Five on Friday - Martyn Waites

Happy Friday friends! I hope you all had a nice week. We've been having some grand weather here in Northeast Ohio so I'm trying to take advantage of it. The wicked white stuff will be here before we know it, so I've got to enjoy while I can.

Speaking of enjoy, I'm finishing up John Connolly's The Creeps, and while I've been chastised--via footnotes, no less--in the book for reading it out of order, I'm loving it. So funny and rather appropriate for the time of year. Another addition to my younger reader coverage. More to come on that, but what are you reading that's really great right now?

If you're pondering the what to read question, of course you can always look at the reviews here. I love when you find something that piques your interest, but in addition, Pop Culture Nerd has the Nerdy Special List for October posted. You can see what I'm recommending for October (in addition to The Creeps, of course). I'll also be catching up on more reviews next week and FINALLY getting to the last Bouchercon report. I know, I'm so slow. I apologize.

How about some contests for this week?

Criminal Element has a variety of contests going on for all ages, so check out the sweepstakes page.

And Friday Reads has a couple of nice books you can win this week as well.

O.k. on to the fun stuff. I was very persistent because I reeeeeeeally wanted Martyn Waites to participate in Five on Friday. I'm such a fan of his work writing both as Martyn and with his wife as Tania Carver. So I'm over the moon that he's hanging out today.

Later this month Martyn has a book releasing in the U.K. that is a pretty big deal. He was wrangled in to write the sequel to Susan Hill's The Woman in Black. So his addition is The Woman in Black: Angel of Death. He's also the author of the Joe Donovan crime series, the Stephen Larkin crime series, and as Tania Carver he writes the Brennan and Esposito series.

Martyn has also worked as an actor and he has narrated his Joe Donovan books. So if you want to experience a little of Martyn's sound, you can do so that way. But for now, I'm thrilled to share with your his responses for Five on Friday:

Martyn looks pretty happy here!

The TV show I absolutely can’t miss is Breaking Bad. It’s the best thing on TV. Acting, directing, writing, everything. Set design, costume, the lot. The nearest thing to a perfect piece of drama I’ve ever seen.

Happiness is something other people seem to have the knack of doing. I’m kind of melancholic by nature but I try to hide it well. I thought that being a published writer would make me happy. But every step on the journey just brought a new set of obstacles to climb over.

My favorite vegetable is parsnip. Do you have them in the States? I’m sure you do. Root vegetable, like a yellow carrot but beautiful when they’re honey roasted.

The fictional character that most reflects my personality is Batman. Not so much for the dressing up and hitting people, but more for the taking bad experiences and trying to turn them into something positive. Or at least chathartic.

The #1 item on my bucket list right now is get the next novel written. Very, very boring I know. But if I don’t get it written then I can’t come out to play. That’s it. I don’t actually have a bucket list. Honest. I know people want to swim with dolphins and all that but I’m not that way inclined. 

Well then, I'm off to find some parsnips. I hope you've enjoyed Martyn's contribution to our fun series. Thanks so much to Martyn for not throttling me for my persistence and for sharing with us today.

Hope you all have a super wonderful weekend. And I hope you have great books to keep you company. Ta-ta!

Crime Fiction's Sexiest Male Authors of 2012

Last year to much applause and a bit of todo, I posted Crime Fiction's Sexiest Male Authors and Sexiest Female Authors. Due to the great demand, I'm bringing you 2012's issue of Crime Fiction's Sexiest Authors. Today I'll share the men with you and Monday the ladies will take the spotlight. And I have to tell you, I'm thinkin' People Magazine should start taking a closer look at the authors in this genre!

If you missed last year's fun, you can see the gents here and the ladies here. And a reminder that this all started with the "You Know You're An English Major If..." post that included, "you consider authors to be sex symbols."

My first dilemma was the fact that last year's authors have not lost their sexy. I mean short of jumping on Oprah's sofa, you don't lose that in one year. So, I must take a moment to recognize them. That said, this genre is chock full of sexy writers, so this year we have some new folks who deserve to be recognized. Like last year, I requested permission to include everyone on the list. They may not know what they got themselves into, but here we go...

SEXIEST AUTHOR FROM ACROSS THE POND

Martyn is revealed as Tania Carver!

Martyn Waites hails from the UK, but we won't hold that against him. Just kidding! Martyn's talents include acting, voice work and writing. He spent time teaching drama to teenage ex-offenders. Now he opts for a slightly safer job, co-writing with his wife Linda as Tania Carver. And of course he also writes solo under his own name.

