Someone Else's Skin and World Book Night

I'm very excited to be able to say that SOMEONE ELSE'S SKIN is a World Book Night title for 2016!

It's a genuine honour and a thrill to be part of World Book Night, which is just such a wonderful way to celebrate the power of words and of reading.

I'm chuffed to bits to think that Marnie Rome and Noah Jake will be meeting a whole host of new readers on 23 April 2016.


You can apply to be a ‪#‎WorldBookNight‬ volunteer here.

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Introducing Patricia Highsmith

Highsmith, you may say, needs no introduction. But bear with me. Because I have some exciting news to share.

Highsmith is one of my writing heroes. I love her characters, her stories, even her misanthropy. Her books are on my all-time favourite reading lists. Her 1947 New Year's Toast have been words by which I've lived my writing life. I loved taking part in the panel celebrating her work at the Theakstons Crime Writing Festival earlier this year, with Peter James, Martin Edwards, Peter Swanson and Andrew Taylor.

Imagine my excitement, then, when I was invited to write an introduction to new editions of three of her books, being republished in style by Virago, who have done a simply splendid job of the recent batch including this beautiful cover for A Tremor of Forgery.

I was invited to choose from the list of yet-to-be-republished titles, and I picked This Sweet Sickness (one of my favourites), The Two Faces of January (recently filmed) and People who Knock on the Door (little known, but a true gem).

All three books will be published in June 2016. My name on three Patricia Highsmith books! The fan-girling starts here...


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Norman's Hallowe'en Forecast: showers later

Happy Hallowe'en, everyone.

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Reviewing the Evidence

Find out what I'd do if I ruled the world in this Sixty Second interview for Reviewing the Evidence where there is also a new review of No Other Darkness by Yvonne Klein.

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No Other Darkness

Have to share this terrific new US review, by Michael Leonard (thanks, Michael!) over at Curled Up With a Good Book.

"No Other Darkness is a fabulous find, her police procedural as compelling as the very best of British thrillers."

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Marnie Rome on tour

Well, not quite. But two local events where I'm reading from Someone Else's Skin and No Other Darkness. The first is in Bath on 17 October, with Paul McVeigh & Tania Hershman, two writers I hugely admire. The second is in Bristol on 24 October for the closing celebrations of the Bristol Festival of Literature. I'll be chatting about crime writing and winning the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year. Do come if you can.

In other news, I've opened the doors to entries for Crimefest's 2016 Flashbang Contest in which you can win places on their Crime Writing Day and other goodies. So sharpen your quills for 150 words of flash fiction.

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Someone Else's Skin is a Silver Falchion Finalist

Thrilled to bits to see Someone Else's Skin made it through to the shortlist for Best First Novel.

Congratulations to everyone on the list.

Winners announced live at Bouchercon in October!

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Someone Else's Skin up for Silver Falchion Readers Choice Award

Dear readers, I'd be thrilled to bits if you'd vote for Someone Else's Skin to win the Readers Choice Award for Best First Novel Mystery/Thriller.

Thank you!

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Patricia Highsmith inspiration

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No Other Darkness is out in the US

With the creepiest cover I could have wished for. Thanks to Penguin for doing me proud. You can buy the book here and read my first US review here.

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No Other Darkness out in paperback today

If you're on Twitter or Facebook, you can follow my blog tour and enter giveaways for free books. To kick things off, I'm over with Sara Crowley being silly about quinoa and tinned peaches. And with Vicky Newham being serious about psychology. Something for everyone.

Click to buy No Other Darkness.

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Someone Else's Skin for 99p on Kindle

In the run up to the paperback publication of No Other Darkness, you can download Someone Else's Skin (winner of the Theakston's Crime Novel of the Year) for just 99p over on Amazon. Get it while it's hot!

Click to buy

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Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year

So, this happened. To put it into context, first this happened. Then, on Thursday night, Mark Lawson and Simon Theakston presented me with The Barrel, the biggest crime fiction award in the UK. As I told The Guardian, I was gobsmacked. Thank you to everyone who voted for me, and to the judges who included Alison Graham (Columnist of the Year) and Ann Cleeves who said, "For a debut novel it was astounding. Although the subject matter is really quite bloody and violent, there are no gratuitous descriptions – instead she has this dreadful sense of horror, but it is done delicately and subtly. It always stops just as your imagination takes over.”

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You're Booked : for Theakstons Crime Writing Festival

My bookshelves are up on the You're Booked site today, where I'm talking about Lolita, Zuleika Dobson, Patricia Highsmith, Shredni Vashtar and how not-reading breeds bigots and bores.

You're Booked

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Someone Else's Skin needs YOU!

I'm chuffed to bits that Someone Else's Skin (my first novel! The one that sprang Marnie Rome on the world!) is shortlisted for the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year Award. This is the bit where they throw it open to a public vote for 15 days, so it would be amazing if you could give it a leg up by voting (and getting friends, colleagues, acquaintances, strangers) to vote too. You have to give your name, city and email address, but otherwise it’s dead easy. Thanks!

Vote here!

