Christmas Greetings!

Christmas is almost here and I'd like to wish each and every reader of this blog a thoroughly enjoyable holiday season - and plenty of good reading to get you through the long winter nights if you're in this part of the world. At least there's no shortage of excellent books to devour...

It's with some astonishment that I find I'm heading towards 3000 posts on this blog - a landmark I should pass in the first half of next year, all being well. Nearly 2.1 million views (wow!) and almost 13,000 comments in that time (not counting those weird spam comments that crop up from time to time and are even more numerous; I delete them constantly and keep wondering what on earth is the point of them.)

Thanks to this blog, I've got to know, sometimes in person (eventually), a great many delightful people. This has been hugely rewarding. What's more, your positive and well-informed reactions to my musings have been a great morale-booster in both difficult times and good times. Speaking of the latter, there's no doubt whatsoever that my life as a crime writer has become even more enjoyable since I started this blog and I'm sure there's a connection.

Anyway, thank you so much for your continued interest. I take nothing for granted about good health and good fortune, but my aim is to keep posting here three times a week (give or take) throughout 2020. There are already plenty of Forgotten Books lined up! And I hope to say more about the art and craft of crime writing next year, spurred on by the anticipated publication in summer of Howdunit.

Anyway, that's for the future. Meanwhile, have a wonderful time!