This week's issue of the New Zealand Listener (8-14 October 2011 issue) includes my large feature on award-drenched crime writer Harlan Coben, who's latest book SHELTER takes a turn into the teen fiction world, centring on the adventures and escapades of Myron Bolitar's nephew Mickey, and his new friends.
I really enjoyed talking to Coben a few weeks ago for the article; he's an intelligent, interesting guy with a good sense of humour. I read SHELTER before the interview, and really enjoyed it - unlike some adult writers who've turned their hand to teen fiction, Coben hasn't simplified the storylines and issues too much - in essence, SHELTER is a good suspense novel that just happens to have a teenager at the centre of it.
For those of you in New Zealand, go out and grab a copy of this week's Listener - I think you will enjoy the feature article on Coben, and some of his thoughts on writing crime and suspense for teen readers (there's also a little sidebar about some other crime/thriller writers who've turned their hand to the teen market). For those of you overseas, the feature article will be posted in full online on the Listener website in about three weeks - I'll make sure to link to it from here on Crime Watch.
Have you read SHELTER, or any of Coben's other tales? Do you like reading teen crime fiction, even as an adult? What were your favourite crime or thriller novels as a teen reader yourself? Comments welcome.
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