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James Lee Burke, Light of the World is best Western novel
James Lee Burke’s novels have become more expansive of late, conjuring up ever more evil opponents and becoming ever more reminiscent of the battles of the Old West. It’s not surprising then that Light of
Louise Penny mystery sells
Louise Penny’s latest Chief Inspector Armand Gamache novel has had a terrific take up with a No 1 slot on the New York Times bestseller list. The Scorpion Press edition with the impressive marbling
Short Personal Tribute to Margaret Yorke
Margaret Yorke died in November 2012 aged 88. I met her at several crime writer events some twenty years ago and we kept in touch for the occasional project. She was a keen advocate
Is Spy Fiction back?
Agents of Treachery: Spy Stories edited by Otto Penzler, Corvus 2010 Since the mid 1990s espionage or spy fiction has been a thin market. The sinews of the Cold War and the games of misinformation
Lee Child Wins the Diamond Dagger
For the legions of fans that look forward to the annual ‘Jack Reacher fix’ it will come as no surprise that Lee Child is to honoured with the Crime Writers Association life time achievement
For his 65th birthday Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell releases new video
Since the Swede Henning Mankell won the CWA Gold Dagger for Sidetracked some 12 years ago he has become a celebrated crime and thriller with a British adaptation of the successful Wallander books and
Dick Francis featured on ‘Great Lives’ radio broadcast
For Dick Francis fans a nice early Christmas treat with the late author featured on the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘Great Lives’. Broadcast on 4 December the half hour programme hosted by The Times
Retreat to Goodisville – Philly tribute bus trip
For those that are fans of the late David Goodis, some fans have organised a special event taking place in January, 2013 at Philly. It all began as a grave side tribute but interest has
Rankin on Rebus – extended interview
Ian Rankin’s novels featuring the wry, damaged detective John Rebus have been with us since Knots and Crosses appeared in 1987. A new extended interview by Mark Lawson asks who is Rebus after 25
Edna O’Brien – perceptive Irish Writer and influence on Modern Crime
I once met Edna O’Brien. It was a fine day at a signing in the Kensington High Street, not far from her London home. I remember her hair pushed up, the shining eyes and
Scorpion Press Blog Posts
- Crime Writers as hoarders of Knowledge
When I joined the Crime Writers’ Association and attended social functions I perceived that many writers led interesting lives as people other than writers. Aside from the obvious fact that crime writers convey in there …
- Robert Richardson – tribute to the writer and exponent of crime
It was during the mid eighties – the period when the newspaper headlines were full of stories of Britain on strike – that broadsheet journalist Robert Richardson chanced upon writing his first detective novel. It …
- The Collectibility of Leather Rebinds or collecting rare books
The Collectibilty of Leather Rebinds
In Centuries past libraries in great houses were lined with leather bound volumes. They provided accessibility to knowledge, exuded learning and gave satisfaction to the owner – who had given time … - McDermid’s ‘Distant Echo’ dramatised
Val McDermid’s first DC Karen Pirie novel is to be dramatised in a new ITV drama series. Outlander star Lauren Lyle will play the lead character – the young fearless Scottish detective – to be …
- Reginald Hill (1936 – 2012) Prolific literary crime writer
Reginald Hill, prolific British author best known for his 24 idiosyncratic, but highly elegant crime novels featuring the Yorkshire police detectives Andrew Dalziel and Peter Pascoe, is perhaps one of the most admired and influential …
- George Blake: Epitaph for a Spy
George Blake (1922 – 2020) was one of the most enigmatic of the unmasked spies. Could he have been an unlikely perfect spy with a conscience; a man of principle or a blatant schemer? Accounts …
- R Wilson, A Small Death in Lisbon – spy thriller – rebinding
Robert Wilson, A Small Death in Lisbon (1999); winner of the CWA Gold Dagger. 1/12 signed limited of twelve copies rebound in leather with handmade marble sides; signed on limitation page with a new introduction …
- Spy Fiction Collectables
The first book in the Scorpion Press series of Signed Leather bound editions was a spy thriller – The Year of the Scorpion by Michael Hartland. Nine books with a war-time or Cold War espionage …
- 20th Century Classic 1/1 Leather French Lieutenant … by John Fowles
To mark 50th years since the original publication of John Fowles’ The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1969) this is a rebinding run of 12 lettered copies with additional material and the facsimile autographs of Fowles and …
- G MacDonald Fraser, Flashman Omnibus leather rebinding
George Macdonald Fraser created one of the great English fictional characters with Flashy or Harry Flashman. This is the original first edition issued by Barrie & Jenkins entitled Flashman’s First Omnibus (1979). Forty years on …
- Early Inspector Morse rebinding – Colin Dexter
Colin Dexter, The Riddle of The Third Mile, 1st edition Macmillan 1983. Rebound with five raised bands with maroon leather with an Author Profile approved by the Dexter family. Twelve deluxe lettered copies only.
This project … - Classic Peter Lovesey Gold Dagger book fine binding
Peter Lovesey, The False Inspector Dew 1st London ed., 1982
A sumptuous leather rebinding with five raised bands with marble sides, additional page approved and signed by the author.
1/12 deluxe issued by the Scorpion Press.
A …