A.A. Abbott

GREAT CRIME STORY WRITER

blood libel

12 Books of Christmas

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Christmas is on the way. Even the self-service tills at Tesco’s supermarket jingle their bells and laugh ‘Ho Ho Ho’ as I pay. (What irony! and amazingly annoying for the poor checkout girl standing nearby and hearing the seasonal sounds hundreds of times every day.)

As well as all the fun of seeing family, and giving and receiving presents, most of us have a few days’ holiday at Christmas and a chance to reflect. With that in mind, here are my suggestions for 12 Books of Christmas. There’s sure to be one you’ll enjoy, so grab it for your Kindle. Even better, you could buy it as a gift for your nearest and dearest, and squirrel it away on Christmas Day to read yourself.

#1. Blood Libel by Chuck Loyola. This noirish political thriller (very Blade Runner in feel, although set in 1990s Britain) was my Thriller of the Month in October. Check out my review on Goodreads.

#2. The Bride’s Trail by AA Abbott. It’s my best crime thriller yet! Away with false modesty! Predecessors After The Interview and Up In Smoke are great reads too.

#3. The Cost of Living by David Moody. His publisher, Infected Books, reckons 2016 is the Year of the Zombie. Fans of the undead can’t go wrong with this suspense-filled novella.

#4. Park Life by Katharine D’Souza is a sophisticated, page-turning novel and the book every woman over the age of 40 should read. Two unlikely neighbours find common ground and an answer to their problems.

#5. The Siege of Wrenstock Gardens by Suzanna Stanbury. Wildly over the top South Bristol slapstick comedy. If you know any Bristolians, buy them this! Alreet, my luvverrr.

#6. Shades of Green by Andy Lake. The Green Earth Movement sounds kind, caring and cuddly, doesn’t it? Turns out it has a very sinister agenda indeed in Mr Lake’s compelling political thriller. Andy Lake has worked for the Cabinet Office and understands political machinations perfectly.

#7. Clovenhoof by Heide Goody and Iain Grant. The first in a series of books about saints and devils marauding across the modern world. Terry Pratchett fans should love them. Simon Fairbanks reviews the latest, Hellzapoppin, here.

#8. A Letter From Oggi edited by Richard Jaffa. Olga Franklin was a woman in a man’s world, working as a journalist in the mid-20th century. Her letters to her sister are witty, warm, dark, sweet and the most entertaining slice of history you could possibly read.

#9. No Other Darkness by Sarah Hilary. I had the pleasure of sharing the stage with this talented British writer at an event at Foyles this year. Her latest crime thriller is tense and addictive.

#10. The Adulterer’s Daughter by Deenagh Miller. The true story of an appalling childhood. Painter Deenagh Miller clearly survived the agony. Her art, dark and emotional, may draw on the shadows of the past, though.

AND NOW FOR THE LITTLE ONES…

#11. The Wolf from the Ridge by Suzanna Stanbury. The tinies in my family can’t get enough of Suzanna’s children’s books.

#12. The Other Christmas Carol by David Wake. When they’re at that awkward age of just realising Santa doesn’t exist.

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I write full-length crime thrillers for adults and the occasional commissioned children’s story. Check out my crime thrillers tasters, short stories and more here.

 

Thriller of the Month – a Review of “Blood Libel” by Chuck Loyola

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As well as writing crime thrillers, I read avidly. This month, I’m reviewing a little-known but brilliant writer – Chuck Loyola. In 1990, he self-published “Blood Libel”, a political thriller. Although it pre-dates the digital age (the internet doesn’t feature at all, and the huge mobile phones of the time are disparagingly called ‘yuppie bricks’), the themes within the book are bang up to date. Corruption, child abuse and ghetto violence are still with us.

“Blood Libel” introduces us to young black investigative journalist, Howie. ‘City Life’ is a new listings magazine run on a shoestring, but receptive – at least at first – to Howie’s desire to expose the truth about political corruption in the city. The magazine has an uneasy relationship with its public, however, and increasingly, Howie’s finding it difficult to publish the hard-hitting articles he loves to write. Worse, his work has made him enemies – violent, murderous ones. This brilliant thriller oozes suspense as it describes the darkness at the heart of a rapidly regenerating city. Chuck Loyola makes the reader itch to turn the page, with an impressive cliffhanger finish to every chapter.

Howie’s wry wit sparkles throughout the tense narrative. He gently pokes fun at the city’s rebranding. The Media Quarter, Finance Quarter and Retail Quarter should be joined by the Ghetto Quarter and Bohemian Quarter, he decides. Howie is even more scornful of the men holding the levers of power in the city, until he finds himself fearing for his life.

I loved the slightly paranoid, noir edge to Blade Runner, and Chuck Loyola captures that feeling perfectly. Rather than a future city, though, this is Britain in 1990. While the city is never named, my guess is that it’s Birmingham. Hammered by the recession of the early 80s, it set about reinventing itself to become the shiny, exciting urban centre we see today. Certainly, it’s Handsworth and Moseley that I see when Loyola writes about the Ghetto Quarter and the Bohemian Quarter. Plus ça change?

I’m delighted it’s been republished by Andy Conway of the respected New St Authors group. His foreword is a great read too, describing how he tracked Chuck down. With luck, Andy will persuade Chuck to write a sequel or two, as writing of this calibre deserves a wide audience. “Blood Libel” is simply the perfect thriller – incredibly well-written and full of suspense.

Take a look for yourself here.

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I write crime thrillers set in British cities. Both London and Birmingham feature in latest thriller The Bride’s Trail, with stunning action scenes in Birmingham’s old Jewellery Quarter.