Books I’m Looking Forward To

I thought I’d finish up (almost – just one more post to go before you get to wave off projectile-vomiting Aunt Gertie) with some forthcoming, not quite published yet, books I’m looking forward to for the rest of this year. Several of these I’ve already read, but I’m looking forward to a new edition anyway (as you do). These are just the ones I can immediately think of that I know are definitely coming out over the next four or five months. I’m hoping that you will all give me suggestions of many more to look out for.

The first of my hug-it-to-my-chest-it’s-out!-it’s-out books is Eddie Muller’s THE DISTANCE – one of my favourite books of all time. The wonderful blokes at Uglytown are bringing out a spiffy new edition. The Distance is a wonderfully atmospheric book set in post WWII San Francisco. The protagonist is Billy Nichols – ‘Mr Boxing’ – a sportswriter who makes the fateful decision to help heavyweight boxer Hack Escalante cover up the murder of Hack’s manager. The outstanding appeal of this book for me is the character of Billy Nichols. His tough, cynical outer shell hides a vulnerable interior. He’s not the typical macho noir protagonist. He’s a sensitive, perceptive, flawed man. He’s a storyteller – a chronicler of fact and, sometimes, a creator of fiction. But he’s an honest liar, unlike many of the other characters he meets up with. Because Billy doesn’t have that cold, self-destructive, caring for nothing and nobody streak that is the territory of a noir protagonist, the books (there are two – the second is SHADOW BOXER, and I hope Uglytown will be bringing that one out too) are suffused with warmth, light, passion and heart. The characters have a cinematic quality about them. Eddie Muller is a very skillful writer and so good at descriptions that, within a few sentences, the characters come to life in front of you. None of them are stereotypes – each one is capable of surprising the reader. None are all good or all bad. Muller turns the conventions of noir and hard-boiled fiction on their heads. I was absolutely gobsmacked when I first read THE DISTANCE. You don’t have to like boxing, you don’t have to like noir. You just have to love a great story peopled with vibrant and believable characters.

More after the break…

Then there’s Stuart Pawson’s latest in the Charlie Priest police procedural series, OVER THE EDGE. Not only that, but Allison & Busby are also re-issuing the first two in the series, which have been out of print for some time. Charlie Priest is one of British crime-writing’s best kept secrets. He’s a really good copper – thorough, conscientious and fair – although not above a little tweaking the law around the edges when the need arises. He’s respected and liked by his colleagues and subordinates and even gets on well with his bosses. And shock, horror, he gets his paperwork done on time. He’s also a thoroughly nice bloke and someone you would be glad to have on your side in a crisis. If nothing else, he would make you laugh.

Also eagerly awaited are two from PointBlank. Ray Banks’ THE BIG BLIND is the tale of ‘Alan Slater and Les Beale – a couple of alcoholic, chip-chasing double-glazing salesmen in Manchester. A dead dog, a dead croupier and a couple of Triad death threats later, Slater has a midlife crisis he can’t walk away from.’ How can I resist that one?

Duane Swierczynski’s SECRET DEAD MEN is the story of Del Farmer who’s a…errrr…dead man impersonating an FBI agent (also dead by the way). Del has the special skill of being able to collect the souls of the newly dead. And if he thinks they’ll be useful to him he does just that. And he stores them in a hotel in his brain – it’s sort of like the Hippocampus Hilton. I’ve just finished it and it’s funny and weird and sweet and tough and endearing and completely, totally, utterly mad. I loved it.

And talking of stark staring bonkers, October sees the publication of Christopher Moore’s newest – THE STUPIDEST ANGEL – a heartwarming Christmas tale of a little boy who thinks he’s seen Santa murdered and wants him brought back from the dead. Unfortunately, the angel who’s sent to do the old resurrecting trick is one halo short of a…errr…collection of halos and accidentally brings a whole graveyard back to life. Whoops. And talking of Christoher Moore, if you haven’t read LAMB yet, do yourself a favour – it’s hilarious.

And then there’s Mark Gatiss’ THE VESUVIUS CLUB which could be either really bad, or really good, and I’m looking forward to giving it a try.

Also, Peter Guttridge’s new Nick Madrid CAST ADRIFT, which has been far too long coming. It’s set around a pirate musical, complete with lyrics such as “I’m feeling topsy-turvy. Is it love or is it scurvy?”

Steve Brewer’s newest standalone BOOST is out in November and is about a car thief who steals a Thunderbird with a little added extra in the trunk.

And I’m going to cheat a little and mention a couple of books coming out very early next year. First of all, in January, Reed Farrel Coleman’s third in the Moe Prager series – THE JAMES DEANS. I loved the first two (the first one was set in the gritty and exciting punk scene of New York in the late 1970s – how could I not love it?) and I can’t wait to get my hands on this one.

Then there’s Mark Haskell-Smith’s second book DELICIOUS. I don’t have a clue what it’s about but based on his first book, MOIST, I’m really looking forward to it. In MOIST there were a couple of tattooed arms without bodies, one tattooed man missing an arm, a masturbation coach, assorted mobsters, sex, drugs and…oh…a bit more sex. This book was completely bizarre, over the top, funny and…well…moist. It was also touching and fairly warmed the cockles. The bad guys grow on you and aren’t all bad. They’re just looking for love and happiness like the rest of us. The good guys…well, there aren’t any in the traditional sense. But then, nothing about this book was traditional. It’s just very good fun and a riotous read.

And one of my very favourite authors – Ken Bruen – with THE MAGDALEN MARTYRS and VIXEN, which have been out for a while over here, but they’re due out very early next year in the US (and yes, I do have to have a copy of every edition). One each of the Jack Taylor and the Brant/Falls/Roberts series. Each series is as brilliant as the other. At the end of a Ken Bruen book I generally feel as though all my insides had been ripped out and left in a pulsating heap on the floor. But in a good way. They’re amazing – wonderfully written – spare yet lush and poetic, his characters Very dark, totally uncompromising, but never bleak or hopeless. Very funny, and also very touching. You can go from laughing to crying and back again all within one paragraph. Which is quite embarrassing if you’re in public (sorry to the lady sitting next to me at Prestwick airport in April by the way).

Finally, an offer I just can’t refuse, Charlie Stella’s CHEAPSKATES, also due out at the beginning of the year, and also at the top of my ‘must have’ list.

So, my final question to you all – what books are you looking forward to for the rest of 2004? I’m sitting with my virtual pencil at the ready to take down your recommendations.