Crime Always Pays: A Heist Of Crime Writers?

Praise for Declan Burke: “A fine writer at the top of his game.” – Lee Child. “Prose both scabrous and poetic.” – Publishers Weekly. “Proust meets Chandler over a pint of Guinness.” – The Spectator. “A sheer pleasure.” – Tana French. “A hardboiled delight.” – The Guardian. “Imagine Donald Westlake and Richard Stark collaborating on a screwball noir.” – Kirkus Reviews (starred review). “The effortless cool of Elmore Leonard at his peak.” – Ray Banks. “Among the most memorable books of the year, of any genre, was ABSOLUTE ZERO COOL.” – Sunday Times. “The writing is a joy.” – Ken Bruen. “A cross between Raymond Chandler and Flann O’Brien.” – John Banville.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

A Heist Of Crime Writers?

It’s a murder of crows, so it’ll have to be a heist of crime writers. Anyhoo, it’s the same all over, I know, so you won’t be too surprised to learn that crime fiction in Ireland is generally regarded as the idiot half-brother to the more suavely literary end of things. That may be about to change, however – hot on the heels of the Mystery Readers’ Journal ‘Irish Mysteries’ issue comes the news that the ‘Sunday Independent Books 2008’ literary festival will take place in Dublin over the first weekend in September, and that the powers-that-be have decreed that the festival will include a number of panels on Irish crime writing. Huzzah! The crime writing element offers a pretty strong line-up, with John Connolly, Tana French, Colin Bateman, Declan Hughes, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Gene Kerrigan, Brian McGilloway, Arlene Hunt and Alex Barclay so far confirmed to come together to plot that one last heist. Oh, and some chancing wastrel called (koff) Declan Burke will be there too. Further details will be forthcoming as they arrive at the Grand Vizier’s lair, and the official website should be up and running early next week. Stay tooned, folks …

7 comments:

John McFetridge said...: Wow, what a great line-up.

Now, all you have to do is pull off a realistic looking laryngitis and you can sit back and enjoy...; July 30, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Conduit said...: Hmm. I may just have to venture south of the border for this one...; July 30, 2008 at 6:18 PM
Colin said...: Apologies folks, but I have to back out of this one. I'm married and I'm NOT ALLOWED TO GO. Prior commitments at a wedding I knew about but obviously put out of my mind. But I will be thinking of you all, and raising a pint. Or twelve.
BATEMAN; July 30, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Declan Burke said...: Colin - is it the albinos? Are they forcing your hand on this? If so, just say the word and I'll send the elves in ... Cheers, Dec; July 30, 2008 at 11:42 PM
Peter Rozovsky said...: Fook, if I come to Ireland, that's exactly when I'll be there. Hope I'll get the chance to kick some albino ass.
===================
Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/; July 31, 2008 at 3:07 AM
cfr said...: Congrats to all you Irish crime writers! And have a great weekend! Looking forward to seeing the details in due course...; July 31, 2008 at 4:20 PM
Declan Burke said...: Peter Rozovsky, come on down! Oh, and we're only kidding about the albinos - we love them, really. And we don't really go around kicking their ass over here. Hope this saves on any potentially embarrassing incidents while you're on your holidays ... Cheers, Dec; July 31, 2008 at 8:50 PM

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BOOKS TO DIE FOR, ed. John Connolly and Declan Burke, (“as good a collection of short essays on crime fiction as one is likely to find” - Washington Post) won the 2012 Agatha Award for Best Non-Fiction at Malice Domestic.

SLAUGHTER’S HOUND, (“the most perfect noir novel” - Sunday Times; “a hardboiled delight” - The Guardian), is shortlisted for the Goldsboro Last Laugh Award at Crimefest 2013. It was also shortlisted in the crime fiction category for the Irish Book Awards 2012.

BOOKS TO DIE FOR, ed. John Connolly and Declan Burke, is shortlisted for the HRF Keating award at Crimefest 2013. It is also shortlisted for the Anthony Awards at Bouchercon 2013.

ABSOLUTE ZERO COOL (“A cross between Raymond Chandler and Flann O'Brien” - John Banville), won the Goldsboro Last Laugh Award at Crimefest 2012.

For a biography, click here.

Agent: Allan Guthrie, c/o Jenny Brown Associates.

Email:
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THE BIG O

“If Elmore Leonard met Jim Thompson down a dark alley at midnight they might emerge a week later with thick beards, bloodshot eyes and the manuscript for
THE BIG O.” – Eoin Colfer

“Imagine Donald Westlake and his alter ego Richard Stark moving to Ireland and collaborating on a screwball noir and you have some idea of Burke’s accomplishment.” – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Burke has married hard-boiled crime with noir sensibility and seasoned it with humour and crackling dialogue … fans of comic noir will find plenty to enjoy here.” – Booklist

“Declan Burke’s THE BIG O is full of dry Irish humour, a delightful caper revolving around a terrific cast.” – Seattle Times

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“The writing is a joy, so seamless you nearly miss the sheer artistry of the style and the terrific, wry humour.” – Ken Bruen

“Carries on the tradition of Irish noir with its Elmore Leonard-like style … a high-octane novel that fairly coruscates with tension.” – Irish Times

SLAUGHTER’S HOUND

“Everything you could want - action, suspense, character and setting, all floating on the easy lyricism of a fine writer at the top of his game.” - Lee Child

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“Many writers of crime fiction are drawn to the streetwise narrator with the wisecracking voice – Raymond Chandler and Dashiell Hammett have a lot to answer for – but only a handful can make it credible and funny. Irish writer Burke is one who has succeeded spectacularly well … From the arresting opening image to the unexpected twist at the end, this is a hardboiled delight.” - The Guardian

“SLAUGHTER’S HOUND starts with a body diving from a building and a car exploding, and the action doesn’t let up until the last line. But what sets this novel apart is its tone: it’s dead-pan and sardonic, and although it’s often very, very funny, this is a grim and gritty read.” - Marian Keyes

“SLAUGHTER’S HOUND has everything you want from noir but what makes it special is the writing: taut, honed and vivid … a sheer pleasure.” - Tana French

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“It’s not easy to bring something new to the private-eye novel but Declan Burke rises to the challenge with panache … Proust meets Chandler over a pint of Guinness, with a large spliff on the side. Burke is an author who takes risks, makes you laugh and writes like an angel with a devilish sense of humour.” - The Spectator

BOOKS TO DIE FOR

“Books to Die For is a must-have for readers and writers alike.” - Boston Globe

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“Burke and Connolly’s hefty compendium is no mere kill list but something subtler; a way of discovering great crime novels from the past through essays by more than 120 modern masters.” - Financial Times

“Part celebration, part list of required reading … it is that rare breed of anthology of interest to both the initiated and the newcomer. Indeed, like the ideal mystery novel itself, this is a page-turner with an addictive quality.” - Irish Examiner

“Delightful … it serves as both a primer on the evolution of the genre and an escort into its remoter corners.” - Kirkus Reviews

“A sumptuous exploration of some of the best mystery authors of our time that showcases their passion for writing and their heartfelt tributes to their fellow writers. It is a resource readers will want to keep for decades.” - Miami Herald