Martyn always has a smile and story; he's also a great listener and gives those around him his undivided attention. He's funny and generous and a great shopper! Martyn has my admiration as a writer and as a gentleman. He's more than earned a 2012 sexy crime writer award!

Martyn and his wife Linda write the Brennan/Esposito thrillers as Tania Carver. As Martyn Waites, his most recent series features information broker Joe Donovan. If you love a dark, exciting thriller, be sure to check out Martyn's work.

SEXIEST AUTHOR WHO HAS ALSO WRITTEN A SCREENPLAY

Another sexy qualification: Lou is open to new experiences!

Anyone who can make me laugh like Lou Berney almost gets an automatic sexiest award. Funny is most definitely sexy. What sets Lou apart from the rest, however, is his genuine kindness. He's thankful and thoughtful; recently when he shared stories with me about his wife's job, he sealed his place on this year's list. First his obvious admiration for the person he married was inspiring. The fact that he so appreciates the good she's doing was heart-warming.

Lou is also a very modest man. He will gladly tell you about his admiration for other writers, but he will not tell you that he is an incredible writer. His intelligent wit and creative mind turn out stories that are an extra-special treat to all a reader's senses. And it gives me great pleasure to tell you what he will not. Lou has written two wonderfully fun capers to date (and I'm anxiously awaiting the next): GUTSHOT STRAIGHT and WHIPLASH RIVER.

I am thrilled and excited to include Lou Berney as one of 2012's Sexiest Crime Fiction Authors.

Sometimes new experiences have unexpected results, though.

SEXIEST AUTHOR WHO ISN'T AFRAID TO GET HIS HANDS DIRTY

Maybe this is a little of my personal bias (o.k. this whole post is my personal bias), but I think a do-it-yourself kinda guy is certainly sexy. Craig Johnson has a complete "do-it-yourself" mentality. He built his home, cuts his firewood, and yes, he writes his own books! He writes an incredible series of books. The range of emotions one experiences reading a Walt Longmire tale sets the expectation bar high for others in this genre. They are intellectually stimulating, funny bone tickling, and time stealing gems.

Plus, there's something to be said for an author who includes on his event schedule "Closed Event - Playtime with the Granddaughter."

And of course, there's always the hat--who can resist the hat (the horses can't, either)?

 SEXIEST AUTHOR WHO WROTE UNDER A PEN NAME

Gar and his lovely Mrs. Gar

I started reading Gar Anthony Haywood's work fairly recently. After I finished the first book, I wanted to know why this genre was keeping the man such a secret! He blew my socks off. But many people knew what I was just discovering. Gar is an extremely talented and versatile writer. He can do dark, dark crime novels as brilliantly as he does comic crime novels.

Gar has an enormous personality and it's a joy to simply be in the same room with him. To hear him tell stories and make jokes...there's an obvious love and appreciation of life that emanates from Gar. It's contagious and that is certainly sexy. I look forward to every opportunity I have to see Gar.  And in the interims, I enjoy his books.

Gar's P.I. Aaron Gunner recently had a rebirth. All six of the books in the series were made available as ebooks through Mysterious Press. His most recent new book is called ASSUME NOTHING. And that's great advice starting that thriller!

SEXIEST AUTHOR WHOSE HEART BELONGS TO TWO COUNTRIES

He's just practicing in this photo!

We won't ask Sean which country he likes best. Sean Chercover is a dual citizen in the U.S. and Canada. Despite ugly rumors to the contrary, he is alive and doing well...with some bumps and bruises.

Anyone who has met Sean knows exactly why he belongs on this list. He's charming and witty, generous and kind, smart and creative. When you see him, you are overwhelmed with the feeling that he's been anxiously waiting just to see you.

Sean made a great splash into the crime fiction world with the publication of his first novel, BIG CITY BAD BLOOD, and he's only gotten better with each subsequent book. His most recent, THE TRINITY GAME is one that will leave you thinking for days and maybe weeks after you've finished. Now come on, you all know THAT is sexy!

And of course, Sean is married to Agent 99. Agent 99 wouldn't settle for less than sexy!

A face I always look forward to seeing!

And a drum roll, please, for this year's

SEXIEST MALE AUTHOR

A devout University of Kentucky basketball fan!

When I read DOMINANCE, I was so fascinated by the mind that could come up with such a story. It should not have surprised me that the man turning words into magic was a former poet, but Will Lavender is full of surprises, much like his stories.

Since reading DOMINANCE (which was one of my favorite reads of 2011), I've had the chance to meet Will at both the St. Louis and Cleveland Bouchercons. I've interacted with him sporadically online. And, he's generously agreed to participate in some of my hair-brained blog projects. He's always such a wonderful sport and his great sense of humor livens up whatever setting he's in.

