It's been a busy few weeks for the book promotion.
After uploading the video trailer on YouTube (https://youtu.be/6rXPMFLeKTg) on November 16th, I followed up with a promotion on Dailymotion (http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3edhfz_the-perfectionist-trailer_fun) on November 23rd.
On December 1st, I was also pleased to be included on Paul Norman's Books Monthly. Paul's review of 'The Perfectionist' will appear in the January 2016 edition. Thanks for the support, Paul. Much appreciated!
Check out Books Monthly at this link: http://www.booksmonthly.co.uk/crimeb.html
On Friday 27th, Kate Moloney, who runs Bibliophile Book Club, reviewed 'The Perfectionist' and gave it 5 stars on Goodreads. She followed that up with the publication of our interview today.
Kate, thank you so much for the opportunity! The full book review and interview can be accessed at Kate's website at https://bibliophilebookclub.wordpress.com
I invite you to like her page on Facebook and show your support for the great work she is doing: https://www.facebook.com/BibliophileBookClub/
Here are a few excerpts:
REVIEW
"I was really looking forward to reading The Perfectionist as I loved the premise of the book, and I wasn’t disappointed ... Simon Duke has written a very well crafted novel, with a truly evil villain. If I had to pick a favourite character, honestly, I’d pick The Perfectionist. Intelligent, patient, calculating and just wicked. I liked Stokes as well, but The Perfectionist won out ... I would highly recommend The Perfectionist. Fans of crime thrillers and serial killer novels would devour this book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads! Thanks again to Simon for giving me the opportunity to read The Perfectionist!"
Q&A
– First off, can you tell everyone a little about yourself?
I was born in Stoke-on-Trent (UK) in 1979. I lived a while in rural England and had a very happy childhood. My family moved to France when I was eleven and I was parachuted into a French school without really speaking French. It took me a while to get up-to-speed with the other kids and I was (and I guess I always will be) an outsider and an observer. I grew up in the 80s and 90s, reading books and watching many American movies of that period. Meantime I grew fond of the modern gangster and of the transition from film noir and epic to the more gritty and realistic portrayal of crime in more recent times. Today, I’m a journalist and I’m often on the lookout for good stories. I’d also like to reassure you that, contrary to the dark subject matter of my books, I’m considered a rather well-rounded person with my heart in the right place, more often upbeat than a preacher of gloom and doom. I have yet to murder someone, but I do keep a list of potential victims in the drawer of my bedside table!
– Can you tell us how you got the inspiration for The Perfectionist?
I’ve always wanted to write about serial killers. I’ve read many serial killer books (fiction and non-fiction) and watched my fair share of movies on the persona. Some direct movie influences for The Perfectionist include Manhunter (Michael Mann, 1986), Se7en (David Fincher, 1995), Zodiac (David Fincher, 2007), Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (John McNaughton, 1986), The Silence of the Lambs (Jonathan Demme, 1991), Natural Born Killers (Oliver Stone, 1994)…
Serial killers fascinate me. In fiction, they are highly stylized, and even real-life serial killers have become celebrity monsters through media coverage. I read somewhere that serial killers are for adults what monster movies are for children: that is the guilty pleasure of scary fun. Serial killers are so extreme in their brutality and in their behaviour that we can be drawn to them out of basic and intense human curiosity. Their behaviour is seemingly inexplicable, so we feel a duty to try and understand what their motives are. And they appeal to our most primal feelings: fear, lust or anger. So I reckoned I’d give it a shot myself, but with a novel angle.
The killer in The Perfectionist could be considered the ultimate serial killer. He seemingly chooses his victims at random across America; he has been at large for more than two decades; he has flown under the radar of the cops and the FBI by navigating through the loopholes of the federal law enforcement system; he respects a unique and horrific modus operandi and fine-tunes methods of execution to seek artistic perfection. In the world of law enforcement, there exists a scale on which to rate killers. My killer does not feature on the scale.
Finally given my journalistic background, I’ve always dreamed of stumbling on a killer myself and pursuing him before submitting the proof of his guilt to the police. Gerry Stokes in the book lives that dream for me.
– Some of the killing methods are very violent, I bet your browser history is fun! Are they true to life and as gruesome as they are described in the book? How did you decide on the various modus operandi?
Indeed, I hope the FBI hasn’t hacked my computer. I’d have trouble justifying my highly suspicious Internet history! I must’ve researched dozens of the methods of execution and selected just some of the disturbing MOs that are out there. It’s a frightening realization that some of the methods of execution in The Perfectionist are shockingly quite commonplace. The Colombian necktie, for instance, is a frequent statement that is made in the world of drug cartels. Other methods I refer to in the book where used on a regular basis in the Middle Ages, Feudal Japan, or in Roman times. The killer in The Perfectionist respects a unique and horrific modus operandi and fine-tunes various methods of execution to seek artistic perfection. He has surgical precision. He’s highly intelligent and methodical. The human body is his canvass and he’s not afraid to experiment.
Wednesday, 2 December 2015
Monday, 16 November 2015
Saturday, 7 November 2015
The Perfectionist: 1st Interview and 1st Book Review
My first review was published by Linda Strong on Friday, November 6, 2015. Linda lives in Arizona, USA
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1434287157?ref=ru_lihp_cm_rv_10_mclk-up2679078791
The next day, my first interview was published by Jeff Kivela of Buttonholed Book Reviews. Jeff lives in Ohio, USA.
http://buttonholed.blogspot.com/p/an-interview-with-simon-duke.html
Thank you, Linda and Jeff for your support and interest in The Perfectionist.
An Interview by Buttonholed Book Reviews with Simon Duke
The Perfectionist, launches January 19th, 2016
Simon, who are your influences?
