Peter will be starting his tour to support the 25th Inspector Banks novel Careless Love in a few weeks. Here’s the current schedule; more dates may be added, so check back.

Friday 20 July
12.00pm: Harrogate Crime Festival Chairing of There’s no Place Like, with Luca Veste (Merseyside), AA Dhand (Bradford), Leye Adenle (Lagos) and Susie Steiner (Cambridge).

Saturday 21 July
11.00am: Signing at Castle Hill books, 1B Castle Hill, Richmond, DL10 4QP.

7.00pm: White Rose books event, 78-81 Market Pl, Thirsk, YO7 1ET.

Sunday 22 July
12.30pm Signing at The Little Ripon Bookshop, 13 Westgate, Ripon, HG4 2AT.

3.00pm: Signing at Waterstones York, 15 Coney Street, York, YO1 9QL.

Monday 23 July
1.00pm: Signing at Waterstones Wakefield, 2 Kirkgate, Wakefield, WF1 1SP.

6.30pm: In Conversation Event at Waterstones Manchester Deansgate, 91 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 2BW.

Tuesday 24 July
1.00pm: Signing at Simply Books, 228 Moss Ln, Bramhall, Stockport SK7 1BD.

7.00pm: In Conversation event at Waterstones Leeds, 93-97 Albion St, Leeds, LS1 5JS.

Wednesday July 25
12.30pm: Literary Lunch, Venue: Gusto, Dicconson Terrace, Lytham Saint Anne FY8 5JY. Contact: Alison Plackitt, Plackitt & Booth Booksellers

Monday August 6
12.30pm: Signing at Waterstones, 78-80 St Peters Street, Derby DE1 1SR.

7.00pm: Event with Waterstones Nottingham, 1-5 Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham, NG1 2GR.

Tuesday August 7
1.00pm: In Conversation with Catherine for Browsers Books at Woodbridge Library, New Street, Woodbridge IP12 1DT.

7.30pm: Event in the Big Barn, Manor Farm Site, Bury St, Ruislip HA4 7SU.

Wednesday August 8
12.30pm: Signing at Waterstones Reading, 89 Broad Street, Reading RG1 2AP.

7.00pm: Event at Waterstones,77 High Street, Staines TW18 4PQ.

Thursday August 9
1.00pm: Signing at Waterstones Guildford, 71-73 High St, Guildford, GU1 3DY.

7.00pm: Tonbridge Library, Avebury Avenue, Tonbridge, TN9 1TGp

Saturday August 11
12.00pm Signing at Waterstones, 102 High Street, Northallerton.

Wednesday September 26
Time TBC: Events for the Richmond Festival.

Saturday September 29
4.45pm: Solo event at the Morecambe and Vice Festival, Morecambe Winter Gardens.

Sleeping in the Ground has been awarded the 2018 Arthur Ellis Prize for Best Crime Novel. This award, given by the Crime Writers of Canada, is for excellence in Canadian Crime Writing.

This is not the first time that Peter has won this award, and it’s iconic wooden trophy of a hanging man. In 2012, he won Best Crime Novel for Before the Poison; in 2011 he won Best Novel for Cold is the Grave; in 1997, he won Best Novel for Innocent Graves; and in 1992 he won Best Novel for Past Reason Hated.

The award is named after the pseudonym used by Canada’s last hangman.

The good news is that Sleeping in the Ground has been nominated for an Arthur Ellis Award for best novel. The bad news is that I won’t be in Toronto to attend the awards banquet on 24 May. But that’s not really bad news as, instead, I will be in the midst of a library tour of Vancouver Island and the British Columbia coast from 21-28 May. It’s going to be tough travel, with a lot of ferry deadlines and long drives, but I’m looking forward to meeting the readers out there, and the scenery is spectacular. Here’s the schedule. Do come if you get the chance!

• Tuesday, May 22, 7.00pm. Greater Victoria Public Library, 735 Broughton Steet, Victoria. 250-940-4875 ext. 809.
• Wednesday, May 23, 7:00pm. Salt Spring Island Public Library, 129 McPhillips Ave, Salt Spring Island. 250-537-4666 ext. 225.
• Thursday, May 24, 6:30pm. Courtenay Library Branch, 300 6th St, Courtenay. 250-334-3369 ext. 3.
• Friday, May 25, 7:00pm. Powell River Public Library, 100-6975 Alberni St, Powell River.604-485-4796.
• Saturday, May 26, 7:00pm. Cook Shack Hall, 20 Maple Rd, Alert Bay. 250-974-5721.
• Sunday, May 27, 2:00pm. Campbell River Branch Library, 1240 Shoppers Row, Campbell River. 250-287-3655.