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Someone Else's Skin in the Radio Times

Giddy with excitement to see Someone Else's Skin in today's Radio Times, and reviewed by the wonderful Alison Graham who is their TV Editor (and critic) and one of the judges for the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year (for which Someone Else's Skin has been shortlisted). Alison calls it, 'A heck of a debut that introduces a heck of a detective.' Happy!

From 1-15 July you can vote for Someone Else's Skin online. Check the details here.

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BritCrime Summer School: An Introduction to Crime Fiction

If you're an aspiring crime writer, or just a very keen reader of crime fiction looking to expand your knowledge of the genre, do sign up for the first ever BritCrime Summer School: An Introduction to Crime Fiction. I'll be popping in to lend a steer and some cheers, plus a critique for one (or more) of the writers who submit work at the end of the course. The course tutor is Tom Bromley. The Professional Writing Academy's introduction to writing courses normally cost £129, but BritCrime readers can book the BritCrime Summer School using the code BRITCRIME to receive the special festival rate of only £99/$159 before midnight, 10th July.

More details about BritCrime can be found here.


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BritCrime

On Saturday 11 July, I'll be at the first ever BritCrime Festival (an international festival, online and free to attend) chatting about strange police cases with Eva Dolan and Fergus McNeill.




For a preview, go here.


Do sign up to the BritCrime newsletter for giveaways, prizes and all the latest crime writing gossip. This is going to be huge and you can say you were there at the outset.

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Someone Else's Skin nominated for a Macavity Award

Truly deeply madly chuffed to see Someone Else's Skin nominated for a Macavity Award (Best First Mystery Novel) in the States. Great to see Alex Marwood's The Killer Next Door up for Best Mystery Novel, too.

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BritCrime Blog: Someone Else's Skin shortlisted for Theakstons Cri...

Written for the BritCrime Blog: Someone Else's Skin shortlisted for Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year: Four years ago, when I first rocked up at Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival ...

Someone Else's Skin on Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year shortlist

Probably the most exciting thing that's happened to me since I got my publishing deal. To be on a list with so many great writers, including one of my heroines, Belinda Bauer. I don't mind admitting I got a bit weepy when I heard.

Congratulations to my fellow shortlistees: Belinda Bauer, Ray Celestin, Elly Griffiths, Antonia Hodgson and Peter May.

Full details here.

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The Strand Magazine

I'm in the Strand Magazine today. Writing about my Top Ten Country Mysteries (some broad interpretations of 'country' here, as you'll see).

Which of your favourites have I missed off?

Read it online here.

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Dead Good Recommends Award

Very excited to be on this shortlist for Most Recommended Book of the Year. If you loved No Other Darkness, please do vote for it. Thank you!

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No Other Darkness

And then this happened. New UK paperbacks of No Other Darkness, out on 30 July.

You can preorder here.

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BritCrime Festival

I'm excited to be part of a brand new crime festival taking place online 11-13 July. Stacks of exciting stuff lined up including giveaways, live chats, after dark drinking sessions and more. All for free, all online, all do-able in your pyjamas from anywhere in the world. It's the brainchild of Helen Smith, who is an utter genius. Make sure you sign up and join in, it's going to be groundbreaking. More information here and programme taking shape here.

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Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year

Probably the most exciting thing that's happened to me since I became a crime writer - seeing Someone Else's Skin nominated alongside so many of my writing heroes including Belinda Bauer, John Harvey and Ian Rankin. Full list is here.

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No Other Darkness - cover reveal

This is the new paperback cover for NO OTHER DARKNESS, out on 30 July in the UK.

Thrilled to have a great quote by Lisa Gardner, and love the poisonous green..!

Preorder here.

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Someone Else's Skin up for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year

I was travelling by tram between Edinburgh airport and the train station when my editor phoned to tell me the tremendously exciting news that Someone Else's Skin is on the 2015 long list for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. And, yes, there was a moment when I thought I'd misheard. This is the list chosen by crime authors, agents, editors, reviewers - my peers and the king makers, in essence. And Someone Else's Skin is on it! Alongside so many of my heroes, including Belinda Bauer (who won last year for her epic, Rubbernecker) and Ian Rankin and Sophie Hannah... The full list is here, together with the rules and process for the next stages. There's a public vote at one point, so do please bear that in mind if you liked Someone Else's Skin. Thanks

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Writing the Marnie Rome crime series

Here I am over on Headline's blog, talking about what it's like writing a new crime series.

Like any good book, a crime novel is made of questions. A crime series has an underlying puzzle that won’t be solved at the end of the first, second or third book – and nor should it be. You keep reading to find out the answers. And because you enjoy the company of the main characters, seeing them grow, watching them change. And theySHOULD change, as the series unfolds.

 

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Dead Good Reader Awards 2015

New crime fiction awards! Someone Else's Skin is eligible for a couple of the great categories so if you loved it, please do put it forward. Thank you.

Nominations this way.

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Reading Groups Newcomer of the Year

If you enjoyed Someone Else's Skin, please do vote for it here.

Thank you!

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Library of Dust

This is one of the most disturbing, beautiful and moving things I've seen on the internet. David Maisel's Library of Dust.

