Murder under the Mistletoe at Heffers Bookshop

Join Heffers bookshop on 10th December for an evening of literary mystery and murder, with a hand picked selection of authors including Susan Grossey, Charlot King, Mike Ripley, Nicola Upson, Mandy Morton, Suzette Hill, Mark Ellis, Miranda Carter, Alison Bruce, Michelle Spring and Kate Rhodes.

Come along for a convivial evening and the opportunity to stock up on some signed books - and perhaps some Christmas gifts!

Your ticket includes a murderous cocktail (soft drinks also available).

Tickets are available from here.

Where:-        

Heffers Bookshop

20 Trinity Street, Cambridge CB2 1TY

Time:-

Thursday, 10 December 2015 from 18:30 to 20:00 (GMT)

What's Your Poison?

We got this interesting invitation from Heffers Boosktore in Cambridge, England for our readers, and we hope to see you there at this festive party, to celebrate the crime and mystery genre with key writers.

You are warmly invited to join us at our Crime Fiction Summer Party "What's Your Poison" on July 16th from 6.30pm at Heffers Bookshop, 20 Trinity Street, Cambridge:

Authors participating include: Nicola Upson, Mandy Morton, Mike Ripley, BK Duncan, Susan Grossey, Peter Murphy, Oliver Harris, Jim Kelly, Jeremy Cameron, Kate Rhodes, Peter Lovesey, Timothy Williams, Emily Winslow, Len Tyler, Barbara Cleverly, Janet Neel and others

Drinks will also be served and there will be a goody bag for each guest

Tickets are £6 and can be purchased at: https://whatsyourpoison.eventbrite.co.uk


Photo © 2014 Ayo Onatade 

Heffers Christmas Crime Party

We hope to see some of you at the Heffers Christmas Crime Party [Cambridge England]

Thursday December 11th at 6.30PM

Join us for an evening of Mystery, Murder and Mayhem, Mirth, Mince pies and Mulled wine in the company of

Alison Bruce, Barbara Cleverly, Jenna Hawkins, Suzette A Hill, Alison Joseph, Jim Kelly, Mandy Morton, Peter Murphy, Ayo Onatade, Kate Rhodes, Mike Ripley, Michelle Spring, L C Tyler, Nicola Upson, Emily Winslow and others

and celebrate the publication of

“The Bodies in the Bookshop Anthology” (£10.99)

edited by

L C Tyler & Ayo Onatade

Published in honour of Heffers and independent bookshops everywhere. Chase down the criminals in new stories featuring Carole & Jude, Gary Goodhew, the Good Thief and the redoubtable Baroness "Jack" Troutbeck, by their respective creators: Simon Brett, Alison Bruce, Chris Ewan and Ruth Dudley Edwards. Uncover further misdeeds, with enticing offerings from Kate Charles, Ann Cleeves, Judith Cutler, Ruth Downie, Stella Duffy, Martin Edwards, Christopher Fowler, Michael Gregorio, Susanna Gregory & Simon Beaufort, Elly Griffiths, Jenna Hawkins, Suzette A Hill, Peter Lovesey, Michelle Spring, Andrew Taylor and L C Tyler. Their works, collectively, feature every crime in the book!

Tickets from:

https://crime-party.eventbrite.co.uk

What's Your Poison' Summer Crime party

A date for your diary, as Heffer’s Cambridge [UK] are holding a party, featuring an eclectic line up of crime writers on Thursday July 17th 6.30pm

We hope to see some of you there.

Book a convivial evening to die for by joining us for Pimms, strawberries and poisonous quizzes and make murder your business in the company of crime authors: M. J Arlidge, Stephen Booth, Rory Clements, Matthew Frank, John Harvey, Alison Joseph, Jim Kelly, Mandy Morton, Peter Murphy, Christine Poulson, Kate Rhodes, Mike Ripley, Imogen Robertson, Nicola Upson and Jake Woodhouse

Tickets from: http://summer-crime-party.eventbrite.co.uk

Venue: Heffers Bookshop, 20 Trinity Street, Cambridge, CB2 1TY

Tel : 01223-463222.