My influences are multiple and varied. Movies and music can be inspirational; everyday conversations and interacting with great people can be beneficial too. The more obvious literature influences are also quite numerous. However, if I had to come up with a shortlist of inspirational authors and books which helped me write The Perfectionist, I’d have to mention the works of Michael Connelly (e.g. The Poet), RJ Ellory (e.g. The Anniversary Man), Henning Mankell (The Kurt Wallander series), James Ellroy (e.g. Killer on the Road), Shane Stevens (By Reason of Insanity), as well as Dennis Lehane, John Grisham, and even Paul Auster and Ernest Hemingway.
Looking at the root of all things, I was born in Stoke-on-Trent (UK). I lived in rural England and had a very happy childhood. My family moved to France when I was eleven and I was parachuted into a French school without really speaking French. It took me a while to get up-to-speed with the other kids and I was (and I guess I always will be) the 'Angliche'. Hence my tendency to favor underdogs or characters with inner demons. I grew up watching many American film classics and loved the 80s films and music (some of it) and read many American novels. I grew fond of the modern gangster and of the transition from film noir and epic to the more gritty and realistic portrayal of crime in more recent times. Let's say that my writing sort of reflects bits of all that.
When did you begin writing?
I started work on my first novel, Out of Bounds, in 2012 (N.B. Out of Bounds was published in 2014). Until then I’d only managed to write short stories, and my writing was infrequent, despite my mind over-spilling with ideas and scenari. One day, I had car trouble on my way to work. The mechanic quoted me a hefty amount of money to carry out the necessary repair work – an amount I wasn’t willing to invest. I began commuting by train and rediscovered the joys of reading. By doing so I discovered crime fiction authors whom I’d never heard of before. Back then I was subject to binge reading. I’d read a novel or two per week, good ones and not so good ones. All this influenced me immensely. And at some point I asked myself, and why not me? This led me to writing the opening scene of Out of Bounds. Nine months later, I’d penned down my first novel.
In The Perfectionist, how did you come up with your story, characters, character names, POV, etc.?
I’ve always wanted to write about serial killers. They tend to fascinate me. In fiction, serial killers are highly stylized and even real-life serial killers have become celebrity monsters through media coverage. I read somewhere that serial killers are for adults what monster movies are for children: that is the guilty pleasure of scary fun. Serial killers are so extreme in their brutality (modus operandi) and in their behavior that we can be drawn to them out of basic and intense human curiosity. Their behavior is seemingly inexplicable, so we feel a duty to try and understand what their motives are. And they appeal to our most primal feelings: fear, lust or anger. So I reckoned I'd give the persona a shot myself, but with a novel angle.
The killer in The Perfectionist could be considered the ultimate serial killer. He seemingly chooses his victims at random across America; he has been at large for more than two decades; he has flown under the radar of the cops and the FBI by navigating through the loopholes of the federal law enforcement system; he respects a unique and horrific modus operandi and fine-tunes methods of execution to seek artistic perfection. In the world of law enforcement, there exists a scale on which to rate killers. My killer does not feature on the scale.
I also have a journalistic background and I’ve always dreamed of stumbling on a killer myself and pursuing him before submitting the proof of his guilt to the police. Gerry Stokes in the book lives that dream for me. His quest is epic. The other characters may be secondary but they play vital roles too. As for names, they tend to evolve during the writing project, but when I find one that sounds authentic, I keep it.
If you could actually meet one of your characters, who would it be? Why?
I’d say: Gerry Stokes. He’s a complex character. He’s a rookie reporter stuck in small-town Iowa in the late 80s, working for a local paper, but with great ambitions. We meet him again more than twenty years later. He’s become a seasoned business journalist working for the Chicago Tribune. He’s a self-centered, obnoxious and arrogant guy with a soft spot for sex with prostitutes. Despicable. But he’s got talent and flair. The morbidity and seriousness of the investigation will change him, and so will his relationship with the woman who puts him on the track in the first place, Sarah Howard. Gerry’s evolution in the book is gradual and we grow to like his character. I’m sure he’d be a bit of fun to be with around a few beers.
Do you work from an outline? Can you tell us a little about your writing philosophy?
Indeed, I start off with a story idea and write it down in a summary. Either the rest of the story comes to me straight away, or I begin writing a few scenes and things gradually fall into place. As soon as I have a solid enough backbone to a story, I flesh it out and divide the result into chapters. From there on, I write bit after bit. I set myself realistic goals (such as a certain amount of words to write per week/month) and above all do not hate myself if for some reason or another I do not meet my targets. There are times when the inspiration does come and I have to cash in to churn out more words than usual. Other times I realize the storyline is weak and needs beefing up, or I have a change in mind with regard to how events unfold. I then go back to the backbone and fit these new ideas in.
Having said that, whatever philosophy that may apply to me may not be necessarily relevant for others. I’d argue that you mustn’t be afraid to write, even if you think that what you’re writing isn’t quality. It’s the writing exercise that’s important. Put as much as you can on paper. It’s only afterwards that you do the sorting out. You have to believe in yourself and your capacity as a writer because if you don’t, no-one else will. If you don’t get published via the traditional route, then publish by your own means. It’s not a defeatist attitude; on the contrary it’s a sign of courage showcasing your will and desire to succeed in spite of the obstacles in your way. If you don’t secure a publisher’s representation the first time round, then you’ve always got a second chance, a third, or a forth. Never give up.
Tell me about your favorite scene in The Perfectionist.
Though there are many to choose from, one that comes to mind right now is a scene about a third of the way in. Gerry Stokes is visiting his brother Joe who stayed in Iowa and took care of the hog farm, helping out their parents while Gerry went away to live the journalist hotshot life in Chicago. Without revealing too much with regard to the purpose of this visit, Gerry is basically forced to come back to the farm for the first time in many years, and Joe confronts him around coffee at the kitchen table for reasons linked to his brother’s absence. It’s an emotional scene between the two brothers who couldn’t have more different personalities. However, it’s also a crucial moment when I sow the seeds of Gerry’s shift in attitude and open his eyes to what he needs to preserve from the evil surrounding him during his investigation. It may not be an action-packed scene, but I remember being totally in phase with the writing and overall mood; the words just flowed out of me.