There are a number of other forthcoming events over the next few months, both in the UK and in Canada, and I’ll write more about these later. Some of the highlights are as follows:

• Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Festival, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK, Friday, July 20 at 12 noon.
• Port Medway Readers Festival, Port Medway, Nova Scotia, Canada, Saturday, August 25, 7:00pm.
• Eden Mills Writers Festival, Ontario, Canada, Sunday, September 9.
• Richmond Walking & Books Festival, Richmond, North Yorkshire, UK, Wednesday, September 26. With Martin Carthy.
• Morecambe & Vice Festival, Morecambe, Lancs, UK. Saturday, September 29.

The new Banks book, Careless Love comes out in the UK on July 26 and in Canada in late October. US publication is not until January, 2019.

And here’s a photo of me in Hiroshima, during a recent visit to Japan.

Banks and his team find themselves with two suspicious deaths. One involves the apparent suicide of a young local student, whose body is found in an abandoned car on a lonely country road. She didn’t own a car. Didn’t even drive. How did she get there? Where did she die? Who moved her, and why?

The other case concerns a man in his sixties found dead in a gully up on the wild moorland. He is wearing an expensive suit and carrying no identification. Post mortem findings indicate that he died from injuries sustained during the fall. But what was he doing up there? And why are there no signs of a car in the vicinity?

As the inconsistencies multiply and the mysteries proliferate, Annie’s father’s new partner, Zelda, comes up with a shocking piece of information that alerts Banks and Annie to the return of an old enemy in a new guise. This is someone who will stop at nothing, not even murder, to get what he wants, and suddenly the stakes are raised and the hunt is on.

The new Inspector Banks will be available on 26 July, 2018 (UK), October 2018 (CA), January 22, 2019 (US). (Buy from Amazon UK)

Listen to Peter’s hour of music and musical reminiscences on Radio 6 music’s “Paperback Writers” this Sunday afternoon, 29 October, at 1pm. Watch this site for the playlist.

If you’re in the UK, find out more on the Radio 6 website.

The Banks 30th Anniversary Tour is about halfway through. The first three weeks have been a wonderful mix of libraries and bookshops, and I have had the opportunity to answer a lot of interesting questions and meet so many enthusiastic Banks fans. Sleeping in the Ground continues to do well since it entered the Sunday Times bestseller list at Number 2 a couple of weeks ago.

Waterstones hosted many of the events, as well as supplying books for library signings, and I would like to thank the staff and all the people who made the effort to attend in Southampton (especially the work experience crew!), Northallerton, Manchester, Sheffield, Doncaster and Nottingham, sometimes in less than perfect weather conditions! It was also a special treat to do events with fellow crime writers William Shaw in Brighton and Mari Hannah in Newcastle. I would also like to thank the librarians in Rothwell, Leeds, Rochester, Darlington, York and Peterborough. Speaking in the beautiful Chichester Cathedral was a great thrill, though I was much distracted by the stained glass windows!

Taking a break from signing books; thinking about a nice pint of Timothy Taylor’s…

It is always a pleasure to appear at events organised by independent bookshops, and this time was no exception. David’s Bookshop in Letchworth is a treasure trove of books and music, and Topping & Co provided a venerable venue in St Peter’s church, Ely. White Rose Books in Thirsk remains a must for any book tour I’m likely to do, providing a comfortable, intimate space and that all important glass of wine! Castle Hill Books in Richmond might not be large in terms of space, but it was great to sit in warmth and comfort there with a nice cup of tea and chat with people while the rain poured down outside.

This week is dominated by independents in the Northwest and South Wales, much of it uncharted territory for me. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at Simply Books in Bramhall, Booka Bookshop in Oswestry, Book-ish in Crickhowell and, finally, Waterstones in Cardiff. There’s much more to come, including an appearance at the Edinburgh Festival on 15th August, which is always and honour and a thrill. Hope to see you all somewhere over the coming weeks!

See the rest of the tour dates here.

The latest Inspector Banks novel, Sleeping in the Ground, has been released in the UK.

A shocking mass murder occurs at a wedding in a small Dales church and a huge manhunt follows. Eventually, the shooter is run to ground and things take their inevitable course.

But Banks is plagued with doubts as to exactly what happened outside the church that day, and why. Struggling with the death of his first serious girlfriend and the return of profiler Jenny Fuller into his life, Banks feels the need to dig deeper into the murders, and as he does so, he uncovers forensic and psychological puzzles that lead him to the past secrets that might just provide the answers he is looking for.

When the surprising truth becomes clear, it is almost too late.

Buy it now from Amazon UK.

Peter was signing copies of Sleeping in the Ground today for Goldsoro Books, who is selling a limited number of signed first editions. Get yours now; they won’t last long.

Peter’s latest book, Sleeping in the Ground, is due out in a few days in the UK, and he’ll be touring the country extensively to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first Inspector Banks book, Gallows View. Below is a list of scheduled events. Try to get to lunchtime signings as close to the noted time as possible in order to avoid disappointment.

Tuesday, 11 July, 2,00pm: Talk at Rothwell Library, Marsh Street, Rothwell, Leeds LS26 0AE.
Tuesday, 11 July, 6.30pm: Event at Leeds Central Library, Leeds.

