Claire Askew – författare

WINNER OF THE MCILVANNEY DEBUT PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA GOLD DAGGER AND CWA JOHN CREASEY (NEW BLOOD) AWARDS'(a) meticulous and compelling novel about the aftermath of a major crime and its effect on the affected families and investigating officers both.' Ian Rankin'...it deserves every accolade. This psychological suspense story is one of the best books of the year...Askew is a writer on the rise.' The Globe and Mail (Canada)This is a fact: Ryan Summers walked into Three Rivers College and killed thirteen women, then himself. But no one can say why. The question is one that cries out to be answered - by Ryan's mother, Moira; by Ishbel, the mother of Abigail, the first victim; and by DI Helen Birch, put in charge of the case on her first day at her new job. But as the tabloids and the media swarm, as the families' secrets come out, as the world searches for someone to blame... the truth seems to vanish. A stunningly moving novel from an exciting new voice in crime, ALL THE HIDDEN TRUTHS will cause you to question your assumptions about the people you love, and reconsider how the world reacts to tragedy.

Selected by the Sunday Times as one of the 40 best crime novels published 2015-2020WINNER OF THE MCILVANNEY DEBUT PRIZELONGLISTED FOR THE MCILVANNEY PRIZE SCOTTISH CRIME BOOK OF THE YEARSHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA GOLD DAGGER AND CWA JOHN CREASEY (NEW BLOOD) AWARDS'(a) meticulous and compelling novel about the aftermath of a major crime and its effect on the affected families and investigating officers both.' Ian Rankin***In the aftermath of a tragedy, the world needs an explanation.In Edinburgh, after the Three Rivers College shooting, some things are clear. They know who. They know when. No one can say why.For three women the lack of answers is unbearable: DI Helen Birch, the detective charged with solving the case. Ishbel, the mother of the first victim, struggling to cope with her grief. And Moira, mother of the killer, who needs to understand what happened to her son. But as people search for someone to blame, the truth seems to vanish...From a prizewinning poet, ALL THE HIDDEN TRUTHS is a searing, compelling and powerful debut.'As scarily plausible as it is utterly captivating, this is an absorbing and unforgettable debut.' Heat'Raw, powerful, compassionate and deeply moving, with page-turning tension to the end. A stunning debut.' Karen Robinson, Sunday Times Crime Club'You'll be gripped by the unexpected truths that emerge. Compelling.' Marie Claire

Dedicated cop Helen Birch faces a terrible choice - family or justice? - in the gripping second novel from the author of All The Hidden Truths

FROM THE AUTHOR OF ALL THE HIDDEN TRUTHS, WHICH WON THE MCILVANNEY DEBUT PRIZE'(a) meticulous and compelling novel about the aftermath of a major crime and its effect on the affected families and investigating officers both. Set in Edinburgh, too' - Ian Rankin 'Askew asks intricate moral questions, while never ignoring the rigours of crime' - Daily MailDI Helen Birch faces a terrible choice - family or justice? - in the gripping second novel from the author of All the Hidden TruthsDI Birch joined the police to find her little brother, who walked out of his life one day and was never seen again. She stayed to help others, determined to seek justice where she could.On the fourteenth anniversary of Charlie's disappearance, Birch takes part in a raid on one of Scotland's most feared criminal organisations. It's a good day's work - a chance to get a dangerous man off the streets. Two days later, Charlie comes back. It's not a coincidence. When Birch finds out exactly what he's been doing all those years, she faces a terrible choice: save the case, or save her brother. But how can you do the right thing when all the consequences are bad? As she interrogates Charlie, he tells his story: of how one wrong turn leads to a world in which the normal rules no longer apply, and you do what you must to survive.From one of the most acclaimed new voices in crime fiction, What You Pay For is a brilliantly tense and moving novel about the terrible disruption caused by violence and the lines people will cross to protect those they love.

FROM THE AUTHOR OF ALL THE HIDDEN TRUTHS, WHICH IS SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA GOLD DAGGER AWARD AND WON THE MCILVANNEY DEBUT PRIZE'(a) meticulous and compelling novel about the aftermath of a major crime and its effect on the affected families and investigating officers both. Set in Edinburgh, too' - Ian Rankin 'Askew asks intricate moral questions, while never ignoring the rigours of crime' - Daily MailDI Helen Birch faces a terrible choice - family or justice? - in the gripping second novel from the author of All the Hidden TruthsDI Birch joined the police to find her little brother, who walked out of his life one day and was never seen again. She stayed to help others, determined to seek justice where she could.On the fourteenth anniversary of Charlie's disappearance, Birch takes part in a raid on one of Scotland's most feared criminal organisations. It's a good day's work - a chance to get a dangerous man off the streets. Two days later, Charlie comes back. It's not a coincidence. When Birch finds out exactly what he's been doing all those years, she faces a terrible choice: save the case, or save her brother. But how can you do the right thing when all the consequences are bad? As she interrogates Charlie, he tells his story: of how one wrong turn leads to a world in which the normal rules no longer apply, and you do what you must to survive.From one of the most acclaimed new voices in crime fiction, What You Pay For is a brilliantly tense and moving novel about the terrible disruption caused by violence and the lines people will cross to protect those they love..

