Quais du Polar : Let’s celebrate anyway
Quais du Polar is this fantastic crime fiction festival that takes over the city of Lyon by storm every year.
Sadly, this year, like many cultural event, the 2020 edition is cancelled. No crime fest in Lyon from April 3rd to April 5th. Marina Sofia and I met at this festival, attended panels with writers who discussed around a crime theme, queued to have books signed and had a lot of fun browsing through the wonderful bookstore set up in the vast hall of the Lyon Chamber of Commerce.
We still want to celebrate crime fiction this year and have decided to publish a crime fiction billet for each day of the festival. We will choose books from writers who would have attended the 2020 session or books we got signed in previous editions. We would love for you to join us and do a virtual festival with us. You can find the list of writers here and if you want to listen to previous years’ panels, it’s available in replay here.
Choose whatever book you want as long as the writer has attended the festival and post a review on your blog on April 3, 4 or 5th. If you don’t have a blog, leave a review in the comments on this post and use #QDP2020. The festival’s team is also here @QuaisPolar.
There’s another initiative: Quais du Polar is also a crime fiction prize and Pat, at South of Paris Books has decided to read the six books preselected for this year’s prize.
Let’s get together and take advantage of our lockdowns. May this post go viral.
Book Around the Corner 
Terrific idea!
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Will you join us?
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Wonderful idea! 😀
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Are you in?
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I don’t know that I’ll be reading the right kind of books but even so I shall read posts and share where I can! 😁
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Great! For me it’s also a way to send a message to the people and volunteers who worked to prepare this festival and see the work of a year turned into ashes.
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Sign me up. Any recommendations?
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Writers you like or would like IMO
James Sallis, Ron Rash, George Pelecanos, Hanelore Cayre, Olivier Norek (not sure he’s translated) Louise Penny,
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Given time constraints and the current mayhem, I;ll have to stick with what I’ve got here or what I can get for the kindle.
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other ideas, names I’m sure are available in English
Tony Cavanaugh
Val McDermid
Viveca Sten
Don Winslow
Michael Connelly
Elizabeth George
Deon Meyer
Bernard Minier
Jane Harper
And of course, you can ask Marina if her translation of Sword by Bogdan Teodorescu is already available. Quais du Polar is where we met the writer’s agent and got a copy of the book.
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What a lovely idea. Shame I’ve already read The Godmother as there doesn’t seem to be much other Cayre in translation. Have you read any Dominique Sylvain? Her Lola and Ingrid series looks quite fun (though I’d rather avoid another series if I could…).
I didn’t see Louise Penny in the guest list. Has she attended previously?
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I hope you can join us, even if I know you’re busy with work. Guy will participate!
I’ve read Dominique Sylvain (billet on my blog) and liked her very much. I’m currently reading one.
Louise Penny was at Quais du Polar a few years ago.
Here are examples of writers I gave to Guy:
Tony Cavanaugh
Val McDermid
Viveca Sten
Don Winslow
Michael Connelly
Elizabeth George
Deon Meyer
Bernard Minier
Jane Harper
James Sallis,
Ron Rash,
George Pelecanos.
And Jon Bassoff, Jake Hinkson, Craig Johnson, Idridason, Jax Miller, Attica Locke, Benjamin Whitmer (try him)
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I’ll try for Jake Hnkson – either No Tomorrow or his debut short story collection The Deepening Shade. Most of the others are either lengthy series or lengthy books, and I recall you liked No Tomorrow quite a bit.
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No Tomorrow is good.
Tony Cavanaugh is a quick read.
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Max: there’s another one coming out. The Inheritors. Sept in US. Won’t make it for the festival but FYI
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It’s on Kindle already that one, though I don’t know if that’s the same translation. I’m glad to hear there’ll be a hardcopy version.
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Max, I think you’d like Benjamin Whitmer, check him out.
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Great idea Emma! My work is frantic while we adjust to the new circumstances so I won’t have time to join in but I’ll look forward to reading the posts.
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I hope things get better at work.
If you still want to join and not spend too much time, I recommend The Godmother by Hannelore Cayre. It’s short and excellent. It might take your mind off things.
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That’s a great idea, Emma. I don’t have any books by the authors you’ve listed, but it’s great to see that others are planning on jointing in. Have fun!
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Hi Jacqui, I’ve liste some writers but not all of them. Click on the link in my billet and you’ll reach the page of the Quais du Polar website where you can see all the writers
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Such a good idea. I don’t have any of the books, so the only way I’ll be joining you is by reading your blog posts. I enjoyed Colin Niel’s Seules les bêtes last year. I’m intrigued by Michel Pastoureau’s inclusion in the list of authors but maybe there’s a side of him I don’t know about. BTW did your German exchange student make it home?
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Sorry to hear you won’t be able to participate.
Yes, our German exchange student is safely at home. (Ouf)
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I have my titles picked. No peeking.
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Wonderful! Looking forward to reading your posts.
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This is a great idea. Thanks for the diversion/entertainment.
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It’s for us readers and for the people who worked hard to prepare the festival and see their efforts knocked down by a virus.
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What a wonderful idea, Emma! Count me in. I don’t normally read crime fiction, so this will be a nice change for me. And I just love the idea of a virtual literary festival. I’ll have a look at the website and your recommendations to Guy and Max, and I’m sure I’ll find something good.
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Great! I’m curious to see what you’ll pick.
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This is so wonderful, Emma! Thanks so much for hosting this! Will look forward to following Quais du Polar here 😊
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Thanks Vishy. Don’t hesitat to join us for one day of the festival.
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I have just unearthed a Michel Bussi (Black Water Lilies) Shall binge read and hopefully post before next Sunday ends …. 1,2,3 go!
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That’s great news! Welcome on board!
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Nice blog thhanks for posting
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