Matching The Evidence Blog TourI Shouldn’t Give a F*&£, but I Do!Absolutely thrilled that little ol me got to be a part of this blog tour. So I'd like to thank Graham and his online stalker, sorry I mean his buddy Noelle for allowing me to be part of this. I was also thrilled that I got to post the topic I did. We all like a little bit of a swearfest now and then. And as Graham points out there is usually a time and a place. Read the following to find out Graham's thought on swearing. Swearing in literature is a very divisive topic, but nonetheless it’s one which needs addressed. I’m going to use this post to try and explain my position while looking at reasons to both include and omit bad language, sweary words and fucking profanity. For the prosecution A) Some readers just don’t like reading bad language B) My mum will be reading my book C) Excess use of bad language is often taken as a sign of a poor vocabulary D) Using a sweary word to shock for the sake of it, is in my opinion, nothing more than laziness on the author’s part For the defense A) Most readers can gloss over the odd sweary word without the need for a fainting couch or smelling salts B) I learned all the best sweary words from my father C) A well placed profanity can have a fucking huge effect on a sentence D) Sweary words are no longer shocking to anyone. When you look at some of the horrific events in my stories, a character dropping the f-bomb (That’s FUCK to you and I) isn’t the worst thing you’re going to read E) People today use swearwords. Especially in tense or fraught situations. Omitting a common part of the language is doing the reader a dis-service as it’s basically censorship F) Swearing from one character can be criticised by another and then you’ve instantly got a source of drama and conflict As you’ve already seen, I’ve got more reasons to include the bad words than I have to omit them. I use profanity in my stories for a number of reasons, namely; A) I don’t use dialogue tags and having a profane character makes it easier for me to show who’s talking at any given time B) Criminals are bad people and bad people swear C) A previously non-profane character dropping a fuck or two into a sentence shows the reader an escalation D) Stressful situations are well, stressful and people swear when they’re under stress. The omission of swearing reduces the realism of the narrative Having said all of the above, there’s a time and a place for bad language in literature just as there is in life. I can swear with the best of them, but I turn it off when around my young son or the in-laws, when I’m dealing with customers at work and countless other occasions. However, if I stub my toe or hit my thumb with a hammer… I’m gonna have me a good old therapeutic swearathon. Following this theme, I try to make my characters’ swearingfollow the same kind of guidelines. A discussion between two sweet old grannies about Strictly Come Dancing will be sweet and genteel, whereas two hardened criminals exchanging bullets with the cops is the type of situation where earthy language is used to full effect. These examples are rather extreme but I’m sure you get my point. If you don’t, well, you can just … leave a comment and have your say. I’m always keen to find out who does and doesn’t give a fuck... Thank you so Much Graham for sharing that with us, so go on folks, what are your thoughts on swearing? Let us know. Carlisle United are playing Millwall and the Major Crimes Team are assigned to crowd control as punishment for their renegade ways. Typically, DI Harry Evans has other ideas and tries to thwart the local firm’s plans to teach Millwall’s notorious Bushwhackers an unforgettable lesson. Meanwhile an undercover cop is travelling north with some of the Millwall contingent. His mission is to identify the ringleaders and gather evidence against them. Three illegal immigrants have been transported to Carlisle and are about to meet their new employers. Nothing is as it seems for Evans and his Major Crimes Team as they battle to avoid a bloodbath while also uncovering a far more heinous crime. My thoughts on the book. A big fat 5/5 Having recently read Snatched From Home and The Major Crimes Team - Vol 1: Lines of Enquiry I was eager to get stuck into this book it is the 2nd Novella in the Major Crime Team series.. And Getting stuck in is exactly what happened. It was just a quick 5 min read, which turned into an hour then another, before I realised I had a 12 hour shift to work the morning so I had to put it down, but I then picked it up at every opportunity I sat in the corner in the canteen at work so people wouldn't disturb me. I even ended up putting my headphones in on my dinner break so that people would think I was listening to something and I couldn't hear them rather than I was just ignoring them. It really is another great book from Graham. DI Harry Evans has been a naughty boy again, it seems he's just not able to follow normal procedure and protocol, and as a punishment he and his team from The major Crimes Team are sent on Crowd control at a football match between Carlisle United and Millwall. I'm not a football fan at all, but even I know that Milwall