Isn't It About Time...

[Donna Moore]

I recently read (and loved) Declan Burke's THE BIG O - a book I had to wait nearly 4 years (that's FOUR years for heaven's sake Mr Burke!) to read, following the wonderful EIGHT BALL BOOGIE which came out in 2003. It got me thinking about other authors who it's been far, far too long since we heard anything from. Now, while I would love for my favourite authors to bring out 5 or 6 book a year, I don't think I'm being greedy here - these are authors where it's been at least 3 years since we've seen any new books (unless someone can tell me differently) and who I would dearly love to read something from soon:

EDDIE MULLER - one of my favourite authors whose most recent fiction book (he's written non fiction since) came out in January 2003. His books THE DISTANCE and SHADOW BOXER, featuring boxing columnist Billy Nichols and set in 1940s San Francisco are wonderfully atmospheric and beautifully written. And his femmes fatales are just brilliant.

MARK SULLIVAN - apparently there are two Mark Sullivans who write crime - this one is a UK author who wrote the wonderfully funny and touching CORNED BEEF SANDWICH which is about a hold-up gone wrong and features a goth assistant in a run-down bookmakers in Manchester, a halal corned beef sandwich and an aquarium full of oddly named goldfish. It came out in 2002 - five bloody years ago. I've been waiting in anticipation ever since.

JUDITH SMITH-LEVIN - the most recent book in her series featuring police Lieutenant Starletta Duvall came out in 2001 I think. These books are good stories and great fun.

SCOTT PHILLIPS - I really enjoyed THE ICE HARVEST, which was a nice little slice of noir; but I loved his most recent - COTTONWOOD - which came out in early 2004. Set in 1873 in the burgeoning frontier town of Cottonwood, Kansas (where men are men, and so are most of the women), it's like Little Whore House On The Prairie.

So, who are the authors who have written one book and then disappeared off the face of the earth, or who have a series where it's been a couple of years since the last one and you keep checking their websites, or Amazon, hoping against hope that there's something due out?

[Donna Moore]

Felicia - I heard good things about that when it came out - just never got around to reading it.

There you go K - Crimespace is a wonderful place!

[Vincent Holland-Keen]

There was this quite good book I once read called 'Go To Herman Hamburger' or some such title. I can't remember who wrote it, but it came out over a year ago - surely there should have been a follow-up by now?

[Donna Moore]

LOL. . I heard that was a steaming pile of shite Vencent. And don't hold your breath :o)

[norby]

Steve Martini. The last Paul Madriani book came out two years ago. I know, I know, two years isn't that long. But when you're used to most authors releasing a book a year to a year and a half, and there's nothing on the horizon, well, it's too damn long. On the plus side, it's usually worth the wait.

[Donna Moore]

I feel the same as you about 2 year gaps from favourite authors...sometimes even once a year isn't enough :o)