📖 Overview
Barry Forshaw is a leading British critic and author specializing in crime fiction, film, and Nordic Noir. He serves as the chief critic for Crime Time and has written extensively for major publications including The Guardian, The Times, and the Financial Times.
His work includes comprehensive guides and companion books covering crime fiction and film, with notable publications such as British Crime Film, Death in a Cold Climate, and Nordic Noir: The Pocket Essential Guide to Scandinavian Crime Fiction. Forshaw has also authored biographical studies of authors including Stieg Larsson and Jo Nesbø.
As a recognized authority on Scandinavian crime fiction, Forshaw has contributed significantly to the understanding and appreciation of Nordic Noir in the English-speaking world. He regularly appears as a expert commentator on television and radio, discussing crime fiction and film.
His critical works have received acclaim for their detailed analysis and historical context, particularly in mapping the development of British and Scandinavian crime genres. Forshaw also serves as a judge for various literary awards including the CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction.
👀 Reviews
Readers value Forshaw's deep knowledge of crime fiction but some find his writing style academic and dry. His guides receive praise for comprehensive coverage and historical context, particularly in Nordic Noir analysis.
What readers liked:
- Thorough research and expert insights
- Detailed author profiles and book recommendations
- Clear explanations of cultural context in crime fiction
- Useful references for students and researchers
What readers disliked:
- Dense, scholarly writing style
- Repetitive content across different books
- Limited coverage of lesser-known authors
- High price points for relatively slim volumes
From Amazon reviews:
"Excellent reference but reads like a textbook" - 3/5
"Great insights but needed better editing" - 4/5
Goodreads ratings average 3.7/5 across his works, with Nordic Noir: The Pocket Essential Guide scoring highest at 3.9/5. Death in a Cold Climate receives consistent criticism for academic tone but praise for comprehensive analysis of Scandinavian crime fiction development.
Reddit crime fiction forums appreciate his expertise but suggest his books work better as reference materials than cover-to-cover reads.
📚 Books by Barry Forshaw
Death in a Cold Climate: A Guide to Scandinavian Crime Fiction
A comprehensive examination of Nordic noir literature covering major authors, themes, and the genre's historical development.
British Crime Film: Subverting the Social Order An analysis of British crime cinema from the 1940s to present, exploring how these films reflect social and cultural changes.
Nordic Noir: The Pocket Essential Guide to Scandinavian Crime Fiction, Film & TV A reference guide covering key works, authors, and adaptations in the Nordic noir genre.
Crime Fiction: A Reader's Guide A chronological survey of crime fiction's development, examining significant authors and works from the genre's origins to contemporary times.
British Gothic Cinema A study of British horror films examining their cultural context, key directors, and thematic elements.
Historical Noir An exploration of crime fiction set in historical periods, analyzing notable works and their approaches to combining history with mystery.
Euro Noir: The Pocket Essential Guide to European Crime Fiction, Film & TV A reference work covering crime fiction, films, and television series from various European countries.
Italian Cinema: Arthouse to Exploitation An examination of Italian cinema across different genres and periods, from neorealism to horror.
Crime Fiction: A Reader's Guide A chronological overview of crime fiction development from its origins to contemporary works.
British Crime Film: Subverting the Social Order An analysis of British crime cinema from the 1940s to present, exploring how these films reflect social and cultural changes.
Nordic Noir: The Pocket Essential Guide to Scandinavian Crime Fiction, Film & TV A reference guide covering key works, authors, and adaptations in the Nordic noir genre.
Crime Fiction: A Reader's Guide A chronological survey of crime fiction's development, examining significant authors and works from the genre's origins to contemporary times.
British Gothic Cinema A study of British horror films examining their cultural context, key directors, and thematic elements.
Historical Noir An exploration of crime fiction set in historical periods, analyzing notable works and their approaches to combining history with mystery.
Euro Noir: The Pocket Essential Guide to European Crime Fiction, Film & TV A reference work covering crime fiction, films, and television series from various European countries.
Italian Cinema: Arthouse to Exploitation An examination of Italian cinema across different genres and periods, from neorealism to horror.
Crime Fiction: A Reader's Guide A chronological overview of crime fiction development from its origins to contemporary works.
👥 Similar authors
John Scaggs writes academic analysis of crime fiction and explores the development of detective literature through history. His work covers similar ground to Forshaw's critical studies of the genre, with focus on literary theory and cultural context.
Charles Barr specializes in writing about British cinema and television history, examining both mainstream and independent productions. His critical analysis of UK media parallels Forshaw's work on British crime film and television.
Otto Penzler produces reference works and anthologies focused on crime fiction and noir literature. His encyclopedic knowledge of mystery writing matches Forshaw's comprehensive coverage of the genre.
Geoffrey O'Brien writes about film noir, hardboiled fiction, and the cultural impact of crime narratives. His analytical approach to genre studies follows similar methods to Forshaw's examinations of crime media.
Melvyn Barnes focuses on British cinema history and writes detailed studies of UK film genres and movements. His work examining British film culture corresponds with Forshaw's coverage of UK crime cinema and national film traditions.
Charles Barr specializes in writing about British cinema and television history, examining both mainstream and independent productions. His critical analysis of UK media parallels Forshaw's work on British crime film and television.
Otto Penzler produces reference works and anthologies focused on crime fiction and noir literature. His encyclopedic knowledge of mystery writing matches Forshaw's comprehensive coverage of the genre.
Geoffrey O'Brien writes about film noir, hardboiled fiction, and the cultural impact of crime narratives. His analytical approach to genre studies follows similar methods to Forshaw's examinations of crime media.
Melvyn Barnes focuses on British cinema history and writes detailed studies of UK film genres and movements. His work examining British film culture corresponds with Forshaw's coverage of UK crime cinema and national film traditions.