Killer Reads

 

HarperCollins has joined the lineup of publishers offering crime fiction web sites to promote the genre and their authors' works. Their Killer Reads site was officially launched this week, with an extract of Jillianne Hoffman's new novel, Pretty Little Things. The site will also feature blogs, a newsletter, and the occasional article, such as a current one about Ngaio Marsh. Publishing brand manager Kate Bradley said "The site is going to be really dynamic and the content will be updated and refreshed constantly. We are passionate about our crime authors and we want to share that passion with the online community." (Hat tip to the Bookseller.)

HarperCollins joins other publishers with crime fiction sites, including Blood on the Page, the suspense book club from Random House which features a different author blogging each week, and Moments in Crime from Minotaur Books, which has evolved from a blog into a Twitter feed, although Minotaur does have a general companion book site.

New Kids on the Blog

It's always a pleasure to welcome new arrivals to the blogosphere, particularly in the crime fiction realm. So, take a moment to say "howdy" to some new friends.

Mystery Page Turners is a blog out of Canada created by a newly-minted librarian who also holds a Master's and Ph.D in English. Right now, she's sharing novels that she finds interesting, in keeping with the blog's stated theme of "Looking for a great mystery novel to read – one that you can’t put down?" There will be a mix of old and new included to suit various tastes.

British historical crime author R.N. Morris has started the Bloody Blog. It's so new, it's still got a little shrink wrap around the edges, but we'll welcome posts like his recent "From a Manual of Medical Jurisprudence, Insanity and Toxicology (1903)."

Crime Watch was born in August and is the brainchild of writer/reviewer Craig Sisterson from New Zealand, who focuses on crime fiction from that region (but others, too). He's been participating in the Crime Fiction Alphabet meme started by the Mysteries in Paradise blog, and his latest post is a feature of Kiwi author Paddy Richardson.