CRIMEFEST, one of Europe’s leading crime fiction conventions, has announced the winners of its annual awards. Now in their 16th year, the awards honour the best crime books released in the UK last year. So without more ado, here we go…

The winner of the highly anticipated Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award, and £1,000 prize monies, is Stacy Willingham for A Flicker in the Dark published by HarperCollins.  A psychological serial killer thriller with a shocking twist, A Flicker in the Dark was an instant New York Times bestseller and Sunday Times Thriller of the Year and is set to be adapted into a major TV series.   Dame Mary Perkins, co-founder of Specsavers who sponsors the award, said: “We’re thrilled to support the debut author prize. As one of the judges, I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the shortlisted titles. Stacy Willingham’s debut, however, was a book I simply couldn’t put down until I had finished it.”

The eDunnit Award for the best e-book goes to Sara Gran for The Book of the Most Precious Substance, published by Faber & Faber. The absorbing occult thriller combining intrigue, magic and antiquarian bookselling was praised as “deeply atmospheric” by The Guardian.

Winner of the H.R.F Keating Award for best biographical or critical book on crime fiction is The Life of Crime: Detecting the History of Mysteries and their Creators by Martin Edwards, published by Collins Crime Club. Edward’s opus on the genre, described by the New York Times as a “impressive feat,” recently won a 2023 Edgar Award.

The Last Laugh Award goes posthumously to Christopher Fowler for Bryant & May’s Peculiar London published by Doubleday. The author died aged 69 in March this year, having being diagnosed with cancer three years ago. His curious world of the nation’s oldest serving detectives, has been described as “deliriously eccentric” in the Financial Times, and “devilishly clever” by Val McDermid.

Best Crime Novel for Children, aged 8-12, goes to Sharna Jackson for The Good Turn published by Puffin. With themes of social activism, the spooky mystery from the former Waterstones Children’s Book Prize Category Winner revolves around an internet-loving girl determined to start her own scout troop.

Best Crime Novel for Young Adults, aged 12-16, is awarded to Holly Jackson for Five Survive published by Electric Monkey. A gripping cat-and-mouse thriller, it was The Guardian Best Children’s Book of 2022. 

The Thalia Proctor Memorial Award for Best Adapted TV Crime Drama goes to Slow Horses (seasons 1 & 2), based on the books by Mick Herron. Produced by See-Saw, shown on Apple TV+, the drama, which follows a dysfunctional and disgraced team of MI5 agents, stars Gary Oldman. The award is named in honour of Thalia, a CrimeFest team member and a much-loved figure in the world of crime fiction, and is decided by public vote.

Adrian Muller, Co-host of CRIMEFEST, said: “We are proud to be one of the few genre awards that celebrate e-books, humour, children, and Young Adult novels. Our inclusive awards reflect the values of our convention as accessible and open to all. These awards are a true celebration of the crime genre, which continues to entertain and enlighten so many readers of all ages. We would like to thank Specsavers for their on-going support in celebrating new talent.”

Hosted in Bristol, CrimeFest is one of the biggest crime fiction events in Europe, and one of the most popular dates in the international crime fiction calendar, with circa 60 panel events and 150 authors over four days. Featured Guests at the convention this May are Mark Billingham and Elly Griffiths.  Leading British crime fiction reviewers and reviewers of fiction for children and young adults, alongside the members of the School Library Association (SLA) form the CrimeFest judging panels.

CrimeFest was created following the hugely successful one-off visit to Bristol in 2006 of the American Left Coast Crime convention. It was established in 2008. It follows the egalitarian format of most US conventions, making it open to fans, readers, and commercially published authors.

All category winners will receive a Bristol Blue Glass commemorative award.

The sun shone on a group of 10 people who had collected on the canal towpath to wait for The Piano Boat to pull alongside.