Criminal Activity in Cambridge

Mike Ripley and Richard Reynolds (crime buyer at Heffers)

We're delighted to hear of some very interesting events coming up at Heffers Bookstore - hope to see you there

Cambridge, Heffers: An Evening with James Runcie
Thursday, June 26th at 18:30 

James Runcie is at Heffers to celebrate the third part of his Grantchester series: Sidney Chambers and the Problem of Evil, published in May 2014. It is the 1960s and Canon Sidney Chambers is enjoying his first year of married life with his German bride Hildegard. But life in Grantchester rarely stays quiet for long. Our favourite clerical detective soon attempts to stop a serial killer who has a grievance against the clergy; investigates the disappearance of a famous painting after a distracting display of nudity by a French girl in an art gallery; uncovers the fact that an 'accidental' drowning on a film shoot may not have been so accidental after all; and discovers the reasons behind the theft of a baby from a hospital in the run-up to Christmas, 1963. In the meantime, Sidney wrestles with the problem of evil, attempts to fulfil the demands of Dickens, his faithful Labrador, and contemplates, as always, the nature of love. Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death is being adapted for television and will run as Grantchester, a six part series in the autumn of 2014. The production company is Lovely Day, the writer is Daisy Coulam and filming will take place in Grantchester and London in April/May 2014. Tickets from: https://james-runcie.eventbrite.co.uk

Cambridge Heffers: What's Your Poison' Summer Crime party
Thursday July 17th 6.30pm 

Book a convivial evening to die for by joining us for Pimms, strawberries and poisonous quizzes and make murder your business in the company of crime authors: Stephen Booth, John Harvey, Jim Kelly, Mandy Morton, Peter Murphy, Christine Poulson, Kate Rhodes, Imogen Robertson, Nicola Upson and others. Tickets from: http://summer-crime-party.eventbrite.co.uk

Venue: Heffers Bookshop, 20 Trinity Street, Cambridge, CB2 1TY Tel 01223-463222.

Photo (c) 2012 A Karim

Leon and Ripley at Heffers Cambridge

It’s double trouble at Heffers Bookshop this April and Shots suggest you mark your diaries accordingly, as the tickets are certain to be snapped up quick.

There is a rare visit to Heffers by The Talented Mr Ripley, better known as an award-winning crime-writer, literary critic, editor, publisher, Shots Ezine's ‘getting away with murder’ columnist, and general top-man about town, Mike Ripley.

See you there

                                                                                                    
An Evening with Donna Leon
Wednesday, April 9th at 18:30
Join us with Donna Leon to celebrate "By Its Cover",  the much anticipated twenty-third instalment in the bestselling crime series, where Commissario Brunetti is better than ever as he addresses questions of worth and value alongside his ever-faithful team of Ispettore Vianello and Signorina Elettra.  When several valuable antiquarian books go missing from a prestigious library in the heart of Venice, Commissario Brunetti is immediately called to the scene. The staff suspect an American researcher has stolen them, but for Brunetti something doesn’t quite add up. Tickets available from: 

https://donna-leon.eventbrite.co.uk

An Evening with Mike Ripley
Tuesday, 15th April at 18:30
Join us to celebrate Mike Ripley's latest novel  Mr Campion's Farewell. 
Mike Ripley is not only a lifelong Allingham fan but has lived in ‘Allingham country’ in north-east Essex for 40 years. It was not until 2012, however, that he learned of the fragment of manuscript (just over four chapters) of Youngman Carter’s unfinished third novel. With the blessing of the Margery Allingham Society, Mike not only completed the novel, which is now published as Mr Campion’s Farewell, but also edited reissues of Youngman Carter’s two Campion novels for Ostara Publishing, bringing them back into print for the first time in twenty years.Tickets available from:

 https://mike-ripley.eventbrite.co.uk

For more information about Heffers Bookstore and its astonishing crime and thriller section, and future events, click here

Heffers Bookshop, 20 Trinity Street, Cambridge, CB2 1TY England

            

Bodies in the Bookshop December Events

The crime, mystery and thriller section at Heffers Bookstore [a division of Blackwells] is one of the most extensive in England, and we’re delighted to advise Shots Readers of some interesting events.

