There’s another book out in this popular author’s series of Italian detective stories, although here  police pathologist Teresa Lupo is working without the usual gang; her colleagues in Rome - Peroni, Costa and Falcone - are working on a case in Sicily, while Teresa has beens called to Venice by her aunt. Carnival for the Dead is a complex, convoluted tale (complete with Bookalike cover) which embraces the otherness of Venetian life, revelling in its mysteries, its arcane rituals and its amazing artistic heritage, focusing particularly on the paintings of Vittore Carpaccio (1465-1525/26).

On his blog (which is as much about how to use various computer programmes when writing as it is about his books) David Hewson reveals that this book is likely to be his final detective novel set in Italy: however, the Nic Costa series is currently being adapted for television by Bavaria Media Italia, one of the biggest media groups in Europe. It will be an English language production, filmed on location in Rome.

Also, rather interestingly, Hewson has turned the Danish TV’s The Killing Series 1 into a novel: it will be launched at Crimefest, Bristol on May 25, 2012. Hewson will be there with guests from Copenhagen.