Like many of you I started this blog in part to talk about the books I love and don’t get me wrong I’ve loved every minute of it, but there is little in the way of discussion because of the absolute need not to spoil the books for others. So while we talk in broad terms about the plot and characters etc. it can all get a bit coded.
Then I had an idea!
What we can discuss is the settings of books, in particular I’m thinking of crime fiction novels set in the UK.
So what led me here, well a couple of things. If you read my wrap up post from yesterday you will know that the big attraction for me with Kate Hamer’s latest book, The Doll Funeral, is that it is set in the Forest of Dean which is where I lived from the age of nine until I left home. Better still the book is set in 1983 seen through thirteen year old Ruby’s eyes, and yes – I was thirteen in 1983. I want to see how the author depicts the area and how it adds to the story. After all a rural area like this one is very different to a bustling city. I read a piece written by Kate Hamer on how she came to choose the setting.
Around the same time Rebecca Bradley, fellow blogger and author of Shallow Waters and Made to be Broken both set in her home town of Nottingham, mentioned on social media that she was scouting out a new location for a standalone novel. I began to think I may be able to make this work, especially as in the way these things go, I began to see pieces about settings everywhere.
But I can’t do it without your help.
The idea is that you pick a book that you’ve read in a setting you know well – you don’t have to live there, and tell me about it and perhaps provide some pictures. Hopefully for some of these choices I’ll be able to persuade the author to post a little about why they chose that setting, what is it about the area that worked well, how true to life they have made it etc.
Or if you are an author you can tell me about the setting of your book, why you chose it, what the location adds to your book and perhaps whether or not you like the place. I will then source a reviewer and/or someone who knows the area to link up with you.
I’m also grateful to Susan from the wonderful The Book Trail whose whole blog revolves around worldwide locations in books in her wonderful blog who has agreed to provide a book trail map to link with the post and will feature a piece about the book on her blog too. Obviously we will both give full credit to anyone who provides material with links to your blog or author page. I’m hoping that each post will link to a variety of reviews already written. I will be sharing widely on social media and hope all contributors will too.
There will be a master page listing the various locations along with the crime fiction novel set there – I’m thinking that series may work best, but I may be proved wrong. As the list grows crime fiction lovers will be able to access the list and find a recommendation based on location.
To give an example I’ve done a mock up for my favourite series, one that I started at the beginning and eagerly anticipate each new book, it is of course Peter James‘ Roy Grace series. Now I’m not for a minute imagining that Peter James will have time to write a post for me, but in theory if I can find a blogger who knows Brighton well, and has read at least one of these books, we can do a post. We can then link to reviews of as many of the twelve books in the series so far from around the blogosphere to make for a really collaborative post. Because that is one of the aims, to get us all talking and put different views, reviews and pictures onto one page celebrating a book all linked to the location.
One of the best things is this doesn’t have to feature the newest, latest book – we can use information from our archives. I don’t know about you but I can’t think of Oxford without thinking of Morse…
The only downside I can see is this might be a bit of a logistical nightmare as I source reviews, pictures, and blogger opinions with each location/book chosen. So in preparation I have set up a new email address: cleopatralovesbooks70@gmail.com .
I would really appreciate it if you could write Put A Book On The Map in the subject field, or tweet me @cleo_bannister using hashtag #BookOnTheMap ideally with a location you know and the book/series you’d choose to place there. The downside of my new email address which I’ve been meaning to do for a while is that many of my blog comments need moderation the first time I comment as I’ve changed the link on WordPress too – sorry!
So I’m really hoping you will join me, especially those of you who have been busily recommending books matching UK counties to bloggers Abbie from Bloomin Brilliant Books, Jen from Jen Med’s Book Reviews and Rachel from Rachel’s Random Reads who are currently doing an ambitious challenge to read a book from each county in the United Kingdom! #AroundTheUKIn144Books
Now as this project has been brewing a while, I had hoped to contact more of you personally to ask for help but a combination of a nasty virus and too much (paid) work meant I didn’t follow through with that part of the plan and as I didn’t want to delay any longer that’s another apology I owe you!