We hope all of you will be buying books for Christmas Presents, and Heffers in Cambridge have a late night shopping event which should help, with pre-Christmas late shopping on Wednesdays open until 1930 hrs.

Rowan Williams, Raymond Tallis and Alison Joseph
4th December 6.30pm Bookshop


Tomorrow night  we are privileged to be welcoming Rowan Williams, Raymond Tallis & Alison Joseph who will be discussing Faith and Science: The stories we tell ourselves.
The event is at the bookshop and starts at 6.30pm. They will be book signings afterwards.
This event is being filmed by The Faraday Institute.
There are a few tickets left from: https://faith-science.eventbrite.co.uk

An Evening with Ian Rankin in conversation with Alison Bruce
Tuesday 10th December 7:00pm (Doors open 6.45pm)
St. Andrew's Church, St Andrew's St, Cambridge

A very special evening for Crime Fiction Fans! We are delighted to be hosting this evening with Ian Rankin and Alison Bruce. Ian Rankin returns to East Anglia for one special evening before taking a year off from writing! 

LAST FEW TICKETS REMAINING
Tickets from: Ian Rankin

Independent Cambridge at Heffers Bookshop 
Wednesday 11th December 5.30pm to 7.30pm

Come and join us for a late night shopping event with a difference.
Come and meet the Independent Cambridge team at Heffers book shop on Trinity Street for mulled wine, mince pies and to find out what fantastic Christmas gifts are offered by the city’s local independent shops. Stuck for ideas? The team will also be on-hand to offer gift advice for those ‘hard to choose for’ people on your list!

Join an Independent Cambridge walking tour of the lovely boutique shops of Bridge Street and Magdalene Street The tour will start from Heffers at 6.00pm, visit the various boutiques and finish at Cambridge Wine Merchants with a glass of mulled wine at their Bridge Street store at approximately 7.30pm. The cost is £10 per person (limited to 15 places). To book your place on the tour email anne@independent-cambridge.co.uk and then you can pay for the tour on the night itself (cash or cheque only) Follow on Twitter at #indiecamtours

Christmas Chrime Party Thursday 12th December 6:30pm Heffers Bookshop 

An Evening with Jill Paton Walsh Tuesday 17th December 6:30pm Heffers Bookshop

Jill Paton Walsh is an English novelist and children's writer. Come and join Jill celebrate her latest book in the Peter Winsey and Harriet Vane series.

Her latest book ‘The Late Scholar’ is a new murder mystery featuring Lord Peter Wimsey - now a Duke - and his wife Harriet Vane, set in an Oxford college in the 1950s. Peter Wimsey is pleased to discover that along with a Dukedom he has inherited the duties of 'visitor' at an Oxford college. When the fellows appeal to him to resolve a dispute, he and Harriet set off happily to spend some time in Oxford.

Tickets from: Jill Paton Walsh

Don't forget to check out Heffers’ event page for all our other events: Heffers Events

Top Photo (c) 2009 A Karim - Writer, Critic, Raconteur and Shots' Columnist Mike Ripley with Heffers' Richard Reynolds, Chair of CWA Gold Dagger Judges 

Bottom Photo (c) 2009 A Karim - Critics / Journalists Barry Norman and Mike Ripley

Christmas Chrime at Heffers Bookshop

Thursday 12 December 2013. 6:30pm 

Christmas Chrime Party at Heffers Bookshop, 20 Trinity Street, Cambridge 

Kate Rhodes, Suzette Hill,
Barbara Nadel, Rebecca Tope,
Penny Hancock, Claire Dunn,
Alison Bruce, Leigh Russell,
Nicola Upson and Emily Winslow
invite you to an evening of mystery and mirth!  Mulled wine and mince pies anyone? 

