WOMEN LEAD THE WAY IN CRIME FICTION AWARDS
CLAIRE HYLAND ON WHAT’S TRENDING IN VALENTINE’S GIFTS
Readers can’t get enough of women crime writers and the stories they tell as, for the past five years, women authors have won the Irish Book Awards Irish Crime Novel of the Year
2021: 56 Days
by Catherine Ryan Howard
Ciara and Oliver meet in a supermarket queue in Dublin and start dating the same week Covid19 reaches Irish shores. But has the perfect crime been committed when detectives arrive at Oliver’s apartment to discover a decomposing body inside?
2020: After the Silence
by Louise O’Neill
Corkwoman Louise O’Neill’s book tackles the murderer of Nessa Crowley, who has been protected by silence for ten years — until a team of documentary makers decide to find out the truth.
2019: Cruel Acts by Jane Casey
When murderer Leo Stone is allowed out of prison on licence while awaiting a fresh trial, another young woman disappears, leaving the finger of suspicion to point at him.
2018: Skin Deep by Liz Nugent
Cordelia Russell has been living on the French Riviera for 25 years, passing herself off as an English socialite. But her luck, and the kindness of strangers, have run out. Even before she opens her door she can hear the flies buzzing. It hasn’t taken long for the corpse in her bedroom to start decomposing.
2017: The Therapy House by Julie Parsons
A dark psychological thriller set in Dun Laoghaire about the horrific murder of a retired judge, but also encompassing the killing of a guard by an IRA man 40 years earlier. It also touches on the legacy of Civil War feuds, sectarianism, and child abuse.
‘Even fictional antagonists can grip the world’
prince charming. But in growing numbers, female readers are skipping to the part where the beautiful girl buried Prince Charming under the patio and why.
Crime and psychological thrillers are escapism in the truest sense of the word. A gripping mystery engages our minds and ignites our emotions as we become part of the story. They bind us together; when conversation stalls it is easy to fall back on what is now common ground. ‘Have you seen the latest episode of Ozark?’ is a perfectly acceptable conversation starter.
The fascination with crime goes back generations. Agatha Christie, the Queen of Crime, published the first of her 66 detective novels in 1920, and her female sleuth, Miss Marple, became one of crime fiction’s greatest creations. Public interest in real life criminals has long been a phenomenon; the obsession in the 1930s with Bonnie and Clyde was so widespread that, decades after their deaths, their names and their story remain embedded in worldwide popular culture. Such was the interest at the time, podcasts, movies, books and TV shows continue to feature their exploits and the FBI’s desperate attempts to catch them. A multitude of criminals have captured the public’s attention ever since then; whether the individuals are demonised or exalted in the media, the appeal of the macabre endures.
Even fictional antagonists can grip the world — the obsession with who shot J.R. was the ultimate ‘whodunnit’, with viewers forced to speculate all summer long. Tshirt slogans and chat shows were dedicated to dissecting the secret, and when the shooter was revealed, whether we had guessed correctly or not, a collective sigh of satisfaction reverberated around the world
— the mystery was solved!
While fictionalised crime is gripping, its appeal lies in its safety. We cannot escape crime and devastation in real life; if we are not directly affected ourselves, sad and terrifying stories fill our news feed every day. Yet we continue to seek out such stories for the purpose of light entertainment. Gripping mysteries retain their popular appeal, especially when we look in from the outside and are afforded an opportunity to become invested in solving them. Crime thrillers offer that heart-pounding rush of adrenaline that comes with threat but in a safe way — after all, if the story becomes too unsettling, we can simply close the book or turn off the TV. We can safely get invested in the crime playing out, because we can always walk away. Yet few do; this is the genre that grabs our attention until the story has reached its conclusion. Rarely does anyone turn away from a riveting thriller until the clues are solved.
