Monday 21 March 2011

The first review of The Hanging Wood


You can probably imagine that, for any writer, the initial reaction to a new novel is awaited eagerly but with some trepidation. It is difficult to judge one’s own work, and the opinions of friends (and sometimes even agents and editors) aren’t necessarily a guide to wider reaction among the leading critics.

So I am thrilled that The Hanging Wood has started life, ahead of publication, with a starred review in the Library Journal and of course I can’t resist quoting it in full:

'When 14-year-old Callum Hinds goes missing in England’s Lake District, everyone suspects his uncle, who, unable to stand the pressure, commits suicide. Twenty years later Callum’s sister raises doubts about her uncle’s guilt, but no one listens. Then she falls into a grain silo and suffocates. DCI Hanna Scarlett, head of Cumbria’s Cold Case Review Team, begins an investigation that leads to more deaths and an unexpected ending. Edwards’s fifth series title (after The Serpent Pool) builds suspense while capturing its characters’ rage, anguish, and resentment that complicate the investigation and intensify the danger for all involved. VERDICT With an unforgettable ending, this outstanding cold case will attract Lynda La Plante and Mo Hayder fans.'

And after that bit of trumpet-blowing, I'll do a post tomorrow about two other writers!

18 comments:

Fiona said...

Congratulations Martin - you have every right to feel pleased (and relieved!) and to blow your own trumpet To paraphrase WS Gilbert: if a man can't blow his own trumpet on his own blog, whose blog can he blow it on?! I'm really looking forward to receiving the book as soon as it's published.

Anonymous said...

Martin - Well done and thanks for sharing! I am very very eager to get my own copy, and as soon as it's out - I will!

The Merry said...

With a review like that, I'm certainly looking forward to getting my hands on the book itself :)

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Congratulations on the starred LJ review! That's wonderful news, Martin. :)

Deb said...

Oh, you deserve to be allowed to blow your own trumpet once in a while! Looking forward to reading this book--I love stories where crimes in the past have repercussions in the present--and have already put it on my TBR list.

Margaret @ BooksPlease said...

Looks very good - can't wait to get a copy!

Alistair Macfarlane said...

Mo Hayder fans??? Getting a little more grusome, Martin?? I love her books personally but they're not for everyone. Anything coming up in April?
I'll be in Kendal two weeks from today!

Paul Beech said...

Hi Martin – A review to whet the appetite for sure! But no mention of Daniel Kind; I hope he hasn’t been relegated to minor player status. Hannah Scarlett is a great creation, a really appealing, gutsy character, but I like Daniel too, and the developing relationship between them is an important strand in the series, one of the things contributing to its particular flavour and no doubt its popularity.

Just wondering, also, when ‘The Hanging Wood’ will be out in the UK and whether you’ll be doing any promotional gigs around Cheshire – Lymm Festival, perhaps? I’d love to catch up with you and bag a signed copy!

Regards, Paul

Martin Edwards said...

Thanks, everyone!
Alistair, it has to be said I don't resemble the glamorous Mo either appearance-wise or, in some ways, as a writer, but there you go! Drop me an email in a week or so and we'll see if we can coincide when you are here.
Paul, Daniel does indeed play quite a big part in the story! The UK edition is out in July, around Festival time!!! And have you thought of going to Crimefest?

Dorte H said...

I´d pick a Lake District novel over Lynda la Plante any time! And I am sure the number of readers who are waiting for the next Martin Edwards novel is growing all the time.

Alistair Macfarlane said...

I was also curious about the release date and went on Amazon UK. Looks like some people are selling publishers copies.
http://amzn.to/gZZ1S6

Fiona said...

Martin, you said to Paul 'The UK edition is out in July'. But Amazon have the pb edition as being published in April....have they got it wrong, or is the pb really coming out before the hb? That's unusual, surely?

I certainly hope it will land on my doorstep in a couple of weeks: it's a late birthday present to myself!

Martin Edwards said...

Fiona, Alistair is right, I think. The UK book is available in July. Any earlier book must be the US version. I'm not sure why people are selling the latter in the UK as this is not, I think, supposed to happen for complicated reasons to do with the rights.

Martin Edwards said...

Dorte, you are very kind!

Alistair Macfarlane said...

Martin, is it already out in the U.S?
I can order a copy from Amazon.com which seems to be the real thing, but I wouldn't want to if it means you get nothing for it. The release date says April 5th but they do have quite a few copies available.
Although I would like to have it for the plane trip!!

Martin Edwards said...

Hi Alistair. I do not think it has been officially published in the US as yet, but nowadays it seems that books become available earlier than in the past, and sometimes in ways that seem rather mysterious to the author!

Alistair Macfarlane said...

Understood. I did buy it and it arrived today which was a shock.
Taking it with me to The Lakes!!!
Will send a message when I'm over.

Purple Queen Fairy said...

http://purplequeenfairyreads.blogspot.com/2011/02/hanging-wood-by-martin-edwards.html