Occupation Series by Chris Lloyd

Taken from the CRA Newsletter:

Layers of Research by Chris Lloyd

There is only one rabbit hole that is deeper and more relentless than researching for a novel. And that is asking a historical novelist about their research. Never, under any circumstances, do it. You may never escape.

I write the Occupation series, featuring Eddie Giral, a French police detective in Paris under the Nazi Occupation. To get the story right calls for a lot of research. This ranges from the general – the major events of the war – to the specific – the occupying authorities and the French police, rationing and criminality. To get the atmosphere and the setting right calls for much more targeted research into the day-to-day minutiae of people’s lives under Nazi rule. Where other writers have a social life, I have layers of research.

The bottom layer is immersive research. This is where I spend hours staring at photos of people of the period, what they’re wearing, where they work, how they move about the city. Films released at the time are a great source of getting a sense of the place and period. Eddie used to moonlight at jazz clubs, so I listen to the jazz he would have listened to.

The next layer up is general research. If my story takes place in autumn 1940, as in the case of Paris Requiem, I need to know what was happening in France and elsewhere and decide how much of it Eddie could have known, given censorship and restrictions.

Next up is specific research. As I set each book at a specific time during the Occupation, the bulk of the research goes into what was happening in Paris during that particular time. What laws were passed, what groups were being persecuted, which senior Nazis visited the city. I look for specific events and curiosities, such as French prisoners going missing from a Paris prison and interpret that through Eddie. His investigation turns up the same truth as the research gave to me but cast through his prism.

Finally comes the targeted research. This comes mainly from diaries and interviews. Recorded memories of people who lived through the Occupation are essential. This is what creates the atmosphere – what it was like to queue for bread, the silence of the streets without cars and buses, the sound of boots on cobbles.

Uniting all of the above, there is one underlying piece of research that is both extremely important and extremely enjoyable – walking Paris. If you want to bring all the strands of your research together, you need to walk the streets your characters walk. Just don’t ask me to talk about it. As I will. At length.

Read more about Chris and his books here.

New Viking Age Historical Fiction

New Viking Age historical fiction from a new author, Megan Formanek, who provides the reader with a powerful new series rich in historical detail and compelling characters, exploring the lives of people who lived during the early years of the Rurikid Dynasty.

Oath Undo Me

An oath made is a debt that must be paid.

Sweden 880: Astrid is free, widowed after two years in an unwanted marriage. She wants to reclaim her life and become the warrior she always wanted to be, just like her father. Horrified by her best friend’s unwelcome proposal, she flees everything she has ever known for a chance at life across the Baltic Sea, assuming a new identity in a land unknown.

Aldeigjuborg, in the land of the Rus’, is far different to her native homeland but, with the support of her new mentor, she is given the opportunity to create a life within the walls of a town she would have previously dreamed of raiding. Being a Viking is more than adventure and travel. Riches can be found in trade, through the learning of new languages and cultures.

Soon, Astrid realises everything has a price, and a promise made can have unintended consequences.

No-One's Viking

Raised on tales of glory, bound to question it all

882. Aldeigjuborg, Gardarike: Astrid has worked hard to become the well-respected textile merchant known as Signe. She wants to expand her business, support her daughter, and take full advantage of her new life. Her husband is long overdue from his trade mission and, with no word from him; Astrid turns to the gods for answers. As mysterious gifts begin appearing at her door, she questions if these are signs to guide her or a threat more sinister.

When someone Astrid swore to be free of forever reappears, dark omens plague her. Soon, Astrid finds herself tangled in the Norn’s weavings with agonising consequences.

In Aldeigjuborg, cultures clash and religion sparks trouble for the newly established empire of the Rus’. Word spreads of Grand Prince Oleg’s conquest of Kyiv and his capture of his brother’s heir. Rebellion threatens Astrid’s stable town, and the war horn calls her to embrace the Viking way.

But, as she prepares to defend her home, Astrid realises that in battle, all men are made monsters.