Please do get in touch – I’m aiming for a post every couple of weeks starting the first week of February and would really love it if you join me, be it to spread the word, make suggestions or use your contacts! I do want this to be a real collaboration and an opportunity for discussion for all of us. So keep your eyes peeled for locations you know, as I will be doing a call out for specific requests as we go along.
Please leave any thoughts, suggestions, questions or general comments in the box below or email me at cleopatralovesbooks70@gmail.com .
What a great idea!
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Thank you 🙂
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Brilliant idea Cleo – count me in! I’ll email you later.
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Thank you Joanne 😊
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I’m going to be reviewing The Boy Inside bt Rob Sinclair soon which I believe is set in my nearest town Peterborough, so I’ll let you know!
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Ooh great news Linda – thank you 😊
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I mean Rob Greenwood!
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Great idea Cleo! I don’t read enough crime fiction to take part, but I’ll really look forward to reading everyone’s contributions 🙂
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What a brilliant idea, Cleo! I’d love to be part of this one as soon as I’m back to full-time blogging again xx
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Excellent idea, Cleo. I’ll be cheering from the sidelines rather than taking part as I read very little crime but I’m looking forward to seeing what people come up with. I’ll have to read the Hamer as I spent the first seventeen years of my life in the Forest of Dean!
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I will appreciate cheerleading 😊No!! Where did you live? Alison Barrow has been in touch this morning and told me about another set there too Sarah Franklin’s novel Shelter will be out in June!
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Oh, excellent. I’ll look out for that. I lived first in Bream. What about you?
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I was in Cinderford
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Ah, you were the other end!
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Fab idea happy to help if I can Cleo x
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Excellent- thank you so much for the offer, I will be taking you up on it!!
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Great idea Cleo. I have a crime book in mind which I believe is set where I live. Once I get hold of a copy and am ready to review, I will email you.
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Fantastic Karen – thank you 😊 I’m so excited about this project and would love to feature something from you.
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I wondered why your comment on my blog yesterday needed approval! Great idea this, Cleo. I will have a proper read of your post later and see what I can think up.
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Brilliant idea, I’m looking forward to seeing your posts and the map grow! 🙂
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What a great idea! I’m going to have a think and will email you if I come up with anything. I’m looking forward to reading your posts as you progress with the project.
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Thank you so much Hayley 😊 it would be love to work with you on this
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Sounds a fascinating concept. I dont read that much crime fiction and a quick trawl through my recent reads didnt reveal any area with which I am familiar so sadly I cant offer you any contributions in the short term. But I’ll certainly be watching with interest
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Watching is good and you may well have a review to be featured even if you’re not local – I will be providing updates once I’ve collated all the magnificent responses!
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sounds good Cleo, will be looking forward to seeing what transpires
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Reblogged this on Crazy Pasta Child.
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Thank you Penney
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I love stories set in Cathedral cities. Started with Susan Howatch’s Starbridge (Salisbury) & then Jim Kelly’s Ely. Elly Griffiths’ The Outcast Dead for Norwich is a TBR.
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I loved The Outcast Dead – have you read Five Rivers Met on a Wooded Plain which is also set in Salisbury?
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Yes but I had some trouble believing the characters. Review on Goodreads.
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I should be able to come up with a few ideas for some Irish crime spots if you like?
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That would be wonderful Cathy – thank you
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I think this is a fantastic idea, Cleo! And so good of you to do all the work for this. I’m definitely going to be in touch, if I may. I’d like to be a part of it.
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Oh Margot thank you – and yes please do, it would be wonderful to have you as a part of this.
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Love it!!! More than happy to help as it ties in brilliantly with our challenge 🙂
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Excellent news Abbie and it is a great fit 🙂
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I love this idea. Offhand I cannot think of anything, but I”ll be sure to reach out to you if something comes to me. All the best!