Have you ever tried writing in any other genres?
So far I've only written crime fiction. It's my favorite genre. Besides, it offers a lot of scope for writers. Within crime fiction I can weave in all sorts of other genres: the thriller, a bit of romance, history, psychology, and even social commentary. Crime fiction is a great place to put your ordinary Joe in extraordinary circumstances, in situations that people would never experience in ordinary life. This then gives me possibility of putting my characters through a lot of human emotions, and that makes the process even more interesting.
Do you have any interesting writing-related anecdotes to share?
This is related to my third book, which I’m still working on. But there’s a scene in which my main protagonist, who is a hitman, goes to Spain and carries out a contract. His target is a rich and retired Englishman living in a mansion in Benidorm. A few days after I wrote that scene, I read in the papers that a retired Englishman living in Benidorm was found shot dead in his home and that the police were still without suspects. Needless to say, that kind of freaked me out. Now I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the Spanish police doesn’t comes across my Internet history!
Do you listen to music as you write?
As I get more comfortable with my writing I tend to put on a melody from time to time. It mustn't be too distracting though and make me want to dance on my chair instead of writing. So I opt most often for music without lyrics and make sure there is a constant flow coming through. Sometimes I like it soft and classical or jazzy, but when I need some more pace I listen to electro music too. I enjoy some movie soundtracks too. But before I reach that stage, I need silence. Silence is a prerequisite. I need it for my deepest thinking and concentration spans.
The Perfectionist - A Review by Linda Strong
from Mesa, Arizona
"My thanks to the author who so graciously furnished an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. The Perfectionist is out on January, 19th 2016."
Who knew that finding a severed head in a cornfield 20 years ago would lead to a 3-year odyssey into finding a serial killer? Gerry Stokes, a journalist, helped cover up the discovery and now he's sorry.
Sara Howard approaches Gerry about her missing grandfather, who hasn't been seen in the past 20 years. She more or less blackmails Gerry into finding out exactly what happened to him.
What Gerry finds is unbelievable.... a trail of dead bodies across several states. He starts seeing the connections, something no one else has seen. A serial killer who has gone entirely unnoticed for all these years.
The murderer seems to kill two or three random people in one way, until he perfects his technique, always taking his victims from one state and leaving their bodies or body parts in another state. Then he goes on another spree, killing in a different way, repeating the pattern to perfection.
Gerry goes from state to state following very thin threads and tying them all together. His idea is to document all his findings in a book. He wants to write the book before notifying authorities, a first. He sees lot of fame and lots of dollars in his near future.
This book almost reads like a textbook on how to investigate and locate suspects. It's fascinating watching how he goes about it, some of it being gut-feelings.
There are several twists and turns along the way, a major one popping up at the end...which took me entirely by surprise.
An intriguing book, there is only one small criticism I have ... the cases of all the victims are repeated multiple times and I found myself skipping through a lot of those descriptions after reading the very first ones.
3.75 Stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1434287157?ref=ru_lihp_cm_rv_10_mclk-up2679078791
The next day, my first interview was published by Jeff Kivela of Buttonholed Book Reviews. Jeff lives in Ohio, USA.
http://buttonholed.blogspot.com/p/an-interview-with-simon-duke.html
Thank you, Linda and Jeff for your support and interest in The Perfectionist.
An Interview by Buttonholed Book Reviews with Simon Duke
The Perfectionist, launches January 19th, 2016
Simon, who are your influences?
My influences are multiple and varied. Movies and music can be inspirational; everyday conversations and interacting with great people can be beneficial too. The more obvious literature influences are also quite numerous. However, if I had to come up with a shortlist of inspirational authors and books which helped me write The Perfectionist, I’d have to mention the works of Michael Connelly (e.g. The Poet), RJ Ellory (e.g. The Anniversary Man), Henning Mankell (The Kurt Wallander series), James Ellroy (e.g. Killer on the Road), Shane Stevens (By Reason of Insanity), as well as Dennis Lehane, John Grisham, and even Paul Auster and Ernest Hemingway.
Looking at the root of all things, I was born in Stoke-on-Trent (UK). I lived in rural England and had a very happy childhood. My family moved to France when I was eleven and I was parachuted into a French school without really speaking French. It took me a while to get up-to-speed with the other kids and I was (and I guess I always will be) the 'Angliche'. Hence my tendency to favor underdogs or characters with inner demons. I grew up watching many American film classics and loved the 80s films and music (some of it) and read many American novels. I grew fond of the modern gangster and of the transition from film noir and epic to the more gritty and realistic portrayal of crime in more recent times. Let's say that my writing sort of reflects bits of all that.
When did you begin writing?
I started work on my first novel, Out of Bounds, in 2012 (N.B. Out of Bounds was published in 2014). Until then I’d only managed to write short stories, and my writing was infrequent, despite my mind over-spilling with ideas and scenari. One day, I had car trouble on my way to work. The mechanic quoted me a hefty amount of money to carry out the necessary repair work – an amount I wasn’t willing to invest. I began commuting by train and rediscovered the joys of reading. By doing so I discovered crime fiction authors whom I’d never heard of before. Back then I was subject to binge reading. I’d read a novel or two per week, good ones and not so good ones. All this influenced me immensely. And at some point I asked myself, and why not me? This led me to writing the opening scene of Out of Bounds. Nine months later, I’d penned down my first novel.
In The Perfectionist, how did you come up with your story, characters, character names, POV, etc.?
