Blog Archives

Cops Writing Crime - The 2nd Squad: 9 Americans.

26/3/2017

0 Comments

This is the second group of cops and ex-cops writing crime. This time it's our American cousins, and I've found 9 of them.
There are 2 still serving as police officers, 6 are ex-police (or equivalent, given different names for some law enforcement in the US), and 1 ex-PI, who then wrote PI fiction (a clue - he's really famous!).
As I said in my 1st Squad blog - if you know of any others, please do let me know.
And the complete list will shortly feature in the new "Genre" section of my website.

So, here are our American cousins:

1. Joseph Wambaugh.
Wambaugh served with the LAPD.
He has been a prolific author, and I fondly remember reading some of his when I was a serving officer myself. The realism gripped me then, as it still does now.
Some examples: The Choirboys (1975), The New Centurions (1971), or The Blue Knight (1972). And there are a lot more, as well as some non-fiction.
Website:   www.josephwambaugh.net

2. John M. Wills.
Wills served in the Chicago PD and then the FBI.
He has written several crime novels.
Example: Targeted (2011).
Website:   www.jwillsbooks.com

3. James Byron Huggins.
Huggins was a Patrolman in Alabama.
He has written many novels, although from what I could see only one of them is a crime novel in the genre: Maggie Magdalene (2013).
No website found.

4. Dorothy Uhnak (Deceased 2006).
Uhnak was a Detective with the New York City Transit Police.
She wrote a series of crime novels with the protagonist Detective Christie Opara.
Some examples: The Bait (1968), The Witness (1969), and The Ledger (1970).

5. Rick Reed.
Reed was a Detective in Indiana.
He has written a number of crime novels with the protagonist Detective Jack Murphy.
An example: The Cruelest Cut (2010).
Website:   www.rickreedbooks.com

6. Neil Low.
Low is still a serving officer with the Seattle PD.
He has written a number of crime novels.
An example: Deadly Attraction (2012).
Website:   www.neillow.com

7. Neal Griffin.
Griffin is also still a serving officer, in California.
He has a number of crime novels to his name.
An example: Benefit of the Doubt (2015).
Website:   www.nealgriffin.com

8. Sunny Frazier.
Frazier spent years as an "undercover narcotics secretary" with the Fresno Sheriff in California. I'm not quite sure whether she was a police officer, but clearly she worked the scene in law enforcement and now writes crime, amongst other things, so I've included her in the Squad.
An example: Where Angels Fear (2009).
Website:   www.sunnyfrazier.com

9. Dashiell Hammett (Deceased 1961).
Hammett needs no introduction, being the father of the hard-boiled school. He wrote private eye novels, but he had worked as a PI for the Pinkertons Agency, so was able to bring his experience to bear on the realism of his writing. He joins the Squad on that basis.
He wrote several novels, as well as numerous short stories. Perhaps his most famous title: The Maltese Falcon (1930).

So there we have it my fellow crime fiction connoisseurs. Our complete platoon of cops writing crime is 19 in number (until I hear of more) - our 9 Americans above, and the 4 Aussies, 5 Brits, and 1 Frenchman from the 1st Squad.
You will never be lacking in options for realistic crime fiction again! Happy reading!

Cheers,
ABP

0 Comments

Cops Writing Crime - The 1st Squad: 4 Aussies, 5 Brits, and 1 Frenchman.

24/3/2017

0 Comments

Yesterday, I mentioned the project I've been working on for a while to find all the crime fiction writers who have also been cops in their time. I'm a huge fan of realistic depictions of the police in fiction, and who better to deliver that realism than those who, like myself, have been out there serving on the front line.
Today it is the 1st Squad - being the Aussies, the Brits, and the one Frenchman I've found. Tomorrow it'll be the Americans.
I've trawled widely, but if you happen to know of any others, please do let me know. I want my website to have a comprehensive list, which I'll be keeping in the new Crime Genre section I'm working on.
And to my friend I recently caught up with (a fellow ex-cop here in Australia, and who is busy polishing up his first manuscript) - Mate, let's see you into print and get you into the Squad!

