dyslexzak's reviews
246 reviews

This book is a simple premise. It opens with a change in the small town that boils and bubbles, building tension to a satisfying climax near the end.

Some interesting developments setting up a change of status quo for the future, but the volume itself was a little lacking in anything interesting beyond the visuals of a few good fights.
Felt like an inbetween, bridging volume.

This was fast paced and interesting. Well put together and easy to follow.

Really enjoyed this volume. What a cliffhanger at the end. Can't wait to pick up the story.

Some really sweet moments in this issue.

Written as a series of collected essays. As ever with these things, there were some that were stronger than others, but overall an interesting read with some interesting topics made digestible by looking at them through the lens of A Song of Ice and Fire.

I picked up this book being a fan of the series, in particular 100 Must Read Books for Men, but was disappointed.

I thought Crime Novels would be a variety of subgenres within the umbrella of crime. Expected capers, heists, police procedurals, classic mysteries, and thrillers.
I quickly discovered it would be detective stories only. Okay, my mistake. That is a definition of Crime Fiction. Perhaps it would be clearer if titled Detective Novels but oh well.
Then continuing to read, with adjusted expectations, I discover 5-6 (I haven’t counted) stories that are following criminals and even a suspense thriller I wouldn’t have even included in my initial, more broad definition of the genre.

I’m left wondering what this was trying to be. If it was using the definition of Crime Fiction exclusively referring to detective stories, then what are the examples stories not following investigations and mysteries? And if they were aiming at the more broadly applicable definition, then it is extremely waited towards detective fiction.

Not even to mention the mini essays about each book. They vary wildly between focusing almost exclusively on the writer’s life (giving you hardly anything to interest about the book they’re recommending), to spoiling the endings of at least a few of these novels.

My advice, if you’re going to read something from this Bloomsbury Reading Guides series, make sure it’s something Stephen E. Andrew’s is attached to.


Having said all that, there are 3-5 intriguing stories mentioned in here that I had not come across before.

A good section of this volume is an extended fight scene, but so much is going on in the subtext. Then there are some hints and threads leading to what's coming next.

I found this book after being disappointed by How to Write a Mystery by the Mystery Writers of America.

This is everything that wasn’t. Real, practical advice for writers with crime fiction as a focus. Exactly what it says on the tin.

If you’re a writer of any genre and of any level, I think there’s something for you in this book. This has good advice for beginners, but interestingly, that’s not all that’s in there.
There are some great musings on the writing life that will feel familiar to any writer.

A really strong volume with a great teaser for what's to come. Can't wait to find out what happens next.