I’ve always wanted to write about serial killers. They tend to fascinate me. In fiction, serial killers are highly stylized and even real-life serial killers have become celebrity monsters through media coverage. I read somewhere that serial killers are for adults what monster movies are for children: that is the guilty pleasure of scary fun. Serial killers are so extreme in their brutality (modus operandi) and in their behavior that we can be drawn to them out of basic and intense human curiosity. Their behavior is seemingly inexplicable, so we feel a duty to try and understand what their motives are. And they appeal to our most primal feelings: fear, lust or anger. So I reckoned I'd give the persona a shot myself, but with a novel angle.
The killer in The Perfectionist could be considered the ultimate serial killer. He seemingly chooses his victims at random across America; he has been at large for more than two decades; he has flown under the radar of the cops and the FBI by navigating through the loopholes of the federal law enforcement system; he respects a unique and horrific modus operandi and fine-tunes methods of execution to seek artistic perfection. In the world of law enforcement, there exists a scale on which to rate killers. My killer does not feature on the scale.
I also have a journalistic background and I’ve always dreamed of stumbling on a killer myself and pursuing him before submitting the proof of his guilt to the police. Gerry Stokes in the book lives that dream for me. His quest is epic. The other characters may be secondary but they play vital roles too. As for names, they tend to evolve during the writing project, but when I find one that sounds authentic, I keep it.
If you could actually meet one of your characters, who would it be? Why?
I’d say: Gerry Stokes. He’s a complex character. He’s a rookie reporter stuck in small-town Iowa in the late 80s, working for a local paper, but with great ambitions. We meet him again more than twenty years later. He’s become a seasoned business journalist working for the Chicago Tribune. He’s a self-centered, obnoxious and arrogant guy with a soft spot for sex with prostitutes. Despicable. But he’s got talent and flair. The morbidity and seriousness of the investigation will change him, and so will his relationship with the woman who puts him on the track in the first place, Sarah Howard. Gerry’s evolution in the book is gradual and we grow to like his character. I’m sure he’d be a bit of fun to be with around a few beers.
Do you work from an outline? Can you tell us a little about your writing philosophy?
Indeed, I start off with a story idea and write it down in a summary. Either the rest of the story comes to me straight away, or I begin writing a few scenes and things gradually fall into place. As soon as I have a solid enough backbone to a story, I flesh it out and divide the result into chapters. From there on, I write bit after bit. I set myself realistic goals (such as a certain amount of words to write per week/month) and above all do not hate myself if for some reason or another I do not meet my targets. There are times when the inspiration does come and I have to cash in to churn out more words than usual. Other times I realize the storyline is weak and needs beefing up, or I have a change in mind with regard to how events unfold. I then go back to the backbone and fit these new ideas in.
Having said that, whatever philosophy that may apply to me may not be necessarily relevant for others. I’d argue that you mustn’t be afraid to write, even if you think that what you’re writing isn’t quality. It’s the writing exercise that’s important. Put as much as you can on paper. It’s only afterwards that you do the sorting out. You have to believe in yourself and your capacity as a writer because if you don’t, no-one else will. If you don’t get published via the traditional route, then publish by your own means. It’s not a defeatist attitude; on the contrary it’s a sign of courage showcasing your will and desire to succeed in spite of the obstacles in your way. If you don’t secure a publisher’s representation the first time round, then you’ve always got a second chance, a third, or a forth. Never give up.
Tell me about your favorite scene in The Perfectionist.
Though there are many to choose from, one that comes to mind right now is a scene about a third of the way in. Gerry Stokes is visiting his brother Joe who stayed in Iowa and took care of the hog farm, helping out their parents while Gerry went away to live the journalist hotshot life in Chicago. Without revealing too much with regard to the purpose of this visit, Gerry is basically forced to come back to the farm for the first time in many years, and Joe confronts him around coffee at the kitchen table for reasons linked to his brother’s absence. It’s an emotional scene between the two brothers who couldn’t have more different personalities. However, it’s also a crucial moment when I sow the seeds of Gerry’s shift in attitude and open his eyes to what he needs to preserve from the evil surrounding him during his investigation. It may not be an action-packed scene, but I remember being totally in phase with the writing and overall mood; the words just flowed out of me.
Have you ever tried writing in any other genres?
So far I've only written crime fiction. It's my favorite genre. Besides, it offers a lot of scope for writers. Within crime fiction I can weave in all sorts of other genres: the thriller, a bit of romance, history, psychology, and even social commentary. Crime fiction is a great place to put your ordinary Joe in extraordinary circumstances, in situations that people would never experience in ordinary life. This then gives me possibility of putting my characters through a lot of human emotions, and that makes the process even more interesting.
Do you have any interesting writing-related anecdotes to share?
This is related to my third book, which I’m still working on. But there’s a scene in which my main protagonist, who is a hitman, goes to Spain and carries out a contract. His target is a rich and retired Englishman living in a mansion in Benidorm. A few days after I wrote that scene, I read in the papers that a retired Englishman living in Benidorm was found shot dead in his home and that the police were still without suspects. Needless to say, that kind of freaked me out. Now I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the Spanish police doesn’t comes across my Internet history!
Do you listen to music as you write?
As I get more comfortable with my writing I tend to put on a melody from time to time. It mustn't be too distracting though and make me want to dance on my chair instead of writing. So I opt most often for music without lyrics and make sure there is a constant flow coming through. Sometimes I like it soft and classical or jazzy, but when I need some more pace I listen to electro music too. I enjoy some movie soundtracks too. But before I reach that stage, I need silence. Silence is a prerequisite. I need it for my deepest thinking and concentration spans.
Thank you Simon for taking the time for Buttonholed Book Reviews
****
The Perfectionist - A Review by Linda Strong
from Mesa, Arizona
"My thanks to the author who so graciously furnished an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. The Perfectionist is out on January, 19th 2016."
Who knew that finding a severed head in a cornfield 20 years ago would lead to a 3-year odyssey into finding a serial killer? Gerry Stokes, a journalist, helped cover up the discovery and now he's sorry.
