It’s not often
you have a book endorsed by Mick Herron, Ann Cleeves, Lee Child, Mark
Billingham, Janice Hallett and Charlie Higson (among others) before it has even
been published, but that is the (very fortunate) situation with my latest
novel, Quantum of Menace, out on Oct
23rd.
The book is the
first in a mystery series featuring Q from the Bond franchise. In Quantum of Menace, Q – aka Major
Boothroyd – finds himself unceremoniously booted out of MI6. A man at sea, he
decides to return to his small hometown – the fictional Wickstone-on-Water – to
reinvestigate the mysterious death of his childhood friend, a quantum computer
scientist.
Quantum of Menace is not a spy novel, though Q’s
past is a lurking presence that he cannot completely divorce himself from. This
is a book about a man who has lost his bearings, a man contemplating a lonely
future where he has become superfluous to requirements. It’s also a book about
what modern Britain stands for and what fighting the good fight now means. Q
has fought that fight for more years than he cares to remember. Now he must
call upon his intellect to solve a more local crime.
During
the course of his return home, we see Q coming to terms with his own broken
past. We also, at long last, get to discover the man behind the Q myth.
In the build up
to the book’s release, I recently spoke at the Henley Literary Festival, where
I was interviewed by James Scudamore, a member of the Ian Fleming family, and
one of the individuals behind the decision to ask me, in the summer of 2023
(via Ian Fleming Publishing Limited (IFPL), the publishing arm of the Ian
Fleming estate), whether I mightbe
interested in writing a mystery series featuring Q? Fair to say that I was
stunned. It’s not every day you find yourself invited to take on one of the
most iconic characters in fiction.
The requirement
was not for another Bond-style spy thriller, but a traditional mystery. I was
asked to put on my thinking cap.
But how does one
approach the business of bringing to life someone else’s characters? I’ve been
relatively fortunate in that from the beginning it was clear that I wasn’t
imitating Fleming. The book was to be entirely my own creation, albeit using
characters and a background that millions will be familiar with.
I presented
several plots, and my own sense of how I wished the series to play out. In
particular, given that Q appears only briefly in the novels, I was given carte
blanche to bring Q to life as a ‘whole’ character – I chose not to paint him as
a caricature but as a serious scientist, a man who has given his all to his
country for three decades only to find himself cast aside. Is he bitter? Of
course he is!
His return to
his hometown is fraught with tension. Wickstone-on-Water is the sort of once
sleepy place that often appears in cosy crime, but with a distinctly edgy vibe:
a few thousand people whose halcyon view of the world is being tested by recent
migration and the activities of county lines drugs traffickers.
Inthe
book,Q
investigates the mysterious death of his childhood friend, Peter Napier, a
quantum computer scientist who had been on the verge of a major - and possibly
very dangerous - breakthrough. With this particular plot, I hoped to tap into
some of the fears about unchecked technological advancement that are impacting
both individuals and state actors.
Yet, the plot is
intensely local, and it is the personal relationships that Q is forced to
resume that add the real tension to
his return. We get to meet Q’s estranged father – Mortimer Boothroyd – a surly,
retired ancient Roman historian, and his even more estranged childhood fiancé,
now the detective in charge of the original investigation into Napier’s death.
I confess I’ve
always had a soft spot for Q. He never appeared much in the books – essentially,
almost everything we know about him comes from the films. But I always believed
him to be a serious man, a weapons scientist who takes himself – and his
mission – helping safeguard the civilised world – as a sacred trust. That’s the
Q I have brought to life.
Quantum of Menace is undoubtedly a
child of its time, another entry in the ‘clever cosy crime’ subgenre that has
taken the publishing world by storm in recent years. For me the dilemma was
simple: how do I combine what we love about the Bond canon – for instance, the prickly
relationship between Bond and Q – whilst bringing in everything a sophisticated
cosy audience has come to expect? i.e. dry wit, quirky personas and an emphasis
on the puzzle rather than, say, rocket launchers fired from the tops of
speeding trains?
The answer, I
hope, is now enshrined within the pages of this book and its sequel, The Man with the Golden Compass, the
opening chapters of which are included at the back of Quantum of Menace.
The tone of the
novel lies somewhere between Mick Herron’s Slow
Horses and Richard Osman’s The
Thursday Murder Club. There's dry humour, cryptic clues, an insight
into Q's life at - and post - MI6, and, yes, Commander Bond puts in an
appearance. How could he not!
