That's a good question - British noir's mother? The first book that springs to mind is Joolz Denby's Billie Morgan. I remember it as being 70s set but I see it's only 18 years old.
I love Raymond and Lewis, both wonderful/excellent.
...I just found a bunch of Russell James books, nearly all of them in fact on Kindle, many for $2.99 US and not one over $3.99 US (picked up 10 crime novels, including Count Me Out, and a collection of short stories). FYI, James actually started writing crime novels in the late 80s, so Raymond and Lewis were writing crime novels well before him.
I read the Factory series out of order myself. The one you haven't read, The Devil's Home on Leave, is the one I read first. To me they are in declining order of merit based on composition ranging from outstanding to so-so. I have read The Hidden Files as well and it is certainly worth following up if you can source a copy. I think I paid $50 or so but that was 7-8 years ago.
I haven't bonded with Lewis as much although of course I love Get Carter the film. GBH I thought was a little overrated and in general I prefer Raymond. I've read the Getting Carter bio and it is a worthy read.
I agree that the Factory series is patchy but I admire Raymond/Cook for just not giving a toss about the, until then, accepted conventions of the police procedural and I do not mind the unnamed narrators long winding musings on life and death, etc, because it is often so well written. On balance, I prefer Lewis and would rate him as the true progenitor of British noir fiction. I think Jack's Return Home/Get Carter was quite revolutionary. GBH is good but, for my money, Plender is Lewis's best novel. I reviewed it on my Pulp Curry site here: https://www.pulpcurry.com/2020/05/dirt-under-its-nails-ted-lewiss-plender/
I will still have to scour, Andrew. It is not where I thought it was. Have this sinking feeling I may have given it away 16 years ago. But I will persevere!
Hi Andy and thanks for the comment. These discussions are always complex and a bit unwieldy because (a) what is noir and (b) there are so many books out there, you frame a discussion like I have in this post and almost immediately other authors/books appear to disrupt it (which is great BTW). I read Kersh's book ages ago and really liked it. Maurice Proctor's Hell is a City is another book that falls in this territory, although I have not read it. Doubtless there are others.
That's a good question - British noir's mother? The first book that springs to mind is Joolz Denby's Billie Morgan. I remember it as being 70s set but I see it's only 18 years old.
I love Raymond and Lewis, both wonderful/excellent.
...I just found a bunch of Russell James books, nearly all of them in fact on Kindle, many for $2.99 US and not one over $3.99 US (picked up 10 crime novels, including Count Me Out, and a collection of short stories). FYI, James actually started writing crime novels in the late 80s, so Raymond and Lewis were writing crime novels well before him.
https://www.fantasticfiction.com/j/russell-james/
I read the Factory series out of order myself. The one you haven't read, The Devil's Home on Leave, is the one I read first. To me they are in declining order of merit based on composition ranging from outstanding to so-so. I have read The Hidden Files as well and it is certainly worth following up if you can source a copy. I think I paid $50 or so but that was 7-8 years ago.
I haven't bonded with Lewis as much although of course I love Get Carter the film. GBH I thought was a little overrated and in general I prefer Raymond. I've read the Getting Carter bio and it is a worthy read.
I agree that the Factory series is patchy but I admire Raymond/Cook for just not giving a toss about the, until then, accepted conventions of the police procedural and I do not mind the unnamed narrators long winding musings on life and death, etc, because it is often so well written. On balance, I prefer Lewis and would rate him as the true progenitor of British noir fiction. I think Jack's Return Home/Get Carter was quite revolutionary. GBH is good but, for my money, Plender is Lewis's best novel. I reviewed it on my Pulp Curry site here: https://www.pulpcurry.com/2020/05/dirt-under-its-nails-ted-lewiss-plender/
Awesome I'll pick up a copy of Plender :)
https://guysalvidge.wordpress.com/2015/11/18/derek-raymond-the-red-fog-rises/
https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31633517455&searchurl=ds%3D20%26kn%3Dthe%2Bhidden%2Bfiles%2Braymond%26sortby%3D17&cm_sp=snippet-_-srp1-_-title2
The Hidden Files is wonderful. Essential reading.
I am sure it is. I just need to find a copy that does not cost a fortune.
If I can locate my paperback copy, I am quite happy to give it to you for free, mate. I have it hidden somewhere (no pun intended)
Brendan, would happily accept a loan of it, that would be wonderful. Thanks. Please do let me know if you can find it.
I will still have to scour, Andrew. It is not where I thought it was. Have this sinking feeling I may have given it away 16 years ago. But I will persevere!
No worries, Andrew. Will do.
Hi Andy and thanks for the comment. These discussions are always complex and a bit unwieldy because (a) what is noir and (b) there are so many books out there, you frame a discussion like I have in this post and almost immediately other authors/books appear to disrupt it (which is great BTW). I read Kersh's book ages ago and really liked it. Maurice Proctor's Hell is a City is another book that falls in this territory, although I have not read it. Doubtless there are others.