THE FOLLOWING (new TV series on FOX)

 

http://www.fox.com/the-following/

 

Interesting first episode, suspenseful, although a bit predictable. Kevin Bacon's acting is not the best he can give; very unequal, going from good and intense to sometimes bored and forced. On the other hand, James Purefoy plays the serial killer with the right balance of intensity and nonchalance. Could be the most interesting psychopath on screen since Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal Lecter.

 

The concept of a serial killer with a following is original, even if a bit stretched when you stop and really think about it. But, suspension of disbelief is called for...at least for another two weeks.

 

I praise FOX for having the guts to go with a series like that in prime time. 

 

You can read more about the show and you can also watch the first episode, in its entirety, by clicking on the link above.

 

Let me know what you think of The Following.

 

JF

22 January 2013





2013 EDGAR AWARDS: NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Here's the official press release from the Mystery Writers of America:

http://www.theedgars.com/2013EdgarNominations.pdf

and the direct link to the Edgars' website:

http://www.theedgars.com/nominees.html

Who do you think will win in each category? Which of these books have you read? Who should have been nominated?

Let me know your thoughts.

Good luck to all the nominees!

JF
January 16th, 2013

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NOËL SANGLANT par Kjetil TRY

Traduit du norvégien par : Alexis FOUILLET

Titre original : La de små barn komme til meg

(Folio Policier - Gallimard)

 

À quelques jours de Noël, un sans-abri est sauvagement attaqué après avoir été drogué. Laissé pour mort, il survivra pourtant avec une jambe en moins, son agresseur l’ayant prélevée comme butin. L’enquête est bâclée, personne ne se souciant vraiment d’élucider cette attaque peu banale sur un pauvre clodo.

Un an plus tard, toujours en décembre, un acteur acclamé pour son rôle de Joseph, au théâtre, disparaît en ne laissant derrière lui pour toutes traces que ses viscères… Comme point de départ d’une enquête de disparition, l’inspecteur Likke et son équipe n’ont encore jamais travaillé avec de tels indices.

Puis, c’est au tour d’une jeune religieuse de se volatiliser, et ensuite un âne est aussi porté disparu. Chaque fois, leurs entrailles sont cependant retrouvées… Le tableau se précise : quelqu’un cherche à reconstituer une crèche grandeur nature et, en cette veille de Noël, Likke est convaincu que la prochaine victime ne peut être qu’un bébé naissant. Alors tout est mis en oeuvre pour protéger les maternités de la région.

Bien que j’ai deviné assez rapidement chez quel genre de spécialistes les recherches devaient se diriger, j’ai quand même pris plaisir à lire cette histoire bien rythmée et ponctuée de nombreux rebondissements. 

Il s’agit d’une première enquête de l’inspecteur Lykke et je crois que l’auteur l’a assez bien campé pour lui en offrir d’autres.

Sur l'auteur : Né en 1959, à Oslo (Norvège), Kjetil Try est publicitaire. "Noël sanglant" est son premier roman traduit en français.

Texte de Grenouille Noire

 

 

 

THE 2012 HOUSE OF CRIME & MYSTERY’S READERS' CHOICE AWARDS (1st Edition)

The best crime novels of the year, voted by you! The books needed to have been published between November 1st, 2011 and October 31st, 2012.

Ballots came in mainly from the USA, UK, and Canada, but also a good number from Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, and some from Africa, Spain, Norway, and Sweden.

I’ve received 632 ballots in total…and here I thought I’d get maybe a 100 or so. Thank you so much for taking the time to vote; it proves that you care for the writers and books that you read. Some of the ballots were incomplete but I tallied all the votes that were sent. For example, some of you voted only in some of the categories, sometimes in only one of them, which is why some of the categories have received more votes than others. In total, there were 2 529 votes.

So, here are the results, with the Top 5 in each category –including number and % of votes:

Category INDEPENDENT or SELF-PUBLISHED (any country): 362 votes distributed between 11 different books.

BLOOD TEARS by Michael (J.) MALONE (Scotland) –Five Leaves Publications (66 votes – 18.2%) -WINNER

A DETAILED MAN by David SWINSON (USA) –Dymaxicon (64 votes – 17.7%)  

GHOST MONEY by Andrew NETTE (Australia) –Snubnose Press (47 v – 13%)

HARD BITE by ANONYMOUS-9 (USA) –Blasted Heath (37 v – 10.2%)

TRIAL JUNKIES by Robert Gregory BROWNE (USA) –Penname Press/Braun Haus Media (35 v – 9.7%)

 

Category WORLD (other than US, UK, and Canada): 528 votes for 11 books.

PHANTOM by Jo NESBO (Norway) (94 v – 17.8%) -WINNER

WINTER KILLING by Mons KALLENTOFT (Sweden) (87 v – 16.5%)  

SAY YOU’RE SORRY by Michael ROBOTHAM (Australia) (84 v – 15.9%)

CAPTURE by Roger SMITH (South Africa) (71 v – 13.5%)

SEVEN DAYS by Deon MEYER (South Africa) (68 v – 12.9%)

 

Category UNITED KINGDOM: 576 votes for 13 books.

BROKEN HARBOUR by Tana FRENCH (82 v – 12.5%) -WINNER

DARK ROOM by Steve MOSBY (72 v – 10.8%)

SAFE HOUSE by Chris EWAN (66 v – 10.6%)

STANDING IN ANOTHER MAN’S GRAVE by Ian RANKIN (64 v – 10.2%)

COLD COLD GROUND by Adrian MCKINTY (61 v – 9.7%)

 

Category CANADA: 492 votes for 11 books.

TRUST YOUR EYES by Linwood BARCLAY (61 v – 12.4%) -WINNER

THE BEGGAR’S OPERA by Peggy BLAIR (53 v – 10.8%)

BLOODMAN by Robert POBI (52 v – 10.6%)

THE PROFESSIONALS by Owen LAUKKANEN (51 v – 10.4%)

THE BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY by Louise PENNY (49 v – 9.9%)

 

 

Category UNITED STATES: 601 votes for 21 books.

GONE GIRL by Gillian FLYNN (101 v – 16.8%) -WINNER

LIVE BY NIGHT by Dennis LEHANE (87 v – 14.5%)

THE DROP by Michael CONNELLY (81 v – 13.5%)

EL GAVILAN by Craig MCDONALD (53 v – 8.8%)

DEAD HARVEST by Chris F. HOLM (51 v – 8.5%)

 

 

Most popular book for Best Crime Novel of 2012:

GONE GIRL by Gillian FLYNN

 

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS everyone! I’ve just started contacting the winners of the bundle of books and will be announcing the names shortly.
UPDATE: here are the 5 lucky winners. Christine Gorman of Toronto, ON (Canada), Joshua Atkins of Westbrook, ME (USA), Grace Koshida of Toronto, ON (Canada), William Cliff of Cardiff (Wales, UK), and Franz Visser of Eindhoven (Nederlands). Congrats and thank you everyone for your amazing participation.

JF

January 2013

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