'Stunning' - Sunday TimesClaire Askew won the Scottish Debut Crime Award with her debut All the Hidden Truths, praised as 'A meticulous and compelling novel' by Ian Rankin.'What if I told you,' he said, 'that I believe my mother's life to be in danger?'Robertson Bennet returns to Edinburgh after a 25-year absence in search of his parents and his inheritance. But both have disappeared. A quick, routine police check should be enough - and Detective Inspector Helen Birch has enough on her plate trying to help her brother, Charlie, after an assault in prison. But all her instincts tell her not to let this case go. And so she digs.George and Phamie Bennet were together for a long time. No one can ever really know the secrets kept between husband and wife. But as Birch slowly begins to unravel the truth, terrible crimes start to rise to the surface.Beautifully written and ingeniously plotted, Cover Your Tracks confirms Claire Askew as a major new talent in crime fiction.Praise for Claire Askew's novels:'Stunning debut... compellingly written' - Daily Mail'A meticulous and compelling novel about the aftermath of a major crime and its effect on the affected families and investigating officers both' - Ian Rankin'Splendid debut... thoughtful and well-written' - Guardian'Gripping, heartbreaking and horrifyingly plausible. I couldn't tear myself away from this book. Claire Askew is a stunning new voice in crime fiction' - Erin Kelly, author of He Said/She Said'Moving and memorable' - The Sunday Times'A fine, thought-provoking debut' - Mail on Sunday'Claire Askew takes us away from the obvious plot and asks us tantalising questions... an absorbing psychological trio for Askew's thought-provoking entry into crime fiction' - The Times

*** LONGLISTED FOR THE McILVANNEY CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR AWARD **One day. One woman. One chance to get everyone out alive.'TELL JACK BAUER HE HAS BEEN SUPPLANTED... A taut hostage scenario' iPAPER'A breathless, real-time, 24-style thriller that combines nail-biting tension with boundless compassion' ERIN KELLY'Askew is proving to be a master of the suspenseful police procedural' SUNDAY TIMES CRIME CLUBAt 8am the first shots are fired.At 1pm, the police establish the gunman has a hostage.By 5pm, a siege is underway.At 9pm, DI Helen Birch walks, alone and unarmed, into an abandoned Borders farmhouse to negotiate with the killer.The outstanding new novel from the highly acclaimed author of All the Hidden Truths and What You Pay For - both shortlisted for the CWA Golden Dagger.'Phew, the electric tension in this nail-biting, clock-ticking, thriller almost blew my fuses! Tension reaches screaming point...unmissable! 10/10' PETERBOROUGH TELEGRAPH'The tension builds to genuinely frightening peaks ... Enjoy the breath-taking thrill of the ride' THE SCOTSMAN'An engrossing and thought provoking read' BELFAST TELEGRAPH'Nail-biting' CRIME MONTHLY'Tension-packed' CARLISLE LIFE'Breath-taking' ON MAGAZINE'This 24-style thriller is filled with nail-biting tension' SCOTS MAGAZINE'This nail-biter keeps up a rollicking pace-this is one you're likely to devour in one sitting!' MY WEEKLY'Askew displays pitch-perfect understanding of tone and cadence ... breath-taking thrill' YORKSHIRE POST'Askew has delivered a peak-page turner and fans of crime-fiction will be left with a cliffhanger ending and a pronounced desire to learn where DI Birch turns up next' IRISH EXAMINER

At 8am the first shots are fired.At 1pm, the police establish the gunman has a hostage.By 5pm, a siege is underway.At 9pm, DI Helen Birch walks, alone and unarmed, into an abandoned Borders farmhouse to negotiate with the killer.One day. One woman. One chance to get everyone out alive.The outstanding new novel from the highly acclaimed author of All the Hidden Truths and What You Pay For - both shortlisted for the CWA Golden Dagger.

