Martin O'Brien's Blog

Horrified – and furious – to discover that another "writer" has taken the name of my long-running character, Daniel Jacquot, to use in his own "books". By dropping two letters – Jacquot to Jacot – he cleverly avoids Trademark infringement, but is quite content to keep the christian name Daniel. This "gentleman" also uses the same strap line on his book cover – "The New Daniel Jacot Thriller" – and even has him drinking Calvados! I thought the whole point about writing fiction was making things up, not "borrowing" other people's work. As an ex-Guards Officer, and old Harrovian you'd think he'd be above such witless piggy-backing. Just goes to show...

I have just finished re-reading the Millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson. I'm not a great re-reader, but Larsson's story of Blomqvist and Salander is quite simply a masterpiece of crime fiction. What struck me was the control he exhibits in his story-telling – a convoluted plot and huge cast of compelling characters held together with a beautifully measured and sustained narrative pace. The tragedy is that he never lived to see how successful his books have become...

Just wondering what books President-Elect Trump might like to read... Any suggestions?

So the Swedish Academy have awarded Bob Dylan the Nobel Prize for Literature. Bravo, the Academy! And Bravo, Bob!! A truly wonderful wordsmith, and a very, very worthy recipient. It should also be noted that not many Nobel prize-winners play a concert in Las Vegas on the same day their award is announced...

So Frederick Forsyth is hanging up his typewriter and will no longer write fiction. There are many who might say 'Bravo' but not me. His first book "The Day of the Jackal" mesmerised me as a teenager and I have read it many times since. There is no question... the man knew how to thrill!

Just back from three weeks in Provence researching the next Jacquot book. At the end of it, I have a Gambian pickpocket, a screwdriver, and a shaven-headed Turk with a vicious scar showing through the stubble. (An operation? A wound?). Strange ingredients, I know, but this is how it always starts. This time last year all I had was a speedboat pulling a 'donut' with three screaming kids on it. And twelve months later I'd turned it into 'Talking To The Sharks". All I have to do now is let it all simmer and see what I come up with...