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Books in the Media: Dolphin Junction by Mick Herron sails into the top spot
Dolphin Junction by Mick Herron (John Murray) was the most reviewed fiction book this week as it was mentioned in the Guardian, New York Times, Telegraph and Times.
The Telegraph’s Jake Kerridge gave the crime novel five stars. Kerridge highlighted the book's excellence by saying “every story, whether sweet or dark, is a delicious treat". Kerridge also interviewed Mick Herron for the publication.
Laura Wilson included it in her recent crime and thrillers round-up in the Guardian, describing the novel as “Dolphin Junction is both a perfect introduction to the creator of monstrous spymaster Jackson Lamb and a treat for Slough House series aficionados.”
The New York Times also included it in an article about "new mysteries and thriller books" it would recommend with Sarah Weinman saying: “One that I won’t get out of my head anytime soon is the collection’s title story, which overturns the traditional missing-wife narrative with particular relish.”
The Times’ James Owen featured the novel in an artcile on “The best new thrillers for November 2021 — music and the Mob”, hailing the crime story collection as an “an early Christmas bonus".
In non-fiction, Kevin Birmingham’s The Sinner and the Saint (Allen Lane) picked up reviews in the Guardian, Financial Times, Spectator, Observer and the Washington Post.
The book was the Guardian’s book of the day with Alex Christofi declaring: “The Sinner and the Saint is not just a fitting tribute to one of the great works of world literature, but a dazzling literary detective story in its own right.”
Daniel Rey at the Financial Times said: “Birmingham excels at close readings of the text, and recounts Dostoevsky’s biography with a novelist’s eye.”
Ian Thomson writing for the Observer said: “The Sinner and the Saint can be recommended to anyone interested in the dark twisted genius of “Dusty”, as Nabokov (with a touch of mockery) nicknamed the ill-fated Russian maestro.”
Kathryn Hughes at the Washington Post applauded Birmingham’s novel saying: “The Sinner and the Saint is gripping, even for those who have not read Crime and Punishment for years or, indeed, have never even skimmed it.”
Finally, Boris Fishman at the New York Times described the book as a “a magnificent and fitting tribute [to Crime and Punishment]”.
