Rise of 'Ulster Noir'



Overview of Ulster Noir


On my Belfast Noir walking tour, I give out lots of recommendations and people often note many of these down. A reading group from Dublin were on the tour yesterday and asked for me to compile a list for them. I thought I would share it here on my blog too.

This is by no means exhaustive, but hopefully will offer a rudimentary overview of the local scene. It includes well established writers and some who are earlier in their career. Of course it also includes many of my personal favourite books! 



Rise of Ulster Noir 


(This was following a period of 'Troubles Trash' where many books were set here but often written from afar and were not always that great)


Maurice Leitch

Leitch's first novel came in 1965 and he is still writing today in various disciplines. He has been awarded an MBE for services to literature. 

Check out Silver's City 


Colin Bateman 

Colin Bateman broke the scene wide open in the nineties with a mix of local dark humour and suspenseful stories. 

Check out the series featuring Dan Starkey and also Mystery Man. 


Eoin McNamee 

Another writer to break out in the nineties, who has written a range of novels and novellas. 

Check out Resurrection Man.  


New Wave of Ulster Noir  


(Some of the great writers contributing to the boom we are seeing now in crime fiction from this part of the world- again apologies I can't mention everyone as there are just so many great books and writers emerging) 


Brian McGilloway

A New York Times bestseller, McGilloway crafts realistic and thoughtful police procedurals. 

Check out Borderlands, Bad Blood. 


Stuart Neville 

Another New York Times bestseller with a range of excellent crime novels, also writing as Haylen Beck. 

Check out Here and Gone, So Say The Fallen. 


Adrian McKinty

A multi award winner of the eighties set Sean Duffy series and various brilliant stand alones. 

Check out Rain Dogs. 


Claire McGowan

A lauded author and writing teacher of crime fiction thrillers, also writing fiction as Eva Woods.  

Check out Blood Tide. 
Gerard Brennan 

A writer of gritty and and engaging crime novels and novellas and a Spinetingler award winner.  

Check out Disorder and Undercover.


Sharon Dempsey

A skilled writer of various styles and subject. Now also a quality crime fiction writer.

Check out Little Bird.


Kelly Creighton

An acclaimed writer of dark and sombre crime and also literary fiction. 

Check out The Bones of it. 


Steve Cavanagh 

A Dagger award winner and recently made Sunday Times bestseller. Author of American set twisty thrillers. 

Check out Thirteen and Twisted. 


Claire Allan

A journalist and fiction writer who has now branched into writing exciting and well received psychological thrillers. 

Check out Her Name Was Rose.
James Murphy 

A new up and coming writer mixing local crime with a touch of the supernatural. 

Check out The Rise of Terror. 


Belfast Noir- check out this anthology to be introduced to many of the terrific local writers. 

Greater Emerald Noir- just a few picks 


(There are many, many more- just a few of my recent favourites) 

Jo Spain - The Confession 

Liz Nugent -Skin Deep 

John Banville as Benjamin Black - Quirke series 

Alex Barclay - FBI agent Ren Bryce series 

John Connelly - Charlie Parker series 

...

Anyone in the local area- all of these books can be found in No Alibis Belfast or ordered in from there. The staff all are very helpful at making further recommendations too. 






Visit the 'My Books' page for info on my writing

Comments

  1. col291022 March 2020 at 11:41

    A few there I'll have to look up. Been a while since I read anything from Bateman. Time for a revisit maybe.

    ReplyDelete

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