Maxim Jakubowski

Leading anthologist Maxim Jakubowski presents the very best in crime writing from around the world - 40 short stories from an all-star line-up of international writers. They cover the full spectrum of crime fiction, from noir and thrillers, to whodunnits and procedurals, with settings that include Italy, Cuba, Scandinavia, Russia, USA, Japan, Germany, Mexico, France, Italy, Spain and the UK. Among the writers presented are:Ian Rankin, bestselling author of compelling, cerebral crime fiction set in Edinburgh, featuring the much-loved Inspector Rebus. John Mortimer, the English barrister and writer, famous for his much-loved fictional character Horace Rumpole of the Bailey. Boris Akunin, whose eccentric characters and surprising, inventive plots have earned him a reputation as one of the finest contemporary writers of classic crime fiction. Mark Billingham, whose series of taut procedural thrillers featuring London policeman Tom Thorne have won him numerous fans. Giorgio Faletti, author of the 5 million copy seller I Kill. Jo Nesbo, a hugely succesful Norwegian writer with a series featuring Detective Harry Hole, set in Oslo. Jeffrey Deaver, one of the very best US crime writers. His psychological thrillers feautring Lincoln Rhyme have been bestsellers around the world. Ruth Rendell, one of the UK's most respected crime writers.

This book continues the fast-paced excitement of the hard-bitten detective, Michael Jackson, and Cornelia, his beautiful stripper and hit-woman client -- both introduced in SKIN IN DARKNESS (2006). Following the death of a minor league writer, a mysterious woman whose own past is full of contradictions is called in to investigate his life and to recover his lost memoirs, as they will incriminate VIPs.

"Rome Noir "looks beyond the tourist facade of Italy's capital. This is the real city of Fellini, Pasolini, and countless other major artists who devoted their lives to depicting its grandeur and decadence. Brand-new stories from: Antonio Scurati, C. D. Formetta, Diego De Silva, Enrico Franceschini, Boosta, Francesca Mazzucato, Marcello Fois, Gianrico Carofiglio, Carlo Lucarelli, Maxim Jakubowski, Evelina Santangelo, Nicola LaGioia, Tommaso Pincio, Antonio Pascale, Nicoletta Vallorani, Giuseppe Genna, and others. Chiara Stangalino is an organizer of the Courmayeur Noir In Festival. She lives in Turin, Italy. Maxim Jakubowski is a British editor and writer. He reviews crime fiction for the "Guardian "and runs London's Crime Scene Festival.

Leading crime critic Maxim Jakubowski presents this year's must-have collection of British crime fiction. This latest volume of the acclaimed annual collection presents over 20 short stories of murder mystery, selected from the very cream of new British crime fiction. Contributors include Lee Child, Colin Dexter, Val McDermid, Mark Billingham, Len Deighton, John Harvey, and many more. This is an ideal present for anyone who has ever enjoyed a good murder-mystery. A page-turning compendium of British talent to capture the imagination of readers around the world.

People say the French stay slim thanks to their good wine and regular meals. This might prove to be the case, but the hottest erotica currently being written flows from the sexy pens of French women of letters. On the basis that writers of erotica are often known to find inspiration in their own lives and experiences, one can only draw certain conclusions! Dominique Aury under the penname Pauline Reage wrote The Story of O in 1954 and opened the floodgates for a whole new, sulphurous tradition of female erotica, since appropriated by female writers all over the world, including Anne Rice in the USA writing as A. N. Roquelaure. But the wonderfully perverse imagination of French authors has continued unabated ever since, and the daughters of O are now legions, including leading lights like Catherine Millet, Regine Deforges, Francoise Rey, Vanessa Duries, Florence Dugas, Alina Reyes, and the famous fashion designer Sonia Rykiel, all of whom contributed to this collection. French literary sex is hot, elegant, gently perverse, quietly shocking, and always arousing -- and these twenty-nine stories will leave no reader indifferent.

A few years have now passed, all too quickly, since the death of Ellis Peters. Crime writers and readers throughout the world still mourn her and sigh sadly at the prospect of no further adventures for that most beloved of Benedictine monks, Brother Cadfael. But the influence other writing keeps on spreading, and the historical mystery genre stands stronger than ever as more and more writers embrace the field for its capacity to tell wondrous, gripping stories, to educate and entertain. In 1999, recognition of Edith Pargeter's achievements as Ellis Peters was highlighted by the publication of Past Poisons, the first volume of this anthology, in which many leading British and American mystery writers paid homage to her influence. This was followed by the Crime Writers' Association decision to create a new annual Dagger award for excellence in the field of historical crime. The first, popular winner was Lindsey Davis, for her Falco novels set in the bustling world of ancient Rome. Lindsey was, of course, present in Past Poisons, and was in fact instrumental in inspiring me to launch this series in memory of Ellis Peters. Once again, I have asked some of my favourite writers in the crime and mystery genre to contribute new stories with an historical setting, and the sheer time span and breadth of geographical locations conjured up by their imaginations is astounding, ranging from Ancient Egypt and Rome to suffragette times, with a nod in passing to gothic horror, westerns and amazing variations on known themes and dastardly deeds. I am quietly confident that Edith, had she still been alive, would have relished these colourful tales of puzzlement and adventure. I'm sure you will. Enjoy. Maxim Jakubowski is a former publisher and owner of the world-famous Murder One bookshop in London's Charing Cross Road. As well as being a writer and editor of various past cult publishing imprints, he is acknowledged as a disturbing and controversial voice in contemporary fiction. His collections have sold massively. He is a regular on television and radio where he is an expert on crime, erotica, and film. As a columnist for the Guardian he also writes on the arts for The Times. Maxim is literary director of the prestigious Crime Scene festival held at London's National Film Theatre. He is the author of many titles including Skin In Darkness, but also the editor for Past Poisons (An Ellis Peters Memorial Anthology of Historical Crime) and Murder Through the Ages.