The Mammoth Book Best International Crime Read online

  Maxim Jakubowski is a London-based novelist and editor. He was born in the UK and educated in France. Following a career in book publishing, he opened the world-famous Murder One bookshop in London. He now writes full-time. He has edited a series of fifteen bestselling erotic anthologies and two books of erotic photography, as well as many acclaimed crime collections. His novels include It’s You That I Want To Kiss, Because She Thought She Loved Me and On Tenderness Express, all three recently collected and reprinted in the USA as Skin In Darkness. Other books include Life In The World of Women, The State of Montana, Kiss Me Sadly and Confessions Of A Romantic Pornographer. In 2006 he published American Casanova, a major erotic novel which he edited and on which fifteen of the top erotic writers in the world have collaborated, and his collected erotic short stories as Fools For Lust. He compiles two annual acclaimed series for the Mammoth list: Best New Erotica and Best British Crime. He is a winner of the Anthony and the Karel Awards, a frequent TV and radio broadcaster, crime columnist for the Guardian newspaper and Literary Director of London’s Crime Scene Festival.

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  Constable & Robinson Ltd

  3 The Lanchesters

  162 Fulham Palace Road

  London W6 9ER

  www.constablerobinson.com

  First published in the UK by Robinson, an imprint of Constable & Robinson, 2009

  Copyright © Maxim Jakubowski, 2009 unless otherwise indicated.

  The right of Maxim Jakubowski to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  All rights reserved. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  A copy of the British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available from the British Library

  UK ISBN 978-1-84529-957-6

  1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

  First published in the United States in 2009

  by Running Press Book Publishers

  All rights reserved under the Pan-American and International Copyright Conventions

  This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, without written permission from the publisher.

  9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Digit on the right indicates the number of this printing

  US Library of Congress Control Number: 2008944132

  US ISBN 978-0-76243-725-2

  Running Press Book Publishers

  2300 Chestnut Street

  Philadelphia, PA 19103–4371

  Visit us on the web!

  www.runningpress.com

  Printed and bound in the EU

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Introduction Maxim Jakubowski

  ITALY

  A Crime for a Crime Giorgio Faletti

  GREAT BRITAIN

  Rumpole and the Christmas Break John Mortimer

  NETHERLANDS

  The Temp René Appel

  NORWAY

  Serum Jo Nesbø

  NEW ZEALAND

  Huxley Chad Taylor

  GERMANY

  Among Partisans Carmen Korn

  FRANCE

  Ethnic Cleansing Dominique Manotti

  SWEDEN

  A Really Shitty Day Camilla Läckberg

  SPAIN

  That Fat, Sadistic Bastard José Carlos Somoza

  GREAT BRITAIN

  The Strawberry Tree Ruth Rendell

  NETHERLANDS

  Out of the Blue Carla Vermaat

  GERMANY

  Wedding in Voerde Gunter Gerlach

  SWEDEN

  When He Finally Came Inger Jalakas

  FRANCE

  An Angel is Speaking Franois Rivière

  RUSSIA

  Table Talk, 1882 Boris Akunin

  SPAIN

  Dead End Julián lbáñez

  ITALY

  Die Wanderung Michael Gregorio

  TRINIDAD

  Pot Luck Lisa Allen-Agostini

  SWEDEN

  Angel Child Tove Klackenberg

  GERMANY

  All For Bergkamen Sebastian Fitzek

  JAPAN

  An Urb
an Legend Puzzle Norizuki Rintaro

  NETHERLANDS

  The Duel Jacob Vis

  MEXICO

  The Deepest South Paco Ignacio Taibo II

  GERMANY

  Escalator Obstructors Juergen Ehlers

  INDIA

  Voices in the Head Altaf Tyrewala

  USA

  The Christmas Present Jeffery Deaver

  FRANCE

  Scars Daniel Walther

  CUBA

  Staring at the Sun Leonardo Padura

  NETHERLANDS

  The Sword of God Josh Pachter

  SPAIN

  Now Let’s Talk About Laura Andreu Martin

  CANADA

  My Vacation in the Numbers Racket Howard Engel

  GERMANY

  Night Over Unna Bernhard Jaumann

  USA

  The Big Switch Mickey Spillane & Max Allan Collins

  TURKEY

  Hitching in the Lodos Feryal Tilmaç

  ITALY

  It’s Not True Diego De Silva

  GREAT BRITAIN

  Tell Me Who to Kill Ian Rankin

  Acknowledgments

  “A Crime for a Crime” by Giorgio Faletti, copyright © 2008 Giorgio Faletti. First published in CRIMINI ITALIANI. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agent, Piergiorgio Nicolazzini Literary Agency.