Quantum of Menace by Vaseem Khan. (Bonnier
Books Ltd) Out 23rd October 2025
Q is out of MI6 and into a new
world of deceit and death. After Q (aka Major Boothroyd) is unexpectedly ousted
from his role with British Intelligence developing technologies for MI6's OO
agents, he finds himself back in his sleepy hometown of Wickstone-on-Water. His
childhood friend, renowned quantum computer scientist Peter Napier, has died in
mysterious circumstances, leaving behind a cryptic note. The police seem
uninterested, but Q feels compelled to investigate and soon discovers that
Napier's ground-breaking work may have attracted sinister forces . . . Can Q
decode the truth behind Napier's death, even as danger closes in?
The first realistic espionage stories I ever read was Somerset Maugham’s Ashenden short stories. The narrator, a writer, trails around the Italian lakes during inclement weather and visits agents who are supposed to be gathering information or intel as we like to call it now. The agents are feckless; they lie and they cheat and the work itself is tiring and often dull. To me, it felt real. It was real, Maugham was recruited to run agents during World War I.
Later, much later, I read Graham Greene’s The Human Factor and in the author’s notes Greene described how he wanted to write about spies with pensions. Again, that felt real.
But although I have written multiple genres and mediums, everything from fantasy to factual comedy to drama. I felt unable to peruse ideas o ideas about espionage and betrayal with any semblance of confidence for a long little. I recognise that as a writer you ned to know where you're ready to realise a particular idea, believe that you have the experience and the skills to make what you have in your mind the best it can be. I was determined that if I was going to attempt to write a spy novel it would have to feel and as realistic as the espionage that I admired.
For many years that particular goal seemed a long way off until the ambition was reignited when I read. Tom Rob Smith's Child 44. Child 44 is set in Stalinist Russia and is written from the point of view of a NKVD agent who is morally compromised.
It's a brilliant book. The setting is the miserable post-war deprivation of 1950s Soviet Union. The characters are terrified of who will betray them and they are all desperately trying to survive. When I reached the end of the book, I read the author's biography and was astonished that the author had achieved this level of authenticity solely on the basis of research.
Child 44 was inspirational.
I now needed a story.
I decided to write about the Mossad, the Israeli version of MI6 for several reasons. Among them was that while I think The Spy Who Came in From the Cold is an almost perfect book and I’m a great admirer of the rest of the Smiley series, I felt that le Carré, in The Little Drummer Girl hadn’t written either Jews or women particularly well and it bothered me. I found the needy and neurotic Charlie irritating and the dour, brooding case officer hard to believe
Another reason for choosing Mossad was cowardice and expediency; I don’t think I could attempt to better what le Carré and Deighton wrote about Cold War British intelligence. Nor what Charles Beaumont does now for MI6 and what David McCloskey and I. S. Berry do for the CIA. There also aren’t many authors writing about the Mossad despite all the mystique about this particular intelligence service.
But I still didn’t have a story.
I read and re-read le Carré, The Little Drummer Girl. Then I moved to The Honourable Schoolboy, Tinker Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Then Len Deighton’s Bernard Samson series and as I was reading I was trying to identify what it was that I liked about the narratives, why they worked and why they didn’t. I also watched Homeland episodes back-to-back and The Americans.
It was while I was noodling around on the CIA website looking for reviews of spy fiction books that I saw a mention of a non-fiction book called Gideon’s Spies by Gordon Thomas.
I have since been told by those who apparently know that there are inaccuracies in the book but there are also plenty of facts. It was my lodestar. I went through the book in forensic detail; marked it up, made detailed notes and I extrapolated the information I needed for a second document. From that document I brainstormed and identified the different types of true stories in espionage. All the facts suggested story ideas. There were disinformation and recruitment operations that had rich story possibilities and, of course, the ubiquitous, ‘find the mole’ story.
From the list I brainstormed 13 different scenarios ranging from moles, recruitment, assassination and disinformation
That was the beginning of the Amiram series. After that, of course, it wrote itself!
Merle Nygate’s latest novel, The Protocols of Spying, is out now as a £10.99 paperback from No Exit Press, part of Bedford Square Publishers.