In recent years there has been a growing interest in female-led crime thrillers — perhaps driven by the genre’s appeal amongst women? Helen Mirren’s character in Prime Suspect very much paved the way for fictional female detectives that can rise through the ranks, tackling crime and prejudice simultaneously. The popularity of the fictional detective Jane Tennison pointed to a shift in how we view the leading character in our means of escapism — it refreshed the genre. Recent TV dramas Smother and Hidden Assets also feature strong female leads and have drawn huge audiences. Such lead characters defy the much loved trope of the male detective that has been so dominant in crime thrillers, instead placing women at the forefront of solving the problem, facing the same threats as their male counterparts and rising to the challenge.
As someone who has admired writers that create a world which draws a reader into a vice-grip of intrigue, it’s a dream come true to join that list as one of their contemporaries. I’ve been a consumer of crime thrillers for so long, it’s a wonderful feeling now to be the creator of a novel featuring a strong female heroine. Like all good books, the main character is central to every feeling the story evokes, and in my debut crime thriller, Blinding Lies, the heroine I created is Anna Clarke. In her mid-twenties, Anna is a clerical officer in a busy Garda station and discovers her childhood friend Kate is the main suspect in a murder inquiry. She knows that Kate is safer in custody than hiding on the streets of Cork, especially as the victim was part of a violent criminal family. With inside knowledge of where Kate might be, Anna decides to help her. Instead, she uncovers darkness within the city that she never knew could run so deep. Her mission to help her friend becomes a battle for their very survival. I hope Blinding Lies offers that same enjoyment to readers as they turn the pages of Anna Clarke’s journey and solve the mystery of who is guilty, and why.
Blinding Lies by Amy Cronin is published by Ward River and is out now.
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
Make it a night to remember at The Ivy restaurant on Dublin’s Dawson Street, which is hosting an evening of romance on Valentine’s Day. Diners can enjoy themed cocktails such as Oscar Wilde’s Secret Affair and will leave with a copy of Letters of Note author Shaun Usher’s book Love.
SWEETS FOR MY SWEET
This melt-in-the mouth Croí Álainn giant white chocolate love heart with oozing raspberry tart filling from renowned Irish chocolatier Grá Chocolates is sure to go down a treat with your special someone this Valentine’s. It’s €35 from grachocolates.com and is also available in Brown Thomas.
THE SCENT OF LOVE
Rose scents have a reputation for sometimes being sickly sweet and overpowering. If you are going down the perfume route for your gift, opt for a modern, fresher rose scent such as Tom Ford’s Rose Prick. It contains a blend of Turkish and Bulgarian roses and is available from Brown Thomas, from €276.
WRAPPED UP IN LOVE
Nothing feels as good as slipping into something more comfortable and luxurious. Irish woman Melissa Mills Bari sells beautiful sleepers that you’ll want to wrap that special loved one up in, including these Casablanca pyjamas (€79) and the matching robe (€75) from melissamillsbari.com
KEY TO MY HEART
Give them your heart with this stunning padlock heart bracelet that hangs on an ontrend curb link chain and is reminiscent of the love locks on the Seine in Paris. It’s by family run Irish label NJO designs and priced at €295 from njodesigns.com
PUT IT IN PRINT
For a really unique and thoughtful gift option consider printmaker Jando’s Soundwaves collection which lets you record your wedding vows or a special message or song in print form. They can then be listened to at any time via a QR code and your smart device. The prints are €120 from jandodesign.com
THAT’S AMORE
Treat them to a night to remember at the five star Glenlo Abbey which houses two of the original carriages of the Orient Express that now serve as the Pullman restaurant. The Galway hotel is currently running a special Valentine’s Amore package that includes bed and breakfast, champagne, and dinner aboard The Pullman as well as a private cinema experience and candlelit turndown service from €259 per room at glenloabbeyhotel.ie
SPICE UP YOUR LOVE LIFE
Add some sugar and spice to your Valentine’s Day plans with this contemporary blossom underwear set from Marks & Spencer which is sweet and just the right side of sexy. The bra is €29 and the knickers are €11.50. If you really want to spice up your night then opt for the Ophelia camisole €50, or the poppy red body €40, available in store or online at marksandspencer.com