The Crime Warp

The Fall BBC 2 Serial Killer drama Jamie Dornan as Paul Spector, Gillian Anderson as DSI Gibson in The Fall I know it’s been a fair few weeks since the Fall was televised and watched consistently over the five weeks by over 3 million viewers, but I found it so intriguing that every so often since the end of series one I’ve ruminated about it and am pleased that the BBC have opted for a second series. Despite the extremely good filming and excellent story lines linking the day to day Belfast with the horror of a serial killer my ruminations centred on the two main characters: DSI Gibson played by Gillian Anderson ( Scully from the X-Files) and the serial Killer Paul Spector played by Irish actor Jamie Dornan.  Gillian Anderson as DSI Gibson What fascinated me about these two characters was their similarities.   DSI Gibson has a unique sexual confidence that, early on has her approaching a stranger (albeit a fellow Police Officer) for sex.   She is portray...

I featured this book in my March “Look out for these!” post.   I’ve not read any of William Ryan's novels before and when I picked up the book, the thought of a detective investigating crime in 1930’s Moscow was simply intriguing. The protagonist Korolev, is winding down, happily anticipating a week’s leave which he plans to spend with his young son, who he’s not seen for several years.   Korolev is suddenly recalled and finds himself in the Party elite’s world, investigating the murder of a prominent scientist Azarov.   Korolev delves into the murder and the Azarov Institute, but is soon pushed aside by the unpleasant secret Colonel Zaitsev and take off the case.    Just as Korolev starts to enjoy his holiday, he is recalled again when Azarov’s deputy is brutally murdered, but Korolev’s access to the Institute is barred and all the documentation mysteriously taken away, leaving Korolev few clues.   And just to make things more awkward his son...

My daughter Helencrimeblogger has just gone on holiday and was asking me about some books to take.   You’ll guess that I had lots of suggestions!   As it’s that holiday season, I thought I’d highlight three books that are already out so you can just drop them into your holiday bag without having to wait for them to arrive in the shops.   For the first time I’ve also highlighted a Young Adult book, so there’s something for all the family in the June pick.  Happy holiday reading! Romancrimeblogger The Outsiders by Gerald Seymour Seymour’s book is a cleverly painted picture of organised criminals consolidating their wealth and power, whilst their opponents in the Organised Crime group, The Graveyard Team, are under resourced and increasingly unable to stop them.   The team’s boss, Winnie Monks has waited for a long time to take revenge for the brutal murder of her friend and colleague Damian Fenby.   Monks has finally tracked down the man res...

In April The Crime Warp ran a competition to give away a signed copy of David Baldacci's latest book "The Hit", where Robie recieves a new mission and his biggest challenge yet - to kill Jessica Reel, a fellow government assassin. As The Crime Warp has a truly international audience including Germany, Austria, all the Scandanavian countries, then as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, Lebanon, Thailand and China, the competition was open to all Crime Warp readers wherever they live.   Everyone who entered had their name put in a hat and the winner was Yvonne, from Virginia in the USA.  When I mailed Yvonne and told her she won, she was over the moon, saying " I guess this means I can cancel my hold request for "The Hit" at the library!"   A week or so after I posted the book I got an email from Yvonne with a  great photo of her holding the book!  She said "T he book arrived safe and sound. It was actually delivered on Saturday...

Even Ends             The room was tastefully decorated.   Warm parquet floor, subdued spotlights above carefully selected paintings on neutral walls.   Tommy Winnings sat in front of the large, real wood fire.   Strong hands with blunt, square tipped fingers rested atop a tartan shawl.   His blunt square tipped fingers caressed the soft richly woven wool, while his legs remained oblivious to its existence never mind its’ warmth. Tommy was worried.   Odd numbers were never lucky for him and it preyed on his mind that he’d ended his illustrious career on one.   Now, there was little time left to rectify that and change his fortune. His thoughts were interrupted by the door swinging open, as Carla walked in. “Hi there Tommy Tuppence!”   Tommy grinned, rheumy eyes twinkling appreciatively as she sashayed over, ample hips swaying as she walked.   She leaned over and kissed the top of...

Blood of Crows by Caro Ramsay One of the things I like most about Caro Ramsay's novels is the fact that she always manages to create really unusual characters in a really believable way.   I think that gives her novels a dynamic, entertaining edge and Blood of Crows is no exception.   Blood of Crows sees DS Costello return to work after being on sick leave.   She is given a secret mission to find out what's going on in a posh private school near Loch Lomond.   Meanwhile, DI Anderson after having various cases reassigned to another DI, feels sure he will never gain promotion.   Then he is seconded to head an investigation as DCI.   The Andersons and Costello’s investigations appear to cross over linking a child abduction from years ago, a police officer’s suicide, Glasgow Turf wars and child trafficking. Although complicated , Ramsay, with her usual aplomb weaves the stories together in a believable way and the secrecy of Costello and Ander...