hope to repeat the exercise next spring and are already working with the Harrogate/Old Peculier people to that end.

Can I add that although WH Smith continue to stock newbooks magazine, unfortunately they only do so now in their biggest branches but if anyone wants to to check us out then you can claim a free introductory copy at newbooksmag.com.

We are also adding you to our website links as we seem to share an interest.
Yours,
Guy Pringle,
Publisher, newbooks magazine