There’s a great new book out by Lenn Wanner called Tartan Noir (US). I’ve seen Len interview Allan Guthrie and William McIlvanney and can tell you that he’s an extremely well-informed academic and he also has a great sense of style as a speaker. In this one you’ll find a thorough working over of things noir in Scotland and I’d recommend it as a read to anyone who has a strong interest in the subject. Here’s the blurb:
A comprehensive and fascinating guide to the worldwide crime fiction phenomenon known as Tartan Noir covering all its major authors. What is Tartan Noir? Which authors belong to this global crime fiction phenomenon? Which books should you read first, next, again, or not at all? And what are the many historical, political, and cultural influences that have woven themselves into the Tartan Noir success story? Here, Len Wanner investigates the literature’s four main sub-genres – the detective, the police, the serial killer, and the noir novel. Covering four decades’ worth of literary history, Wanner offers not only four in-depth cross-examinations but also close readings of another 40 novels – everything from commercial hits and critical triumphs to curiosity pieces and cult classics. Books critiqued include international bestsellers by the likes of Ian Rankin, William McIlvanney, Val McDermid, and Denise Mina, alongside lesser known gems by counter-cultural icons such as Hugh C. Rae, Ray Banks, Allan Guthrie, Helen FitzGerald, and many more.
‘Tartan Noir seems to me a ground-breaking book. The intensity of Len Wanner’s intelligence sees beyond the superficial perception of crime fiction as just a way to pass the time to find in it a significant reflection of society.’ –William McIlvanney, author of Laidlaw and Strange Loyalties
‘Sharp, insightful and thoroughly readable. Wanner brilliantly analyses a current literary phenomenon. A must-have for all readers of Scottish literature and Tartan Noir. It gave me a real sense of the history of it and just how many good writers there are!’ –Denise Mina, author of The Field of Blood and The End of the Wasp Season