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Thank you Nish 🙂
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Great idea, Cleo! I don’t really read as much Scottish crime as I should, especially not contemporary stuff, but I look forward to seeing if you and your contributors give me any ideas! Good luck… 😀
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Haha watch your TBR grow now!!
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Fabulous idea! I do love maps, and often Google map a setting when I’m reading a book, especially those in the UK, Australia, or Canada, places I am not familiar with.
Thanks for the great idea…and I will work on this.
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Thank you Laurel – I’ve had a fantastic response so far!
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This is a fantastic idea. Chris Brookmyre set one of my favourite books The Sacred Art of Stealing in Glasgow where I work and some others in the area as he’s originally from Paisley I think. Pretty sure there’s another crime author who has a series in Glasgow but can’t remember the name. Also not too far from Edinburgh and Ian Rankins Rebus series. Haven’t read or written any reviews recently but happy to provide photos and any other info.
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This is fantastic so thank you- I’m busy compiling everyone’s suggestions and I will contact everyone then – I have the latest Chris Brookmyre to read too.
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I have two suggestions. Do you want photos of the book or the locations? I could use my lunch hour to go out and research!
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Thank you Sally and sorry for not responding here sooner – I have answered your email.
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Oh, I really like this idea! It’s always nice when I read a book that is set in the same state as me, or one near me. I believe I know a couple books set in Cincinnati, Ohio. If I can read those soon, I’ll see about doing something for that!
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com
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Until I posted this, I wondered if it was just me!
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Fab Idea. I’ve written a few blogs about Finchley in Fiction and I know there are a few crime novels including Sarah Hillary so I’love email those. Always good to have crime novels in Iron Lady country 😉
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Fab Idea. I’ve written a few blogs about Finchley in Fiction and I know there are a few crime novels including Sarah Hillary so I’ll email those. Always good to have crime novels in Iron Lady country 😉
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Thank you Rosie and yes Finchley should definitely go on the map!
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Brilliant idea!
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Thank you 😊
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I’m working on a post that celebrates bloggers in this community that have been a support and inspiration to me. I hope for you to participate by letting me know two things. One, is What are you passionate about? Two, is what is your favorite quote? Thank you so much for your comments and wonderful posts!
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oh I can think of so many – Steven Dunne’s DI Brook series in and around Derby (where I live), Stephen Booth and Sarah Ward both write crime set in a more rural area of Derbyshire though with fictitious place names, Elly Griffiths Norfolk set Dr Ruth Galloway series for starters. Or Iain Banks’ The Crow Road – more of a family mystery than crime novel as such, and set in an imaginary place that, oddly, it’s possible to pinpoint on a map.
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I love Sarah Ward’s books and I’m sure she’d write a piece if you could do the blogger piece? We’ll see whether Stephen Dunne responds to the tweet as he isn’t ‘known’ to me.. I’d really love to feature you if you are interested – next date up will be 18 March! It’s a bit like a dating agency matching authors to bloggers via location 😂
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I write books set in my local area – I’ll email you some details.
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Excellent thank you Patsy 😊
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This is a great idea although it looks like Peterborough where I’m from is already taken, and there seems to be little crime fiction based in York where I live. I’ll get my thinking cap on though and email you.
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Oh excellent news – so far full post selections have been received for East Anglia, Liverpool, Derby and Edinburgh I’m trying to match author/blogger/locations for anywhere else.
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There’s not much set in my neck of the woods, unsurprisingly – but there’s a ton of series set in Glasgow, which we get to as often as possible! Also, Alex Gray set a book on Mull, where my parents live – Keep The Midnight Out – so that’s a possibility!
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Great idea!
I have been trying to do something similar with Australian books and their settings for years, but have not, to date, been able to settle on a format that I have found to be workable.
I had been creating a list, but tragically deleted all the work I had done on the state of Victoria one bad day, & I lost heart.
Good luck.
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