Guide Books v. Crime Novels

Posted by Mari Nicholson May 3, 2008

On a discussion panel recently to talk about travel writing, the talk turned to favourite travel guides. I have my favourites, like everyone else, but over the years I have found that the best way to come to grips with an area is to read a good novel set around the places to be visited.

More often than not, these are crime novels, as crime lends itself to in-depth writing about cities and towns, to an exploration of the side streets, the outlying districts, and the politics that underlie the character of the place .

Read any of the crime capers of Carl Hiassen and you are instantly submerged in the crazy world of Florida. Take James Lee Burke and you'll learn things about Louisianna that aren't in a guide book. Delve into Elmore Leonard, James Patterson, Robert Crais, Tennessee Williams – the linsight gained is endless.

In England, my favourite crime writer is Graham Hurley. Hurley's stories are mostly set in Portsmouth and cover everything from bird-watching along the coast to the marinas in the area, the mean streets of the old town and the new developments that are springing up along the waterfront to Portsmouth Football Club and its place in the city.

What Hurley shares with all good crime writers is a compassion for his “losers”, an understanding of why they have arrived at a stage in life that has left them with little or no options. His D.I. Faraday and his team of detectives are three dimensional characters with failings we can all sympathise with as they battle to keep the street clean and their political bosses happy.

And all this is set against a background cinematic in its depiction. Anyone planning on visiting Portsmouth in England should read Graham Hurley. His 7th crime novel featuring D.I. Joe Faraday is out now in paperback (Orion). It's a cracking good read.