In the aftermath of Hamas's October 7th attack on Israel, Mossad's London station chief Eli Amiram is fighting battles on all fronts. When his ambitious rival plans an assassination on British soil - supposedly authorized by Trump supporters - Eli suspects a deeper conspiracy. Meanwhile, British intelligence asset Petra is hunting for redemption. Tasked with recruiting Wasim Al-Arikhi - whose sister she failed to save from becoming a suicide bomber - Petra's drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse. Can Wasim be trusted or has she become a target? As Eli and Petra's paths converge, they discover that in the shadow world of international espionage, the greatest threats often come from within. They must confront not just their enemies, but their own moral choices. A sophisticated spy thriller that weaves together tradecraft, betrayal and the human cost of intelligence work.
More information about the author and her work can be found on her website. You can find her on Facebook @merle.nygate and on X @merlenygate and on Instagram @mnygate
Enthusiastic book reviewers often want to tell others when
they have enjoyed a book immensely, discovered something special, a narrative
that provoked deep thought.
EXILES
by Mason Coile
So what’s this book about?
It’s 2030
The
human crew sent to prepare the first colony on Mars arrives to find the new
base half-destroyed and the three robots sent ahead to set it up in disarray.
In the
four years since they arrived, the machines have formed alliances, chosen their
own names and picked up some disturbing beliefs. Each robot must be interrogated.
But
one of them is missing.
As the
astronauts close in on the truth, it dawns on them that in this barren, hostile
landscape - where even the machines have nightmares - none of them is safe.
I just finished this extraordinary work by an author I had
never heard of - Mason Coile and reviewed it -
This
slim novel punches well above its word count. It has heft in terms of provoking
thought and stopping you in your tracks to ponder upon the ideas, themes and
emotions it evokes.
There
is a tragic finality in the climax - one that grips the mind.
Presented
as a Science Fiction Thriller, it is actually a philosophical exploration of
what it means to ‘exist’. As worthy as that may sound, it stretches the edges
of this futuristic scenario into a cerebral examination of loneliness and why
‘humans’ and ‘non-humans’ behave in the ways they do when mentally and
physically isolated.
The
climax caused me to put the book down and sit in silence, lost in my thoughts
as I gazed at the stars glittering in the infinity of the night sky.
I
felt alone and insignificant.
The writing was so assured and evocative it came as no
surprise to discover that Mason Coile is a pen-name of the award-winning Canadian
Author Andrew Pyper.
The novel’s melancholic theme is matched by the sadness in the knowledge that Exiles
is his final novel. It was published posthumously as Andrew Pyper tragically passed away earlier
this year aged 56.
He dedicated his final novel to his wife.
I was fortunate to meet Andrew during Bouchercon 2013 held
in Albany, New York State – where we discussed his incredible Horror
Novel The Demonologist – which would be awarded the International Thriller
Writers [ITW] hardcover novel of the year [in 2014].
If you’ve not read Andrew Pyper / Mason Coile – here’s his bibliography
It was in 1985 that I first encountered the work of Gerald Petievich.
It was in London’s Leicester Square watching a matinee of the newly released
film TO
LIVE AND DIE IN LA. It was a movie directed [and co-written] by William Friedkin.
I sat transfixed at the screen throughout the film, and right through to the
closing credits with the pulse pounding 1980s techno-rock score of Wang Chung.
When the curtain came down, I didn’t leave the cinema, but
sat in my seat and watched the film again. On my second viewing I noticed on
the opening credits that TO
LIVE AND DIE IN LA was based on a novel by Gerald Petievich [who also
co-wrote the screenplay], and so began my enthusiasm for the work of this
former US Secret Service agent – turned novelist and screenwriter.
It would prove difficult to track down his novels and to
even learn anything about Gerald Petievich in England. He was as mysterious as
his Secret Service past. I knew no one else who had read his work apart
from award-winning
author, reviewer, literary commentator and Shots Magazine’s columnist Mike Ripley.
In fact Ripley recently commented about his admiration for the work of Petievich
in his latest column -
“I discovered the novels of former U.S. Treasury agent Petievich about
forty years ago, just as I was embarking on my own foray into crime-writing. They
were tough, cleverly plotted and utterly gripping thrillers which I greatly
admired although until a recent conversation with Ali Karim, I had never met
anyone else in this country who had read them.”