Much like Gregg Hurwitz, who held this spot last year, Will's interaction with his family is what I found to be the sexy tipping point. He introduced me to his wife and children this year at Bouchercon and I think it was the highlight of my convention. When you witness the pride an individual has in his (or her) family, I think that tells you a lot about the person. My admiration for Will Lavender multiplied.

And of course, I have to mention the Southern drawl. I'm a sucker for a drawl! In the process of putting this together, I learned Will is an avid Frisbee golfer. I'm not exactly sure what this is, but it sounds rather challenging. I can't imaging having to fit a Frisbee in those small holes. :-)

To show you how great a sport Will is, I asked each of the authors to send a fun photo of themselves they wouldn't mind me including in the post. This one is small that Will sent, but the story is magnificent. He said, "I'm a recluse and I never have photos taken of me unless they're of my ass, which I wish I could say I'm proud of but I honestly eat a ton of sugar and exercise minimally." If that doesn't secure Will as this year's Sexiest Crime Fiction Author, then I don't know what will!

There you have it, my choices for 2012's Sexiest Crime Fiction (Male) Authors. Don't forget, the ladies get their turn on Monday, so check back. And feel free to share in the comments who YOUR choices would be!

Bouchercon - the end

As promised, I'll wrap up my Bouchercon weekend and pictures today. Before I get to that, if you'd like to check out an interview that's a little different for me, yesterday Shelf Awareness for Readers ran my interview with Simon Winchester who just published a book called SKULLS. Yes, that's correct, skulls, craniums, brain casings....whatever you want to call them, that's what this book is about. And it's essentially a coffee table book, so lots and lots of pictures of skulls. Mostly animal skulls, by the way. It really was a most fascinating interview, though.

Saturday started out with my second panel moderating and that panel was "Mysteries Made in the Midwest." I had a superb line-up of authors: Carla Buckley, Sharon Fiffer, Michael Harvey and John Rector. I have to admit that when I was first asked to moderate this panel, my thought was, "what the heck are we going to talk about with a topic like that?" But it actually turned out to be engaging and interesting because I had fab panelists. We talked about how the weather came into play in several of the authors' works. We addressed how Michael's setting in Chicago differed from the stereotypical "Midwest." And we talked about how the characters might be shaped and influenced by the Midwest. And the audience was extremely fun as well. I'm very glad I had the opportunity to be a part of the panel.

By the way, if anyone was there and took pictures of that panel, I'd really like to see them. 

The other panel I attended on Saturday was the "Heroes and Villains" panel. This panel I will admit was a bit on the disappointing side for me. I love all the authors who were on the panel: Mark Billingham, Martyn Waites, Karin Slaughter, Alafair Burke, and John Connolly, but I think I was expecting more - or maybe different. Some of the highlights though:

Alafair Burke and John Connolly

John Connolly mentioned that his hero is James Lee Burke, which made Alafair, sitting next to him, grin and maybe blush a little. Karin Slaughter said John was her hero for asking her to interview him for the Toastmaster interview. Martyn Waites' heroes are the people he worked with when he worked in the prison system. His appreciation of what they accomplished was very evident. I hope to sit down with Martyn some time and talk about his experiences working in the prison. They sound very interesting.

Karin Slaughter and Alafair Burke

Appropriate for the celebration of Banned Books Week, Martyn pointed out that he views people who ban books as villains.

Mark Billingham and Martyn Waites

John Connolly dislikes the animosity toward printed books. Personally, I've not really experienced that animosity. I've seen more animosity toward ereaders, but his ultimate statement that he'd like to see the two quietly co-exist is spot on!

As for what people prefer to WRITE, John says goodness is boring to write, so he likes his villains. Alafair says she strives to write characters who are hard to pinpoint as either good or bad.

Following this panel I was invited to a wonderful lunch with Jennifer McMahon. I was fortunate enough to be seated with Oline Cogdill and Janet Rudolph, who I don't get to see nearly enough. We had a great chat with Jennifer. That was a nice opportunity and I look forward to sharing with you about Jennifer's upcoming book in the next few months. I really enjoyed it!

Jennifer McMahon and Oline Cogdill

And the last day of the conference was short. I attended one panel and that was the Politically Charged Plots panel with Mike Lawson, Pete Morin, Allison Leotta, Stuart Neville and Lisa Brackmann as their moderator. Lisa, for the record, did an outstanding job moderating her panel. So kudos to her.