"... each canister is a formal, ethical, and mineralogical Rorshach…"

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Someone Else's Skin up for a Silver Falchion

Very excited to wake up and find that I've been nominated for my first US book prize. Someone Else's Skin is on the long list for Best First Novel over here. "Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award™ is to honor the best books readily available to a North American audience in any format within the past year."

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Tastes Like Fear (Marnie Rome 2)

First draft is done. Now the hard work begins.

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No Other Darkness - 10 copies to be won

UK readers can win a free copy of No Other Darkness (Marnie Rome book 2) over on Goodreads right now (ends 10 April so be quick). Here's a new review, to whet your appetite:

An emotionally intelligent read, this story pulls apart the complexities of an unconventional family life; sometimes the danger to those we love is much closer to home than we can ever possibly imagine. The twists and turns that follow from the first gripping page to the final heart-wrenching conclusion had me reading this book in every free moment; it was utterly compelling from beginning to end and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

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Win a weekend pass to CrimeFest 2015

Competition time! Win a weekend pass to Crimefest in Bristol, 14-17 May 2015, with £50 travel expenses and signed copies of Someone Else's Skin and No Other Darkness, plus your choice of poison in the bar where you can grill me like a boss.

Enter here for free.

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ANZAC Live: Family History Brought to Life

Now this is something very special: my Great-Great Uncle Arthur's ANZAC diaries retold in real time over on Facebook, alongside nine other people who served in the campaign. Watch it unfold, day by day, with photos and memories and snippets of personal and world history. Amazing. Until the team responsible got in touch about a month ago, I had no idea that Arthur had emigrated to Australia when he was just sixteen or that he'd lived quite the life there until (and after) he enlisted. What a great way to bring this history back to life. The Australians have a unique talent for capturing histories and making them feel relevant and poignant. Wonderful. Do follow the stories as they unfold over the next few days and weeks.

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No Other Darkness (Marnie Rome 2)

It's here! Well, my advance copy is. And very beautiful it is, too. Spot-varnished title and so weighty, making that 'holding it in my hands for the first time' moment really special. Big thanks to the creative team at Headline who designed it so wonderfully. I love it!

Do come to the launch party at Foyles in Bristol on 22 April, if you can.

Published in the UK on 23 April, you can pre-order it here.

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Harrogate Crime Writing Festival 2015

Thrilled to be on my first panel at the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, which runs 16-19 July 2015. I'm Celebrating Highsmith with Martin Edwards, Peter James, Peter Swanson and Andrew Taylor. It's Tom Ripley's 60th birthday..!

You can book tickets here and the full programme is here.

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My mother was Emperor Hirohito's poster child

For Mother's Day, the story of how my mother and grandmother survived a Japanese PoW camp.

Domei News, then Japan's only news agency, dispatched reporters to the frontline in Asia and the Pacific. They sent home almost daily the Domei Photo News, which was distributed by the thousands to schools, factories, shops and public places. The Domei News photographer's task was simple: show the world how content our prisoners are. The photos were intended to appease organisations such as the Red Cross, and convince ordinary Japanese families that the war was being fought honourably.

Written for The Guardian in March 2014.

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KillerFest15

I had great fun yesterday afternoon doing a live Q&A session with TV and crime writer, Isabelle Grey, over on Twitter. If you missed it, you can find the chat under @sarah_hilary using hashtag #KillerFest14. Do tune in again today for more great conversations and events, both live and virtual. The full programme is here.

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CLIC Sargent auction to be in Marnie Rome 3

Lovely readers! You can bid to name a character in TASTES LIKE FEAR, Marnie Rome book 3, coming out in Spring 2016. The auction is to raise funds for a terrific cause, helping children and young people affected by cancer. The top bidder will also get to appear in my new book, or to pick a name for one of its characters, maybe a friend of Noah Jake's or an enemy for Marnie Rome, or (who knows) even the murderer. Do please get involved!

CLIC here

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WH Smith's Best Crime Authors of All Time

Thrilled to have made this terrific long list thanks to reader votes. Very exciting to see my name alongside so many crime legends and personal heroes, including Patricia Highsmith and Thomas Harris.

The Best Crime Authors of All Time - as Voted by You

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NO OTHER DARKNESS cover reveal

Here it is in all its glory, the UK cover for No Other Darkness, Marnie Rome book two. Published in the UK on 23 April 2015. You can see some early reviews over on Goodreads here.

Two young boys.Trapped underground in a bunker.Unable to understand why they are there.Desperate for someone to find them.Slowly realising that no-one will...Five years later, the boys' bodies are found and the most difficult case of DI Marnie Rome's career begins. Her only focus is the boys. She has to find out who they are and what happened to them.For Marnie, there is no other darkness than this...

You can pre-order No Other Darkness here.

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Someone Else's Skin voted Favourite Read of 2014

Those lovely people over at Euro Crime have voted Someone Else's Skin their Favourite Read of 2014. Here's what their reviewer, Michelle Peckham said:

This is a terrific first book, and one of the best first books that I've read. It explores violence, particularly against women, and its consequences with a new take on this type of violence.

You can read Michelle's full review here.  You can buy Someone Else's Skin here.

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