The Tartan Noir Show

It’s the finale of TTNS season 2...and we have a treat in store for you! Theresa Talbot chats to number-one bestselling author, Jeffery Deaver. His books adorn bookshelves in 150 countries in 25 languages. As we find out, Jeffery has a strict discipline when it comes to his writing, telling Theresa that his is a craftsman’s approach to getting the words on the page. And it’s paid off as he’s sold more than 50 million copies of his books. The former journalist and law attorney believes that readers are the gods who guide his stories - so no pressure on all of us! As well as hearing about his latest books and plans for both the Lincoln Rhyme and Colter Shaw series, Jeffery talks about the thrill of hearing his words spoken by Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie in the film version of The Bone Collector. His recommended book is The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris. 

Jeffery Deaver - https://www.jefferydeaver.com

Theresa Talbot -  https://www.facebook.com/theresa.talbot.50

For more information about The Tartan Noir Show, visit: www.thebiglight.com/thetartannoirshow

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Multi award-winning writer, Craig Russell, joins Theresa Talbot this week to talk about what it’s like to have your books translated into 25 languages, how to immerse yourself in the world you are writing about and how having really great headphones can change your life! The Devil Aspect - Craig’s stand alone Gothic novel set in 1935 Czechoslovakia - will be coming to the big screens. His latest book, Hyde, will be on the book shelves in early 2021. Five of his Fabel novels have been made into movies with Craig making a cameo appearance as a detective. The Lennox novels are being developed into a returning TV series by BAFTA award-winning Synchronicity Films. Ira Levin’s first novel - A Kiss before Dying - is Craig’s book recommendation. 

Craig Russell - https://craigrussell.com/

Ira Levin - http://www.iralevin.org

Theresa Talbot -  https://www.facebook.com/theresa.talbot.50

For more information about The Tartan Noir Show, visit: www.thebiglight.com/thetartannoirshow

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This week, Theresa Talbot catches up with the author of eight crime thriller novels set in Spain, Scotland and the US. The latest Morgan Cry book is Thirty-One Bones - the owner of a small Spanish bar drops dead. But it’s not straight forward, as the bar is frequented by a group of ex-pat misfits. There’s lots of chat about writers marketing their books and how Gordon approaches writing. He gets up very very early in the morning! Gordon is also one of the founding directors of the Bloody Scotland Festival. This year he was involved in ‘persuading’ the debut writers to collaborate on the Glencairn short story, One With The Glass, which was recorded for this episode of The Tartan Noir Show. So get yourself comfy with a glass of something or a big cup of tea.  

Gordon Brown - https://gordonjbrown.com/

Bloody Scotland; One With The Glass - https://bloodyscotland.com/announcements/one-with-the-glass/

Glencairn Crystal - https://glencairn.co.uk/

Stephen O’Rourke - https://sandstonepress.com/books/the-crown-agent

Deborah Masson - @deborah_masson

Marion Todd - https://www.mariontodd.com/

Francine Toon - https://www.francinetoon.com/

Four Blokes in searching of a plot - https://fourblokessearching.com/

Theresa Talbot - https://www.facebook.com/theresa.talbot.50

The Big Light - https://www.thebiglight.com/

For more information about The Tartan Noir Show, visit: www.thebiglight.com/thetartannoirshow

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Nuclear physics, music journalism, music and writing - there’s no end to Doug Johnstone’s talents. He chats to Theresa about all these very different aspects of his life. We also hear about the stroke he had at the beginning of lockdown and how he finished the first draft of a new novel while recovering. This is the final part of the Skelf family saga. We first met the Skelf women in A Dark Matter (2019) where, after a sudden death, three generations of women from the Skelf clan took over the family funeral and private investigation business. The book was shortlisted for this year’s McIlvanney Prize. The Big Chill (2020), the second book in the trilogy, is out now. With 12 novels under his belt, Doug has been described as ‘a master of the page-turning, heart-gripping, plot-driven tale’. His recommended book is Helen Fitzgerald’s Worst Case Scenario.

Doug Johnstone - https://dougjohnstone.com/about/

Helen Fitzgerald - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_FitzGerald

Great Scot Podcast - https://www.thebiglight.com/greatscot

Professor Dame Sue Black - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sue_Black_(anthropologist)

Theresa Talbot -  https://www.facebook.com/theresa.talbot.50

For more information about The Tartan Noir Show, visit: www.thebiglight.com/thetartannoirshow

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Graeme caught the attention of the world in 2016 when his second novel, His Bloody Project, was shorted-listed for the Booker Prize. He may not have carried off the award that year, but his book sold more than those of the other five finalists combined! It’s the week before the Booker Prize is announced, and with another Scottish author in the running, Theresa hears about the glitz and glamour of Graeme’s experience at London’s Guildhall (it will be a more modest affair this year, with no grub and booze). Graeme’s book recommendation is John Le Carre’s The Spy Who Came in from the Cold. This leads to an intriguing discussion on how Theresa could be a great asset for British Intelligence! Graeme’s fourth novel, Case Study (Saraband), is out next October - we’ll hear what it’s about. And if you happen upon Graeme somewhere reading old copies of the Women’s Weekly...it’s research - honest! 