Christmas Chrime Quiz with prizes, special bundles, surprises!

Tickets from: Christmas Chrime party, Heffers

A Penny for your Thoughts

Best-selling and Multiple Award-Winning Canadian Mystery Writer Louise Penny made a special visit to Heffers Bookstore in Cambridge to talk about her writing. This was the only UK event she is appearing at this year, due to deadline pressures on her current work in progress.

The event was organised by one of the most knowledgeable booksellers we know, Richard Reynolds, who is also the Chair of The Crime Writers Association [CWA] Gold Dagger Award.  Though the historic Heffers Bookstore is now part of the Blackwell Books Chain, but retains its independent feel, with Richard maintaining one of the best selections of Crime, Mystery and Thrillers in the UK. Richard Reynolds also runs some very interesting events for the crime, mystery reader, click here for a listing of future events

I was delighted to meet Louise Penny again. Joining me were Chris Simmons of Crimesquad and The Talented Mr Ripley, critic, crime writer and raconteur at Shots and Deadly Pleasures Magazine - Getting Away With Murder column, and many others.

I recall Louise Penny being a runner-up for the CWA Debut Dagger Award in 2004. Her entry ‘Still Life’ was highly commended and missed taking the Debut Dagger ‘by only a whisker.' This resulted in her getting ‘Still Life’ into print. I first met Louise at the launch of Still Life at the Canadian Embassy in London on the 7^th February 2005. Her generous nature is well known as in 2009 she personally sponsored the John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger. The Crime Writers' Association Chair [at that time], Margaret Murphy, said: "We are delighted that Louise has agreed to sponsor this award. I know that she valued the help that the award gave to her writing career. It is a tremendous gesture and one that is deeply appreciated by the CWA."

We highly recommend the work of Louise Penny, if you like your mystery fiction with compassion and dark insight into the psychological – then Penny’s work will enthrall, and her latest ‘How The Light Gets In’ is no exception –

 “There is a crack in everything. 

    That’s how the light gets in.” 

— Leonard Cohen from his Poem / Song Anthem

Christmas is approaching, and in Québec it’s a time of dazzling snowfalls, bright lights, and gatherings with friends in front of blazing hearths. But shadows are falling on the usually festive season for Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Most of his best agents have left the Homicide Department, his old friend and lieutenant Jean-Guy Beauvoir hasn’t spoken to him in months, and hostile forces are lining up against him.

When Gamache receives a message from Myrna Landers that a longtime friend has failed to arrive for Christmas in the village of Three Pines, he welcomes the chance to get away from the city. Mystified by Myrna's reluctance to reveal her friend's name, Gamache soon discovers the missing woman was once one of the most famous people not just in North America, but in the world, and now goes unrecognized by virtually everyone except the mad, brilliant poet Ruth Zardo.

As events come to a head, Gamache is drawn ever deeper into the world of Three Pines. Increasingly, he is not only investigating the disappearance of Myrna’s friend but also seeking a safe place for himself and his still-loyal colleagues. Is there peace to be found even in Three Pines, and at what cost to Gamache and the people he holds dear?

How the Light Gets In is the ninth Chief Inspector Gamache Novel from Louise Penny.

One of Publishers Weekly's Best Mystery/Thriller Books of 2013 and a  #1 New York Times Best Seller

For Shots Readers, we have some video footage from the Heffers’ event for those who have not explored the mysterious world of Louise Penny -

Louise Penny Reading from “A Beautiful Mystery”

Louise Penny on writing

Louise Penny Talking about her French Translations

Bibliography –  all of Louise Penny’s work is available from the Shots Online Bookstore, with discounts HERE

Time to start saving your pennies, because if you’ve not experienced Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, it’s time you did.

