DARK VOYAGE

Things are changing rapidly these days because of COVID-19. Tonight, New York closed its restaurants (except for takeout and delivery), bars, and gyms. Museums were shut down last week. Fortunately, books never expire, and they’re great company in a quarantine. I’m thrilled to say that THE SWAMP KILLERS: A NOVEL IN STORIES is out today from Down & Out Books!

Edited by E.A. Aymar and Sarah M. Chen — the same dynamic duo that brought you THE NIGHT OF THE FLOOD in 2017 — it’s not a sequel, but chance to bring a band of reprobates together for a new mission. I’m in the book with my story “Cockroach,” along with Alex Dolan, Rebecca Drake, Gwen Florio, Elizabeth Heiter, J.J. Hensley, Susi Holliday, Shannon Kirk, Tara Laskowski, Jenny Milchman, Alan Orloff, Tom Sweterlitsch, Art Taylor, and Wendy Tyson. Here’s the premise:

Here’s what we know is true.

Timmy Milici, a low-level hitter with the infamous Atlanta-based Duplass crime family, ran off with Melody Duplass to Jacksonville, Florida. Olivia Duplass, her mother and head of the Duplass family, was incensed, and put a price on Timmy—a hundred thousand for his corpse, but with explicit instructions that her daughter not be harmed.

We know that’s true.

Or, at least, we think we do.

Sixteen writers tell their versions of what happened those fateful days in this gripping novel-in-stories, brought to you from the team behind The Night of the Flood.

Sounds sweet and vicious, doesn’t it? Pick up your copy now!

Was it really just two weeks ago that I was happily posting about book-tour events in Arizona, California, and Virginia? So much has changed since then, with the relentless march of COVID-19 across the US. This morning, the Virginia Festival of the Book canceled this year’s festival. While Left Coast Crime in San Diego hasn’t been canceled (yet), I’ve decided not to attend. Because my plan’s to appear at Scottsdale’s legendary Poisoned Pen were tied to that trip, I’ve had to cancel my appearance there tomorrow night, too. I am sorry to miss seeing friends, but I’m also hoping that everyone stays healthy. (PS If you want a signed hardcover of DON’T LOOK DOWN, the Poisoned Pen will have them next week; you can order it online.)

The weeks around a book release are always a whirlwind. Before the big day, I’m writing essays and answering Q&As and doing whatever advance promotion I can; once the book is out in the world, there’s a tour (even when I say I’m not doing one, apparently!). I’ve been lucky enough to have two wonderful launch parties — one in Toronto at Ben McNally Books, and one in New York at the Mysterious Bookshop — and to present DON’T LOOK DOWN at other events, including the Ontario Library Association Superconference. I also have some fabulous events coming up:

NEW YORK

Friday, February 28th, at 7pm: I’ll be at the fabulous Kew & Willow Books in Queens with two friends, authors Alex Segura and Nancy Bilyeau. Join us for a relaxed evening of books, wine, and Star Trek chat (yes, we are all fans). Free event, open to all.

ARIZONA

Wednesday, March 11th, at 6:30pm: There’s only one store I’ve visited on every book tour, and that’s Scottsdale’s legendary Poisoned Pen. I’m excited to be back to talk about DON’T LOOK DOWN! Free event, open to all.

CALIFORNIA

Will you be at Left Coast Crime in San Diego? I’m on a couple of panels, both on Saturday, March 14th: at 10:15am, I’ll be talking about “Crime Fiction and Reality: How do today’s headlines impact fiction?” with Tracy Clark, Puja Guha, Keith Raffel, and moderator Laurie Rockenbeck. At 1:15pm, I’m on “Let’s Talk About Sex (in Mysteries)” with Ed Aymar, David Corbett, Jennifer Kincheloe, and moderator Holly West. A good time will be had by all! (I hope.)

VIRGINIA

Saturday, March 21st, at 4pm: I have the pleasure of appearing at the Virginia Festival of the Book this year. I’m on the “Dangerous Territories” panel with Don Bentley, Gabino Iglesias, Rip Rawlings, and moderator Steve Weddle. Free event, open to all!

