Crime Time FM is in full Christmas mode, or, as it’s the end of the year, at least we are as seasonal as we get – which means it’s the best crime fiction books of the year time!
Always one of our most popular shows The great Crime Time Christmas Debate is now live for your listening pleasure. 6 top critics choose their favourites, a cornucopia of crime choices for you to ponder and, maybe, read. Thanks to Barry Forshaw’s excellent compering we even manage to throw in a few spicy topics for debate along the way. The show is not live this year but it is as opinionated and lively as ever. Maxim Jakubowski, Jake Kerridge, Ayo Onatade, Victoria Selman, Paul Burke and, of course, Barry Forshaw have 10 top picks and we are joined in spirit by Guardian crime critic Laura Wilson who couldn’t make it on the night. A longer list of the best crime fiction of 2024 appears on the Crime Time website. Do you agree with our critics? Who would you say is essential reading this year? Do we talk too much about celebrity writers? As Sir Ian Rankin suggests; is 300 pages more than enough for any crime novel?
In the spirit of recommendations at this time of the year a couple of Paul Burke’s shows feature slightly shorter interviews catching up with some of writers missed earlier in the year but deserving of some attention. The indie authors show features AJ Aberford, GJ Williams and Alec Marsh. At this time of the year when the big guns have no problem finding shelf space there are plenty of indie writers who should get some focus too.
Episode two, coming soon, will feature Chris McGinley, Adam Hamdy and Graeme Macrea Burnet.
Thanks to Ian Fleming Publications Paul talks to Kim Sherwood and Raymond Benson about the Bond universe and both chats will be coming soon. And one of the authors of the year is surely Dominic Nolan, as entertaining and erudite as a guest as he is as a novelist and new one White City is a gem. The interview is live now.
The latest episode of #OnTheSofa with Victoria, Season 7 Episode 4 is just out. It features Claire Douglas and Alice Feeney and the topic is… SUSPENSE. Recent shows with Adam LeBor, Araminta Hall & Joan Smith on Gendered Violence and a live chat with Nicci French are also available. Alex Michaelides and Suk Pannu talking about screenwriting is coming soon and that’s a must for anybody interested in novel to screenplay. A live chat with T M Logan is also waiting in the wings.
It’s been a busy but fun and productive year. Thanks for listening, or if you haven’t, give us a try. If you love crime books we have something for you. Seasons greetings and see you in the new year, Paul, Victoria & Barry.
