Covers – continued

Posted in A Hard Death by Jonathan on July 18th, 2010

A German reader let me know that the German edition of A Hard Death is now available for pre-order, with an October publication date. Droemer-Knaur have given the book a snappy new title, and used a cover that recaptures the graphic spirit of their edition of Precious Blood (German title: Martyrium).

I like the cover, and am entertained by the new title, TORTUR, the English translation of which is – I’m going out on a limb here- TORTURE.

I don’t think I quite appreciate how brutal my books are in the eyes of some readers. I’m fairly matter of fact about violence – I approach violent death with scientific detachment, a detachment essential for understanding the facts of a homicide without being distracted by my emotional reactions to its brutality. My life as a forensic pathologist involves extreme contrasts – torture, murder, Bach, lobster; in my writing, I try to present that collision of sudden, unspeakable violence with everyday life.

Anyway, welcome, TORTUR!

I just wonder what the hell they’ll call Jenner 4, now that they’ve already used TORTUR…