Sara Howard approaches Gerry about her missing grandfather, who hasn't been seen in the past 20 years. She more or less blackmails Gerry into finding out exactly what happened to him.
What Gerry finds is unbelievable.... a trail of dead bodies across several states. He starts seeing the connections, something no one else has seen. A serial killer who has gone entirely unnoticed for all these years.
The murderer seems to kill two or three random people in one way, until he perfects his technique, always taking his victims from one state and leaving their bodies or body parts in another state. Then he goes on another spree, killing in a different way, repeating the pattern to perfection.
Gerry goes from state to state following very thin threads and tying them all together. His idea is to document all his findings in a book. He wants to write the book before notifying authorities, a first. He sees lot of fame and lots of dollars in his near future.
This book almost reads like a textbook on how to investigate and locate suspects. It's fascinating watching how he goes about it, some of it being gut-feelings.
There are several twists and turns along the way, a major one popping up at the end...which took me entirely by surprise.
An intriguing book, there is only one small criticism I have ... the cases of all the victims are repeated multiple times and I found myself skipping through a lot of those descriptions after reading the very first ones.
3.75 Stars
Monday, 2 November 2015
Press Release: 'The Perfectionist' to Be Published in Mid-January 2016
November 2, 2015 -- Simon Duke, the author of Out of Bounds, is delighted to announce the launch of his new novel in mid-January 2016. The Perfectionist - a modern day crime thriller set in the U.S. – explores new angles in the serial killer theme while providing a fair share of frightening twists and turns. It’s a novel he's wanted to write for many years.
The Perfectionist is a haunting, psychological thriller with compelling and vivid storytelling as well as major character development, which begins with a severed head found rotting in an Iowa corn field, in 1988. Confronted with this gruesome discovery, Gerry Stokes – an arrogant and obnoxious newspaper reporter – agrees to cover up the affair. But the truth can't be concealed forever.
More than twenty years later, Stokes must finally atone for his errors as the past returns with a vengeance. Forced into an investigation to discover what happened all those years ago, he stumbles upon a sordid truth: the victim is one of many; people seemingly chosen at random across America by a serial killer at large for more than two decades; a killer with a unique and horrific modus operandi who’s flown under the radar. Still at large the killer seeks to achieve artistic perfection in his methods of execution. He is "The Perfectionist".
While tracking the killer under the cloak of FBI suspicion, Stokes sets himself an ambitious target and potential path to fame: write a book that leads the police to the killer, a first in the history of publishing.
The stakes are high and the pressure is on. Stokes is in the race of his life to discover The Perfectionist's identity and publish his bestseller, while forced to bend the notion of what is ethically right.
Prior to the mid-January 2016 launch, Duke plans a marketing and publicity campaign which will include a video trailer integrating music by renowned American singer and composer, Josh Garrels.
Simon Duke was born in Stoke-on-Trent (UK) in 1979. He obtained a B.A. in French with Film Studies in 2001 and has been working in journalism ever since. He currently lives in Toulouse, France.
His other fiction work includes his debut novel, Out of Bounds - published in 2014, and available at Amazon; CreateSpace; Smashwords; Barnes & Noble; Apple; Sony; Kobo; etc – as well various short stories and poems available on his website http://simongduke.blogspot.com
For more information or interviews please contact:
Simon Duke
Email: simonduke31450@gmail.com
Website: http://simongduke.blogspot.com
The Perfectionist is a haunting, psychological thriller with compelling and vivid storytelling as well as major character development, which begins with a severed head found rotting in an Iowa corn field, in 1988. Confronted with this gruesome discovery, Gerry Stokes – an arrogant and obnoxious newspaper reporter – agrees to cover up the affair. But the truth can't be concealed forever.
More than twenty years later, Stokes must finally atone for his errors as the past returns with a vengeance. Forced into an investigation to discover what happened all those years ago, he stumbles upon a sordid truth: the victim is one of many; people seemingly chosen at random across America by a serial killer at large for more than two decades; a killer with a unique and horrific modus operandi who’s flown under the radar. Still at large the killer seeks to achieve artistic perfection in his methods of execution. He is "The Perfectionist".
While tracking the killer under the cloak of FBI suspicion, Stokes sets himself an ambitious target and potential path to fame: write a book that leads the police to the killer, a first in the history of publishing.
The stakes are high and the pressure is on. Stokes is in the race of his life to discover The Perfectionist's identity and publish his bestseller, while forced to bend the notion of what is ethically right.
Prior to the mid-January 2016 launch, Duke plans a marketing and publicity campaign which will include a video trailer integrating music by renowned American singer and composer, Josh Garrels.
Simon Duke was born in Stoke-on-Trent (UK) in 1979. He obtained a B.A. in French with Film Studies in 2001 and has been working in journalism ever since. He currently lives in Toulouse, France.
His other fiction work includes his debut novel, Out of Bounds - published in 2014, and available at Amazon; CreateSpace; Smashwords; Barnes & Noble; Apple; Sony; Kobo; etc – as well various short stories and poems available on his website http://simongduke.blogspot.com
For more information or interviews please contact:
Simon Duke
Email: simonduke31450@gmail.com
Website: http://simongduke.blogspot.com
Thursday, 29 October 2015
'Mockingbird Songs': The Past Cannot Be Buried Forever - Review
The first Roger Ellory novel I read was 'The Anniversary Man'. That was several years ago. After such a stunning discovery I did not lose much time and read his previously published works. And ever since the release of 'Bad Signs' in 2011, I have been looking forward (and not without a high degree of impatience) to getting hold of each new book, and immersing myself into them, devouring the fine prose and marveling at the slow burning and always uniquely-told stories. 'Mockingbird Songs' (2015) is no exception, it's simply addictive.
