Following with the sondeo to writers to tell us their readings, today we have Craig russell. The successful Scottish crime novel writer answered very kindly last Friday to my questions via Twitter first and then, more extensively, via Facebook.

Russell is the creador of the Management curator Jan Fabel, of the Hamburg police. Also the very ironic and harsh detective lenox of the grayer Glasgow of the 50s. Russell is one of the most followed and recognized authors of the black genre. It is not the first time that you answer to your readers like me. So we review his work, your readings In hands and we analyze a certain editorial landscape. From here my thanks to your cordiality.

Craig Russell was born in 1956 in the county of Fife, Scotland. He currently lives, according to his own words, "In the heart of Bruce and Wallace country and I feel blessed by it". This is what he replied when expressing my admiration for Scotland and the historical figure of King Robert I The Bruce (see Braveheart). He is also a writer for short stories.

As we say, his most famous creatures They are the German-Scottish commissioner Jan Fabel, whose series of 7 books set in Hamburg has been translated into more than 20 languages. Combining series, the one of lennox, a former Canadian soldier turned private detective, with whom he changed to the completely different scene of the Glasgow of the 50s.

Also write other types of novels (Biblical) with the pseudonym of Christopher galt.

Jan Fabel Series

The very serious, straight and efficient Jan Fabel he has weathered all the storms of serial killers, various psychopaths and traumas around him. His impeccability, wise and calm leadership skills and a magnificent team under his command they have earned him the admiration of millions of readers. And their cases usually have a large Historical background and certain mythological referents.

His novels have been adapted to the TV by the German ARD with great audience success.

• Death in Hamburg (Blood eagle, 2005)
• Death tale (Brother grimm, 2006)
• Resurrección (Eternal, 2007)
• The Lord of Carnival (The Carnival Master, 2008)
• Revenge of the Valkyrie (The Valkyrie Song, 2009)
• Fear of dark waters (A fear of dark water, 2011)
• Ghosts of Altona, 2015 - Not published in Spain

Lennox Series

Lennox, unlike Fabel, is anything but upright or orthodox. Ironic more than cynical this tough (or not so tough) ex-military canadian moves like a fish in water through a post-war Glasgow as cold as it is dark. Live from day to day and deal the same with friends from the police as with the most important gangsters in the city. Their stories also have planned adaptation by the BBC.

• Lennox (Lennox, 2009)
• The Glasgow kiss (The Long Glasgow Kiss, 2010)
• The deep dark sleep (The Deep Dark Sleep, 2011)
• Dead Men and Broken Hearts, 2012 - Not published in Spain

Your current readings

What I quote and translate:

At the moment, I am reading High Sierra by WR Burnett. I loved the movie version of it (with Humphrey Bogart) when I was a kid but have only just got round to reading the book. It is surprisingly contemporary in style. I'm also reading an advance copy of Amnesia, By Michael Ridpath —It's an astoundingly original thriller set in Scotland. Ridpath is a writer I admire and Amnesia has to be his best yet. My wife has just bought me a book of short stories by the American author George Saunders, so that'll be next!

Now i'm reading High Sierra, by WR Burnett. I loved the movie version (with Humphrey Bogart) when I was a kid but was finding time to read the book. It is surprisingly contemporary in its style. I'm also reading a copy of the preview of Amnesiaby Michael Ridpath, a remarkably original thriller set in Scotland. Ridpath is a writer I admire and Amnesia promises to be his best work. My wife just bought me a book of American short stories George Saunders, so that will be next.

On a certain publishing scene

To also probe if he could know something about why, I expressed my complaint about the interruption of the publication of his latest books Here in Spain.

Answered that Spain has always been an important market for him and he has loved all the acts he has come to do. It also showed agree it's a chore that there has been that interruption. He spoke of the reasons for economic crisis that the publisher gave from here. And he complained because he had been a very loyal author to them.

He added that his agents are looking for a new publisherbut they know what it is Difficult that publish a series already published by another. It showed itself more frustrated than upset because the latest novels both Fabel and Lennox have been the most successful. But it was also hoping to find a new publisher and that we can have them around here, for "One of the most enthusiastic audiences".

Anyway, this has been the literary moment of the month for me. I am a big fan of Russell and again I want to thank him for his approachability and warm tone.. This is not always the case with international or national writers. But certainly Russell is admired. And to those who still do not know Fabel or Lennox, read them NOW.