Dear ,

Well, here it is... the long-awaited, much longed-for, relaunch of the website. Faster, slicker, easier to navigate... (I have no idea if any of this is true, I'm still opening windows to see what new stuff I can find.

It comes just in time for a new book BLEED FOR ME is out now in Australia, New Zealand and the UK; and soon to be released in the Netherlands, Canada and South Africa.

(For my American readers, you will have to wait a little longer but I have better news for you later.)

The reviewers have sharpened their HBs and consulted their Roget's in readiness for the new Robotham. Now is not the time to be modest – I shall give you the highlights and lowlights so far...

Graeme Blundell in The Australian

'... it's the sheer good writing that so impresses, the grave, elegiac tone, the effortless drive of his plots, the occasional witty, even whimsical touches, the moral sympathy that makes his novels human dramas rather than technical diversions...
'Robotham's style inhabits that realm of ideas where writerly inflection, sociological consequence and, above all, an eventful narrative, coalesce into wonderfully dense and detailed novels of place and character.
'He is simply one of the most pleasing crime writers to read.'

Jeff Popple in the Canberra Times

'BLEED FOR ME is another exceedingly good crime thriller from Robotham, who seems unable to put a foot wrong. From the opening pages he grabs the reader's attention and keeps a tight grip on it until the final sentence.'
'Bleed for Me is another terrific crime novel by Robotham, who has created in O'Loughlin, a clinical psychologist who is every bit as complex and engaging as Val McDermid's Tony Hill. Highly recommended.

Sue Turnbull in The Sydney Morning Herald

'BLEED FOR ME is Robotham at his best, balancing fine character development, domestic melodrama and a plot that throws the spotlight on the festering sores of British society.'

The Sun-Herald

'BLEED FOR ME succeeds thanks to Robotham's ability to keep the plot moving at a cracking pace. We can believe the narcissistic schoolteacher, his waif-like wife, the luscious lush and other desperate characters because we know people just like them. Live near them. And that's truly scary.'

Memorabletv.com

'For those of us who devoured SHATTER the wait has been long but the wait has been worth it. Robotham, In the just published BLEED FOR ME makes it plain he is at the top of his game.'

The Manly Daily, Sydney

'This is a taut, fast-paced thriller which neatly twists two plot lines together. One is the search for a serial sexual predator and the other a trial for a criminal gang with a racist agenda... Robotham has written this fine tale with an explosive conclusion.'

Mysteries in Paradise website

'After SHATTER which topped the charts for me two years ago, I wondered whether Michael Robotham could ever do as well or better. These days I rarely read a book in one sitting, but BLEED FOR ME just kept me reading.'

Easy Mix Book Review, NZ

'Few thriller writers rival Robotham for plot and pacing. BLEED FOR ME thrums with electricity and the rhythm, always tricky in such plot-driven works that build to a big pay-off, is pitch-perfect.'

Gold Coast Libraries

'This is 'intelligent' crime-writing at it's best, where all is most definitely not as it seems and the reader is forced to examine their own values and judgements about what really constitutes a crime?'

Radiochick NZ:

'This is an intelligent psychological thriller that is compelling and multi-layered... Michael Robotham is a fantastic writer!'

Before you think it has been nothing but universal praise, I will include comments from several reviewers, who found fault with BLEED FOR ME.

Gillian Vine in the Ottago Times, New Zealand, wrote

'Nor is BLEED FOR ME anything like perfect, despite being well plotted and enjoyable reading. The flaw is there is just too much of a good thing... Less can be more, Mr Robotham.'

And Cheryl Jorgensen in Brisbane's Courier Mail, decided readers might appreciate reading about all the plot twists to save them having to buy the book. Cheryl also took me to task over the fact that my narrator, Joe O'Loughlin, a Parkinson's sufferer, could possibly be allowed to drive a car. Obviously all my research was pointless, I should have asked Cheryl... (I give a sigh of frustration).

NB. An extra word of warning – I have also raised the ire of pet-lovers, including my beloved mother, who was upset by one scene in BLEED FOR ME. This only goes to prove one of the great truisms of crime fiction. An author can fictionally boil small children and serve them with truffles, but God help us if they harm a family pet.

What other news from the trenches?

The most exciting development is that I have a new US publisher, Little Brown US and a new editor, John Schoenfelder. John is a passionate crime fiction reader, who is pulling together a great new crime and mystery list. Little Brown are planning big things for me in 2011, which is why my US fans will have to wait a little longer for a new book. I'll try to make it worth the wait.

My travel is booked for the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival in the UK from the 22-25 of July. All manner of interesting panels have been planned. To begin with I am teaming with the incomparable Jeff Lindsay (the creator of Dexter) as we try to get away with murdering a politician, an actor and a fellow crime writer. Meanwhile, two expert forensic scientists will try to pick apart our dastardly schemes.
The second panel is entitled: Britannia Rules The Page.

I must make the case for the Antipodes in a great debate about who writes the best crime fiction. Joseph Finder will represent the US while James Twining bats for the home team. Should be fun.

Before Harrogate I am spending three days in the Netherlands to launch the Dutch language edition of BLEED FOR ME, which is called 'BOETEDOENING' (which apparently means 'penance'). I'm really looking forward to going back to Amsterdam – one of my favourite cities in the world.

The BBC adaption of SHATTER is still in the script writing stage, but (fingers and toes firmly crossed) the Beeb is still very excited and keen to give the green light.

Well, that's enough from me. I have a new book to write. You have a new book to read.

Supply and demand – that's how it works.

Happy reading,

Michael