'Mockingbird Songs' tells the stories of two men: Evan Riggs, a former country music star in the 1940s who ends up serving life without parole for the murder of a stranger; and Henry Quinn, a young guitarist whom he meets thirty years later and protects in prison. Upon his release Quinn promises Riggs to deliver a letter to a girl called Sarah, the daughter that Evan has never seen. Quinn's mission takes him to Calvary, East Texas, where Evan's estranged brother, Carson, serves as sheriff and is determined to complicate Henry's task and make sure that the Pandora's Box remains closed.
I enjoyed 'Mockingbird Songs' for various reasons. Stylistically, I was once again hooked from the very beginning. Ellory somehow captures the eeriness and desolation of small-town Texas in the 1940s-70s and introduces us to astutely fleshed-out and complex characters who keep us emotionally-involved. There is juxtaposition in style between sharp, yet beautiful prose and slang Americanisations, which only Ellory seems capable of pulling off. You get the feeling that he has lived in Calvary, Texas his whole life and knows the townsfolk like his next door neighbors. He makes them real and believable.
Like Ellory's other novels, 'Mockingbird Songs' is very much character driven. Henry Quinn, the main protagonist, takes us along with him on the ride and into to the heart of the matter: small town politics, power struggles, but also conflicting jealousies, human bitterness, tangled with a highly emotional love story - and all accompanied by a country music vibe which highlights Ellory's passion for literature as well as music. The characters evolve as the plot jumps between the past (1940s) in which we are given the necessary background and the present (1972) in which Henry is determined to deliver the letter he has been trusted with while gradually discovering the skeletons in the closet of the past.
The dual story unfolds at a wonderful pace and you reach an eventful conclusion that has considerable impact - a sort of inevitable catharsis where the worlds of the past and present clash once and for all, leaving little room for survivors. What goes around certainly comes around. And I turned the last page of the book with a feeling of joy and satisfaction for having witnessed something raw and thought-provoking - a story whose characters will linger in my mind and continue to haunt me for the near future. And that's always a wonderful sensation to have after reading a book!
Although I was mesmerized by 'Mockingbird Songs', I did however find that it lacked somewhat the punch of Ellory's previous novels. Henry Quinn or Evan Riggs seemed to possess less inner demons than the main protagonists of his other books. Detective Ray Irving in 'The Anniversary Man', Frank Parrish in 'Saints of New York' or Vincent Madigan in 'A Dark and Broken Heart' were truly consumed by theirs. But then again the story here is perhaps a little more subdued than in his other novels as the primary focus is family matters in a small town in rural America, and not a relentless pursuit of a sadistic killer nor a man's survival in the world of organized crime.
Overall this was another great achievement by Roger Ellory, and now I await the 2016 book with even more eagerness.
'Mockingbird Songs' tells the stories of two men: Evan Riggs, a former country music star in the 1940s who ends up serving life without parole for the murder of a stranger; and Henry Quinn, a young guitarist whom he meets thirty years later and protects in prison. Upon his release Quinn promises Riggs to deliver a letter to a girl called Sarah, the daughter that Evan has never seen. Quinn's mission takes him to Calvary, East Texas, where Evan's estranged brother, Carson, serves as sheriff and is determined to complicate Henry's task and make sure that the Pandora's Box remains closed.
I enjoyed 'Mockingbird Songs' for various reasons. Stylistically, I was once again hooked from the very beginning. Ellory somehow captures the eeriness and desolation of small-town Texas in the 1940s-70s and introduces us to astutely fleshed-out and complex characters who keep us emotionally-involved. There is juxtaposition in style between sharp, yet beautiful prose and slang Americanisations, which only Ellory seems capable of pulling off. You get the feeling that he has lived in Calvary, Texas his whole life and knows the townsfolk like his next door neighbors. He makes them real and believable.
Like Ellory's other novels, 'Mockingbird Songs' is very much character driven. Henry Quinn, the main protagonist, takes us along with him on the ride and into to the heart of the matter: small town politics, power struggles, but also conflicting jealousies, human bitterness, tangled with a highly emotional love story - and all accompanied by a country music vibe which highlights Ellory's passion for literature as well as music. The characters evolve as the plot jumps between the past (1940s) in which we are given the necessary background and the present (1972) in which Henry is determined to deliver the letter he has been trusted with while gradually discovering the skeletons in the closet of the past.
The dual story unfolds at a wonderful pace and you reach an eventful conclusion that has considerable impact - a sort of inevitable catharsis where the worlds of the past and present clash once and for all, leaving little room for survivors. What goes around certainly comes around. And I turned the last page of the book with a feeling of joy and satisfaction for having witnessed something raw and thought-provoking - a story whose characters will linger in my mind and continue to haunt me for the near future. And that's always a wonderful sensation to have after reading a book!
Although I was mesmerized by 'Mockingbird Songs', I did however find that it lacked somewhat the punch of Ellory's previous novels. Henry Quinn or Evan Riggs seemed to possess less inner demons than the main protagonists of his other books. Detective Ray Irving in 'The Anniversary Man', Frank Parrish in 'Saints of New York' or Vincent Madigan in 'A Dark and Broken Heart' were truly consumed by theirs. But then again the story here is perhaps a little more subdued than in his other novels as the primary focus is family matters in a small town in rural America, and not a relentless pursuit of a sadistic killer nor a man's survival in the world of organized crime.
Overall this was another great achievement by Roger Ellory, and now I await the 2016 book with even more eagerness.
Monday, 26 October 2015
'The Perfectionist': The Book Cover
The launch period for 'The Perfectionist' has been chosen. Drums rolling... It's going to be mid-January 2016. The book will be available in paperback and in ebook at the major retailers.
All is more or less ready; the promotional plan will soon be in full swing, and last week I was proud to receive a copy of the proof paperback. Impressed with the result, I am now in a position to publically-disclose the book's layout and cover artwork.
