The latest edition of Red Herrings arrived today. It’s the bulletin of the Crime Writers’ Association, or CWA for short. I love that crime writers have a bulletin rather than a newsletter, how appropriate.
There are some interesting articles. Anne Penketh has written a piece called Police Behaving Badly, considering the consequences for the crime novel, when psychological problems and drinking too much are not the worst traits found in our police officers. It’s a sobering thought that Wayne Couzens and David Carrick weren’t the only bad apples. Apparently the Metropolitan Police have said that two to three officers a week are being tried for violent crimes against women. It’s impossible to see how someone like that can be a likeable fictional detective. There’s no need for me to worry, I’m still in the early 17th century with my Sir Anthony Standen Adventures.
Biba Pearce has an article about serial killers. She says that they come in three varieties. There is the visionary killer. These suffer from hallucinations and hear voices telling them who to kill. Then there are the mission killers with a motivation behind their crimes. Those who kill prostitutes because they believe them to be sinful are an example. Finally there are the power and control killers who plan their kills in every detail.
A piece by Vasek Khan titled “The £6M PLR PIE – are you missing out on your slice?” prompted me to update my books on the ALCS database. I’d only added the paperback ISBNs, but I believe libraries lend ebooks and audiobooks too. There’s no point in missing out on public lending rights.
I also read an interview with Heather and Paul Westwood written by Jean Briggs. The Westwoods own Westwood Books in Cumbria. It sounds like a wonderful bookshop and they’re keen to host more author events. It’s a long way from Wiltshire, but Cumbria is a beautiful area, so that’s a definite possibility.