~post by Molly
International Crime Fiction Month has finally reached its conclusion. We profiled Europa Editions, Akashic Books, and Melville House, each for their exceptional commitment to bringing us the best in international crime fiction. Now it is time to add one more to that list. Grove Atlantic, with their Mysterious Press and Atlantic Monthly Press imprints, publish a sizable chunk of the international mystery authors on our shelves. These two imprints mainly bring us crime fiction from the UK, but they also put in print many of our favorite crime writers in translation. Prominent authors include Ken Bruen, Val McDermid and Mo Hayder, as well as South Africa’s “king of crime fiction” Deon Meyer. When asked about the commonalities between their authors, a spokeswoman replied that “the main thing we look for in international crime fiction, as in all our books, is simply good writing.”
Through their use of the Mysterious Press imprint, they bring attention to crime fiction publishing history as well. The legendary Otto Penzler founded the Mysterious Press in 1975 with the mission of releasing quality editions of quality mysteries. He used acid-free paper, full-cloth bindings, and artist-designed color dust jackets, all uncommon in the publication of genre fiction at that time. All these visual innovations helped to elevate detective fiction out of the realm of pulp and into the world of modern classics. When Grove Atlantic acquired the imprint, they expanded its offerings of international crime fiction while continuing to publish the best in American noir.
Our featured authors from Grove Atlantic include Christopher Brookmyre of Scotland and Mark Billingham of the UK. Brookmyre writes intriguing exposés of establishment corruption and violence through the eyes of an investigative journalist. Like many international crime authors, he uses his medium as a form of radical reportage. His latest, Bred in the Bone, serves as a reminder of Glasgow’s vicious underworld. His latest also features the attention to place and detail that is a hallmark of great international noir. In Mark Billingham’s new novel, The Bones Beneath, a detective and a notorious serial killer set off on a journey to a remote island to recover a long-dead body. The Bones Beneath places the rugged coastal geography of Wales in a starring role.
So (belatedly) ends the International Crime Fiction Month with MysteryPeople. Thanks for joining our reading world tour, and be sure to stop in and swap recommendations with us the next time you’re in the store!
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