So without further ado, here is an exclusive sneak peek at the book cover. Thank you to my trustworthy and insightful collaborators, Oscar Sanchez and Bertrand Raes. You don't change a winning team!
Here's the back cover blurb:
"Iowa, 1988. An unidentified severed head is found rotting in a corn field. Confronted with this gruesome discovery, Gerry Stokes – an arrogant and obnoxious newspaper reporter – agrees to cover up the affair. But the truth can't be concealed forever.
More than twenty years later, Stokes must finally atone for his errors as the past returns with a vengeance. Forced into an investigation to discover what happened all those years ago, he stumbles upon a sordid truth: the victim is one of many; people seemingly chosen at random across America by a serial killer at large for more than two decades; a killer with a unique and horrific modus operandi who’s flown under the radar. Still at large the killer seeks to achieve artistic perfection in his methods of execution. He is "The Perfectionist".
While tracking the killer under the cloak of FBI suspicion, Stokes sets himself an ambitious target and potential path to fame: write a book that leads the police to the killer, a first in the history of publishing.
The stakes are high and the pressure is on. Stokes is in the race of his life to discover The Perfectionist's identity and publish his bestseller, while forced to bend the notion of what is ethically right."
All is more or less ready; the promotional plan will soon be in full swing, and last week I was proud to receive a copy of the proof paperback. Impressed with the result, I am now in a position to publically-disclose the book's layout and cover artwork.
So without further ado, here is an exclusive sneak peek at the book cover. Thank you to my trustworthy and insightful collaborators, Oscar Sanchez and Bertrand Raes. You don't change a winning team!
Here's the back cover blurb:
"Iowa, 1988. An unidentified severed head is found rotting in a corn field. Confronted with this gruesome discovery, Gerry Stokes – an arrogant and obnoxious newspaper reporter – agrees to cover up the affair. But the truth can't be concealed forever.
More than twenty years later, Stokes must finally atone for his errors as the past returns with a vengeance. Forced into an investigation to discover what happened all those years ago, he stumbles upon a sordid truth: the victim is one of many; people seemingly chosen at random across America by a serial killer at large for more than two decades; a killer with a unique and horrific modus operandi who’s flown under the radar. Still at large the killer seeks to achieve artistic perfection in his methods of execution. He is "The Perfectionist".
While tracking the killer under the cloak of FBI suspicion, Stokes sets himself an ambitious target and potential path to fame: write a book that leads the police to the killer, a first in the history of publishing.
The stakes are high and the pressure is on. Stokes is in the race of his life to discover The Perfectionist's identity and publish his bestseller, while forced to bend the notion of what is ethically right."
Tuesday, 13 October 2015
Exploring Evil
I recently attended a roundtable held during the 7th edition of the Toulouse Polars du Sud crime fiction festival (9 October 2015), during which participants RJ Ellory* and Donato Carrisi** asked the questions, "Is evil external to the human condition?" and "Can you be born evil?"
While there is no consensus on our inherent nature, one may be concerned about man's genetic predisposition towards evil behaviors like selfishness, violence, and cruelty. Is evil inherent, or is it an unfortunate side effect of our society? It is understood that personality comes early and is influenced by outside circumstances and upbringing. We enter this world as innocent children. However, we all have the potential to descend into evil over the years. As Ellory puts it, "evil is an additive."
Carrisi looked no further than at a man who has been coined as one of the most evil men in history: Adolf Hitler. When you look at the popular photo of Hitler taken when he was a toddler, it is hard to fathom that he started off so innocent-looking.
Fortunately for the human race, only a tiny percentage of people turned out to be figures of evil or what one may call evil geniuses. Yet these people are subjects of our fascination. We are drawn to them, yet we can't really justify such attractions. Why is this?
Through his novels, Ellory touches upon the incomprehensible nature of evil, a concept that can be described and discussed, but never completely understood. Although we condemn rapists, thieves, or people who kill out of rage or jealousy, we can fathom the coherent and human thought processes behind such acts, for we too are human. "But why don't we understand pure evil?" Ellory asks. "It's because we don't really understand ourselves," he says in answer.
The behavior of the evil geniuses or less genius serial killers is seemingly inexplicable and without a coherent motive which we can relate to. Serial killers are driven by inner demons that even they may not comprehend. We are drawn to these killers, not really by disgusting morbidity, but more because we cannot understand their violence. We thus feel compelled to understand, and by doing so we side with evil. It's basic human curiosity.
Besides the killer himself, many of my characters in 'The Perfectionist' are linked to this fascination we can have in serial killers. I carried out some research into profiling and criminology. I even looked at some forensics science. But above all I looked at factual data about these evil men. Be reassured, real serial killers generally do not possess unique or exceptional intellectual skills (think of David Berkowitz - aka Son of Sam - who in the 1970’s, terrorized the people of New York City, murdering six people and prompting a police operation known as Operation Omega, comprised of 200 detectives trying to stop him before he could kill again. What caused his downfall and subsequent capture? ... A parking ticket!) The image of the evil genius serial killer is mostly a Hollywood invention - think of Kevin Spacey's character in 'Se7en' or Anthony Hopkins's Hannibal Lecter in 'Silence of the Lambs.' This makes the intelligence of serial killers a popular culture stereotype, but it sure does make great entertainment. Wouldn't you agree?
It is understood that it isn't intelligence, cunning or genius that makes real serial killers successful. No, instead, it is obsession, meticulous planning and a decent amount of cold-blood to operate, outsmart law enforcement authorities and to remain at large. 'The Perfectionist' takes all that and all we know about the serial killer persona and goes an extra step.