Still Life [2005].

Winner of the New Blood Dagger award in the United Kingdom, the Arthur Ellis Award in Canada for best first crime novel, the Dilys Award, the 2007 Anthony Award and the Barry Award for best first novel in the United States.

A Fatal Grace [2007] Alternate title: "Dead Cold" 

Winner of the Agatha Award for best novel of 2007

The Cruellest Month [2008]

Winner of the Agatha Award for best novel of 2008, Nominated for the 2009 Anthony, the Macavity and the Barry awards for best novel of 2008.

The Murder Stone [2009] Alternative title “A Rule Against Murder”

A New York Times bestseller and nominated for an Arthur Ellis Award in the category of best novel

The Brutal Telling [2009]

Winner of the Agatha Award for best novel of 2009, as well as the 2010 Anthony Award for best crime novel in the U.S.

Bury your Dead [2010]

Winner of the Agatha Award for best novel of 2010, the 2011 Anthony and Macavity Award for best crime novel in the U.S., the 2011 Arthur Ellis Award best crime novel in Canada, and the 2011 Nero Award.

A Trick of the Light [2011]

Named one of the best crime novels of 2011 by The Globe & Mail and The New York Times

The Beautiful Mystery [2012]

Macavity and Anthony Award for best crime novel in the U.S

How the Light Gets In [2013]

A New York Times #1 bestseller.

More Information on the work of Louise Penny is available here

As a long-time follower of the Canadian Poet Leonard Cohen, I was very impressed that when Louise Penny approached Mr Cohen about the use of the famous existential lyric [from his song / poem ANTHEM] for her latest novel, Leonard graciously agreed, and refused any payment for its use -

Photos (c) 2010-2013 Ali Karim

Cover Photos (c) Headline Publishing and (C) Little Brown UK

Heffers Cambridge - Forthcoming Crime Fiction Events

An Evening with Louise Penny
Thursday, November 21st at 18:30 

Louise Penny is a Canadian author of mystery novels set in the Canadian province of Quebec centred on the work of Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. Louise Penny's first career was as a radio broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. After she turned to writing, she won numerous awards for her work, including the Agatha Award for best mystery novel of the year for four consecutive years (2007–2010) and the Anthony Award for two novels. Her novels have been published in 23 languages.

 

When the Light Gets In: Christmas is approaching, and in Québec it’s a time of dazzling snowfalls, bright lights, and gatherings with friends in front of blazing hearths. But shadows are falling on the usually festive season for Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Most of his best agents have left the Homicide Department, his old friend and lieutenant Jean-Guy Beauvoir hasn’t spoken to him in months, and hostile forces are lining up against him. When Gamache receives a message from Myrna Landers that a longtime friend has failed to arrive for Christmas in the village of Three Pines, he welcomes the chance to get away from the city. Mystified by Myrna's reluctance to reveal her friend's name, Gamache soon discovers the missing woman was once one of the most famous people not just in North America, but in the world, and now goes unrecognized by virtually everyone except the mad, brilliant poet Ruth Zardo. Tickets must be booked in advance from https://louise-penny.eventbrite.co.uk

 

An Evening with Rowan Williams, Ray Tallis & Alison Joseph: Faith & Science
Wednesday, December 4th at 18:30 