I discovered more about the enigmatic Gerald Petievich from
a two-part interview with writer / literary commentator Wallace Stroby -
conducted on May 13, 1988, shortly after the release of his sixth novel, SHAKEDOWN.
Of which Elmore Leonard
commented “Shakedown is a gem. Stopped writing to read it, something I have sworn
I would never do, but couldn’t help it.”
As there is so little written about the work [and life] of Gerald
Petievich, especially as he rarely grants interviews - Stroby’s feature [though
over 35 years old] is enlightening and insightful with some very rare photos –
and can be accessed from the links below -
Earlier this year, I was energised to hear that Gerald Petievich
would be making a rare public appearance at the 2025
Bouchercon in New Orleans. I alerted my very dear friend and editor / publisher
Mike Stotter that we had to meet him. I wanted to shake Petievich’s hand
and tell him how much I had enjoyed his work – which truth be told had enriched
my life, with exciting tales that reeked of authenticity.
But it would be during Otto Penzler’s Mysterious Press Anniversary
Party, held on Bourbon Street that Mike and I finally met with Gerald Petievich.
I transformed into ‘Fan-Boy’ mode, and was excited to hear that he had a new
book out [13 Hillcrest Drive], after a long gap in his publishing history.
So once back in the UK and after writing my New
Orleans Diary for The Rap Sheet – I got to Petievich’s latest novel - so
what were my thoughts regarding the new book, 13 HILLCREST DRIVE?
It’s
an egregious felony that author Gerald Petievich is not more widely read. He
remains a cult crime-fiction author, spoken about in whispers [and the
occasional scream] by readers who seek out the most disturbing hard-boiled
noir. His writing is slippery in that it weaves intricate plots effortlessly
about the greasy lives [and nefarious deeds] of the criminal[s], into the lives
of the men and women who pursue justice and redemption in a very dangerous
world. Petievich’s latest work [not unlike its precursors] provoke deep-thought
as his fiction poses harsh moral and ethical dilemmas for his characters that
the reader unpacks as the narrative unspools to the violent climax.
His
latest police procedural backdrops Hollywood California both the geography, as
well as the darker edges of the film industry.
In
Petievichs’s cynical world-view, “good” and “evil” are not two opposite edges
on a graduated line; but as human nature bends the line - it becomes curved, so
the edges interlock to shape a distorted circle.
The
novel commences with former Military Veteran [from Afghanistan] Detective
Michael ‘Legs’ Casey of the Hollywood Station, Los Angeles Police Department
[LAPD], working the stolen-car beat in penance for a past indiscretion, related
to drinking. He’s nicknamed ‘Legs’ due to his running [to successfully
apprehend a criminal] over three city blocks.
Gerald Petievich agreed to talk to Shots Magazine about his
work for his European [and Worldwide] Readers, in a fascinating exchange -
Ali: Thank you for speaking to your British
Readers.
Gerald:
It’s my pleasure to be speaking with you today.
AK:In the past I had a devil of a job tracking down
your books in England - Money Men, One-Shot Deal and To Die in Beverly Hills were [published by New English Library].
Can you tell us a little about your experience[s] in Publishing, especially in
Europe where I consider you somewhat of a cult writer?
GP: In
the UK my novels, including Earth Angels were published by Chatto & Windus
or New English Library. Chatto released the books in hardcover editions.
Gallimard was my French publisher. In Italy, Sonzogno published The Sentinel
and Mondadori published most of the early novels.Wilhelm Heyne was my publisher in
Germany.In the Netherlands, my novels
were published as ‘Manhattan Special’ crime novels.
AK: …and I see Rare Bird Publishing of Los Angeles are your new publisher, though
I noticed you have the rights back to much of your back catalogue…would you
care to comment on what you consider your favourite novels? And what should a
new reader to Gerald Petievich grab first?
GP: My
preferred work is Earth Angels,
initially conceived as a mainstream novel. Although the narrative ultimately
adopted a darker tone, I believe it conveys my perspective on the desensitizing
impact of policework.For readers
unfamiliar with my work, I suggest reading Shakedown, which reviewers have said
has the best story.
AK: As we’ve provided links [via Wallace Stroby]
to much of your background in Military
Intelligence and
the US
Secret Service in
our introduction, so would you be prepared to tell us a little about Gerald
Petievich before he became a writer?