Within minutes of the stated time, a stately narrowboat silently hoved into view. Its crew of two, the owners Masayuki Tayama and Rhiana Henderson, had dressed appropriately for an afternoon on the canal. We were welcomed aboard and as the sun glinted off the solar panels that powered the aptly named vessel ‘The Rachmaninov’, we set off, noiselessly, on our cruise through the Colne Valley Park

If like me you enjoy period drama, you will be aware of the music salons of former times, where a small group of people gather in wood panelled rooms to listen to someone seated at a piano performing for a select audience.

You may also be aware of other such scenes, where polite society sit at small tables nibbling on delicious cakes and sandwiches whilst sipping tea or perhaps a glass or two of champagne.  Reader, that was exactly what this afternoon had planned for us.

Seated at tables for two, we were offered a welcome drink of tea, coffee or Prosecco, and whilst I cannot comment on the quality of the tea or coffee, I can certainly report that the Prosecco was chilled to perfection. The tables were spaced enough to allow quiet conversation, but also to facilitate conversation with fellow passengers who quickly became, albeit temporary, friends. In the background, loud enough to be enjoyable but not so loud as to stifle conversation, we were treated to a recording of Masayuki playing his beloved Rachmaninov.

The Piano Boat moored up at the side of the canal and the Steinway piano was rolled into the middle of the boat, and then Masayuki changed into his concert suit and explained about the musical programme. Listening to beautiful classical music in a live concert is good, but listening to it when seated mere feet away, is a whole other experience.

Be in no doubt, what you are going to hear, if you decide to follow in our footsteps, is of the finest quality as Masayuki has sold out some seriously impressive concert venues.

Our own private piano recital by this top class musician was over all too quickly, but once the Steinway had been rolled back to its original position it was time for us to cast off to explore further into the Colne Valley Park.

Obviously, sitting listening to classical music in such a beautiful setting, is likely to build an appetite, but we were in safe hands as the classic afternoon tea tasted every bit as good as it looked. No wonder, as it had all been freshly made by Rhiana Henderson, who trained at Pru Leith’s Cookery School. Delicious finger sandwiches, sumptuous scones with cream and jam and delicately flavoured cakes demanded our attention. In the interest of this review, I sampled each and every item.

Rhiana visited each table offering more tea, coffee, and yes, even Prosecco, and then some of us moved to the deck to admire Masayuki steer The Piano Boat through the locks and feel the breeze on our faces.

Four hours later, we returned to our mooring to disembark.

A magical Sunday afternoon had flown by and feeling a little full, and a little merry we made our way back to reality.

This would make the perfect gift for the person who has everything, or is difficult to buy for. My wife and I, however, we will need no excuse to take to the river again to hear such playing and tasting the ultimate afternoon tea.

£130.00 per person cruising, piano recital and afternoon tea.

https://www.thepianoboat.com/afternoon-tea-cruises

Great news came early last week: hip hip hooray –  the dancers from Aimee Green’s dance group had a fantastically successful day in Glasgow: winner, runner-up and 3 finalists. Marion told Frost Magazine that they are the CCA’s pride and joy.

Multiply were well into the menus during the week, creating wonderful aromas with  sweet potato and coconut curry. Several must have had a  scrumptious, nutritional meal that evening.

                               
Above you can see the results of the Cultural Creations group, who made Japanese knot bags, Frost Magazine thinks these are snazzy, and Marion is totally in awe.

Marion, Margaret adds, is looking pretty snazzy herself, with her newly ‘done’ nails, which practically match her keyboard, not to mention Bob’s Red Shoes. What a twosome. Whatever will they get up to next? Between us, I have to tell you that Marion reminded me, extremely sternly, that: ‘These nails do not do dishes.‘ No point in telling us, Marion. Direct your instructions to Bob.

It seems to have been a manic week with one thing and another for Marion, what with COVID Spring jabs, Dudley at the groomers, meetings, bookings, making hampers.  Not to mention submitting the order for the Friday coffee morning: pies, quiches, sausage rolls, cakes, scones with cream and plenty of nibbles. Marion explained ‘We all look forward to our Friday laugh -a- long.’ Having been to a couple, I can quite understand.

