REVIEWS FROM RON ELLIS
in the U. K.
In 1992, The Sun said I had the most jobs in Britain (eleven) but I'm down to six now, or maybe it's eight. Main one, of course, is the writing and, after seven Johnny Ace crime novels, I have now written what might be described as a social history of Southport in the 20th century called SOUTHPORT FACES, in which forty-eight well known local personalities tell of their lives in the town. My publishing company, Nirvana Books, is going great guns. The current list comprises Spencer Leigh's history of Merseybeat entitled TWIST & SHOUT, crime novels by Eileen Dewhurst and Kate Ellis, and Joan Rimmer's history of Formby. The rest of the jobs are freelance journalist, and photographer, broadcaster, after dinner speaker, plus my property company. I'm now the Arts Editor for the Southport Champion and still doing the Southport FC reports for them and my partner Ellen and I both reviewing plays for the Lancashire Evening Post. I have been giving lectures to Liverpool Hope University PhD students on the research work I carried out on John Lennon for Albert Goldman in the 80's. Larry Kane, the anchorman on Philadelphia TV, came over to England and interviewed me and now I have been asked to write a book on the subject. (I used to get records from America for The Beatles in the 60's.) Life never gets boring. Life never gets boring.
For more about Ron check out his website Ron's website or email him at Ron's email
DOWN THESE GREEN STREETS
DECLAN BURKE, editor
Liberties Press / Dufour Editions Trade PBO 11/11
ISBN: 978-1-907593-19-2
The sub-title says 'Irish Crime Writing in the 21st Century' and I was under the impression that this would be a collection of recent short stories by various Irish crime writers.
I was wrong. This is mainly a collection of essays by Irish crime writers ABOUT Irish crime writing in the 21st century, with only five actual stories hiding amongst its 368 pages, the rest being various forms of literary criticism.
Crime in the Irish theatre is discussed, as is crime in the Irish cinema. Some authors talk about how they came to work in the genre, others about how their Irish background formed their approach to the task. Styles of writing are examined and discussed by well-known authors including Michael Connelly, John Connolly, Ruth Dudley Edwards and Paul Charles.
Altogether, there are thirty items in the book, most of them very illuminating although odd ones are worthy of a place in Private Eye's Pseuds Corner.
Neville Thompson's 'Working Class Heroes' gives a graphic account of what it was like growing up in Ballyfermot in the 60's and 70's, making me glad I'd not been there.
The fiction items convey a bleak picture of Irish life, still haunted by the Troubles, the ongoing disputes both religious and territorial.
An excellent reference book for students of Ireland and aficionados of the crime genre, but not one for someone who just wants to read a nice mystery.
Ron's review of
THE KING OF DIAMONDS
by Simon Tolkien
appears on the
PAPERBACK PAGE
.
MOBBED
CAROL HIGGINS CLARK
Pocket pb 4/12
The central character, as in her previous thirteen books, is Private Investigator Regan Reilly. Regan, married to Jack, head of the NYPD Major Case Squad, finds herself caught up in the disappearance of Cleo Paradise, a beautiful and recently famous young actress. Slowly, it emerges that Cleo's parents haven't heard from her and also her best friend is beginning to get worried that she hasn't been in touch.
Meanwhile, the house she last stayed in is up for sale and the owner is having a garage sale which includes some of Cleo's possessions. Those who know Cleo well, know that she would never leave these items behind to be sold. Clark brings out various suspects who have a grudge against Cleo and may wish her harm.
The attraction of Clark's books is that by the end of the book you almost feel the characters are people in your own life and know well enough to enjoy a gossip over a cup of coffee. The book relies heavily on the characters and not the plot to hold the reader's attention. By the end of the book I wasn't particularly bothered whether Cleo was dead or alive but I did feel I was firm friends with Regan and her mother. Not earth shaking but a pleasantly easy read. Carol copies her mother's formula well but maybe for the fourteenth book it could be time for a change.