Of New Books and the Auld Sod

With the publication of his latest humorous novel this month, and the usual run of champagne-and-canapés affairs to attend, British littérateur Mike Ripley is having a busy time of it. Which might explain why his “Getting Away With Murder” column for July has only just appeared in Shots. It boasts his classic assortment of notices critical, comical, and tangential, covering everything from reviewer-author Barry Forshaw’s forthcoming (conveniently, in time for Christmas) encyclopedia of UK crime writing, to the latest spy fiction offerings, the curse of the Ripster book recommendation, and his discovery that Duluth, Minnesota, is not “a figment of the satiric imagination of my old friend and fellow boulevardier, Gore Vidal.” You’ll find the whole column here.

I should mention, too, that the Summer 2008 issue of Mystery Readers Journal has made its appearance, with contents themed around the subject of Irish crime fiction. For non-subscribers, a few stories are available online: astute blogger Glenn Harper’s overview of “Irish Noir Fiction in the 21st Century”; Tana French’s remarks on crime fiction as a reflection of societal changes in Ireland; Andrew M. Greeley’s recollections of the birth of his Nuala McGrail series; and Peter Tremayne’s explanation of how he came to write the Sister Fidelma series. A full contents list can be found here. Peruse it with a glass of Guinness at hand.

READ MORE: “If You’re Irish, Come into the Parlour. And Get a Cap in Yo Ass,” by Declan Burke (Crime Always Pays).