Lisa Brackmann, Pete Morin, and Allison Leotta

All the panelists were great and the content of their discussions was wonderful. I'm sorry more people didn't have a chance to experience it. One of the questions that arose with the panelists was if they get negative feedback feedback from readers on the politics in their books. Mike Lawson said his experience has been that he receives more feedback if he makes a mistake on a gun detail than anything about politics.

Stuart Neville and Mike Lawson

Stuart Neville explained that in Northern Ireland people are suspicious of every politician, yet they vote the same people back into office time after time.

Another question that arose dealt with how much political explanation has to go into books. The general consensus was to keep it lean. Mike Lawson says you'll bog the book down with too much detail and Stuart Neville said you have to trust your readers. They can Google what they don't know about or want to know more about. Allison Leotta said she starts out researching through interviews, then she fills in gaps with Google research and finally, she refers to all the collected data as little as possible so it doesn't come out as an info dump on the page.

I think my fascination with political crime novels has increased in the recent years. And really I credit part of that to Mike Lawson as his books have held me captive one after the other. So, I thoroughly enjoyed this panel. And afterward I was able to meet Mike, so that was fun for me. That was the first time I met him in person. And I was able to meet his wife as well. There's such a humanizing element to Bouchercon. There will always be people who intimidate me, but when you interact with the authors, publishers, publicists, other reviewers and readers at the conventions, it's rewarding and memorable.

I encourage everyone. If you haven't attended a Bouchercon, make an effort to go. If you need to wait for one closer to your stomping grounds, that's o.k., but don't miss the opportunity if it's close. It's really is worth your time and money if you're a fan of this genre.

And to throw in a little pitch for some other great events, I'll remind you that Murder and Mayhem in Muskego is next month up in Wisconsin. It's right outside Milwaukee. This will be my fourth year attending...wow! I can't believe it's been four years. I drive from Cleveland and I wouldn't miss it. It's wonderful. Great line-up this year. Very affordable. And best of all, there are great crime fiction fans there. Check it out.

I'll be going to my first Left Coast Crime in March. This one is in Colorado Springs and Craig Johnson and Laura Lippman are the guests of honor.  Special bonus, David Corbett is the toast master.

While I won't be attending this year - I do need to stay home some times I suppose - there is Love is Murder in Chicago in February.

And also be on the lookout for general book festivals. I love the LA Times Book Festival. I've been twice and it's amazing. I'm hoping to make the National Book Festival next year. I say that every year, so we'll see. And another book festival on my bucket list is the Tuscon Book Festival. I've heard wonderful things about this one as well. It won't be this year as it's very close to the Left Coast Crime dates, but someday....

O.k. so sorry, got a little carried away there with my book event love. Feel free to leave other events in the comments and let people know where and when they are! Thanks for humoring me. Have a great day and happy reading!

SPEAK NO EVIL - Martyn Waites

First line: "A room."

In the fourth book of the Joe Donovan series, Donovan finds himself working with a child murderer to write her memoirs. Anne Marie is no ordinary child murderer, though. She committed her crime when she was a child herself, eleven years old. Now, years later, out of jail and trying to hold together some semblance of a normal life with her family, she's suffering blackouts. During one of these blackouts a young boy dies. With no where else to go, Anne Marie turns to Joe Donovan for help.

SPEAK NO EVIL is without a doubt the strongest book of the Joe Donovan series. That says a great deal considering my feelings about THE MERCY SEAT, the first book in the series. In SPEAK NO EVIL Martyn Waites gives us a front-row seat into Donovan's personal life that has previously been on the cusp of his character but not quite so central. Donovan's connection to his daughter and hers to him infuses him with a new dimension, which is further heightened by the parallel existence of Anne Marie and her son, Calvin.

The supporting cast in this series provide color to the very dark themes. Amar excels in technology and fashion; Jamal is the street-smart kid who's blossoming with the security and identity Donovan has cultivated in him. Peta, too, is becoming secure in her own skin. Watching these characters grow and bond throughout the series has been a large part of the enjoyment. In SPEAK NO EVIL the bonds that they've formed illustrate another level of the book's family theme.

Waites' dialogue flows naturally, seamlessly and at times very powerfully. In the Isis audio version, read by Waites himself, this is especially apparent as the audience becomes lost in the story, watching through the mind's picture, the life of a tortured woman unfold before them...the conflict of a young girl dealing with her separated parents...the drive of a young man, trying to prove his abilities. And Waites' subtle humor worms its way in every now and again as he voices the lives he's created on paper. I dare you not to care about them.