'Compelling' IAN RANKIN'Stunning' SUNDAY TIMESThe brilliant new novel from award-winning writer and rising star Claire Askew. A city that's no longer safe...An anonymous vigilante stalks the streets of Edinburgh. As his behaviour escalates, the police are at a loss - they can find no clues to his identity, and no trace of his whereabouts.A detective in the path of danger...DI Helen Birch has been told to stay away from the case - but she's never been one to play by the rules. When her colleague Amy comes to her asking for help, DI Birch finds it impossible to resist the challenge - and soon, her life is on the line.Will she crack the case before it breaks her? Or has she finally met her match?A gripping crime thriller for fans of Susie Steiner, Elly Griffiths and Val McDermid - guaranteed to keep you up all night...PRAISE FOR CLAIRE ASKEW:'Thought-provoking' Mail on Sunday'A crackerjack read' Val McDermid'Meticulous and compelling' Ian Rankin'Thoughtful and well-written' Guardian'Compellingly written' Daily Mail'Stunning' Erin Kelly'Absorbing and thought-provoking' The Times

'Compelling' IAN RANKIN'Stunning' SUNDAY TIMESThe brilliant new novel from award-winning writer and rising star Claire Askew. A city that's no longer safe...An anonymous vigilante stalks the streets of Edinburgh. As his behaviour escalates, the police are at a loss - they can find no clues to his identity, and no trace of his whereabouts.A detective in the path of danger...DI Helen Birch has been told to stay away from the case - but she's never been one to play by the rules. When her colleague Amy comes to her asking for help, DI Birch finds it impossible to resist the challenge - and soon, her life is on the line.Will she crack the case before it breaks her? Or has she finally met her match?A gripping crime thriller for fans of Susie Steiner, Elly Griffiths and Val McDermid - guaranteed to keep you up all night...PRAISE FOR CLAIRE ASKEW:'Thought-provoking' Mail on Sunday'A crackerjack read' Val McDermid'Meticulous and compelling' Ian Rankin'Thoughtful and well-written' Guardian'Compellingly written' Daily Mail'Stunning' Erin Kelly'Absorbing and thought-provoking' The Times

'Compelling' IAN RANKIN'Stunning' SUNDAY TIMESThe brilliant new novel from award-winning writer and rising star Claire Askew. A city that's no longer safe...An anonymous vigilante stalks the streets of Edinburgh. As his behaviour escalates, the police are at a loss - they can find no clues to his identity, and no trace of his whereabouts.A detective in the path of danger...DI Helen Birch has been told to stay away from the case - but she's never been one to play by the rules. When her colleague Amy comes to her asking for help, DI Birch finds it impossible to resist the challenge - and soon, her life is on the line.Will she crack the case before it breaks her? Or has she finally met her match?A gripping crime thriller for fans of Susie Steiner, Elly Griffiths and Val McDermid - guaranteed to keep you up all night...PRAISE FOR CLAIRE ASKEW:'Thought-provoking' Mail on Sunday'A crackerjack read' Val McDermid'Meticulous and compelling' Ian Rankin'Thoughtful and well-written' Guardian'Compellingly written' Daily Mail'Stunning' Erin Kelly'Absorbing and thought-provoking' The Times

A woman slipping through the cracks . . .When a young Vietnamese girl goes missing in Scotland, DI Birch knows there is more to the case than meets the eye. Her colleagues won't take it seriously - but Helen's instinct tells her that Linh is in mortal danger. A psychic determined to help . . .Beatrice knows something terrible has happened to three young people in Edinburgh. She can see them in her mind's eye - frightened and alone, desperate for help. Ever since she was a child, she's had visions of the future - and she's ignored them before, with dangerous consequences. This time, she must help the police find Linh. A showdown where not everyone will survive . . .When a second woman goes missing, DI Birch is forced to pay attention to what Beatrice is saying. But will the police listen to the truth in time? Or is it already too late?

A woman slipping through the cracks . . .When a young Vietnamese girl goes missing in Scotland, DI Birch knows there is more to the case than meets the eye. Her colleagues won't take it seriously - but Helen's instinct tells her that Linh is in mortal danger. A psychic determined to help . . .Beatrice knows something terrible has happened to three young people in Edinburgh. She can see them in her mind's eye - frightened and alone, desperate for help. Ever since she was a child, she's had visions of the future - and she's ignored them before, with dangerous consequences. This time, she must help the police find Linh. A showdown where not everyone will survive . . .When a second woman goes missing, DI Birch is forced to pay attention to what Beatrice is saying. But will the police listen to the truth in time? Or is it already too late?

NOVELISTA is a friendly, straight-talking writing guide for people who want to write a novel but don't know how to begin. It asks all the important questions and gives a host of reassuring answers that demonstrate that anyone can write a novel - even you!To begin with, what the hell is a novel? It's basically a tiny world, where characters are born, live, and (sometimes) die. To write one all you need is a notebook and a pen - but along the way you'll want to learn about good writing habits, planning, mastering descriptions and dialogue and how to pull it all together. This book will guide you through the process and orient you towards the goal of publication.From absolute beginner to novelista, this book will change the way you write and think about writing.

