IF I TELL YOU.. I'LL HAVE TO KILL YOU, edited by Michael Robotham

• Allen & Unwin paper back
• ISBN 978-1-743331-348-0
• 319 pages
• borrowed from my local library

Kindle edition available July 24

Australia's best crime writers - Michael Robotham, Kerry Greenwood, Shane Maloney, Peter Corris, Tara Moss and more - share the secrets to their success, their best- ever writing tips and their favourite 'must reads'. An ideal guide for aspiring writers and crime fiction fans alike.

Description

Crime fiction is the single most popular genre in international publishing and Australia has some of the finest practitioners when it comes to walking the mean streets and nailing the bad guys.

Whether you're a fan of crime fiction, true crime or a would-be crime writer, this collection of essays will provide laughter, understanding, insight, ideas, advice and hopefully some inspiration. Learn about Shane Maloney's near-death experience in a freezer, Leigh Redhead's adventures as a stripper and Tara Moss taking a polygraph test to prove her doubters wrong.

There are stories of struggle and triumph, near misses and murderous intent, as our best crime writers lay bare their souls and reveal their secrets as never before, along with their rules for writing and reading lists.

But beware. They will have to kill you...

My Take

All royalties from this book go towards the Australian Crime Writers Association, which runs the annual Ned Kelly Awards and was established to promote crime writing and reading in Australia.
So while I read this copy from my local library, I also bought a copy for my Kindle.

Here's a unique opportunity to find out what makes some of your favourite Aussie authors tick. The book consists of 20 very readable essays. I've sat through a lot of author talks at the Adelaide Writer's Week and reading these essays reminded me of some of the more candid of those sessions. The five "must-reads" at the end of each essay give further insight and for me, reminded me that I have never read Raymond Chandler's THE BIG SLEEP.

The Table of Contents reads a bit like a Who's Who of successful Australian crime writers, so here is a chance of finding a new author or two, or just relaxing in the company of someone you already follow. The format was a winner for me - each essay is twelve to fifteen pages long and is followed by "My Rules" which of course vary from writer to writer, and then "Five Must Reads" with similarities from author to author.

The final essay is from Peter Lawrance and picks out some of the highlights in the history of the Ned Kelly Awards, founded in 1996. Peter is a long-time convenor and organiser of the NKs.

Well done to whoever had the idea of putting this anthology together. It should be must reading for all crime fiction courses, whether for readers or budding writers.

My rating: 4.8