Looking across the pond

Ever since Fiona Walker disappeared from the Crime Fiction Dossier, I’ve felt kind of de-anchored when it comes to what’s happening on the UK crime fiction front. Maybe it’s because on some level, I still miss my time in London a few summers back when ostensibly, I was there to do research but really, was spending more time going to book events, festivals and the like.

Happily, it looks like the void’s being filled to some degree by two new blogs covering the UK crime scene: one is by Keith B. Walters, writer and occasional reviewer for Ottakar’s newsletter The Verdict, and the other by Rhian D, an avid mystery fan who gets to way more events than most folks will.

Thanks to both, I know way more about what happened at last month’s Harrogate Festival, as well as some choice gossip about next year’s event — who will be there, and whether it will shift venues (again.)

Now, if only Ali Karim would start blogging…

In other UK-based news, SHOTS has updated with two new short stories, one by J.E. Seymour and the other by Bryon Quertermous.

Also, congrats over here to Ray Banks, who’s found a new home with Polygon for his Cal Innes PI novels. Look for SATURDAY’S CHILD to be out next year and DONKEY PUNCH the year after that.