SPEAK NO EVIL is an emotionally intense, physically thrilling novel that is ramped up several notches in Waites' narration on the audiobook. You'll give your heart a workout experiencing it. The series is growing better with each book and I can't wait to see what comes next.

SPEAK NO EVIL is available in the US in hardcover (ISBN: 978-1605980966) from Pegasus Books and on audio (ISBN: 978-0753142608) from Isis Audio.

THE SURROGATE - Tania Carver

First line: "There was a knock at the door."

When Detective Inspector Philip Brennan and his team are called to the scene of a double homicide, it isn't the first time they've seen the gruesome scenario: a pregnant woman murdered, her abdomen sliced open and the baby removed. This IS the first time the baby hasn't been left dead at the scene, however. With this incident, the third of its kind, the department decides to bring in criminal psychologist Marina Esposito to help profile the killer.  There are no apparent connections between the women, but this third victim has recently left the baby's father, her abusive boyfriend, and he's the main suspect for the police. Marina has strong doubts that he's the killer. But when connections start popping up between the boyfriend and all three murdered women, she begins to have doubts and Phil can't dismiss him and chance another murder.

THE SURROGATE is the first novel from British husband and wife writing team, Tania Carver. Whatever their formula is for writing a novel together, they seem to have perfected it on the first try. THE SURROGATE is an intense, fast-paced psychological thriller that will leave the reader wondering who did it right up to the end.

THE SURROGATE is not a comfortable read; it examines some of the ugliest of human nature's scum and the effects that scum has on every one and every thing around it. The novel seems to be addressing the question of whether there can be light and hope existent in this world? We often view children as the hope for the future, but the children are being savagely destroyed.

Carver constructs a plot packed with red herrings and well-placed twists that keep the momentum - and your pulse rate - moving at a rapid pace. The characters are created in such a way as to leave you no choice but to empathize with them. And you may find yourself connecting with different characters before the end plays out.  Carver works the dynamics of humanity like a holographic image. Depending on which way you're looking you could see something entirely different than the first time you peeked.

THE SURROGATE is explosive and captivating. You won't want to read this home alone at night, but you won't want to put it down either. Tania Carver has set the expectations for this series high and I, for one, am anxiously looking forward to the next one.

THE SURROGATE was released in the United States this past September in hardcover (ISBN: 978-1605982564) from Pegasus books.

Audiobook Thursday - THE MERCY SEAT

First line: "Jamal ran."

Journalist Joe Donovan's life and marriage began to corrode the day his son went missing in the department store. He's spending his days in a sad puddle of despair and alcohol when his former colleague Maria comes knocking on his door for help finding a missing journalist. Finding the journalist turns out to be the least of their problems.

Martyn Waites first book in the Joe Donovan series is darkly fantastic. He's created a cast of characters that are realistic, gripping and mult-dimensional. His child-prostituting villain is fittingly repulsive, but what is truly fascinating is the mob mentality that Waites also illustrates in this novel.

Joe Donovan is the obvious protagonist, but his young friend Jamal steals the show. Jamal's awkward mix of immaturity and maturity beyond his years, forced on him by his circumstances, create a fascinating specimen in this pint-sized hero. And his wit offers brief points of levity to an otherwise bleak tone.

Along the way, Donovan also befriends a pair of private eyes, Peta and Amar. Through the characters of THE MERCY SEAT, Waites has created a bit of a microcosm: each character distinctly singular with his/her own struggles and misfortunes, experiences and exploits. It is these characters that drive the plot and set the tone of the novel. While that tone is unarguably mournful and drab, the reader can't help but cling to the hope that justice will prevail.

Waites introduces Donovan's history because it plays an essential role in understanding the relationship he forms with Jamal. However, many questions are left unanswered leading the reader to believe that this part of Donovan's life will continue to be an issue in subsequent installments in the series.

One of the great joys of this audiobook is the fact that Martyn Waites narrates it himself. While there are many authors who should not narrate their own books, Waites has a history in acting and does an outstanding job reading his story to the audience. This is a rare opportunity to hear the author's interpretation in a quality performance. I especially appreciated his reading of the young, punk kid Jamal and the gay PI, Amar. Waites sense of humor comes through in those two characters. And on a silly, personal note, I simply love the sound of Waites' British dialect.

THE MERCY SEAT is available in the U.S. from Pegasus in hardcover (ISBN: 978-1-9336-4800-2) and from Pocket Books in trade paper (ISBN:978-1-4165-0222-7). The audio is published by Magna Story Sound (ISBN: 978-1-8465-2084-6).