NOVELISTA is a friendly, straight-talking writing guide for people who want to write a novel but don't know how to begin. It asks all the important questions and gives a host of reassuring answers that demonstrate that anyone can write a novel - even you!To begin with, what the hell is a novel? It's basically a tiny world, where characters are born, live, and (sometimes) die. To write one all you need is a notebook and a pen - but along the way you'll want to learn about good writing habits, planning, mastering descriptions and dialogue and how to pull it all together. This book will guide you through the process and orient you towards the goal of publication.From absolute beginner to novelista, this book will change the way you write and think about writing.

This changes things was Claire Askew's first full collection, coming after years of work in Scotland's flourishing poetry and spoken word scene. Her poems focus on the lives and experiences of women - particularly the socially or economically marginalised - at pains both to empathise and to recognise the limits of this empathy. They embody a need to acknowledge and challenge the poet's privileged position as documenter and outsider, a responsibility to the poem's political message and to that message's human subject. This changes things draws much of its strength from this exploration of inbetweenness. Claire Askew's purposeful deployment of objects, lighting effects and liminal spaces implicates her reader in the poem's argument, holds up a mirror and asks us to pay attention. The book's romantic relationships, depictions of frustrated travel or social mobility, are bound up in its awareness of the systems of power that permit no true state of innocence. Even the final poem, 'Hydra' - with its celebration of the body and its senses - cannot ultimately allow us off the hook. This changes things was shortlisted for the Saltire Society First Book of the Year Award 2016, Seamus Heaney Centre Prize for First Full Collection 2017 and Michael Murphy Memorial Prize 2017.

This changes things is Claire Askew’s first full collection, coming after years of work in Scotland’s flourishing poetry and spoken word scene. Her poems focus on the lives and experiences of women - particularly the socially or economically marginalised - at pains both to empathise and to recognise the limits of this empathy. They embody a need to acknowledge and challenge the poet’s privileged position as documenter and outsider, a responsibility to the poem’s political message and to that message’s human subject. This changes things draws much of its strength from this exploration of inbetweenness. Claire Askew’s purposeful deployment of objects, lighting effects and liminal spaces implicates her reader in the poem’s argument, holds up a mirror and asks us to pay attention. The book’s romantic relationships, depictions of frustrated travel or social mobility, are bound up in its awareness of the systems of power that permit no true state of innocence. Even the final poem, ‘Hydra’ - with its celebration of the body and its senses - cannot ultimately allow us off the hook. This changes things unsettles the homely and recognisable. In its compromised, imperfect characters and narratives, it proposes a radical way of translating neoliberal Britain.

Claire Askew’s electrifying second collection is an investigation of power: the power of oppressive systems and their hold over those within them; the power of resilience; the power of the human heart. It licks flame across the imagination, and rewrites narratives of human desire. It is a collection for anyone who has ever run through their life ‘backwards/ in the dark,/ with no map’ – these bright poems illuminate the way.How to burn a woman throngs with witches, outsiders, and women who do not fit the ordinary moulds of the world. It is a collection which traces historic atrocities, and celebrates the lives of those accused of witchcraft with empathy, tenderness and rage. It lifts a mirror up to contemporary systems of oppression and, in language that is both vivid and accessible, asks hard questions of our current world.These poems also delve deep into love in all its forms: from infatuations to the bitter ending of relationships. They ask what it is we want, how we might go about getting it, and what its cost might be.How to burn a woman sweeps the world up in its arms and presents it: a rough bonfire of London buses, Salem streets, Edinburgh closes. Askew’s astute, incisive language lifts from every page, throwing sparks.

Claire Askew’s electrifying second collection is an investigation of power: the power of oppressive systems and their hold over those within them; the power of resilience; the power of the human heart. It licks flame across the imagination, and rewrites narratives of human desire. It is a collection for anyone who has ever run through their life ‘backwards/ in the dark,/ with no map’ – these bright poems illuminate the way. How to burn a woman throngs with witches, outsiders, and women who do not fit the ordinary moulds of the world. It is a collection which traces historic atrocities, and celebrates the lives of those accused of witchcraft with empathy, tenderness and rage. It lifts a mirror up to contemporary systems of oppression and, in language that is both vivid and accessible, asks hard questions of our current world. These poems also delve deep into love in all its forms: from infatuations to the bitter ending of relationships. They ask what it is we want, how we might go about getting it, and what its cost might be. How to burn a woman sweeps the world up in its arms and presents it: a rough bonfire of London buses, Salem streets, Edinburgh closes. Askew’s astute, incisive language lifts from every page, throwing sparks.

An eclectic and radical collection of essays on contemporary witchcraft and the ethics of magic – a must-read for anyone engaged with the occult, witchcraft or magics of any kind.