Today’s the day! My sixth novel, DON’T LOOK DOWN, is out now from Thomas & Mercer. Technically, it’s the second book in my new Shadows of New York series, but I’ve written it to work as a standalone, so you can dive right in. If you really want to start with the first, ONE SMALL SACRIFICE is on sale in all formats right now.

I had the pleasure of launching DON’T LOOK DOWN at Toronto’s glorious Ben McNally Books last week. Remember when I said I wasn’t going to tour this time around? Apparently I lied. Here’s a list of where you can hear me speaking about DON’T LOOK DOWN:

Thursday, February 13th, 6:30pm: The US launch party at NYC’s Mysterious Bookshop. I’ll appear in conversation with Sarah Weinman, author of THE REAL LOLITA. There will be wine! (Free event, open to all.)

Friday, February 28th, 7pm: At Queens’ lovely Kew & Willow Books, I’ll appear in conversation with Alex Segura, author of MIAMI MIDNIGHT, and Nancy Bilyeau, author of DREAMLAND. (Free event, open to all.)

Wednesday, March 11th, 6:30pm: Only one bookstore has had me visit for each and every novel, and that’s Scottsdale’s legendary Poisoned Pen. I’m excited to be back yet again! (Free event, open to all.)

Thursday, March 12th-Sunday, March 15th: I have multiple events at Left Coast Crime in San Diego, but you’ll need to be registered for the conference to see me. I’ll be on two panels, including the notorious Sex Panel…

Saturday, March 21, 4pm: I’m excited to be part of the Virginia Festival of the Book this year. I’m on the “Dangerous Territories” panel with Don Bentley (WITHOUT SANCTION), Gabino Iglesias (editor, BOTH SIDES: AN ANTHOLOGY OF BORDER NOIR), Rip Rawlings (RED METAL), and moderator Steve Weddle (COUNTRY HARDBALL). Free event, open to all!

Enthusiastic reviews of DON’T LOOK DOWN keep coming in. If you want to keep track, I list them on this page. For now, I’ll quote from a particularly terrific one by critic and author Kerry Clare: “The writing was great, dialogue fun and snappy, and the pacing never missed a beat. Don’t Look Down was delightful, and everything I want in a read.”

DON’T LOOK DOWN is available everywhere now, including Amazon, Angus & Robertson, Barnes & Noble, Chapters/Indigo, Indiebound, Target, & Waterstones. If you’d like a signed copy of the book, please contact one of the stores where I’ll be appearing — the Mysterious Bookshop, Kew & Willow, and the Poisoned Pen would be happy to arrange for a personalized copy. Thanks for reading!

There’s nothing more important to a book’s success than pre-orders. DON’T LOOK DOWN will be released in hardcover, trade paperback, eBook, and audiobook on February 11th, and pre-ordering any of those formats ia a terrific help to me. As a way of saying thanks, I’m hosting a contest. There will be a random drawing and five lucky entrants will win a lovely (eerie?) crow, just like the ones pictured above and below. Why a crow? It’s a recurring image in DON’T LOOK DOWN; Jo Greaver, the woman at the center of the case, actually keeps a small statuette like this one on her desk. It’s a little Hitchcockian, which feels appropriate.

One grand prize winner will get something extra special: paperback copies of my first four novels: The Damage Done, The Next One to Fall, Evil in All Its Disguises, and Blood Always Tells. All four books are currently out of print, so this is your only way of getting these books.

How do you enter the drawing? All you have to do is email me your pre-order receipt at preorders@hilarydavidson.com.

Here are a few places where you can pre-order the book:

• Amazon
• Angus & Robertson
• Barnes & Noble
• Chapters/Indigo
• Indiebound
• Target
• Waterstones

The pre-order contest is open worldwide. It closes on February 10th, the day before DON’T LOOK DOWN is released. Good luck, and my deepest thanks to everyone who pre-orders the book!