So the Aussies...

1. P.M.Newton.
Newton is formerly a Detective in the NSW Police.
So far, two crime novels with the protagonist Detective Nhu "Ned" Kelly, set in Sydney.
See: The Old School (2010) and Beams Falling (2014).
Website: www.pmnewton.com

2. J.M.Peace.
Peace is still a serving officer in the Queensland Police.
So far, two crime novels with the protagonist Constable Sammi Willis. A third is in progress...
See: A Time To Run (2015) and The Twisted Knot (2016).
Website: www.jmpeace.com

3. Karen M. Davis.
Davis is formerly a Detective in the NSW Police.
So far, two crime novels with the protagonist Detective Lexie Rogers. The third is due on the shelves in the next few months...
See: Sinister Intent (2013) and Deadly Obsession (2014).
Website:   www.karenmdavis.com

4. A.B.Patterson.
Well, you're on my website probably...
Anyway, I'm a former WA Police Detective.
My protagonist is PI Harry Kenmare, featuring in Harry's World (2015). The sequel will be out this year.
Website:   www.abpatterson.com.au

And our one French friend...

5. Laurent Guillaume.
Guillaume is a former French police officer and Detective, and also a police advisor in Mali.
He has written a number of novels, but only one has so far been translated into English. White Leopard (2015) is set in Mali, and features the protagonist PI Solo Camara. I have to admit this is a favourite of mine in the hard-boiled class.
I couldn't find a specific website, but check out: www.lefrenchbook.com

And on to our British cousins...

6. Clare Mackintosh.
Mackintosh served as a Detective in the British Police (Thames Valley Police Force).
Two crime novels: I Let You Go (2015) and I See You (2016).
Website:   www.claremackintosh.com

7. Luke Delaney.
Delaney was a Detective in the Metropolitan Police (London).
A series of crime novels with the protagonist DI Sean Corrigan.
An example: Cold Killing (2013).
Website:   www.luke-delaney.com

8. Caroline Mitchell.
Mitchell served as a Detective in the British Police (not sure which Force).
A series of crime novels with the protagonist DC Jennifer Knight.
An example: Don't Turn Around (2015).
Website:   www.carolinemitchellauthor.com

9. Mike Thomas.
Thomas served with the South Wales Police (Wales - U.K.)
A number of police/crime novels.
An example: Pocket Notebook (2010).
Website:   www.mikethomasauthor.co.uk

10. R.J.Mitchell.
Mitchell served with the Strathclyde Police (Scotland - U.K.)
A series of crime novels with the protagonist DS Gus Thoroughgood, and other works.
An example: Parallel Lines (2011).
Website:   www.rjmitchellauthor.co.uk

Okay, so far I've only read Newton and Guillaume, although one of the others is already on my reading pile (Delaney), and the rest are on my to buy list.

Realism, that's what it's all about! Love it!

Tomorrow I'll return with our 9 American cousins.

Cheers,
ABP

0 Comments

Cops Writing Crime - a platoon of realistic crime writing! ABP

23/3/2017

0 Comments

I've been playing with this project for a few months now - trying to come up with a list of crime fiction writers who have also been cops (or worked in actual investigations).
The reason I have an interest in this is due to realism. I've read several of the other ex-cops who write crime, and their depictions of police and police work are spot on, as you'd expect. In my writing, I always try to ensure police realism. Some other crime writers I've read, whilst telling a great story, fail to achieve realism when dealing with their cop characters. And it puts me off as a reader. No doubt it does for others, too.
So who are the cops or ex-cops who have written crime fiction?
Well, there aren't many of us...
My list so far numbers 19. And they are from: 4 here in Australia, 5 in the U.K., 1 in France, and 9 in the U.S.A.
My next blog will detail the Australians, Brits and Frenchman. The blog after that will cover the Americans.
Here's to realism! In my view, this is one of the fundamental underpinnings of good crime fiction.
Cheers,
ABP

0 Comments

Thank you to our libraries - "Harry's World" on the public shelves!

