LOVESEY’S NEW SHORTS
Yes, here are my new shorts for 2022 – a collection of short stories published in the in the US by Soho Press on February 1 and in the UK by Sphere on February 3, and aren’t they a fine pair? The pre-publication reviews are enthusiastic enough to make me slip them on and turn cartwheels of joy. I’m straining the metaphor here, but you get the idea.
‘The 16 dazzling selections in this inviting collection from MWA Grand Master Lovesey (the Peter Diamond series) range from his first published story, “The Bathroom” (1973), to three new ones . . . Throughout, Lovesey delivers crisp dialogue, effortless narration, appealing characters, ingenious plots and effervescent whimsy . . . This is a thoroughly entertaining compendium of the best of the best by one of the best.’ Publishers Weekly Starred Review
‘Eighteen stories, 15 of them reprints from 1973-2020, from the prolific British writer equally distinguished by his inventiveness and his polished craftsmanship ... A celebratory display of the many things an accomplished veteran can do with the short mystery.’ Kirkus Reviews
Lovesey, whose fans regard him as a one-man Golden Age of Detective Fiction, is with us again, bearing 16 short stories plus a history lesson plus a bouncy poem. The qualities that make his work special are all on display here. Prankishness almost overwhelms “Agony Column” which parodies an old-time advice column. At the last moment, Lovesey lets us in on the joke. The scorpion-tail sting, almost a Lovesey patented device, is featured in the title story, which shows how far a Godly monk might go to maintain his Godly life. “Ghosted” displays the folly of an author who writes gushy romances but might be familiar with another, deadlier genre. And there’s Lovesey’s fluent, rhythmic prose – “villas mostly pink or ochre, nicely spaced” – that pulls one along like a beguiling undercurrent. An essay on the notorious and sadly comical bathtub murders is followed by a gem of light verse. A woman recalls being enraptured by a gent with piercing eyes and a cultured voice leading up to the giveaway: “above all that a deerstalker hat.” (Don Crinklaw) Booklist
“Reader I Buried Them begs the question: with Peter Lovesey in the world, why does anyone else bother writing mysteries at all? His fiction, both long and short, is charming, the narrative always so smooth it seems effortless, and the plots clever enough to keep even the most suspicious reader guessing (and thrilled) all the way to the delicious end. And these stories – all 16 of them – are some of his very best.” (Ben Boulden) Mystery Scene magazine
AWARD FOR ‘DIAMOND AND THE EYE’
The latest Peter Diamond novel, read by James Langton, has won the AudioFile Earphones Award, given to ‘truly exceptional titles that excel in narrative voice and style, characterisation, suitability to audio, and enhancement of the text.’
‘This audiobook is, on one hand, a classic British procedural from the prolific Peter Lovesey and, on the other hand, a private-eye story reminiscent of American hard-boiled novels. Accomplished narrator James Langton manages the juxtaposition of two voices, one the steadfast, stolid, rather curmudgeonly voice of C.I.D. Superintendent Peter Diamond; the other, the American, tough-guy voice of Sam Spade wannabe Johnny Getz. Other characters are also portrayed distinctly and credibly, including the posh antique store owner, the scrappy female journalist, the licentious Lady Bede, and many others who make this mystery colorful, humorous at times and pleasantly baffling.’ Published by Recorded Books, 2021
Meanwhile, in book form, Diamond and the Eye is another winner with the critics:
‘Stone the crows! It’s 30 years since Peter Diamond made his debut in the award-winning The Last Detective (1991). Now a detective superintendent – still luxuriating in a lovely Bath – his 20th investigation forces him into a reluctant collaboration with Johnny Getz, a private eye whose office is above a hairdressers called Shear Amazing ... As this suggests, Peter Lovesey writes feelgood crime, yet he never lets the comedy vitiate the mystery.’ Mark Sanderson, The Times.
‘In Diamond and the Eye, the latest entry of Peter Lovesey’s procedural series set in Bath, England, chief investigating officer Peter Diamond gets drawn into one of the toughest cases of his career . . . Mr Lovesey excels at mixing character-drawn humor with legitimate suspense.’ Tom Nolan, the Wall Street Journal
‘This latest one has got everything – the shady world of art-dealing, drive-by shootings, aristocracy, murder, the beautiful backdrop of Bath, of course, and Diamond meets his match in this one, because there’s a private investigator involved as well . . . Lots of laugh-out-loud moments. I found myself in stitches reading some of the situations.’ Chris Baxter, Chris Baxter’s Late Show, BBC Radio
Glory be! British crime novelist Lovesey is back, bringing along his beloved series hero, the grumpy, darkly funny and – beneath it all – strictly business Peter Diamond, Detective Inspector with the Bath Constabulary . . . It’s all here, mystery, sparky writing and a host of characters who come alive on the page, moving through a tricky plot that we know is playing us for suckers.’ Don Crinklaw, Booklist starred review
‘Diamond and the Eye is an almost non-stop giggle as well as a classic police detection episode . . . It’s the perfect prescription for those who’ve been taking their lives (or their crime fiction reading) too seriously . . . Through the non-stop campy humor runs a solid and clever little mystery with some great red herrings and a fine twist before solution.’ Beth Kanell, New York Journal of Books
‘Longtime PI buffs will take a shine to the dodgy Getz’s wannabe ambitions, and procedural buffs should enjoy how Diamond and company work the case. It’s the mutual aggravation society of the two mismatched sleuths, however, that really has me itching for a rematch.’ Kevin Burton Smith, Mystery Scene magazine
‘Diamond and the Eye is the twentieth book featuring Peter Diamond, but it works perfectly as a stand-alone novel . . . The plot is fascinating, with subtle red herrings that keep the reader guessing until the end . . . an absorbing read, a page-turner, which I thoroughly recommend.’ Carol Westron, Mystery People
‘It’s one thing to be prolific. To be prolific and innovative is quite another. Yet Peter Lovesey, more than fifty years after he burst on to the crime writing scene, continues to try out new ideas . . . This is a less serious mystery than the general run of the Diamond series, but I suspect that during the pandemic Peter was in the mood for light relief and I’m sure his many fans will feel likewise and welcome this good-natured jeu d’esprit.’ Martin Edwards, Do You Write Under Your Own Name?
SO WHAT’S NEXT?
I wish I could tell you that the next Peter Diamond novel is about to hit the shelves. It’s written and delivered to my literary agents, but that’s only the first step towards publication. I must be patient – always a problem for me – and wait for their reaction and the response of my publishers.
Meanwhile, the winner of the Peter Lovesey First Crime Novel Contest, Eli Cranor’s Don’t Know Tough, will be published in the US by Soho on March 8th. I was hugely impressed by this gripping novel about the challenges faced by a football coach in Arkansas and I’ll be appearing with Eli in an online conversation organised by the Mysterious Bookshop, New York, at 4 pm EST on Tuesday, March 15th.
I’ll be sure to let you know when the new Peter Diamond novel is scheduled for publication, and you can find all of my previous books on my website peterlovesey.com
Thanks, as ever, for reading
Peter