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It appears that ghost stories are having a Renaissance at the moment. Writers like Helen Dunmore (The Greatcoat) and Jeanette Winterson are tackling the genre as well as Sarah Waters’ effort a couple of years ago with ‘The Little Stranger’. With the imminent release of the new film ‘The Woman in Black’ now is a good time to embrace this genre which has seen a decline in interest in the last couple of years. For some time in bookshops, the ‘Horror’ section seemed to be shrinking. Now, we have a new battalion of women who have taken up the mantle and delving in to the horror vault for their spookiest tales. For me, I have always enjoyed a good, haunting ghost story (sorry, that doesn’t include the gore fests that recent films have been enjoying) but a well-told chilling story about bumps in the night, voices in the walls and whispers of muslin across wooden floors from unseen spectres. We have all enjoyed a good ghost story with friends gathered round the fireplace, none most than M. R. James the master of the ghost story who portrayed fear and horror with such panache.

I remember in my teens finishing James Herbert’s novel, ‘Haunted’ which I finished in my parents home in broad daylight. I was alone and ‘Haunted’ had freaked me out so much I had to go out as the silence itself was haunting. That is what all us readers of ghost stories want, to be chilled by that icy cold finger of the unknown. If you want a brilliant read get ‘The Virago Book of Ghost Stories’ which is a fantastic collection with noted writers like Ruth Rendell, Celia Fremlin, Antonia Fraser, the sublime Angela Carter and my favourite story by Mary E. Wilkins – ‘The Vacant Lot’. Also reviewed this month is a new addition to the genre, Alison Littlewood’s novel, ‘A Cold Season’ which is again haunting without resorting to the ‘gore factor’.

However, if you simply enjoy a brilliant crime novel, then check out the Crimesquad.com ‘Author of the Month’ who is Stav Sherez. After two standalones Stav brings us his latest and the first in a proposed series, ‘A Dark Redemption’. Featuring two detectives, Carrigan and Miller this brilliant novel which we all loved at Crimesquad.com leads our duo on a hunt to catch the killer of a Ugandan student. As expected nothing is as clear cut as previously thought.

‘Fresh Blood’ comes from the Welsh valleys and introduces Glyn Capaldi, an officer in the wilds of Wales of Welsh/Italian extraction. Investigating a group of locals who enjoyed a boozy Rugby match and then stole a minibus, Capaldi is not sure of their story of high jinks – especially as once there were six men, there are now only five. An excellent read that will have your hands nailed to Ewart Hutton’s debut, ‘Good People’ until the final page.

We have so many ‘Reviews’ for you this month that I have put some on now and some will go on mid-month. Needless to say, the cold nights are perfect for the Crimesquad.com reviewers to read voraciously and our readers will benefit by reading all their great reviews. For some there may be too much choice!

On the 31st December 2011, Celia Dale passed away not far off what would have been her hundredth birthday. Although not prolific, Dale wrote some of the most chilling and socially aware novels of her time. Authors like Ruth Rendell admired her work and H.R.F. Keating claimed she had ‘the accuracy, understanding and quiet wit of Jane Austen – plus murder’. To honour her work, Celia Dale will be our new ‘Classic Crime’ author and will be on in early February.

The Crimesquad.com Top Ten for 2011 is now online! It was a bumper year for crime fiction in 2011 - and amazingly enough it appears to be even better in 2012. Check out our 2011 Top Ten - and before anyone starts arguing about placements in the Top Ten - I will tell you now that no.1 doesn't mean no.1! All ten books stand together on the same level. They are simply our favourite ten books of 2011 (and with such a high standard it wasn't easy to choose) - and they are all fantastic reads. Enjoy!
 

If you have any comments or have a particular author you would like to see highlighted on this website please e-mail me at chrissimmons@crimesquad.com.

Chris Simmons
Online Editor.