Dark Age Monarch - The Reign of King Arthur

Arthurian tradition has followed two distinct paths. Medieval romance depicts the spectacular capital of Camelot and a land of armored knights, jousts, and fantastical adventures. More recent researchers have focused on identifying the real King Arthur, if such a person existed, in the early days of the Dark Ages. Dark Age Monarch: The Reign of King Arthur blends the two strands together in an inventive re-telling that maintains elements of the traditional tale but set in a historical perspective—with a bit of magic thrown into the mix.

Following the Roman exodus in the early 5th Century, Britain was fractured into petty fiefdoms that left the island vulnerable to foreign invaders. At a point where it appeared the Angles and Saxons would erase the British heritage, Arthur emerged as both a King and the Leader of Battles. His reign unified the land and preserved the Britons' way of life long enough to be remembered throughout history.

Agatha Christie novels reworked to remove potentially offensive language

The Guardian:

Poirot and Miss Marple mysteries have passages edited by sensitivity readers for latest HarperCollins editions.

Several Agatha Christie novels have been edited to remove potentially offensive language, including insults and references to ethnicity.

Poirot and Miss Marple mysteries written between 1920 and 1976 have had passages reworked or removed in new editions published by HarperCollins to strip them of language and descriptions that modern audiences find offensive, especially those involving the characters Christie’s protagonists encounter outside the UK.

Sensitivity readers had made the edits, which were evident in digital versions of the new editions, including the entire Miss Marple run and selected Poirot novels set to be released or that have been released since 2020, the Telegraph reported.

The updates follow edits made to books by Roald Dahl and Ian Fleming to remove offensive references to gender and race in a bid to preserve their relevance to modern readers.

Read more here @ The Guardian

If a reader is so immature and close-minded that they cannot appreciate a work for what it is and when it was written, then they don't deserve to have any voice in publishing.  As far as I am concerned, this is something akin to censorship and sensitivity readers should be consigned to Dante's Sixth Circle of Hell - Heresy! I am so glad that my collection is still in its glorious, politically incorrect, original format. 

Review: The Used Virgin by Zara Altair

Synopsis: After Rome, before the Middle Ages, Italy belonged to the Ostrogoths.

A corrupt governor. A young girl. An old man. Argolicus unravels the threads.

When a life-long friend disappears, a peaceful retreat to the provinces turns into a challenge to the local governor for Argolicus.

A cruel slander originates from the venal governor. When Argolicus visits the governor, he discovers an unscrupulous plot destined to impoverish his friend. When his lifelong tutor overhears a comment, they set out to find their friend only to discover base cruelty and a secret plot.

A plot that challenges the King’s people, the roots of Roman civility, and his friend’s life.

Affronted, he pursues the thread. Little does he know that his investigation will pitch him in a fight with thugs and ultimately set him head-to-head with the governor.

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"The Used Virgin is the first in a series of mysteries based in southern Italy at the time of the Ostrogoth rule of Italy under Theoderic the Great. Italians (Romans) and Goths live under one king while the Roman Empire is ruled from Constantinople. At times the cultures clash, but Argolicus uses his wit, sometimes with help from his tutor Nikolaos, to provide justice in a province far from the King’s court." (author note)

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Set around 510AD, this narrative revolves around retired Roman Praefect Argolicus' task of clearing his friend Adeodatus' name after being accused of a heinous crime by corrupt local Governor with an agenda of his own.

Its a pretty basic story line that could have been filled with a bit more historical context and character development.  Even I - a reader familiar with the historical Ostrogoths - found myself wondering just where I was exactly in this narrative.  A little more care given to the story itself, and this could have been fleshed out into a decent story.  Just too rushed for my liking.

You will find the series listed here @ Goodreads.