In
1970, I joined the US Secret Service as a special agent. My initial
responsibilities included investigating counterfeiters in Southern California,
an area affected by counterfeit currency. This assignment required working
undercover, posing as a buyer, and apprehending suspects until eventually
locating and arresting theindividual
responsible for printing counterfeit money. Through this work, I became
familiar with the Los Angeles underworld.
In
1974, I was assigned to Paris, France, where I served as a law-enforcement
attaché at the US Embassy and collaborated with Interpol on cases involving
international counterfeiting. While investigating counterfeit US treasury bonds
being exchanged in Europe, I received information regarding a US crime figure
traveling from Africa to London with fourteen million dollars in counterfeit
bonds. I contacted a colleague at Scotland Yard and relayed the tip. Shortly
after, he informed me that the suspect had just left Heathrow airport on a
commercial flight. He indicated that he could request the plane's return to the
airport, but if the bonds were not found, we would be held accountable. I
confirmed the validity of the information, and he subsequently arranged for the
aircraft to return to Heathrow, where fourteen million dollars in counterfeit
bonds were recovered. The suspect later disclosed that the bonds originated
from a counterfeiter whom I had previously arrested while working undercover in
Los Angeles.
AK:It was the film adaptation of your 1984
novel TO LIVE AND DIE IN LA that
brought your work into the hands of many readers. Can you tell us how the film
rights ended up with William Friedkin?
GP: My
film agent at the time shopped To Live
and Die In LA to some movie producers and one of them, whose name escapes
me now, referred the work to Friedkin. I met with him. He seemed very
interested, and we signed an option agreement for the film rights to the novel.
He planned to make the movie after finishing a pirate movie he was scheduled to
direct. But the pirate movie deal fell through and Friedkin decided to make the
movie as soon as possible.
AK:There were some incongruous insertions such
as the opening scene with the terrorist, as well as the car chase [among
others] by the Director, so could you tell us a little about working with
William Friedkin? As I heard he took sole credit for the original screenplay
but upon release, the screenplay was credited to William Friedkin and Gerald
Petievich [and based on the novel by Gerald Petievich]
GP: The
opening scene with the terrorist was not part of the novel; Friedkin added it
on a whim. His challenging personality made typical collaboration impossible. The
Writers Guild of America ultimately awarded him co-credit.Considering the business that is filmmaking,
I was pleased that the movie ended up remaining fairly close to the novel’s
general storyline.
AK:…and how do you feel about TO LIVE AND DIE IN LA being lauded in
Europe and in the art house circuit, contrasting starkly with its 1980s feel
[complete with synthesiser soundtrack by British Pop Group Wang Chung] with
amorality and blurring of good vs evil?
GP: The
film’s pervasive cynicism and graphic violence were considered innovative for
its era. Its distinct 1980s aesthetic was influenced by the director’s
admiration for the television series Miami
Vice, which enjoyed widespread popularity at the time. The British band Wang Chung provided a memorable musical
motif for the printing scenes, a contribution that has since become iconic
within the film’s legacy. Notably, Wang Chung’s score replaced that of an
earlier group initially commissioned to compose the music.
AK:And what about your other experiences with
Hollywood with Money Men [aka Boiling Point] and The Sentinel as well as any film interest in 13 HILLCREST DRIVE?
GP: My
debut novel, Money Men, was initially optioned for film after actor James Woods
introduced it to producer James B. Harris (The Killing and Paths of Glory) and
expressed interest in playing the lead role. Subsequently, Harris contacted me
and I executed a film option agreement. Reflecting common practices in the film
industry, the option was renewed annually over a ten-year period until 1990,
when Mr. Harris officially acquired the rights and commenced production in
Hollywood. The film’s title was changed to Boiling
Point, with Wesley Snipes cast in the leading role and Dennis Hopper as the
antagonist. Harris undertook both the screenplay adaptation and direction,
marking his directorial debut.
Michael
Douglas
acquired the movie rights to The Sentinel,
a political thriller, while at Paramount Studios. Hiring a screenwriter who
changed the plot significantly, at age 62 Douglas starred in the film as a
youthful White House Detail Secret Service agent involved in a romantic affair
with the attractive First Lady.
Carolco
Pictures acquired the rights to my political thriller Paramour and hired me to write the screenplay. After I was paid and
finished the script, Director Ridley Scott left the project and Carolco was
later sold. The Paramour project is still in turnaround.
