As the cloud of anxiety over COVID-19, the dreaded
Coronavirus is starting to become ubiquitous; I decided to venture [cautiously]
outside the safety of my imagination and into the ‘real world’, clutching a
tube of hand-sanitizer, a train ticket and a paperback.
Every time I embark on a train journey, I think of Patricia
Highsmith’s debut novel, the one made famous by Alfred Hitchcock in the early
1950’s [ and adapted for screen by Raymond Chandler]. The words ‘Open
Channel ‘D’ always come to mind when I think of that film,
due to my habit of littering my mind with trivia. I recall that Hitchcock cast
one of my favourite actors, Leo G Carroll in a supporting role. The actor would
later become legendary with his association to The
Man From Uncle, playing the big boss Mr. Alexander Waverly.
So, with the Uncle
Theme in my mind I took my seat on the train. I looked at the
faces in the carriage, and kept my distance from those Strangers on a Train.
It should be remembered that screen-writer Raymond
Chandler, director Alfred Hitchcock and supporting actor Leo
G Carroll were born in England; before heading to America where they
flourished creatively. Patricia Highsmith however took the opposite
journey across the Atlantic. Though born in America, it would England and the
European continent that she would make her creative home, and her name - as one
of the true greats of Crime and Mystery Fiction.
I consider it apt that Peter Swanson launches his 6th
novel RULES FOR PERFECT MURDERS in England, because Highsmith’s debut novel
features subtly as a plot device [of sorts] in his own extraordinary thriller. I
also found great merit in his own debut novel THE
GIRL WITH A CLOCK FOR A HEART. It made my top reads of that
year – my review is archived at Jeff Piece’s THE RAPSHEET and can be accessed HERE
I read Swanson’s book last year, thanks to Angus Cargill, the
renowned publisher / editor at Faber and Faber [and John
Grindrod] as
they knew it would appeal to my love of crime and mystery narratives. I
mirrored the novel’s protagonist Malcolm ‘Mal’ Kershaw’s affection for the
mystery genre. I even wrote a blogpost naming my own selection of golden age
crime novels - archived HERE.
Swanson’s protagonist gets into trouble for writing his
blogpost entitled Eight Perfect Murders [for the Old Devil’s bookstore
he co-owns and manages]. The title of the blogpost is eponymous, as it’s the American
title for Swanson’s book [from the esteemed William Morrow imprint of
HarperCollins in the US].
With my reluctance to proceed to places where people
congregate in close proximity, due to my paranoia vis-à-vis COVID-19
Coronavirus, I avoided cinemas, theatres and places of mass transit. This posed a
dilemma. I had become desperate to view Parasite [directed by Bong Joon-ho and
co-written with Han Jin-won] - but concerned about sitting in a packed cinema,
in close proximity to others. I rejoiced at Mr
Trump’s annoyance, at this film being awarded ‘best picture’ at
the US Academy Awards 2020 [the first time a subtitled film from overseas received
this accolade]. I enjoyed Trump’s annoyance as his jingoistic attitude was ruffled,
like an orange syrup-of-figs caught in a gale. The Korean director’s
previous work on both SNOWPIERCER and THE HOST had been extraordinary.
I planned to view PARASITE on a big screen in London, BUT
for an early matinee performance, hoping there would be very few in the
auditorium within coughing distance. My planning and luck were in, as
there were only two others at the screening, and they sat at the back while I took
a seat at the front.
After the film ended, I needed a stiff drink.
I found a bar and thought about the film as I sipped
Scotch, chased by Guinness. It was well-constructed and complex, but very accessible.
It provoked much thought and made me laugh like a drain, before it
turned all Darren
Aronofsky with the horror of the finale.
I quaffed my beverages as the bar started to fill and made
my way to Goldsboro
Books in Covent Garden to celebrate the launch of RULES FOR
PERFECT MURDERS. I enjoyed the book trailer / clip commissioned by Faber and
Faber for this extraordinary novel as it sets the mood in a quirky manner –
On arrival, I was delighted that David Headley and his team
decorated the store accordingly for the party, and Faber and Faber providing ample
wine, beer and nibbles.
Firstly, I met-up with Angus Cargill and his publishing
team. “I knew you’d enjoy Peter’s book,” he said as I thanked him for an
early read and invite to the launch.
I enjoyed teasing Angus about the inclusion of the cat ‘Nero’
in the book, as despite being a dark read, it will appeal to the gentler Cat-Mystery
Crowd.
In my review, I wrote -
Peter Swanson’s sixth novel is a love letter to
readers of crime fiction, exploring the grey area that separates fiction from
reality. It is a literary novel [with a lowercase ‘L’], luring the reader into
the mind of those obsessed by the allure of the library, the dark shadows of
human nature and of the elegancy of words, constructed to tell a story.
