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A Great Crime Author – Reginald Hill (1936-2012)
It came to my attention earlier this year that one of the most prolific and respected authors of crime fiction books has passed away. Reginald Hill was one of a select number of erudite
Hot espionage writer Olen Steinhauer
Olen Steinhauer‘s latest espionage novel, The American Spy ends with the line “The question is, are you in or are you out”. This is the question that runs through his character’s psyche, for the
James Lee Burke and American Literature
American mystery writer James Lee Burke has been a favourite Scorpion Press author. For some years a new book would appear by Jim, each with the customary appreciation by an author of note. For
H R F Keating (1926 – 2011) and Scorpion Press
H R F Keating, crime writer, sage on the masters of crime fiction and friend to many of us passed away aged 84 in March 2011. Harry Keating was a great conversationalist on the history
Spenser for Hire – Robert B Parker (1932 – 2010)
When I became a bookseller in the second half of the 1980s one of the biggest names of American crime fiction was Robert B Parker. Following the success of his fourth Spenser novel Promised
The Dizzy Talent of LIONEL DAVIDSON (1922-2009)
I have long been impressed with the crime and adventure thrillers of Lionel Davidson. When we came to publish Original Sins, the Crime Writers’ Association anthology edited Martin Edwards, he asked if I would
Michael Dibdin Remembered
Michael Dibdin was a little underrated by the crime fiction fraternity because he was a bit of an outsider living much of the time abroad. As a person I liked him for his charm,
Richard Ford – Literary Lion of mellow Crime Novels?
Richard Ford (born 1944 in Jackson, Mississippi) is no stranger to British readers, he has visited and done readings since he became known with The Sportswriter (1986) and the sequel, Independence Day (1995). The
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 …