  “Rumpole and the Christmas Break” by John Mortimer, copyright © 2004 John Mortimer. First published in THE STRAND MAGAZINE. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agent, United Agents Ltd.

  “The Temp” by René Appel, copyright © 2002 René Appel. First published in ALGEMEEN DAGBLAD. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Serum” by Jo Nesbø, copyright © 1999 Jo Nesbø. First published in MISTANKEN BRER SEG. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agent, Salomonsson Agency.

  “Huxley” by Chad Taylor, copyright © 2009 Chad Taylor. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Among Partisans” by Carmen Korn, copyright © 2004 by Carmen Korn. First published in DU SOLLST NICHT TOTEN. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Ethnic Cleansing” by Dominique Manotti, copyright © 2007 Dominique Manotti. First published in PARIS NOIR. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “A Really Shitty Day” by Camilla Läckberg, copyright © 2005 by Camilla Läckberg. First published in NOVELLER FOR VARLDENS BARN. Reprinted by permission of the author and the author’s agent, Nordin Agency AB.

  “That Fat, Sadistic Bastard” by José Carlos Somoza, copyright © 2008 José Carlos Somoza. Reprinted by permission of the author and the author’s agent, Agencia Literaria Carmen Balcells.

  “The Strawberry Tree” by Ruth Rendell, copyright © 1990 Ruth Rendell. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agent, United Agents Ltd.

  “Out Of The Blue” by Carla Vermaat, copyright © 2003 Carla Vermaat. First published in NACHTVAL. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Wedding in Voerde” by Gunter Gerlach, copyright © 2004 Gunter Gerlach. First published in English in 2005 in ELLERY QUEEN’S MYSTERY MAGAZINE. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “When He Finally Came” by Inger Jalakas, copyright © 2004 Inger Jalakas. First published in SVARTA DIAMANTER. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “An Angel Is Speaking” by François Rivière, copyright © 2003 François Rivière. First published in NOIRS COMPLOTS. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Table Talk, 1882” by Boris Akunin, copyright © 2000 Boris Akunin. First published in English in 2003 by ELLERY QUEEN’S MYSTERY MAGAZINE. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agent, Linda Michaels Ltd.

  “Dead End” by Julian Ibañez, copyright © 2008 by Julián Ibáñez. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Die Wanderung” by Michael Gregorio, copyright © 2008 Michael Gregorio. First published in NERO PERUGIANO. Reprinted by permission of the authors.

  “Pot Luck” by Lisa Allen-Agostini, copyright © 2008 Lisa Allen-Agostini. First published in TRINIDAD NOIR. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Angel Child” by Tove Klackenberg, copyright © 2005 Tove Klackenberg. First published in NOVELLER FOR VARLDENS BARN. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “All For Bergkamen” by Sebastian Fitzek, copyright © 2008 Sebastian Fitzek. First published in GRAFIT VERLAG. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agent, Tanja Howarth.

  “An Urban Legend Puzzle” by Norizuki Rintar, copyright © 2001 Norizuki Rintar. First published in English in 2003 by ELLERY QUEEN’S MYSTERY MAGAZINE. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “The Duel” by Jacob Vis, copyright © 1995 Jacob Vis. First published in SPANNEND GEBUNDELD. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “The Deepest South” by Paco Ignacio Taibo II, copyright © 1988 Paco Ignacio Taibo II. First published in RAYMOND CHANDLER’S PHILIP MARLOWE. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Escalator Obstructors” by Juergen Ehlers, copyright © 2008 Juergen Ehlers. First published in In KÜRZE VERSTORBEN. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Voices in the Head” by Altaf Tyrewala, copyright © 2001 Altaf Tyrewala. First published in THE LITTLE MAGAZINE. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “The Christmas Present” by Jeffery Deaver, copyright © 2003 Jeffery Deaver. Reprinted by permission of the author’s agent, Curtis Brown Ltd.

  “Scars” by Daniel Walther, copyright © 2005 Daniel Walther. First published in NOIRS SCALPELS. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Staring At The Sun” by Leonardo Padura, copyright © 2007 Leonardo Padura. First published in HAVANA NOIR. Reprinted by permission of Achy Obejas and Akashic Books.

  “The Sword of God” by Josh Pachter, copyright © 2009 Josh Pachter. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “Now Let’s Talk About Laura” by Andreu Martin, copyright © 2008 Andreu Martin. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “My Vacation in the Numbers Racket” by Howard Engel, copyright © 1989 Howard Engel. Reprinted by permission of the author and his agent, Beverley Slopen Literary Agency.

