AustCrimeFiction is currently being redeveloped. Book entries, reviews and updates are still being transferred from the old site - apologies for the delay in restoring, it will be finished as quickly as possible.
Best wishes to all for the upcoming festive season however you celebrate (or don't). This year our day will be low key as usual. Board games and no fuss food with friends, all leading up to a chocolate fountain. Which is our sort of Christmas Tree!
In the last few days news of the death of Jean Bedford, after a long illness, has been announced. As a joint founder of Newtown Review of Books, many people will have read her work, or been assisted by her editing skills, over the life of that site, as well as during her time as a much admired author, teacher, lecturer and editor. A wonderful and illuminating tribute has now been posted:
Starting out as I hopefully now mean to go on, a quick mention of my current read - Quintus Huntley: Botany by Royce Leville
When his sole poetry collection is found in the case of a gruesomely murdered violinist, the police think Huntley did it. But he's innocent, and the best way to prove it is to find the killer himself.
In the last newsletter I mentioned that predictability is overrated. I think this time around I should note that MtTBR induced panic is, on the other hand, misunderstood, and underestimated. I have a ridiculously bad case of it. Doesn't seem to matter HOW many books I get through in a month, there are always more - just sitting there with there looking all tempting and fascinating, and I don't know how I'm supposed to keep up. It's probably not normal but I do fantasise about breaking a leg.. at least then I could claim infirmity and stay in one place, surrounded by books, coffee, dogs, cats and the occasional gin. Nobody else around here would be thrilled but I'd be beyond relieved.
