This is the cover for Swap in the USA where it's called Let It Ride.
This one says, "a crime novel," instead of, "a mystery," which I think is more accurate as there are no mysteries in my books for the reader.
There are a lot of characters in the book and maybe there could've been a woman on the cover, too, but otherwise I like this a lot.
The publication date is set for February 16th, 2010.
8 comments:
That's an interesting bit of labelling. I don't think I've ever seen a crime novel labelled on the cover as "a crime novel." It appears you may have a publisher who thinks seriously about its books. Was the "crime novel" label your idea?
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
I don't think I've ever seen a crime novel labelled on the cover as "a crime novel."
Giancarlo De Cataldo's novel and the related movie are titled Crime Novel
There seems to be some discussion about the labels, "a crime novel," and "a mystery" between the US and the UK. Of course, here in Canada I'm surprised we don't label them, "A crime novel of mystery."
I used to like the French, "Roman Policier," but I wonder if there's a version for books that focus more on the criminals, a "Roman Criminalite."
Marco, the novel and movie go by their Italian titles in English.
"Crime novel" is a good, comprehensive term for detective stories, mysteries, caper stories and stories like John's that include criminals and police but are not mysteries, really.
"Roman policier" is good, though I wonder the French call, say, Richard Stark's novels and other caper books that don't have police in them.
Does the Italian "gialli" cover everything that the English "crime story" does?
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
Nice, John!
I thought that the movie was called Crime Novel (I don't know if the book has been translated). Romanzo Criminale, the original title, would in fact translate more correctly as Criminal Novel, and it definitely is a book that focuses on the criminals. You'd probably like it, John.
Does the Italian "gialli" cover everything that the English "crime story" does?
Theoretically yes, but it is generally used in the sense of mystery. Publishers tend to use thriller or noir when the mystery aspect isn't very prominent, even when such labelling may seem very specious, because these subgenres seem more commercially profitable nowadays.
I thought that the movie was called Crime Novel (I don't know if the book has been translated). Romanzo Criminale, the original title, would in fact translate more correctly as Criminal Novel, and it definitely is a book that focuses on the criminals.
Another blog whose keeper I don't think understands Italian, perhaps Crime Scraps, discussed the movie and used the Italian title, so I just assumed that the English version retained that title. I could be wrong.
Does the Italian "gialli" cover everything that the English "crime story" does?
Theoretically yes, but it is generally used in the sense of mystery. Publishers tend to use thriller or noir when the mystery aspect isn't very prominent, even when such labelling may seem very specious, because these subgenres seem more commercially profitable nowadays.
It appears that Italian publishing and marketing practices are similar when it comes to classifying crime novels. Of course, not all noir novels involve crime, as readers of Simenon's romans durs will point out, but "crime" seems a much more comprehensive label than the alternatives. Of course, book shopper know to look in the mystery section even if the crime book they're looking for is not a mystery story, so perhaps there is no urgent need for a new term.
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Detectives Beyond Borders
"Because Murder Is More Fun Away From Home"
http://www.detectivesbeyondborders.blogspot.com/
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