  “Night Over Unna” by Bernhard Jaumann, copyright © 2006 Bernhard Jaumann. First published in MORD AM HELLWEG 3. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “The Big Switch” by Mickey Spillane & Max Allan Collins, copyright © 2008 Mickey Spillane Publishing, LLC. First appeared in THE STRAND MAGAZINE. Reprinted by permission of the author’s Estate.

  “Hitching in the Lodos” by Feryal Tilmac, copyright © 2008 Feryal Tilmac. First published in ISTANBUL NOIR. Reprinted by permission of the author.

  “It’s Not True” by Diego De Silva, copyright © 2008 Diego De Silva. First published in CRIMINI ITALIANI. Reprinted by permission of the author and the author’s agent, Marco Vigevani Agenzia Letteraria.

  “Tell Me Who to Kill” by Ian Rankin, copyright © 2003 John Rebus Limited. First appeared in MYSTERIOUS PLEASURES. Reprinted by permission of the author and the author’s agent, Peter Robinson Literary Agency.

  Introduction

  What with the world-wide popularity of crime and mystery fiction written in the English language – and how can one argue about the iconic heritage of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens even, Edgar Allen Poe, Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, etc. all the way to the many modern paragons of the genre that we all love and admire – foreign language fiction has often been overlooked by readers and critics alike. Setting aside the economics of the publishing industry in which the added cost of translation remains a negative factor and the de facto imperialism of the English language, there has always been a feeling that we produce enough interesting stories and novels and have a slight prejudice against culture from different countries. The same applies to the cinema, where Hollywood still rules the roost to a large extent. But it is an unfortunate state of affairs.

  One might even argue, at a stretch, that crime fiction began with the slaying of Abel in the Bible, which was of course not written in English, and
the dreadful passions and emotions which give rise to crime, both fictional and real, are a factor which is inherent to the human condition. As a result, crime has dominated history and parallels the rise of civilization everywhere, from the massacres and plots of Ancient Greece and Rome, the bloody Middle Ages, the Borgias, the rise of gangsterism in the American Depression; the examples are countless. And far from a British or American phenomenon. Crime is, sadly, universal.

  As a result, there has always existed a vital stream of crime and mystery writing in almost all languages and cultures, but all too often it is we who have been too preoccupied with what was happening in our homes and countries who have chosen to partly ignore it. This lack of interest became self-generating and for many years it proved increasingly difficult for foreign authors (and not just in the crime area) to get their books translated into English, thus shielding us generally from an immense reservoir of talent. Some prominent names managed to break through such as Georges Simenon, Sjowall & Wahloo, Friedrich Durrenmatt, Boileau-Narcejac, but they were the exceptions, and similar major crime talents including Jean-Pierre Manchette, Friedrich Glauser and Giorgio Scerbanenco were overlooked.

  Over recent years, the fortuitous success and acceptance of occasional Scandinavian writers in translation (Henning Mankell, Stieg Larsson) have somehow opened the doors wide and a grateful crime-reading public has for the first time in ages been able to enjoy foreign writers like never before. Fred Vargas, Boris Akunin, Jean-Claude Izzo, Arnaldur Indridason and Andrea Camilleri are also now widely available and enjoyed. There are now even some, admittedly small and independent, publishing houses who have generously decided to devote their efforts to exclusively promoting crime in translation, both out of intellectual curiosity and the well-known fact that success breeds success.

  As someone who has for several decades vociferously supported genre writing from other countries, I personally find it difficult to explain why this has happened now, rather than earlier. Maybe Scandinavian sleuths ring a familiar chord in the souls of English and American readers who find their habits and preoccupations reflected in their travails and investigations; maybe globalization has made us more aware of foreign mores; maybe we were growing tired of our familiar sleuths; maybe the exotic attraction of foreign and alien shores and cultures has been a determining factor? And here I remind you of the undoubted success of English and American writers like HRF Keating, Donna Leon, Michael Dibdin and many others who set their books in foreign countries – as well as US authors such as Elizabeth George, Martha Grimes or Deborah Crombie who write about England while, conversely, many Brits (and Irish) mostly set their books in the USA: Lee Child, John Connolly, Ken Bruen, even myself … At any rate, it is a state of affairs we can only be grateful for and which, as I write, appears still to be flourishing as we continue to discover the talent of so many new writers with fascinating characters, locales and plots.