When I started reading crime fiction years ago, I was always drawn to American authors writing about US cities I'd probably never visit.......Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York. They always seemed far more exciting settings than Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds or Nottingham. Who wants to read about where they live?After a few years, I realised that my blinkered outlook, was depriving me access to a whole bunch of authors in the UK and a whole bunch of interesting books.
Redressing the balance I went out and tracked down some UK crime fiction by the likes of John Harvey, Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Peter Robinson. Stuart Pawson and his DI Charlie Priest series set in Yorkshire was another addition to the library.
To date Pawson has written 13 Priest books and I think I have read the first only, back in the days pre-blogging. I reckon I probably have about 7 or 8 somewhere in the unlogged tubs that I'll get to eventually.
Deadly Friends
Dr Jordan's career is ended by a bullet. If he hadn't been discreet DI Charlie Priest would suspect a jealous husband. Janet Saunders' description helps to find her attacker, but his story is different. The chances of solving these crimes seem slim, but Charlie's smarter than he appears.Deadly Friends is the fifth in the series, published in 1998. Grief Encounters is the 12th published in 2007, which leads me to think I have probably got more than 8 lurking in the stacks.
Grief Encounters
Magdalena is a woman from DI Charlie Priest's past, who comes very much to the forefront of his present when her lifeless, broken and battered body is found. The one identifying feature is the tattoo on her buttock; Property of the Pope. But who is this Pope and did he want to make Magdalena his possession even in death? And what about the recent spate of incidents that have left several influential members of the community with tarnished reputations and, in one case, dead? Were they just heading for a fall, or is there a vendetta, a nasty game, afoot? Whatever is going on, Charlie is right in the middle of it as usual...
Col - It is interesting isn't it how a real interest in one kind of crime fiction (or crime fiction from one place) can mean we don't read other crime fiction that's also very good. Thanks for reminding me of the Pawson novels. I'd heard of this series, but hadn't dipped a toe in yet. I'll be very interested in your reviews of them.
ReplyDeleteI think I was very blinkered in my outlook when I began reading in the genre. Exposure to other bloggers and the internet has opened my eyes a wee bit.
DeleteI still like what I like but I'm more receptive to crime fiction from my doorstep and of other sub-genre offerings within the umbrella of crime.
Col, I feel that way about Indian fiction in general. My obsession with western fiction has resulted in my neglect of what's growing in my own backyard. I read Indian books occasionally but not as often as I really should.
ReplyDeletePrashant - I don't think my obsession with US crime fiction will ever wane, but I hope to read more UK and European fiction in future.....as well as Asian, Australian, Canadian.....
DeleteThis is an author I have heard of but not read, I'll be looking out for your future reviews. Interesting about our prejudices - I know I much prefer British and American books to those from other countries, but do try to read the odd European or Asain book....
ReplyDeleteI suppose my biggest prejudice that I have to overcome is more gender orientated (or oriented?, my comprehensive education fails me perhaps) than geographic. I think my logging % on female authors in the library is with an educated guess below 5!
DeleteI don't know Pawson's work at all -- shame on me. Must do something about this.
ReplyDeleteInteresting thoughts on your cultural prejudices. Oddly, when I lived in the UK I almost certainly read more US fiction than the homegrown variety; now that I live in the US I feel far more drawn to UK fiction, and to European fiction in general, than I do to those very same US authors I used to read so avidly.
I think his books are quite well-regarded but he's not someone you see stacking the shelves out in Waterstones....so like a lot of mid-list authors they seem to fly under the radar a lot.
DeleteI think if forced to choose one country's books only to read at gun-point it would be a no-brainer for me and the US. I don't think I would tire of it, ever. Other countries I could probably sacrifice with not too many regrets.
But it's a good job that it won't ever come to that!
Sorry I missed this earlier. I have read a few books by Pawson and really liked the first few but not the last one I read. Still have quite a few so I will continue eventually. And I look forward to some reviews from you.
ReplyDeleteAt some point this year, I'll stop with the newer books and get back to some of the older ones I already have - including Pawson. Hey - no need to apologise either, I am struggling to keep up with myself also ;-)
DeleteAm I right in thinking Stuart Pawson has not had anything published since 2010? I have enjoyed his books but have searched in vain for anything published in the last five years.
ReplyDeleteAm I right in thinking Stuart Pawson has not had anything published since 2010? I have enjoyed his books but have searched in vain for anything published in the last five years.
ReplyDeleteNothing since 2010, I'm afraid. I just checked his website and the last diary/blog update was in March 2013 when he sadly advised he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
DeleteThere is an email address on the blog you could try and contact him via.