Review: A Sip before Dying by Gemma Halliday

Synopsis: The Oak Valley Vineyard has been in Emmy Oak's family for generations. So when the small Sonoma winery is suddenly in financial trouble and in danger of being gobbled up by the corporate giants, Emmy moves home to try to save her legacy with her modern culinary know-how. First step—she throws a party showcasing her latest vintage and signature tasty treats to a group of wine country's most elite enthusiasts. Only when one of her VIP guests sips a glass of poisoned wine and dies in her cellar, Emmy's name is on everyone lips for all the wrong reasons.

The victim was the young, boy-toy husband of one of Silicon Valley's most successful female CEOs... and his playboy ways and suspicious spending habits have almost no one mourning his death. Enter Detective Christopher Grant, recent SFPD transplant, who is assigned to the case and immediately homes in on Oak Valley. But Emmy is determined to clear her winery's name—even if Grant's dark eyes, sexy smile, and mysterious past threaten to distract her. After calling in the big guns to help her—a.k.a. her jewelry designer best friend and copious amounts of cookie dough ice cream—Emmy finds herself digging through a slew of suspects to uncover crimes, grudges, and secret affairs that could put a soap opera to shame. Can Emmy find out just which of the upper crust poisoned the victim's vintage...or will Emmy's next sip be her last?

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I felt as if I had read this before - but can find no record of me having done so - so thus a sense of deja vu with this little cosy mystery.

The synopsis says it all really and the story line follows the usually plotline of a cosy mystery.  Gemma and bestie Ava set out to solve the murder of a guest at the winery, whilst making herself a target of both the killer and the investigating detective.

Nice quick read and introduction of characters for the rest of the series.  

Review: Assassin in the Abbey by EH Walter

Synopsis: An assassin and an assassin catcher play a game of cat and mouse at the coronation of William I on Christmas day 1066.

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A very short story of a mere few pages, set in the aftermath of the Norman victory at Hastings in 1066. William of Normandy is about to be crowned King of England, however, not all see this as a welcome event and one in particular will set out to ensure this does not happen. But William has taken precautions. And our "assassin catcher" narrates the scenes before us, the reader. Who will succeed - the cat or the mouse?

Review: A Novel Crime by ACF Bookens

Synopsis: When Harvey Beckett discovers a body in a neighborhood garage, she has no idea how much that moment will shift everything in her world.

Not everyone can be grateful for a murder, but Harvey Beckett almost can. With the help of her friends and her own gumption to make some changes in her life, Harvey sleuths out the killer . . . and her own adventure.

If you enjoy cozy mysteries, inspiring woman sleuths, and the city of San Francisco, you'll love A Novel Crime. A prequel for the forthcoming St. Marin's Cozy Mystery series set in a waterside town in Maryland.

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A quick read with a not overly complicated plot that introduces us to the main character - Harvey Beckett - of the St Marin's series.

Having not read any in the series, I came to this with no expectations and found that time passed quickly as I delved into this mystery. 

Read this one first before the rest if you have the opportunity to do so as it will provide a little background into the main characters current set up for the rest of the series following.

Review: A Pint of Problems by Chris Lowry

Synopsis: How could he tell her no……even after she broke his heart.

When a woman from Jake’s past finds him passed out on his front porch, she makes him breakfast and an offer he can’t refuse.

Help her get the money owed to her and he gets a percentage.

And her.

He’s dead broke and needs a drink so the walking around money has appeal. Plus the promise of another night with her to sweeten the pot?

What’s supposed to be a short visit turns into an accidental murder charge and his ingénue is nowhere to be found.

Jake’s going to need all the help he can find if he hopes to get out of the mess she dropped him in the middle of.

Fans of disgraced lawyers and southern noir are going to love the Jake Burbank series because if you can’t root for the underdog, at least you can buy him a drink.

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Short story featuring a drunken lawyer framed for not one but two murders when an ex-girlfriend seeks him out to get some money left to her by one lover but denied her by another lover. The momentum of the story is continual, as lawyer Jake and cop Maggie find out the truth behind the obvious frame-up.

A short cosy crime (as opposed to noir fiction) in the Jake Burbank series. One for the fans.