Barry Forshaw - Author

American Noir

After the success of earlier entries in his 'Noir' series Barry Forshaw tackles the largest body of crime fiction from a single country: the United States. The result is a perfect reader's guide to modern American crime fiction. Genre giants appear beside exciting new talents, and Forshaw's knowledge of, and personal acquaintance with, many of the writers allows valuable insights into this massively popular field. Included as well are some of the best crime films to ever have been produced in the US. An indispensable guide to any crime fiction lover.

Brit Noir

Barry Forshaw is acknowledged as a leading expert on crime fiction from European countries, but his principal area of expertise is in the British crime arena. After the success of Nordic Noir and Euro Noir, he returns to the British Isles to produce the ultimate reader's guide to modern British crime fiction. The word 'Noir' is used in its loosest sense; every major living British and Irish writer is considered, often through a concentration on one or two key books, and exciting new talents are highlighted for the reader.

Crime Uncovered: Detective

The War of the Worlds

The War of the Worlds was one of a handful of high-prestige science fiction productions in a low-budget era, and initiated modern cinema's reliance on screen-filling special effects. Barry Forshaw analyses and celebrates this key science fiction film of the 1950s, exploring its literary origins and numerous film progeny.

Euro Noir

Euro Noir examines the astonishing success of European fiction and drama which is often edgier, grittier and more compelling than some of its British or American equivalents, and provides a highly readable guide for those wanting to look further than the obvious choices. Euro Noir provides the perfect shopping list for what to watch or read before that trip to Paris, Rome or Berlin.

Nordic Noir

A compact and authoritative guide to the phenomenally popular genre. The information-packed study examines and celebrates books, films and TV adaptations from Scandinavia. Includes Sjoewall and Wahloeoe's highly influential Martin Beck series through Henning Mankell's Wallander to Stieg Larsson's groundbreaking The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and cult TV hits such as The Killing, The Bridge and Borgen; up to the hugely successful books and films of the current king of the field, Norway's Jo Nesbo.

British Crime Film

Presenting a social history of British crime film, this book focuses on the strategies used in order to address more radical notions surrounding class, politics, sex, delinquency, violence and censorship. Spanning post-war crime cinema to present-day Mockney productions, it contextualizes the films and identifies important and neglected works.

The Man Who Left Too Soon - the Life and Works of Stieg Larsson

His best-selling books are violent, terrifying, brilliantly written and have sold millions of copies around the world, but Stieg Larsson was not there to witness any of their international success. That his fame is entirely posthumous demonstrates the dizzying speed with which his star has risen. However, when one looks a little deeper at the man behind these phenomenal novels, it becomes clear that Larsson's life would have been remembered as extraordinary even if his Millennium Trilogy had never been published. Larsson was a workacholic: a keen politcal activist, photographer, graphic desinger, a respected journalist and editor of numerous science fiction magazines...and at night, to relax after work, he wrote thrillers. As the world now knows, he had completed his third book, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, by the time of his death at just 50 years of age.

Stieg Larsson - the Man Who Left Too Soon

His best-selling books are violent, terrifying, brilliantly written and have sold millions of copies around the world, but Stieg Larsson was not there to witness any of their international success. That he died in 2004 and his fame as an author is entirely posthumous demonstrates the dizzying speed with which his star has risen. But when one looks a little deeper at the man behind these phenomenal novels, it is clear that his life would be remembered as truly extraordinary, even if his Millennium trilogy had never been published. Larsson was a workaholic: a keen political activist, photographer, graphic designer, a respected journalist and editor of numerous science fiction magazines...and at night, to relax after work, he wrote crime novels. As the world now knows, by the time of his death at just 50 years of age he had completed The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, the third book featuring his hypnotic character, Lisbeth Salander. But his relentless personality and political convictions did not make his life easy. He famously reported about some dangerous neo-Nazi organisations in Sweden, which led to numerous death threats. In fact, since his death, officially caused by a massive heart attack, there had been much speculation that his enemies had a hand in his premature demise. This difficult man, brilliant and multifaceted, here receives a penetrating biography - and celebration of his remarkable life and books - from top crime fiction journalist Barry Forshaw.

Crime Time 38

The Crime Time 28

Featuring interviews with and articles on crime-writing giants Ed McBain and Ian Rankin, as well as Sparkle Hayter in London, and columns by Maxim Jakubowski, Mike Ashley, Michael Carlson, Charles Waring, Barry Forshaw and Paul McAuley, plus the usual reviews of the current cream of the crime crop.