Crime Time FM is in full #OnTheSofaWithVictoria mode. This is the panel show’s ninth season and it features some sparkling and intriguing chats about crime fiction. Victoria Selman kicked off with industry insiders Phoebe Morgan & Jack Butler, both editors at major publishers. They talk about book trends and how publishers see the future of crime fiction. Abigail Dean & Jennie Godfrey chatted about following up on a major hit novel, while AA Dhand and Alex Dahl discussed seeing your book become a streaming series. Just released is Vaseem Khan & Gareth Rubin talking about writing literary figures, Major Boothroyd (Q) in Vaseem’s case and Holmes and Moriarty for Gareth. Sir Ian Rankin & Mark Billingham will provide the blockbuster finale on series characters just before Christmas. Just before that we have Holly Seddon, Steve Cavanagh and SR Masters.
Paul Burke, who has been taking a break, will be back with an interview with Canadian noirist Joel Nedecky talking about his PI Jake Joelsen novel Broken Detective on 16th December. Joelsen is about to go to jail and has two weeks to get and to solve a case and to leave his dependent mother with some care while he’s inside. Jake is hampered by the alcoholism that got him into trouble in the first place. This novel has a surprising warmth and humour but is tough too. So I ask Joel about the inspiration for the story.
Looking back, it’s been a good year for books and for interviews. Craig Sisterson is a regular contributor to the team and he hosted three cracking shows for us in October. Many readers will know Craig is from New Zealand and has an unparalleled knowledge of antipodean crime fiction, he has introduced many of us to new authors and helped writers break out over here. Listen to his chat with RWR McDonald about his novel The Nancys for an idea how that local knowledge brings out the most fascinating details. Of course, Craig is a keen fan of British and European crime too and he has also chatted to Val McDermid and Lilja Sigurdardóttir for Crime Time FM. All well worth checking out.
It’s not easy to pick favourites, I just love interviewing authors. There were a few highlights from the year though. I chatted to an author I have long admired for his novels The Long Firm and He Kills Coppers, both televised. That’s Jake Arnott and we talked about his latest Blood Rival, a Greek tragedy played out in Essex. Reading Fiona Cummins introduced me to her amazing detective creation Saul Anguish. Dan Fesperman let me in on his latest spy thriller, Pariah, and Jeremy Vine, Rob Parker, Tania Malik and Mark Billingham were all fantastic guests. Most of all it was a pleasure to chat with Dame Stella Rimington about her novel highlighting the dangers of Chinese spies in Britain, The Hidden Hand. Sadly she passed shortly after that, RIP Dame Stella.
Next year will be another blockbuster for Crime Time FM. We have plans to develop the podcast and there’ll be more on that in January. Thanks to our regulars for joining us and for newcomers please listen in if you love book chat. Season’s greetings to everyone from us all. Thank you.