An Evening of conversation about Faith & Science, Chaired by Alison Joseph ROWAN WILLIAMS, Baron Williams of Oystermouth PC FBA FRSL FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He was the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he held from December 2002 to December 2012.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and Archbishop of Wales, making him the first Archbishop of Canterbury in modern times not to be appointed from within the Church of England. He spent much of his earlier career as an academic at the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford successively. Apart from Welsh, he speaks or reads nine other languages. RAYMOND TALLIS F.Med.Sci., F.R.C.P., F.R.S.A.is a polymath. He is a philosopher, poet, novelist, cultural critic and a retired medical physician and clinical neuroscientist. Specializing in geriatrics, Tallis served on several UK commissions on medical care of the aged and was an editor or major contributor to two key textbooks in the field, The Clinical Neurology of Old Age and Textbook of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology. In a 2010 Interview with author Jesse Horn, Tallis expressed that he is a optimistic humanist and an atheist. “Given that I was born a few months after Auschwitz was liberated, it is hardly surprising that I have a strong sense of the evil that humans – individually and collectively – do. My position is that of cautious and chastened optimism, a belief that, if we are ourselves well-treated by others, we will usually treat others reasonably well.” ALISON JOSEPH was born in North London and educated at Leeds University. After graduating she worked as a presenter on a local radio station then, moving back to London, for Channel 4. She later became a partner in an independent production company and one of its commissions was a series about women and religion. She has since worked as a reader for BBC Radio Drama. Alison, who now has three children, lives in London. Alison is the author of the crime fiction novels featuring the nun Sister Agnes. Tickets from: https://faith-science.eventbrite.co.uk

An Evening with Charles Palliser
Thursday, December 5th at 18:30 

Charles Palliser is a best-selling novelist, American-born but British-based. His most well-known novel, "The Quincunx", has sold over a million copies internationally. With his new novel, Rustication, he returns to the town of Thurchester, which he evoked so hauntingly in The Unburied. It is winter 1863, and Richard Shenstone, aged seventeen, has been sent down—“rusticated”—from Cambridge under a cloud of suspicion. Addicted to opium and tormented by sexual desire, he finds temporary refuge in a dilapidated old mansion on the southern English coast inhabited by his newly impoverished mother and his sister, Effie. Soon, graphic and threatening letters begin to circulate among his neighbors, and Richard finds himself the leading suspect in a series of crimes and misdemeanors ranging from vivisection to murder. Tickets from: https://charles-palliser.eventbrite.co.uk

Ian Rankin in conversation with Alison Bruce
Tuesday, December 10th at 19:00 

Ian Rankin returns to East Anglia before taking a year off from writing! Ian will not be carrying out any events until 2015, so this is your last chance to hear him for a while. This evening he is being interviewed by popular local crime writer Alison Bruce. They will cover a wide range of topics including Ian's new book.

Rebus is back on the force, albeit with a demotion and a chip on his shoulder. A 30-year-old case is being reopened, and Rebus’s team from back then is suspected of foul play. With Malcolm Fox as the investigating officer is the past and present about to collide in a shocking and murderous fashion? And does Rebus have anything to hide? His colleagues back then called themselves ‘The Saints’, and swore a bond on something called ‘the Shadow Bible’. But times have changed and the crimes of the past may not stay hidden much longer, especially with a referendum on Scottish independence just around the corner. Who are the saints and who the sinners? And can the one ever become the other?

Venue: St Andrews Baptist Church, St Andrews St Cambridge
Tickets from https://ian-rankin.eventbrite.co.uk

 An Evening with Jill Paton Walsh

Tuesday, December 17th at 18:30 

Jill Paton Walsh is an English novelist and children's writer. She is best known for the Peter Wimsey–Harriet Vane mysteries that have completed or continued the work of Dorothy L. Sayers. Her latest book ‘The Late Scholar’ is a new murder mystery featuring Lord Peter Wimsey - now a Duke - and his wife Harriet Vane, set in an Oxford college in the 1950s. Peter Wimsey is pleased to discover that along with a Dukedom he has inherited the duties of 'visitor' at an Oxford college. When the fellows appeal to him to resolve a dispute, he and Harriet set off happily to spend some time in Oxford. But the dispute turns out to be embittered. The voting is evenly balanced between two passionate parties - evenly balanced, that is, until several of the fellows unexpectedly die. The Warden has a casting vote, but the Warden has disappeared. And the causes of death of the deceased fellows bear an uncanny resemblance to the murder methods in Peter's past cases - methods that Harriet has used in her published novels. Tickets from: https://jill-paton-walsh.eventbrite.co.uk