So
far, my new novel 13 Hillcrest Drive has earned positive feedback from
Hollywood insiders, although one producers saw risk in funding a film about
celebrities and the underside of the entertainment industry.
AK:Talking about new novel 13 HILLCREST DRIVE which landed earlier this year, with a close to
two decade gap in your publishing history…would you care to tell us what you’ve
been up to during this publishing gap?
GP: My
publishing gap stemmed from many years of sixty-hour weeks and a career that
left little time for personal pursuits. I spent the last few years dabbling in
movie and TV projects becoming a fair tennis player, bullfight aficionado, and
casino craps player. For the first time, I got involved in charity work. Having
checked off my bucket list, I’m now focused solely on crafting novels.
AK:I noticed the great Robert
Crais has
been a champion of your work, and I believe he was involved in urging you to
turn your novel The Sentinel into a
film, would you care to comment?
GP: Years
ago, I happened to have lunch with Robert Crais shortly after I had finished a
novel.During a general discussion of
books, he suggested I wrote a novel about a White House Secret Service agent
who was romantically involved with a first lady. I knew immediately the premise
was enough to make a novel. Taking his advice, I began working on an outline,
suffering with it for months to make it believable, but not tawdry. Before
writing novels, Crais was an accomplished television writer. When it comes to
ideas for novels, the idea can come from anywhere. The idea for my novel
Shakedown, came to me when I was working undercover as a buyer of counterfeit
money.The seller told me he just been
released from prison after serving eight years for extortion. He told me all
about his experience as a member of a successful blackmailing ring. I knew
immediately I could write a novel about it and began making notes as soon as I
got home that night.
AK:I heard you are a voracious reader, so apart
from the works of Bob Crais, who else do you read? And would you care to
mention the writers [and their work] that influenced you to take up the pen?
GP: I
read mystery writers like Crais, Thomas
Harris, and Michael
Connelly, but also non-fiction—biographies, history, psychology, and
current affairs to fill my subconscious mind with unique examples of human
behaviour. Recently, I finished Kai Bird’s The Good Spy and am currently
reading Scott Anderson’s King of Kings about the Iranian revolution. As a
child, I explored all genres at the Public Library, especially enjoying
Hemingway and Robert Ruark's novels about Africa. My seventh-grade teacher
recommended James Jones’ From Here to Eternity, still my favourite novel and an
inspiration for my own writing.I also
like Henning
Mankell’s work. Before my first novel, I studied John le Carré, Charles
Willeford, Joseph Wambaugh, Graham Greene, Frederick Forsyth,
Lawrence Sanders, Mario Puzo, Arthur Conan Doyle, Ian Fleming, Daphne du
Maurier, James M. Cain, Mickey Spillane, Jim Thompson, Alastair McLean, Richard
Condon and others.
AK:…and I heard while you were a young bloke
working Europe, you enjoyed the ten novel series by Maj
Sjowall & Per Wahloo,
would you care to tell us a little about what you find special about these
novels?
GP: At
the beginning of my mystery writing career, I admired the distinctive style of Maj Sjowall & Per Wahloo, and the
way they created atmosphere. Sjowall and Wahloo were journalists and had a
police reporter's unvarnished, keen view of police investigative work. One
of their mystery novels begins with their hero, Detective Martin Beck, playing
chess with a colleague who is babysitting. Beck doesn't like chess but
continues to play because it's snowing and he doesn't want to go out in the
cold. The authors always managed to create a palpable sense of place while
capturing the political climate and ups and downs of police work.
Their unique and irreverent point of view was always evident, but never
dogmatic. I met Maj Sjowall at a writers conference in Spain in the 1980s and
we talked about her work. Smart and as delightfully irreverent as her novels.
She told me that when writing, she and Per Wahloo never took
their mysteries too seriously.
AK:I adored your latest novel, from its premise
and characters that made the narrative such a dark but engaging read – can you
tell us a little about both the inception and also the execution that became 13
HILLCREST DRIVE?