19/3/2017

0 Comments

A half century to PI Harry Kenmare!

Yes, at least 50 public libraries around Australia now have Harry's World in their collections, according to my latest listings. I blogged about the library holdings last August, but they've certainly grown since then. There could be a few more, but below are the ones I know of for sure.

And a huge thank you to all the librarians involved who have been so supportive. As a debut author, especially a self-published one, this front-line support is truly tremendous.

And here they are:

New South Wales
1. State Library of NSW
2. Randwick Library
3. Botany Bay Library   (Eastgardens)
4. Wollongong City Library
5. City of Sydney Library   (Kings Cross)
6. Leeton Library
7. Ashfield Library
8. Canada Bay Library   (Five Dock)
9. Willoughby Library   (Northbridge)
10. Manly Library
11. Richmond Valley Library   (Casino)
12. Wyong Library
13. Auburn Library
14. Sutherland Library
15. Richmond Tweed Library
16. University of Sydney Library
17. Holroyd Library (Merrylands)
18. Cessnock City Library
19. Kiama Library

Queensland
1. Ipswich City Library
2. Isaac Regional Library Service (Glenden & Moranbah)
3. Cooloola Library Service (Gympie)
4. Thuringowa Library Service (Townsville)
5. Rockhampton Library
6. Fraser Coast Library (Maryborough)
7. Gold Coast Libraries
8. Toowoomba City Library

Victoria
1. Moonee Valley Library Service
2. Eastern Regional Libraries
3. Central Highlands Libraries (Ballarat)
4. Stonnington Library (South Yarra)
5. Geelong Regional Library
6. Kingston Library
7. Mornington Peninsula Library (Rosebud)
8. State Library of Victoria
9. Monash Library (Mt. Waverley)
10. Maribyrnong Library Service (Footscray)

Western Australia
1. Cambridge Library  (Floreat)
2. State Library of Western Australia
3. Gingin Shire Library
4. Rockingham Library
5. City of Stirling Library
6. Joondalup City Library
7. Augusta Margaret River Library

South Australia
1. Marion Library
2. City of Mitcham Library

Northern Territory
1. City of Darwin Library
2. Alice Springs Library
3. City of Palmerston Library

A.C.T.
1. National Library of Australia

And Tassie? Come on, Tassie, you're still not on the list. I know there's the Bass Strait, but come and join us!

Cheers,
ABP

0 Comments

Thrilled to be joining Westwords to help young people develop their writing!

10/3/2017

0 Comments

The email from Westwords came out of the blue and what a wonderful surprise! Thank you so much to Michelle and the Westwords team for the invitation to participate.
I had read about Westwords (Western Sydney's Young People's Literature Development Organisation) last year, and in particular about the great Australian actor Bryan Brown becoming the program's ambassador.
See the Westwords website here: www.westwords.com.au
I think the program's mission of "changing lives across Western Sydney through literature development" is just fantastic. Assisting our young people to develop their inner potential and thereby enabling them to contribute to progressing our society is a truly laudable and utterly worthwhile endeavour.
So, my participation, to which I'm eagerly looking forward, starts the week after next. I'll be running some workshops on crime writing for a group of Year 11 students at Granville Boys High School. And I'm told the lads, and their literature teacher, are just as thrilled as I am.
Definitely new author territory for me, but I can't wait to learn young people's perspectives on crime writing, and to assist and mentor them with their own creative writing.
I just love to see young people being encouraged to be creative. That's where out future is. So it's great to be making my own, albeit small, contribution to that. Hopefully I'll be able to do more of this.
Cheers,
ABP

0 Comments

Looking for an author talk? Let A.B.Patterson liven up your event.