fans are well known for trouble. Harry really is one of a kind, there isn't a copper like him, he has his own way of policing like no other, and his years of policing stand out, his experience really shows. I think this is really a great working team, made up of people who are each unique and individual in their own way. All are strong characters and I really do want to keep reading about them all. The book kicks off with what seems to be an ordinary set of guys off on a day out. It soon becomes clear they are not out sight seeing but out for trouble. And big trouble it is. And Harry and his team are trying to stop any trouble before it starts. I'm worried about what to say about the story as I don't want to reveal to much and spoil it for anyone. But I guess the main thing i'm trying to say is "This book is awesome and well worth reading" Treat yourself, buy it, get a drink some snacks put your feet up and get stuck in. You won't regret reading this. #Trustme
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The Cumbria Major Crimes team is under immense pressure to get results. DCI Harry Evans and his subordinates, DS Neil Chisholm, DC Lauren Phillips and DC Amir Bhaki must juggle cases while tragedy stalks them. Up in Glasgow, DI John Campbell is preparing to replace Evans, whose renegade ways have brought enforced retirement. Together they must investigate a man killed in his own home, a vigilante group chasing a suspected paedophile, a river dammed for no obvious reason and a woman whose cries of ‘wolf’ turn to ‘rape’. Meanwhile DC Phillips goes undercover off the books. My Thoughts. 5/5 What a great introduction to DI Harry Evans and his team I really liked the idea of this book, a collection of Short stories, each one featuring one of the individual officers. A great way to get to know them all, with some great short stories. I can't say that any of the stories were my favourite or stood out from the others, as in my opinion they were all very well written and well put together. I find sometimes with short stories, that Just as they get going, they end. But I didn't feel that at all with these stories. They were very well written and very well put together. I recently read Snatched from home, and although it's really not necessary I think I would have liked to have read this one first. And got more of an early feel for the officers. But there is nothing stopping me going back and reading it again. I'm really looking forward to more Harry Evans, He's a very different and individual character and I for one can't wait for more books by Graham Smith. I look forward to reading more. Product details
A middle-class couple turn to crime to pay the ransom for their children can they evade the cops and save their children's lives? Middle-class parents Victoria and Nicholas Foulkes are distraught when their children are kidnapped against Nicholas s gambling debts. Penniless and desperate, the couple turn to crime as a way to raise the ransom. Hot on their heels is recently bereaved DI Harry Evans and his Major Crimes team. Evans is fighting against enforced retirement, and his replacement, DI John Campbell, is foisted upon him along with other cases. If he must leave the police then he wants one last big case before he goes. In a race against time Victoria and Nicholas must evade the police while continuing to add to the ransom fund. Can they save their children before time runs out?"
What a great read. OK I have to say I was forced at gun point by my buddy Noelle over at #CrimebookJunkie to read this book. Well maybe she just recommended it and I trust her recommendations that much I had to go and buy it and read it right away. Well I'm glad I did. And guess what? My Mum was glad I did too as she really enjoyed it also.
Nicholas Foulkes is in Debt from Gambling. Only problem is, his wife Victoria knows nothing about it until masked men raid their home and Kidnap her 2 children. Every parents worst nightmare. But somehow, some way they have got to find 95 Grand to get them back. How the Hell are they supposed to do that. Beg, steel and borrow is the only way. Or is it? It seems like turning to crime might just get them the rest of the money they need. I really couldn't decide if I liked DI Harry Evans to start with. At one point he really got on my nerves, but you soon realise it's just who he is, and all he wants is to get the job done, and get results. I did start to grow to like him. working along side him is DI John Campbell, who is set to be Harry Evans replacement when he takes retirement. I Liked John a little more to start with than I did Evans, although at times he seemed a little to goody goody. Once you start getting through the book, you learn a little more of these two characters, and I did begin to like both of them. This i'm told is Graham's Debut Novel. Well if that is the case it is a great debut, well written, brilliantly paced and once I got around 30% in I did not want to put my kindle down, I needed to try and keep going. Certainly an author I will be watching out for in the future. |
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May 2023
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