GP: 13
Hillcrest Drive is my ‘Hollywood novel,’ one I’ve been making notes on for
years. I’ve led an unusual life in that I’ve not only been able to experience
the underworld as a law-enforcement officer an undercover agent, but I’ve also
been a working Hollywood screenwriter, technical advisor and producer. My cop
colleagues who had the same experience, such as Joe Wambaugh, call it learning
about the ‘overworld.’ I can attest to the fact that both the underworld and
the Hollywood ‘overworld’ are broadening. The desperation and anger at the
bottom of both worlds, is different. In the overworld, the desperation stems
from ego. There are lots of poseurs and few and talented actors, directors and
producers. But in the U.S. at least, film is the most powerful art. I found a
vehicle to fashion a novel with this point of view when a well-known Hollywood
private investigator mentioned to me that every celebrity in Hollywood, at one
time or another in their career, is forced to pay blackmail. At that moment, I
knew I had what I needed to create my Hollywood novel. Having written the first
draft, I thought I’d missed the mark. The novel wasn’t ready. It was flat. Then
I recalled a friend telling me about his experience with psychoanalysis.
Re-shaping what he’d told me to fit the novel, I realized I’d written the final
draft.
AK:My editor Mike Stotter and I found one of
the highlights of Bouchercon
New Orleans was
meeting you during Otto Penzler’s Mysterious Press Anniversary Party – so can
you tell us what you got up to in The Big Easy?
GP: There
is nowhere in the world to find more mystery readers gathered together in one
spot than at a
Bouchercon. Nothing is better for the soul of a mystery novelist than
spending time with mystery readers. Attending my first Bouchercon in 1982,
readers confessed to me that they would buy a book at the Bouchercon store and
then take it to their hotel room because they couldn’t wait to read the first
scene. They were as obsessed with story as much as I. The fear that a reader
might begin my book, get bored and put it down, remains palpable. I was a
member of a Bouchercon panel on screenwriting and saw that there is still more
interest in finding some connection to get a producer to screenplay, than in
creating a surefire story.I was very
pleased to meet you and Mike at the Mysterious Press Anniversary party. You two
reminded me of my pals at Scotland Yard who knew the ropes of the business
better than anyone - and weren’t afraid to risk calling back a commercial
airliner in flight.
AK:And finally what’s next for Gerald
Petievich?
GP: I’m
working on another Beverly Hills novel featuring police detectives featuring
the characters I introduced in 13 Hillcrest Drive, Detective
Legs Casey and his partner Katrina Sutherland. This time they’ll be
investigating the murder of a Hollywood movie celebrity that gets complicated
when one of the witnesses is an attractive woman with whom Casey once had an
affair, and a clue points toward the most elusive mobster in L.A. …
AK:Thank you so much for your time, because, Gerald – You, the MAN.
GP: Thanks
to you and Mike, top blokes, and to your loyal readers at Shots Magazine.
If you have not read Gerry Petievich’s work, I’d urge you
to seek out his exciting and truly authentic police thrillers, but a warning –
they are tough character driven narratives and as noir as they get.
Bibliography
13 Hillcrest Drive (2025)
The Sentinel(2003)
Paramour (1991)
Shakedown (1989)
Earth Angels(1989)
Quality of the
Informant (1985)
To Live and Die in L.A.
(1984)
One-Shot Deal (1983)
To Die in Beverly Hills
(1983)
Money Men (1981)
Shots
Magazine would like to thanks Delia Bennett of Los Angeles based “Rare Bird
Publishing” and Emma Petievich for their help in organising this interview –
AND – of course the legendary Gerald Petievich for his time, writing, insight
and for his service in US Law Enforcement and Military Intelligence in Europe.
And Shots Magazine wish
to also thank Connie Perry and Heather Graham and their teams at Bouchercon New
Orleans for organising such a great convention.
….…and an addendum
below….there was an alternative ending shot for William Friedkin’s film version
of Gerald Petievich’s TO LIVE AND DIE IN
LA…..but never used…..and it [with another deleted scene] is available below
–
● For the first time ever, UK indies will be able to sell ebooks to their customers
● The launch marks Bookshop.org’s fifth anniversary
● Bookshops will make 100% profit on every ebook they sell
● A much-awaited alternative to Amazon to buy ebooks, at no extra cost
● Bookshop.org to launch audiobook sales next year
London, Wednesday 1 October 2025. Bookshop.org, the online bookstore that champions indie bookshops, is today introducing their new ebook platform, enabling UK bookshops to profit from ebook sales for the first time in history, and to go head-to-head with Amazon’s Kindle apps.