8/3/2017

0 Comments

Would you like an author talk at an event, a library, or your book club?

Or are you looking for something rather different as a guest talk at a corporate function?

Feel free to contact me to discuss.

I love getting out there as an author, meeting people and discussing my writing inspirations and my Harry's World. Invariably I find at these events there's also a lot of lively questions and discussion around crime and corruption, given my previous professional background. It all makes for a really great chat!
One of the reasons I write is to share with the public the sort of graft and sleaze that exists in our society, especially amongst the supposedly respectable elites. Aside form my written pieces, doing author talks is a fantastic way to chat in person about the dark facets of our society. It's never boring!

My events to date:

1. Wollongong Library (NSW) - 10 March 2016
2. Randwick Library (NSW) - 30 March 2016
3. Canada Bay Library (NSW) - 12 May 2016
4. Ashfield Library (NSW) - 02 June 2016 (joint talk with Nigel Bartlett)
5. The Women's Club, Sydney (Australian Crime Writers Circle) - 15 June 2016
6. Casuarina Library, Darwin - 12 October 2016
7. Auburn Library (NSW) - 17 October 2016 (joint talk with Nigel Bartlett)
8. The Australian Youth Hotel, Sydney - 23 October 2016 ("An Afternoon of Crime" with myself, Nigel Bartlett, L.A.Larkin, Candice Fox, and Bruce McCabe)
9. Sutherland Library (NSW) - 10 November 2016 (joint talk with Nigel Bartlett)
10. Tuggerah Library (NSW) - 23 November 2016
11. Cessnock Library (NSW) - 14 February 2017
12. Kiama Library (NSW) - 04 March 2017

I'm always keen to make myself available for author talks, whether at libraries or elsewhere, so please contact me if you'd like to discuss an event.

Cheers,
ABP

0 Comments

Bowral Library in April - next author talk for A.B.Patterson.

6/3/2017

0 Comments

Hot off my talk at Kiama last weekend, I can now confirm that I'll be heading for Bowral Library in a few weeks.

Look forward to meeting readers in the Southern Highlands just after Easter for a morning author talk hosted by the Friends of Bowral Library.

See you there on Tuesday 18 April, 2017, for a 10 a.m. start!

Cheers,
ABP.

0 Comments

A huge crowd at Kiama Library! A.B.Patterson author talk.

6/3/2017

0 Comments

Well, despite the appalling weather that hit the NSW south coast on Saturday, the good reading folk of Kiama and surrounds turned out en masse to join me for my author talk and afternoon tea at Kiama Library.
With about 50 people in the audience, there didn't seem to be a spare seat in the auditorium, and there was lots of great discussion.
As usual, I gave a taste of Harry's World, reading from the book - the scene where Harry meets Sandrine, a.k.a. Madame Méchante, always sets the hard-boiled scene perfectly, and with a good measure of sex appeal! Well, it is PI Harry Kenmare, after all.
And after chatting about my writing and my various sources of inspiration, we got into some lively discussions around crime and corruption, with the audience having more than enough questions to take us well over the allotted time.
It was a great afternoon, and my many thanks to Florence, Wendy, Gillian, David and Michelle (from the Friends of the Library, and the Library itself) for hosting me and making me feel so welcome.
Cheers,
ABP

0 Comments

EVENT - Author Talk at Kiama

2/3/2017

0 Comments

Yes, it's only a couple of days away now!

I'll be at Kiama Library this Saturday for an author talk - 04 March 2017 at 2.30 p.m.
Hope to see you there if you're a local resident and reader. And even if you're not local and you happen to be in the area, come on down!
There'll be lots of chat about crime writing, investigating crime, government corruption, and no doubt some sex thrown in! After all, Harry's World covers the full range.
Cheers,
ABP

P.S. Just got booked today for an author talk in Bowral next month, so stay tuned!

0 Comments

A.B.Patterson

Categories

Archives