IN A MELLOTONE — Update Winter 2003

A John Harvey/Charlie Resnick Newsletter

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This year sees the first of what I'm sure will be a new annual round-up of crime stories - THE BEST BRITISH MYSTERIES, edited by Maxim Jakubowski and published by Allison & Busby. It's based upon the now long-running American equivalent which Otto Penzler has been editing for some years and aims to collect together the best stories from a wide range of magazines and anthologies from the preceding year. Needless to say - Would I be telling you this otherwise? - I'm delighted that Due North, originally published in "Crime in the City", is included, along with stories by the likes if Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Martina Cole, Peter Robinson and the wonderful Bill James. Stella Duffy's "Martha Grace", which won last year's CWA Dagger for best Short Story is here, too, as is a story by this year's winner, Jerry Sykes.

The eagle-eyed television viewers amongst you may have noticed the book dangling from the Christmas tree in W.H. Smith's current Christmas ad. Smith's, in fact, is the only place it is officially on sale until the end of the year, where I believe it is available as part of a two-for-the-price of one deal. The regular price is £12.99 and it would, I'm sure, make a wonderful gift for those you love!

Meanwhile MEN FROM BOYS, a fat and fine-looking book published by William Heinemann and edited by yours truly, and containing stories by Reginald Hill, Dennis Lehane, Michael Connelly, George Pelecanos, Mark Billingham, Bill James and a host of other names, is in the shops at £16.99. All but three of the stories were written especially for the collection and all are, believe me, first rate.

So that's your Christmas present problems solved then ...

Happy Reading!

John