James McCreet
Encyclopedia
James McCreet is a British writer, the author of a series of Victorian detective thrillers set in 1840s London. His works are known for their fast-paced, historically accurate and complex plotlines featuring the same core characters.
, where his twin preoccupations were Shakespeare and the novels of Ian Fleming
. He also completed a Masters degree at the University of Sussex
. Since then, he has lived in Norwich, Maidstone, Brighton, Harrogate and Leeds, as well as a number of years living abroad in Greece, China and Poland. He has worked as a teacher, a bookseller, an editor, a copywriter, a journalist and a holiday rep. He is married and lives in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
imprint was The Incendiary’s Trail
, published in June 2009. The author has since written that that book almost was not published: “I think it was October 2007 that I sent the manuscript in – emailed from Harrogate public library. I heard nothing back and assumed it had been rejected. But in February 2008 I sent it in again. That's when I was told the novel had excited some interest back in October but that my contact details had been misplaced. If I hadn’t tried again in February, it might never have happened.”
McCreet’s second book was The Vice Society
(2010), a new story featuring the same characters and London setting as the first book. In May 2011, the third part of the series, The Thieves’ Labyrinth
, was released.
Though each book is a separate story, the characters and their relationships develop with each new instalment.
in tone and subject, McCreet has often said that his main influence is Edgar Allan Poe
, a copy of whose stories was one of two books owned by the author while teaching in China (the other was Moby Dick). He has also listed other writers: “Umberto Eco
for his ideas and the way he blends history, philosophy and literature. James Ellroy
for his distinctive voice. Elmore Leonard
for his perfect prose. Kurt Vonnegut
for the way his personality comes through in his writing. Ian Fleming
for his inner boy. Herman Melville
for Moby Dick – a book in which the author luxuriates in his writing. Henry Miller
, who made being a writer the subject he wrote about. I'm not sure any of them influence my writing in a perceptible sense. They represent standards to aim at.”
Biography
James McCreet was born in Sheffield. He studied English and American Literature at the University of East AngliaUniversity of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
, where his twin preoccupations were Shakespeare and the novels of Ian Fleming
Ian Fleming
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer.Fleming is best known for creating the fictional British spy James Bond and for a series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character, one of the biggest-selling series of fictional books of...
. He also completed a Masters degree at the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
. Since then, he has lived in Norwich, Maidstone, Brighton, Harrogate and Leeds, as well as a number of years living abroad in Greece, China and Poland. He has worked as a teacher, a bookseller, an editor, a copywriter, a journalist and a holiday rep. He is married and lives in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
Works
McCreet's debut novel for Macmillan New WritingMacmillan New Writing
Macmillan New Writing is an imprint of the British publishing company Pan Macmillan. Designed to attract previously unpublished authors, it offers aspiring novelists 20% of royalties from the sale of their book but no advance on signing...
imprint was The Incendiary’s Trail
The Incendiary’s Trail
The Incendiary’s Trail is the debut novel from writer James McCreet, first published in July 2009. It is a Victorian detective thriller set in 1840s London and introduces a series of characters that recur in successive books.- Plot summary :...
, published in June 2009. The author has since written that that book almost was not published: “I think it was October 2007 that I sent the manuscript in – emailed from Harrogate public library. I heard nothing back and assumed it had been rejected. But in February 2008 I sent it in again. That's when I was told the novel had excited some interest back in October but that my contact details had been misplaced. If I hadn’t tried again in February, it might never have happened.”
McCreet’s second book was The Vice Society
The Vice Society
The Vice Society is the second novel from writer James McCreet, first published in May 2010. It is a Victorian detective thriller set in 1840s London and continues a series featuring the characters of George Williamson, Noah Dyson and Inspector Albert Newsome.- Plot summary :Ex-detective George...
(2010), a new story featuring the same characters and London setting as the first book. In May 2011, the third part of the series, The Thieves’ Labyrinth
The Thieves’ Labyrinth
The Thieves’ Labyrinth is the third book in a series of Victorian detective novels by author James McCreet, published in May 2011. It continues the adventures of a set of characters established in the first book, The Incendiary’s Trail, namely: George Williamson, Albert Newsome, Noah Dyson,...
, was released.
Though each book is a separate story, the characters and their relationships develop with each new instalment.
Influences
Though he has been compared to Charles DickensCharles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
in tone and subject, McCreet has often said that his main influence is Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
, a copy of whose stories was one of two books owned by the author while teaching in China (the other was Moby Dick). He has also listed other writers: “Umberto Eco
Umberto Eco
Umberto Eco Knight Grand Cross is an Italian semiotician, essayist, philosopher, literary critic, and novelist, best known for his novel The Name of the Rose , an intellectual mystery combining semiotics in fiction, biblical analysis, medieval studies and literary theory...
for his ideas and the way he blends history, philosophy and literature. James Ellroy
James Ellroy
Lee Earle "James" Ellroy is an American crime fiction writer and essayist. Ellroy has become known for a so-called "telegraphic" prose style in his most recent work, wherein he frequently omits connecting words and uses only short, staccato sentences, and in particular for the novels The Black...
for his distinctive voice. Elmore Leonard
Elmore Leonard
Elmore John Leonard Jr. , better known as Elmore Leonard, is an American novelist and screenwriter. His earliest published novels in the 1950s were westerns, but Leonard went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures.Among his...
for his perfect prose. Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. was a 20th century American writer. His works such as Cat's Cradle , Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions blend satire, gallows humor and science fiction. He was known for his humanist beliefs and was honorary president of the American Humanist Association.-Early...
for the way his personality comes through in his writing. Ian Fleming
Ian Fleming
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer.Fleming is best known for creating the fictional British spy James Bond and for a series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character, one of the biggest-selling series of fictional books of...
for his inner boy. Herman Melville
Herman Melville
Herman Melville was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick and the posthumous novella Billy Budd....
for Moby Dick – a book in which the author luxuriates in his writing. Henry Miller
Henry Miller
Henry Valentine Miller was an American novelist and painter. He was known for breaking with existing literary forms and developing a new sort of 'novel' that is a mixture of novel, autobiography, social criticism, philosophical reflection, surrealist free association, and mysticism, one that is...
, who made being a writer the subject he wrote about. I'm not sure any of them influence my writing in a perceptible sense. They represent standards to aim at.”