I’ve been offline for much of December, but I’ve still seen plenty of retrospectives. And they’re not just memorializing the past year, but the last decade. It’s been a wonderful ride for me. In 2010, I published my debut novel, THE DAMAGE DONE, which went on the win the Anthony Award for Best First Novel. Since then, I’ve gone on to publish five more books and roughly forty short stories, plus a slew of articles and essays. I’ve won a second Anthony Award and a Derringer Award. My 2019 novel, ONE SMALL SACRIFICE, became a bestseller. I’ve had the opportunity to travel across North America and to travel abroad, visiting Argentina, Germany, Israel, Scotland, and Sweden. Best of all, I’ve met so many incredible people and made wonderful new friends. I can honestly say that I have the best job in the world.

Still, some things don’t change. My favorite travel companion is still my husband, Dan (a fact that seems fitting, since we met while traveling in Italy, many, many years ago). My biggest fans are still my parents, who have no reservations about cheering on their daughter’s murderous impulses. And I have an amazing group of friends who’ve known my for most of my life. I’m grateful for all of you, and I’m looking forward to what the next decade brings. Happy new year!

I don’t know about other writers, but I live on tenterhooks while waiting for the trade reviews to come in. My publicist just sent me this one from Publishers Weekly, and it’s fabulous! Here’s an excerpt:

“Davidson keeps the reader guessing to the satisfying conclusion. Crime fiction fans will welcome this tale of family, secrets, resilience, and revenge.”

Read the full review here.

Pre-order DON’T LOOK DOWN from Amazon, Indiebound, Barnes & Noble, Target, or Chapters/Indigo.

Waiting for reviews is always stressful, so this first trade review of DON’T LOOK DOWN made my day! Here’s a little bit of what Kirkus had to say:

“A blackmail plot produces complications upon complications in a story of sex trafficking, class wars, and stolen identities… such a satisfying page-turner.” 

Read the full piece here. I’m so grateful to the reviewer, who clearly read the book carefully (there are minor spoilers in the review, but nothing that diminishes the suspense). DON’T LOOK DOWN is first and foremost a thriller, but it’s one that grapples with issues about race and sex and justice.

Pre-order DON’T LOOK DOWN from Amazon, Indiebound, Barnes & Noble, Target, or Chapters/Indigo. (Reminder: there will be a pre-order contest. Details to come in my newsletter!)

It’s that time of year again! Bouchercon will be held in Dallas, Texas, this fall, and “Denim, Diamonds & Death” will mark the 50th anniversary of the world’s biggest crime-fiction convention. It will be my 10th consecutive year attending (I may be a lifer at this point) and I’m looking forward to it. Here’s where to find me:

Thursday, October 31, 11am-noon: I’ll be on the “That’s What She Said: Snappy Dialogue” panel with Lynette Eason, Dana Haynes, Matthew Iden, Laura Oles, and moderator Donna Andrews (Reunion F); we’ll signing books and programs afterwards.

Friday, November 1, 8am-9am: My publisher, Thomas & Mercer, is hosting the hospitality suite on Friday morning, and I’ll be signing copies of my latest novel, ONE SMALL SACRIFICE. Please stop by to say hello, get some treats, and maybe snag a book!

Saturday, November 2, 2:30-3pm: I’ll be at the Mystery Writers of America table in Marsalis A with Christin Brecher, L.A. Chandlar, Joe R. Lansdale, Tosca Lee, and Margaret Mizushima. Bouchercon schedules are always crazy and it’s hard to see everyone so pop by for a moment if you can.

Last month, I posted about ONE SMALL SACRIFICE being on sale in the UK and Australia. Now, the book is on sale in the US and Canada as well. The price of the paperback edition is between 25% and 50% off, and the Kindle price is up to 80% off: 

Even if you don’t have a Kindle, you can take advantage of this deal by downloading the free Kindle app on your phone or tablet (from the Apple Store or Google Play). The sale will be on until September 14th in the UK and Australia, and until September 30th in the US and Canada. I hope you’ll pick up the novel if you haven’t already — and if you’ve read the book, I hope you’ll spread the word!