Wednesday, 12 July, 6.30pm: Event at Chichester Cathedral, Chichester.

Thursday, 13 July: Signing at Waterstones, West Quay Shopping Centre, Southampton SO15 1QE.
Thursday, 13 July: Event for Waterstones, 71-74 North Street, Brighton BN1 1ZA.

Friday, 14 July, 2.30pm: Talk at Rochester Library, Eastgate, Rochester ME1 1EW.
Friday, 14 July, 7.00: David’s Bookshop, 14 Eastcheap, Letchworth SG6 3DE.

Saturday, 15 July, 3.00pm: Event for Topping & Co, St Peter’s Church, Broad Street, Ely CB7 4AH.

Tuesday, 18 July, 3.00pm: Event at Darlington Library, Crown Street, Darlington DL1 1ND.
Tuesday, 18 July, 7.00pm: Event at Waterstones with Mari Hannah. Emerson Chambers, Blackett St, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7JF.

Wednesday, 19 July, 7.00pm: White Rose Book Shop, 79-81 Market Pl, Thirsk YO7 1ET.

Thursday, 20 July, 7.00pm: York Explore Library, Library Square, Museum Street, York YO1 7DS.

Friday, 21 July, 12.30pm: Signing at Waterstones, High Street, Northallerton DL7 8PP.

Saturday, 22 July, 11.30 – 12.30pm: Castle Hill Book Shop, Richmond, North Yorkshire.

Tuesday, 25 July, 7.00pm: Event for Waterstones, 91 Deansgate, Manchester M1 3AQ.

Wednesday, 26 July, 7.00pm: Event for Waterstones, 24 Orchard Square, Sheffield S1 2FB.

Thursday, 27 July, 12.30pm: Signing at Waterstones, Frenchgate Shopping Centre, Frenchgate, Doncaster DN1 1LJ.
Thursday, 27 July, 6.30pm: Event for Waterstones, 1 – 5 Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham NG1 2GR.

Friday, 28 July, 7.00pm: Event at John Clare Theatre, Peterborough Central Library, Broadway, Peterborough PE1 1RX.

Monday, 31 July, 7.30pm: Event for Simply Books, Fords Lane Church, Fords Lane, Bramhall SK7 1DQ.

Tuesday, 1 August, 7.00pm: Event at Booka bookshop, 26-28 Church Street, Oswestry SY11 2SP.

Wednesday, 2 August, 7.30pm: Event at The Bear, High Street, Crickhowell NP8 1ED.

Thursday, 3 August, 6.30pm: Waterstones, 2a The Hayes, Cardiff CF10 1WB.

Tuesday, 8 August, 7.00pm: Event for Waterstones, 3 – 5 Fishergate, Preston PR1 3LJ.

Wednesday, 9 August, 7.30pm: Event for Linghams, 248 Telegraph Rd, Heswall, the Wirral CH60 7SG.

Thursday, 10 August, 7.30pm: The Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Abbey, Forgate, Shrewsbury SY2 6AH.

Tuesday, 15 August, 7.15pm: Edinburgh Festival Event, Studio Theatre, Edinburgh.

Wednesday, 16 August, 8.00pm: Event for Topping & Co, 7 Greyfriars Garden, St Andrews KY16 9HG.

Thursday, 17 August, 7.00pm: Event at Primavera for Waterstones, The Avenue Shopping Centre, 38 Avenue Centre, Newton Mearns, Glasgow G77 6EY.

Sunday, 20 August, 7.00pm: Event at the East Riding Theatre, 10 Lord Roberts Rd, Beverley HU17 9BE.

Saturday, 2 September, time TBC: After dinner speaker at the Gala Dinner for the National Association of Writers’ Groups. University of Warwick, Warwick.

The paperback edition of When the Music’s Over is #1 this week on the Sunday Times Bestseller list! My thanks to everyone who bought a copy. (Amazon UK)

The 24th DCI Banks novel, Sleeping in the Ground, will be published in the UK on 13 July (US: August; Canada: October). (Amazon UK)

The story begins with a mass murder at a Yorkshire wedding, and the investigation needs to move in some unexpected directions in order to find answers. In this one, Banks is mourning the death of an old lover, Annie is dealing with her father’s move from Cornwall up to Yorkshire to be “closer to her,” and DC Gerry Masterson is bearing the brunt of the action, as usual. The music moves from Bowie’s “Starman” to “Blackstar” with a lot of varied and interesting stuff in between.

As this is the 30th anniversary of Banks in print (yes, Gallows View came out in 1987!) I will be doing an extensive UK tour through July and August, with a couple of events at the beginning of September. I cover a fair bit of the country, from Southampton and Brighton to Cardiff, Edinburgh, and St Andrews, with many stops in between, especially in the North and North East. I don’t have the final details yet, but when I do I’ll post them. I look forward to seeing many of you at these events.