Euro Noir

Euro Noir is the latest book in what I call “essential books for reading and research”. After impressing everyone with Nordic Noir and Death in a Cold Climate once again Barry Forshaw has written a guide that will in my opinion stand the test of time.

Covering over 10 different countries it not only includes superb information relating to crime books but also covers film and television as well. What more could one want? Furthermore we are given a delightful potted history of the various countries to go with it as well which in my opinion is a bonus.  Not knowing much about Polish and Romanian crime fiction for example this is an added benefit.   On top of all this we also have a number of appendices which only succeed in making this a book that a connoisseur and a layman will appreciate.

Where do I start with Euro Noir? It is an absolutely brilliantly well written book full of information and titbits that make you say “hmm, I didn’t know that”.  Barry Forshaw is the master of the essential guide. With Euro Noir he has made himself once again indispensable to all lovers of crime fiction especially those whose tastes vary considerably and are not solely confined to the UK or North America.

My copy is already dog-eared as I have been dipping in and out of it so much. My favourite section is of course the Italian swiftly followed by the Spanish and Portuguese and then Greek.  I do hope that he continues to write such excellent books as they are very much in need in this day and age where there is such a wide choice of foreign crime fiction to choose from. This is also the perfect present to give to anyone who would like to have some background information before they dip their toes into the big wide world of Euro Noir without being intimidated.

I do hope that our Professor Forshaw is planning more of these as they will be welcomed with open arms especially by me.