Spring 2011 books from Pan Macmillan

I received the Spring books catalogue from Pan Macmillan the other day, and as well as one or two upcoming titles that have previously featured on this blog, there are one or two more new books due that I am looking forward to.

Silent Voices by Ann Cleeves (February) is the new Vera Stanhope novel, following on (after a gap) from The Crow Trap, Telling Tales and Hidden Depths. Here, Vera discovers a body in the sauna at her local gym (what can she be doing there? I haven't read Hidden Depths yet so maybe that is why it seems an odd place for Vera to be). The ensuing investigation sounds suitably challenging and intriguing.

Little Girl Lost by Brian McGilloway (May) is a standalone crime novel from the author of the Inspector Devlin series (Borderlands, Gallows Lane, Bleed a River Deep and The Rising). In Little Girl Lost, a small girl is found wandering at the edge of an ancient woodland. She's traumatised and does not speak, trusting only the person who rescued her, DS Lucy Vaughn. Lucy is rapidly involved in another case, and has some very interesting-sounding family problems. Definitely one to watch out for.

The Redeemed by M. R. Hall (April) is the third Jenny Cooper novel after The Coroner and The Disappeared. A psychiatric nurse is found dead, suspected of committing suicide. Of course, Jenny Cooper is going to find out that all is not what it seems. We are also promised some revelations about the mysterious trauma in her past - "her whole life has been governed by deception".

The Facility by Simon Lelic (January), author of the stunning debut novel Rupture (1000 Cuts), is about a government facility hidden deep in the countryside, and two people, a journalist and an anxious wife, who try to uncover its secrets.

There are several other novels in this catalogue that I might read, but these four are on my "definite" list. Unfortunately there is no Hakan Nesser due in the Spring, but I hope one might be forthcoming later next year. All the books featured here are said to be available in e-format as well as in printed versions.

Comments

[Margot Kinberg]

Maxine - Thanks for this taste of things to come :-). I really want to read that Lelic! The new Vera Stanhope novel looks good, too. Seems there are some nice things to look forward to :-).

[Dorte H]

Vera Stanhope in a sauna? That book is definitely a must, but my guess is she got lost or had some professional reason to be there.

Brian McGilloway is also good news but I can wait a bit as I have two Devlin novels on my shelf.

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Look like good choices. If one were to start a series by Ann Cleeves, should it be Vera Stanhope's or the other one? Vera Stanhope intrigues me, as I am drawn to women protagonists usually (Harry Bosch and a few other male protagonists notwithstanding).

[Maxine]

The Shetland Quartet (starting with Raven Black) is a good place to start if you are in the mood for a more "Scandinavian" style series, Kathy. The Vera Stanhope novels are not typical police procedurals by any means, but they are more that way - traditional English mysteries with a big dose of interpersonal psychology. Vera Stanhope is a great character, though. The Crow Trap (her first outing) is pretty long but good - much of the novel is about some ecologists surveying a remote area.

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Just an fyi: Barbara Fister checked with Kjell Eriksson's translator and more of his books will be coming out in English. I hope you can get them in Britain, as he is a good writer.

[Maxine]

That's good, Kathy, thanks - I've read the US editions of the three translated so far, and have liked them though the out of order/sequence is very annoying, given the personal story of Ann the main character.