Read an extract from Beautiful Malice

So. Were you glad, deep down? Were you glad to be rid of her? Your perfect sister? Were you secretly glad when she was killed?

The Martin Edwards Column: A Suitable Job for a Crime Writer?

In the fourth of his exclusive monthly columns for Bookdagger, crime novelist and commentator Martin Edwards takes a lookd at authors’ use of real-life characters and crime writers as fictitious detectives, and wonders who of today’s authors might be featured in future mystery fiction.

R.J. Ellory wins the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2010!

Against strong competition, R.J. Ellory’s novel A Simple Act of Violence has won the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2010. To celebrate Bookdagger gives you the chance to read the first chapter, listen to an extract and find out more about the author.

July crime round-up

Modern day Hollywood and Los Angeles, the desolation of Greenland in 1067, an England torn apart by conflict in 1326, London in 1903 and the gulags of Russia. This month’s releases takes the willing reader on sinister travels through time and place.

The Oath podcast

Set amid the turmoil of war, when nobody’s life is safe, comes a gripping new murder mystery from a master of medieval crime.

Listen to Michael Jecks discuss his new fourteenth century thriller, The Oath.

The July Competition [closed]

Win yourself some sinister new crime fiction in the latest of our monthly competitions.

In Praise of Emerald Noir

Faber and Faber Editor Katherine Armstrong shares her passion for Irish and Northern Irish crime fiction, and selects 25 of the best writers of Emerald Noir.

Read an extract from Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith

Tom Rob Smith’s first crime novel Child 44 has been shortlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year 2010. Bookhugger gives you the chance to read the first chapter, listen to a clip, and watch an interview with the author.

Ian Rankin discusses Doors Open

Ian Rankins Doors Open has been shortlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year 2010. Bookhugger gives you the chance to read the first chapter, watch the author discuss the book, and find out more about the book’s location.

Listen to an extract from A Simple Act of Violence by R.J. Ellory

R.J. Ellory’s novel A Simple Act of Violence has been shortlisted for the Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year 2010. Bookhugger gives you the chance to read the first chapter, listen to an extract and find out more about the author.

Read an extract from Loser’s Town

We have a preview of the first chapter of Daniel Depp’s Hollywood thriller featuring P.I. David Spandeau. And if you like what you read, be sure to visit Bookdagger over the weekend for a free Daniel Depp book.

Read an extract from The Executioner

A sneak preview of the first chapter of Chris Carter’s second thriller featuring Detective Robert Hunter, The Executioner, to be published in July.

Flesh and Blood: Breathing Life Into a Series Character

Chris Carter, author of The Crucifix Killer and the soon to be released The Executioner explains how he developed Robert Hunter into a series character.

A little too much irony

Craig Robertson on the differences between the harrowing facts of the Cumbria shooting and the plotted fiction of his serial killer thriller Random.

If you liked… The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, by Agatha Christie

The fourth of our series, wherein we showcase an all-time classic crime novel, and suggest some titles from the Bookdagger publishers that hit the same spot. This month, it’s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, by Agatha Christie, first published in 1926 and some of the pastiches it inspired.