Graeme Macrae Burnet - https://graememacraeburnet.com/

John Le Carre - https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/best-le-carre-novel

Fyodor Dostoevsky: The Brothers Karamazov - https://www.thelondonmagazine.org/essay-reflections-on-the-brothers-karamazov-by-patrick-maxwell/ 

The Mitchell Library - https://www.scotsmagazine.com/articles/glasgow-mitchell-library/

Theresa Talbot -  https://www.facebook.com/theresa.talbot.50

For more information about The Tartan Noir Show, visit: www.thebiglight.com/thetartannoirshow

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When she’s not designing vaccine clinical trials and studying the stats, Susi spends the rest of her time writing. She has seven novels, under her belt, the latest The Last Resort comes out in December - Seven strangers. Seven secrets. One perfect crime. Susi’s books are all very different, from police procedurals, supernatural to psychological thrillers. And as Theresa finds out the next two are science based. She had a pretty impressive start to her writing career - on the Trans Siberian Railway. There’s also a strange conversation about what books keep her and Theresa awake at night. Her book recommendation is Senseless by Ed James. 

Susi Holliday - http://www.susiholliday.com/

Ed James - https://edjamesauthor.co.uk/

Theresa Talbot -  https://www.facebook.com/theresa.talbot.50

For more information about The Tartan Noir Show, visit: www.thebiglight.com/thetartannoirshow

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With his new crime novel, A Song of Isolation, hitting the bookshelves, Michael joins Theresa Talbot on The Tartan Noir Show to talk about his latest book. They also chat about his move from prize winning poetry to crime. And - oh yeah - his short spell as a scribe in residence at a Scottish sex shop! His recommended book is Alex Knight’s, Hunted - described as a ‘well-crafted, tightly-plotted thriller that races from the streets of San Francisco to the coast without pausing for breath’.  

Michael J Malone: http://orendabooks.co.uk/michael-j-malone/

Alex Knight: http://alexknightauthor.com/

Theresa Talbot: http://www.theresatalbot.com/about

For more information about The Tartan Noir Show, visit: www.thebiglight.com/thetartannoirshow

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This week’s Tartan Noir Show brings together Francine Toon and Deborah Masson. Theresa Talbot caught up with them as they were draining their glasses of fizz - after Bloody Scotland 2020. Francine won the McIlvanney Prize for the Scottish Crime Book of the Year with her novel, Pine. She was also on the short list for the Debut Crime Book of the Year along with Deborah, whose first novel, Hold Your Tongue, introducing DI Eve Hunter, took that award. They chat about writing their first books and, having won these prestigious prizes, what’s next? 

Francine Toon: https://www.francinetoon.com/

Deborah Masson: https://twitter.com/deborah_masson?lang=en

Bloody Scotland - McIlvanney Prize 2020: https://bloodyscotland.com/take-part/the-mcilvanney-prize/

Bloody Scotland - Debut Writer Prize 2020: https://bloodyscotland.com/prizes/debut-prize-shortlist-2020/

Double Scotch Podcast with guest Ian Rankin: https://www.thebiglight.com/doublescotch

Theresa Talbot: https://twitter.com/Theresa_Talbot?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

For more information about The Tartan Noir Show, visit: www.thebiglight.com/thetartannoirshow

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The Tartan Noir Show returns for its second series and we are delighted to be joined by one of the UK’s best loved crime writers - Ann Cleeves. She’s written more than 30 novels and created the characters Jimmy Perez (played by Douglas Henshall in the hit TV series Shetland) and Vera Stanhope (played by Brenda Blethyn in TV’s Vera). Ann also chats to Theresa about her support for libraries, her love for Shetland and Fair Isle - even without amenities - and why, when she starts to write a novel, she never knows what will happen at the end. Her recommended book is Caz Frear’s - Shed no Tears, the third in her Cat Kinsella series. 

Ann Cleeves - https://anncleeves.com/

Brenda Blethyn reads the first Chapter of The Darkest Evening - https://www.facebook.com/anncleeves/videos/the-darkest-evening-opening-chapter/357559225608492/

Shetland - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01s711r

Vera - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1693592/

Maigret Georges Simenon - https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v42/n11/john-lanchester/maigret-s-room

Caz Frear - https://www.harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/caz-frear

Theresa Talbot - http://www.theresatalbot.com/about

For more information about The Tartan Noir Show, visit: www.thebiglight.com/thetartannoirshow

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Six months ago, Theresa Talbot talked to Bob McDevitt - Festival Director of The Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival. Back then, following the news that the annual event held in Stirling had been cancelled, there was hope it could happen in some other way online. Well, it is happening and to kick off TTNS season 2 we have a sneak preview of what’s coming up. There’s also a special feature with the festival founders Lin Anderson and Alex Gray talking about how it all began with wonderful music from Brian McAlpine. 

Join The Tartan Noir Show Club: https://www.patreon.com/ttns

TTNS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheTartanNoirShow

Bloody Scotland Festival: https://bloodyscotland.com

Linn Anderson: https://lin-anderson.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html

Alex Gray: https://www.alexgrayauthor.co.uk

Brian McAlpine: http://www.brianmcalpine.com/B/home.html

Theresa Talbot: https://twitter.com/Theresa_Talbot?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Sunday Post (our partner in crime): https://www.sundaypost.com

For more information about The Tartan Noir Show, visit: www.thebiglight.com/thetartannoirshow

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.