Launching just in time for Bookshop.org’s fifth anniversary this autumn, the new platform empowers bookshops to sell ebooks while earning 100% of the profits from those sales. It also offers readers a concrete alternative to Amazon to purchase their favourite ebooks, at the same price as other retail platforms.
Built to boost revenue streams for brick-and-mortar bookshops, Bookshop.org’s ebook platform is a monumental addition to its giveback model, and a significant move to enrich the publishing ecosystem. It will enable bookshops to access the growing ebook market in the UK – valued £298 million by a recent Publishers Association report.
A recent YouGov book study found that for 25% of readers, ebooks are their main way of reading. Ebook sales had a strong year in 2024, rebounding from the post-pandemic drop off (source: Nielsen BookData). The new ebook service from Bookshop.org will enable ebook-savvy readers to support their local bookshop even when they want to read books digitally.
The new platform, available online via any web browser and through the Bookshop.org apps
on Apple and Android, launches with a catalogue of over a million ebooks, including works from major publishers, providing something for every type of reader. The app also fosters community engagement by allowing readers to share their favorite book moments on social media.
Nic Bottomley, from Mr B’s Emporium, said: “We are absolutely thrilled that the good people of Bookshop.org have crafted a way for our customers to support Mr B’s (and all high street bookshops) whenever they want to buy a book in digital form. Our true love might be print, but ebooks are an important part of the lives of SO many readers and it’s going to be fantastic to be add into our mix a seamless ebook service, by working in collaboration with Bookshop.org.”
CP Hunter, from The Folkestone Bookshop, said: “As a reader who travels a lot, being able to access e-books from more platforms than just my local library is brilliant, and even more exciting that it's from the ethical platform that is Bookshop.org. As a bookseller, making books even more accessible while still supporting independent shops is nothing but great news! Bookshop.org are an incredible resource and a company that truly support indies so another way to work with them and share more books with our customers all over the country is really important.”
Erin Kelly, Author of He Said/She Said and The Poison Tree, said: “One of the best things about the eBook revolution has been the ability to reach readers who can’t access traditional books. I’m thrilled that the ultimate inclusive format is now available on Bookshop.org, and can contribute to the UK’s precious independent bookseller network.”
Cathy Bramley, Author of The Lemon Tree Café, said: “I’m delighted that Bookshop.org will be offering ebooks. This is another great opportunity to support our fabulous indie bookshops and a really exciting addition to an already wonderful website. I love the feel of a paperback, but I’m a huge fan of ebooks. I travel a lot and as I invariably have my e-reader or iPad and even my phone with me, I’ve always got my current read at my fingertips. I’ll be signposting readers to my ebooks on Bookshop.org from now on!”
Andy Hunter, CEO and Founder of Bookshop.org, said: “When we launched Bookshop.org, the vision was to support local bookstores in their battle against Amazon and other online retailers. Our ebook launch furthers our commitment to help bookstores flourish in the digital age. After introducing our ebook platform in the US earlier this year, we are thrilled to see how ebook sales are going for bookshops. We are already a year ahead of our original plan, and ebooks make up 5% of our overall sales in the US. We are looking forward to ebooks expanding to the UK, empowering stores across the pond to be even more competitive.”
Nicole Vanderbilt, Managing Director of Bookshop.org UK, said: “We’re beyond excited to be adding this revolutionary offering to our platform. Digital readers don’t depend on Amazon’s monopoly anymore, now that they can find ebooks at the same price on Bookshop.org. Meanwhile, bookshops now have an additional tool in their fight against Amazon, in line with our mission of helping them succeed in the age of ecommerce. We trust authors, organisations, and influencers will embrace this launch with open arms, as a milestone for the UK book industry: we’re finally making it possible to buy books digitally whilst helping indie bookshops and their communities to thrive.”
Digitally-inclined readers can directly support the bookshop of their choosing on Bookshop.org, either selecting themby visiting ‘Choose a Bookshop’ or buying ebooks through a bookshop’s own link. This will ensure the full profit goes to supporting that chosen shop. Alternatively, profits from orders without a specified bookshop go to the shared profit pool, which is distributed among all participating bookshops on the platform, further benefitting the literary community.
Bookshop.org is planning to enrich its digital offering by launching audiobook sales in 2026. More information will be announced in due course.
For the latest developments, subscribe to Bookshop.org’s newsletter and follow them on social media at @bookshop_org_uk.
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