The killer whom my main character (Gerry Stokes, a veteran journalist working at the Chicago Tribune) tracks has flown under the radar for more than 20 years. His unique modus operandi and his inner demons or ambitions make him hard to fit into any category of killer seen before. In 'Level 26: Dark Origins', authors Anthony E. Zuiker and Duane Swierczynski explore this fictitious notion of killer classification. In the book, law enforcement quantifies evil and murderousness on a scale of 1 to 25, with naive opportunists at Level 1 and organized, premeditated torture-murderers at Level 25. However, the killer in the book is so awesome, that a level 26 has to be considered. The killer in 'The Perfectionist', meanwhile isn't subject to such classification because he simply doesn't exist in the eyes of the law. It takes an unfortunate set of circumstances and a lot of reporter's flair to put Gerry Stokes on his trail. My killer simply got unlucky.
Can the Perfectionist be considered the ultimate serial killer? You'll soon find out. Significant progress has been made and most of the pre-publication work is over. Finally, cover artwork is close to being finalized. All is on track for an early-2016 launch. I expect to share more news soon on this blog in the coming weeks. Additionally you can follow me on Twitter at @SimonGDuke and/or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/simonduke
'The Perfectionist' touches upon the evolution of the serial killer. And similar to the killers who are its messengers, evil has evolved too. It has become more cunning and comes under many shapes and disguises. But evil remains evil, true to form.
Dare enter the mind of the ultimate killer? 'The Perfectionist' is out soon.
* RJ Ellory's 'The Anniversary Man' has been released in France. French title: 'Les Assassins.'
** Donato Carrisi's 'Il Cacciatore del Buio' has been released in France. French title: 'Maléfico.'
While there is no consensus on our inherent nature, one may be concerned about man's genetic predisposition towards evil behaviors like selfishness, violence, and cruelty. Is evil inherent, or is it an unfortunate side effect of our society? It is understood that personality comes early and is influenced by outside circumstances and upbringing. We enter this world as innocent children. However, we all have the potential to descend into evil over the years. As Ellory puts it, "evil is an additive." Carrisi looked no further than at a man who has been coined as one of the most evil men in history: Adolf Hitler. When you look at the popular photo of Hitler taken when he was a toddler, it is hard to fathom that he started off so innocent-looking.
Fortunately for the human race, only a tiny percentage of people turned out to be figures of evil or what one may call evil geniuses. Yet these people are subjects of our fascination. We are drawn to them, yet we can't really justify such attractions. Why is this?
Through his novels, Ellory touches upon the incomprehensible nature of evil, a concept that can be described and discussed, but never completely understood. Although we condemn rapists, thieves, or people who kill out of rage or jealousy, we can fathom the coherent and human thought processes behind such acts, for we too are human. "But why don't we understand pure evil?" Ellory asks. "It's because we don't really understand ourselves," he says in answer.
The behavior of the evil geniuses or less genius serial killers is seemingly inexplicable and without a coherent motive which we can relate to. Serial killers are driven by inner demons that even they may not comprehend. We are drawn to these killers, not really by disgusting morbidity, but more because we cannot understand their violence. We thus feel compelled to understand, and by doing so we side with evil. It's basic human curiosity.
Besides the killer himself, many of my characters in 'The Perfectionist' are linked to this fascination we can have in serial killers. I carried out some research into profiling and criminology. I even looked at some forensics science. But above all I looked at factual data about these evil men. Be reassured, real serial killers generally do not possess unique or exceptional intellectual skills (think of David Berkowitz - aka Son of Sam - who in the 1970’s, terrorized the people of New York City, murdering six people and prompting a police operation known as Operation Omega, comprised of 200 detectives trying to stop him before he could kill again. What caused his downfall and subsequent capture? ... A parking ticket!) The image of the evil genius serial killer is mostly a Hollywood invention - think of Kevin Spacey's character in 'Se7en' or Anthony Hopkins's Hannibal Lecter in 'Silence of the Lambs.' This makes the intelligence of serial killers a popular culture stereotype, but it sure does make great entertainment. Wouldn't you agree?
It is understood that it isn't intelligence, cunning or genius that makes real serial killers successful. No, instead, it is obsession, meticulous planning and a decent amount of cold-blood to operate, outsmart law enforcement authorities and to remain at large. 'The Perfectionist' takes all that and all we know about the serial killer persona and goes an extra step.
The killer whom my main character (Gerry Stokes, a veteran journalist working at the Chicago Tribune) tracks has flown under the radar for more than 20 years. His unique modus operandi and his inner demons or ambitions make him hard to fit into any category of killer seen before. In 'Level 26: Dark Origins', authors Anthony E. Zuiker and Duane Swierczynski explore this fictitious notion of killer classification. In the book, law enforcement quantifies evil and murderousness on a scale of 1 to 25, with naive opportunists at Level 1 and organized, premeditated torture-murderers at Level 25. However, the killer in the book is so awesome, that a level 26 has to be considered. The killer in 'The Perfectionist', meanwhile isn't subject to such classification because he simply doesn't exist in the eyes of the law. It takes an unfortunate set of circumstances and a lot of reporter's flair to put Gerry Stokes on his trail. My killer simply got unlucky.
Can the Perfectionist be considered the ultimate serial killer? You'll soon find out. Significant progress has been made and most of the pre-publication work is over. Finally, cover artwork is close to being finalized. All is on track for an early-2016 launch. I expect to share more news soon on this blog in the coming weeks. Additionally you can follow me on Twitter at @SimonGDuke and/or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/simonduke
'The Perfectionist' touches upon the evolution of the serial killer. And similar to the killers who are its messengers, evil has evolved too. It has become more cunning and comes under many shapes and disguises. But evil remains evil, true to form.
Dare enter the mind of the ultimate killer? 'The Perfectionist' is out soon.
* RJ Ellory's 'The Anniversary Man' has been released in France. French title: 'Les Assassins.'
** Donato Carrisi's 'Il Cacciatore del Buio' has been released in France. French title: 'Maléfico.'
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