We have reference to Dame Agatha Christie,
Patricia Highsmith, James M Cain, Donna Tart, Ira Levin, John D Macdonald among
many others outside the scope of investigation. And Kershaw has a cat named
after the renowned Rex Stout character to boot. A loner, he finds solace in
books, especially now alone after the tragic death of his wife. As the
narrative unfurls, classic books are referenced from the shelves of ‘Old
Devils’. Mulvey and Kershaw explore the work that the killer maybe using as a
map, to navigate these murders.
I was pleased to find myself in conversation with Andrew
Wilson a former journalist now an exceptional crime-writer who casts a
fictional Agatha Christie in a wonderful series of golden age crime novels.
Though it is his extraordinary biography of Patricia
Highsmith BEAUTIFUL SHADOW that still haunts me. I consider Highsmith’s
character Tom Ripley to be the precursor to Thomas
Harris’ Dr Hannibal Lecter of Baltimore and Florence.
I always greet Andrew Wilson with - “I love the smell of
turpentine in the morning” spoken in a Tom Ripley manner which
makes him smile.
Between sips of wine, I enjoyed chatting to editor
Katherine Armstrong, where we discussed the award-winning books penned by her
author Chris
Whittaker. It was good seeing the ubiquitous and hard-working Ayo Onatade in
fine form, burning the candle at both ends in her day-job in the legal
business, and in her evenings critiquing / blogging about crime fiction. Though
few know that her deepest passion is basket weaving, a craft she rarely
mentions in public.
I was delighted to learn that Karin Salvalaggio is
writing fiction again. I’ve known Karin for some time. She provides literary
commentary for http://bookanista.com as
well as being an acclaimed novelist in her own right. I have her work in my vast
collection; currently in storage due to the immensity of my appetite for
reading and collecting books.
I find writers with the most interesting lives produce more
insightful narratives than the fresh-faced youths in their twenties; who clutch
their MFA
certificates like facemasks made in Wuhan.
Writers are cautious talking about their works in
progress. I know I am. I was therefore delighted [and intrigued] with
the avenues of thought that Karin’s mind was wandering. I look forward to
seeing those thoughts crystallise and form into a commercial narrative in due
course.
Her thoughts and research have narrative legs in my
opinion, and would find interest from others, keen to explore the themes she
was traversing.
Soon it was time to listen to Angus introduce Peter
Swanson, and welcome us to the launch party, which I captured
in this 3.5-minute clip, recorded in my usual gonzo style, angled to reflect
the tilted axis of the reality we see around us, that disturbing parallax view.
So time for more wine, and conversation.
I spoke with Peter Swanson, telling him how much I
enjoyed his sixth novel, made special with the references to Crime and Mystery
writing, and of writers. I roared laughing recalling one of his characters
referring to Thomas Harris as “….a literary pervert….” Peter was aware
of my fondness for the writings of the creator of Dr Hannibal Lecter, of John
Hopkins, Balitmore [and Dr Fell of Florence]. I remarked mischievously stating
that his latest work Rules for Perfect Murders shared something
in common with Thomas
Harris’ Cari Mora. Peter looked a trifle
wiffled.
“Pray tell.”
He said nervously.
“Cari Mora like Rules for Perfect Murders, are sixth
published novels from both of you, though you are far more prolific than Thomas
Harris.”
The relief on Peter’s face was visible.
“I know no one that loves Cari Mora as much as you
do,”
he said.
“I know, it’s so weird,” I
replied explaining that I had been gently ridiculed in many quarters about my
enthusiasm for Thomas Harris and Cari Mora. I told him how I had
been lobbying my fellow judges at George Easter’s Deadly Pleasures Magazine for
Cari Mora to be considered as one of the finest crime thrillers of the last
decade. Peter explained that he hadn’t read Cari Mora, but was aware of my enthusiasm
for the book.
“You seem to be in the minority,” he
said.
I just laughed as my admiration for the writing of Thomas
Harris has no perimeter.
Anyway, we talked some more, laughed some more but before
too long it was time to pass my thanks to Angus Cargill of Faber & Faber as
well as David Headley of Goldsboro books for a fine launch party.
As Peter’s sixth novel is due out this week, titled RULES
FOR PERFECT MURDERS in the UK and Ireland and EIGHT PERFECT MURDERS
in the US and Canada, I would urge you to read it.
It may not be a Cari Mora, but it is tremendous fun,
especially for the advocates of the Mystery Genre. It’s very, very good.
Shots Magazine would like to thank Angus
Cargill and David Headley for hosting a wonderful launch party.
Photos © 2020 A Karim, © 2020 Faber and Faber ©
2020 William Morrow US
