Mark Timlin
(first post so please excuse/correct any ettiquette
screw-ups) I too have recently come across Timlin, reading
Ashes by Now and Find my Way Home. Both were extravagantly
praised in reviews quoted on the cover and yet both were in
my opinion and in concurrence with DJ Bassett, very ordinary.
I think that this is a UK problem - any crime writer who
writes anything that may be construed as the tinyest bit
hardboiled is instantly acclaimed as the British Ellroy, so
prune your prose and throw in a bit off effing and blinding
and some casual drugs references (often hugely unconvincing!)
and you're there. Jake Arnott is the latest Brit Ellroy - I
submitted a review of his first book THE LONG FIRM to mystery
guide.com largely because I was so annoyed at the positive
critical reaction to what I saw as a lazily researched see
through re-write of the 1960's by numbers. His new one is
just out to a similar reaction - I will be interested to see
what it's like. I am yet to find much in the way of decent
British noir/hardboiled but will be pleased to be pointed at
some. The late great Derek Raymond is an exception, read him
now! I understand that the Factory Series are being filmed
with Ray Winston (Scum, Nil by Mouth, Sexy Beast) as the
Sergeant - I await the results with some trepidation. Sorry
gone on ages now recent good read - Douglas E Winter
RUN
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