Broken Oaths marks the return of Patricia Marques’s Inspector Reis series. This is the third novel in the series that mixes detective and speculative fiction with fascinating results. Marques has created a world in which a minority of the population are ‘gifted’. They possess powers of telepathy and telekinesis, and are generally distrusted and discriminated against by the rest of society. Inspector Reis is in a unique position, as a policewoman who is also gifted. In the first two novels Reis, and her professional partner Aleks Voronov, investigated some fiendishly complicated cases. In Broke ..read more

I never thought I’d win. I didn’t dare to think about it all from the moment I got the news that Love Me Fierce in Danger: The Life of James Ellroy had been nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Biographical/Critical Book. However, when I took my seat in the banquet room at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, it suddenly occurred to me that I might win, in fact, that I would win, and I’d better prepare a few words. The Marriott is a beautiful venue with world-famous Schindler Lifts (or perhaps I should say elevators). In the lobby, you input your intended floor into a keypad. You are then directed to ..read more

In the latest episode of Ellroy Reads I look at Eric Knight’s You Play The Black And The Red Comes Up. I discuss the influence of the novel on the hardboiled genre and Ellroy in particular. Oh, and I have some news. Love Me Fierce in Danger: The Life of James Ellroy won the Edgar Award for Best Critical/Biographical. I’ll be posting more about the ceremony in the coming days. Right now, I am just recovering from the jetlag and the most extraordinary few days of my life. Enjoy the video, and please comment, share, subscribe etc ..read more

In the latest episode of Ellroy Reads I look at Dashiell Hammett’s Red Harvest, which is one of the single biggest influences on James Ellroy’s writing career. I also share a story of how Hammett’s biographer played a role in me landing the gig as Ellroy’s biographer. This is the last episode of Ellroy Reads I’ll film before I fly out to New York City this week, where Love Me Fierce in Danger: The Life of James Ellroy is up for Best Critical/Biographical Edgar Award. Wish me luck! Enjoy the video, and please comment, share, subscribe etc ..read more

In the latest episode of Ellroy Reads I discuss Joseph Wambaugh’s seminal novel The Choirboys. I examine how Wambaugh’s police career in the LAPD, and his works of fiction and nonfiction had a profound impact on James Ellroy’s life and writing style. I also share some juicy anecdotes of the time I spent with both Wambaugh and Ellroy. I filmed this episode in beautiful Port Sunlight Village, which is one of my favourite places on earth. Find out more below, and please comment, share, subscribe etc ..read more

Namaste Mart Confidential is the debut novel of Andrew Miller. It tells the story of Adam Minor and Richie Walsh, two buddies who work at Namaste Mart, a hippie grocery store in West Hollywood. By day they contend with the celebrities, hipsters and cult members that make up about half the LA populace. By night and in their spare time, Adam and Richie supplement their income by working as unlicensed private investigators. The two friends are good at what they do, but a new case is going to test their survival skills to the limit. Joan Goldman was an action movie star of the 1980s, who now runs ..read more

In the latest episode of Ellroy Reads I look at John D. MacDonald’s novel about adultery The Deceivers. Ellroy usually names crime novels as his biggest inspirations, but MacDonald’s domestic drama about the social mores of 1950s America had a profound affect on him. Find out why in the video below. Enjoy the episode, and please comment, share, subscribe etc ..read more

The latest episode of Highbrow Lowbrow is a comedy special. My pick is Peter Bogdanovich’s hilarious adaptation of Michael Frayn’s classic stage farce Noises Off. My podcast co-host Dan’s choice is the romantic comedy The Tall Guy. Adapted from a Richard Curtis script, Dan argues this overlooked gem features Curtis’s best ever writing. You can listen to the full episode here. It’s all going wrong in Noises OffWhen Romcoms had bite. Jeff Goldblum and Kim Thomson in The Tall Guy ..read more

In the latest episode of Ellroy Reads I look at James Jones’s classic novel From Here to Eternity. I describe how Ellroy discovered the novel at a very young age, and its influence as literary fiction predates Ellroy’s fascination with hardboiled crime fiction. Watch through to the end for a cameo by a (Demon) Dog! Enjoy the episode, and please comment, share, subscribe etc ..read more

In the latest episode of Ellroy Reads I look at the original bestselling Black Dahlia novel True Confessions by John Gregory Dunne. This novel was hugely influential on James Ellroy, even if some of the influences were by default. For instance, the success of True Confessions dissuaded Ellroy from tackling the Dahlia case in his debut novel. Instead, he waited until he was a more experienced writer and we are all the benificiaries of that decision. Enjoy the episode, and please comment, share, subscribe etc ..read more