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Writing the Murder

Essays in Crafting Crime Fiction

Dan Coxon editor Richard V Hirst editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Cinder House

Published:26th Sep '24

Should be back in stock very soon

Writing the Murder cover

'A perceptive guide to the ploys and pleasures of writing and reading crime fiction that will appeal to novices and nerds alike.'
Mark Sanderson, author of the Snow Hill trilogy and reviewer for The Times

'Not just a dry or academic 'how to' but a provocative collection of varied essays and revelations about what makes crime and mystery authors tick and what attracts otherwise normal human beings to a life of crime on the page. Informative, witty and full of valuable insights, one of the best genre reference titles in ages.'

Maxim Jakubowski

'A fascinating collection of essays with an insight into some of the origins of the genre, an examination of the current landscape and an intriguing glimpse of where this endlessly adaptive genre may take us in the future. Highly recommended for all lovers of crime fiction.'

Bridget Walsh, author of The Tumbling Girl

There's been a murder...

From the macabre tales of Edgar Allan Poe through to the locked-room mysteries of the Golden Age, to the many faces of modern crime fiction and the explosion of true crime, writers have always explored the most taboo of human transgressions: the taking of a life. What is it about murder that has fascinated us for so long? And what is it about crimes of this nature that make for such compelling fiction?

Gathering an impressive line-up of suspects, Writing the Murder asks some of the finest contemporary writers to dissect their craft and analyse the place of murder in fiction. Authors such as Charlie Higson, Louise Welsh, Jessie Greengrass and Tom Mead interrogate what it means to write about this most illicit of acts, the lasting appeal of crime fiction, and offer practical advice for those looking to write seriously and convincingly about crime.

An essential tool for the grizzled veteran and the fresh-faced rookie alike, Writing the Murder gives you the motive and the means to write your own tales of murder and intrigue.

Writing the Murder is a fascinating collection of essays engaging with the question of why crime fiction holds such sway over us. Within its pages we are offered an insight into some of the origins of the genre, an examination of the current landscape and an intriguing glimpse of where this endlessly adaptive genre may take us in the future. Highly recommended for all lovers of crime fiction.” Bridget Walsh, author of The Tumbling Girl

“A perceptive guide to the ploys and pleasures of writing and reading crime fiction that will appeal to novices and nerds alike.” Mark Sanderson, author of the Snow Hill trilogy and reviewer of crime fiction for The Times

"Not just a dry or academic 'how to' but a provocative collection of varied essays and revelations about what makes crime and mystery authors tick and what attracts otherwise normal human beings to a life of crime on the page. Informative, witty and full of valuable insights, one of the best genre reference titles in ages." Maxim Jakubowski

"A well-curated examination of one of the world's most possible genres, examining everything from constructing the perfect locked-room mystery to victimology to quite why a majority of the populace takes delight in stories about the most violent crimes imaginable. A deeply enjoyable group of essays and a love letter to the genre, Writing the Murder is an intelligently-constructed, passionately-wrought collection of essays all about murder that will prove invaluable to any aspiring crime writer or devoted crime reader." Chris Haigh, Set the Tape

ISBN: 9781915368737

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

272 pages