Richard

Richard, the CCA’s alluring surveyor, along with Simon, the Council’s Building Officer called in to have a look at the refurb progress. Simon collated a list of items still to be addressed and sent it to the appropriate personnel to deal with. The light at the end of the tunnel is flickering, and the team’s morale is high.  They now have dates for various contractors to do specific jobs but they know things can change so the team is philosophical and take it as it comes. ‘We have plenty to keep us busy no matter what happens elsewhere,‘ is the rallying cry. ‘Positivity is the name of the game and that’s what keeps us going. The Brady bunch are made of stern stuff,’ says Marion. Frost Magazine says, ‘Thank heavens for the community spirit which roars within the team, and the community. Bravo everyone.’ 

Andy popped in to collect the toiletries so kindly donated for the Seafarers, and the Forever Young ladies were in for Bingo and delicious homemade cake. A favourite time for Marion, and guess who else gets spoilt rotten, yep, it’s him with the red shoes, a special slice always seems to come his way.

The Food Hamper was won by one of the CCA’s lovely ladies, Evelyn, a worthy winner, who has promised to bring the basket back to be replenished.

So, that’s the week put to to bed, but in case we relax (!) still more happening over the weekend: the Councillors’ monthly meeting, dancing, Wargamers and last but not least the fabulous Redeemed Christian Church of Christ.

Before this catch up ends, Marion wanted to remind everyone to wish Danni good luck in the finals this week end at the “National Childrens Activities Awards” for most loved Activities Leader in the North. ‘No matter what the outcome, Danni will always be our winner.’ says Marion, a thought supported by everyone, including Frost Magazine.

Information: Columbia Community Association  Columbia uk Community Forum

Memories of Brady Square

Imagine, if you will, sitting in a pub with a couple of blokes, a bottle of wine or two being shared between you, time is not an issue and out tumble the fragments of memory. You know the sort: ‘Hell’s bells, do you remember the time…?’ ‘Well, what about that bloke, what’s his name, the one who …?’ ‘Oh, come on, monster he might have been, but he changed things…’ ‘Yes, but  was it for the better…?’

On you all go, laughing, listening, butting in. Pub talk, friends at play, names dropped, an Insiders’ Club.

Well, this Insiders’ Club is called  MY BACK PAGES and it is into the last fifty years of publishing that we  enter, and become fascinated as we follow Charkin’s career path and sharp eye on things as they were.  By heavens, he was over everything like a rash navigating the publishing world as it changed profoundly from a Gentleman’s Club into a corporate entity, with a pretty tough bottom line and on, into the digital age.

We meet Maxwell, indeed we do. Oh, and what about Madona, perhaps the first example of the hugely successful Celebrity publishing? What about the bad behaviour in the roaring 80s…? Oh yes, as a new writer I came in towards the end of that, but Lord above it was fun for a mother of four, totally out of my depth and smelling faintly of fish fingers.  Hey, what about Harry Potter? Yep, you’ll find it in the Insiders’ Club of MY BACK PAGES. Then there’s Macmillan India: an Imperial Legacy. Then there’s … Enough, I’m just scratching the surface, you need to read it.

So, back to the original question: does it work? Undoubtedly. I loved it and clearly so does the Frost Magazine team, as it has disappeared. I had thought its subject matter might be a bit stuffy and initially approached it from the right flank without making eye contact. How absurd when it’s Charkin’s personal eye view of the social, technological, commercial and geographical developments of the publishing industry. The man’s a force of nature, a character,  someone who has made a significant contribution to the profession over the last fifty years, and knows his onions.

So grab a coffee, or a glass of wine, sit down and join the Insiders’ Club whether you be a reader, librarian, publishers, literary agent… Well you get the picture, just get in there,  and enjoy – hugely.

MY BACK PAGES by Richard Charkin with Tom Campbell. Published by Marble Hill London. Available here