*Meaningful pause* I have a train to catch.

I've boarded a train bound for Harrogate, and am looking forward to my first trip to the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. I'll be hosting a table at the author dinner on Saturday, and generally mingling all weekend, so if you're headed to Yorkshire, I hope to see you there.

In the meantime, here's a few more cuttings - click through to read the full reviews and check out these fine blogs.

Hopefully my journey will be less eventful than the one Carter Blake takes in The Time to Kill...

Douglas Skelton posts his review along with notices for Matt Bendoris and TF Muir:

"The previous two books in the series gave us little hints to Blake’s past, nothing much, just little nods and winks, but this time it comes raging back to haunt him. If the past is a foreign country, Blake’s past is one the government would not advise travellers to visit ... I’m a sucker for thrillers on trains. From ‘The Lady Vanishes’ through to ‘Breakheart Pass’ and, my personal favourite, ‘Narrow Margin’, there’s nothing more exciting than riding the rail and pitting your hero against the bad guys. And Cross does it incredibly well."

Civilian Reader reviews the first two books in the series - can't wait to hear the verdict on the third:

"Put simply, The Samaritan is superb. My favourite new thriller series, long may it continue! A must-read for all fans of thrillers and gripping fiction. Both of these novels are very highly recommended."


Lastly, Crime Thriller Girl selects The Time to Kill as one of her top 10 summer reads - be sure to check out the rest of the top 10!

"THE TIME TO KILL is an adrenaline rush from the first page to the last. Packed with stunning set-piece action sequences, and an emotional punch as you discover more of the rather mysterious Blake’s backstory, this cinematic action thriller is like reading Reacher crossed with Bourne plus added fabulousness."

The Time to Kill - Review roundup

Some more great reviews are in for The Time to Kill and I'm relieved that people seem to love it so far!

I've posted some snippets below and you can click through for the full reviews:

Crime Fiction Lover

"Carter Blake is an excellent character. He’s tough but can compromise, intelligent, resourceful without being ridiculous. In other words, believable ... The novel itself clips along. Although there are three strands to the story they don’t get confused. The chapters are short, the prose is punchy and fast moving making this a proper page turner which maintains a furious pace without draining the reader."

Crime Thriller Girl

"THE TIME TO KILL is an adrenaline rush from the first page to the last. Blake is a terrific action hero – he’s smart, agile, and although prefers not to kill people (even the bad guys) he’ll fight as hard as it takes to make sure the good guys win.

"Packed with stunning set-piece action sequences, and an emotional punch as you discover more of the rather mysterious Blake’s backstory, this cinematic action thriller is like reading Reacher crossed with Bourne plus added fabulousness. It’s a total must read. In fact, stop what you’re doing right now and start reading it – you won’t regret it!"

Liz Loves Books

"Carter Blake gets compared to Reacher an awful lot (he’s better)  – for me he is more Jack Bauer (he’s still better) but you should probably ignore both of those and just let this series be what it is.  A set of bloody brilliant thrillers with heart, more complex at the roots than they appear on the surface,  that honestly I hope go on for as long as the aforementioned Reacher has.  Longer. Its fine. Carter can kill people with the zimmer no problem."

Peterborough Evening Telegraph

"This helter-skelter thriller fulfils the promise of the first two books featuring former secret agent Carter Blake"

(If you're wondering, the answer to the competition is Narrow Margin, which I've never seen but always meant to.)

I was also really pleased to be picked for the Sunday Post's top 10 thrilling reads for summer (along with a feature on me and a picture of me trying to look menacing in an alley). Considering their other picks include Stephen King, Lee Child, Val McDermid and Harlan Coben, it's very nice company to be in. Good to see Steve Cavanagh's awesome The Defence represented too.

And to round things off, a nice feature in the Daily Record Book Club about the new book.

The Time to Kill is out now in the UK and you can get it from the following places:

Trade paperback (large format)
Waterstones
Amazon
WHSmith

ebook
Kindle
iBook
Kobo
Google Play

audiobookAudible

It's going to be published in the United States in February with a change of title (or rather, with the original title), so American readers can pre-order Winterlong right now.

I've had a sneak peek of the American cover and it's awesome, so stay tuned for that reveal, along with some other plans I have for the Stateside release...

Samaritan reviews

A couple more excellent reviews of The Samaritan - great to see it's going down well so far.

Geoffrey Wansell in the Daily Mail (who also liked Killing Season) said:

"Cross has a fine grasp of Angelino authenticity, and puts it to full use. He's a writer who has his own voice and likes to use it, and the locale, to heighten the tension to breaking point."


It's increasingly rare for new authors to be reviewed in the national press, so I'm incredibly pleased that The Samaritan has notched up great reviews in both the Mail and the Independent.


I'm also really pleased that it's going down well with bloggers, particularly this excellent write-up from blogger, writer and all-round crime fic expert Crime Thriller Girl:

"Set in Florida and California, The Samaritan showcases some great locations (including one very creepy and atmospheric one that I can’t mention – sorry, it’d be too much of a spoiler) to create a vivid backdrop to the story. With great characters, fab locations and a super-twisty plot, The Samaritan is an absolute page-turner. And I already can’t wait for the next Carter Blake novel – I think this is a series that’s going to run and run."


It's also been picking up mostly great Amazon and Goodreads reviews. These are really important for reaching new readers, so if you liked the book, please take a minute to leave a review. Whether it's from newspaper critics, bloggers or readers, it's really good to get feedback.

The Samaritan isn't out in the US until February, but here's a sneak peak of the American cover, which I really like.