I see that Apple Tree Yard (a thriller from a few years back) is to be shown as a drama on BBC1 telly in the new year. I loved that book, though there were mixed reviews at the time. Maybe because, being a Londoner, I could picture all the locations in the storyline – but it was a darn good, chilling story. 🙂
Yes, it was kind of odd, @Susan. My sis in law and I never agree about anything – but we did with this book! She gives all her books to charity shops after reading them, but this one she wanted to keep… forever and ever and ever. 😮
An author who needs the cash. TV scriptwriters generally take the idea and develop it for the screen; all those subtle nuances get binned. Most un-lauded authors have a great plot.
What’s really needed is an anthology where each story can be developed into a 30 minute film. Anybody got any ideas? I’d be looking for 39 great writers with all the cash going to Sophie’s Appeal and Hospice UK.
The Hunger Within by @Jeanette would make a fab TV drama. It’s set amongst the troubles in Northern Ireland in the early 80’s and incorporates the religious tension and the hunger strikes.
Hard to choose because I find that most I have seen weren’t done well. I would love to see a good TV show of Jim butchers Dresden series which is a fantasy and crime kinda
Agree with the Belinda Bauer suggestion but there are also so many others…. Would like to see the Steig Larson books or Jo Nesbo books done for TV even though some have been adapted already for film.
The Snowman has been made into a film but it’s Nesbo himself who blocks the TV idea. ‘The clamour to secure film rights to Nesbo’s books was sparked by him allowing The Snowman, the seventh Harry Hole story, to be made into a film.
He says: “I turned down offers for a long time because, as long as I was writing the Harry Hole stories, I did not want them to become a TV series or movies.’
Both Happy Valleys were amazing, Scott & Bailey too. Not so keen on her family drama stuff – but that’t not because it’s not well written but just because it’s not my sort of genre.
An hour drama on ITV (or any of the commercial channels) is basically about 42 to 45 minutes running time. BBC hour dramas – obviously no ad breaks so you get about 55 minutes. Neither is long enough to develop a stand along story with twists and turns. Basically whoever is the most famous guest star of the week will be your murderer. The only way to tell a great crime story is to do it as a serial…. like The Killing or Happy Valley, over as many episodes as you can persuade the channel to pay for.
OMG – wasn’t Paranoid terrible?! We gave up watching after four episodes. It should have been good as it had all the elements – good, experienced TV writer, a production company with an impressive track record and a great cast (how can anything with Lesley Sharp be so bad?). But sometimes there are so many people, so many components in making TV drama that despite having good ingredients the final product just doesn’t work.
E V Thopmson books and Robert Goddard’s books, but they did dramatise one of his early books and he didn’t like their interpretation of it and now declines anymore being dramatised.
Chris Carter.x
Omg so many it would take all day ..good question !
I see that Apple Tree Yard (a thriller from a few years back) is to be shown as a drama on BBC1 telly in the new year. I loved that book, though there were mixed reviews at the time. Maybe because, being a Londoner, I could picture all the locations in the storyline – but it was a darn good, chilling story. 🙂
I thought it was a strange book, but it definitely drew me in and I had to know how it was going to end! So I would sayI enjoyed it!
Yes, it was kind of odd, @Susan. My sis in law and I never agree about anything – but we did with this book! She gives all her books to charity shops after reading them, but this one she wanted to keep… forever and ever and ever. 😮
Elly Griffith’s
One of the Roy grace series
Mine haha
An author who needs the cash. TV scriptwriters generally take the idea and develop it for the screen; all those subtle nuances get binned. Most un-lauded authors have a great plot.
The Reaper Series by @Steven. Although I am not sure any adaptation would do it justice!
Thanks @Susan. Be nice to have someone try. 🙂
Barbara Erskine’s stories would be amazing in film
Was saying Patricia Cornwell books but I’m not so sure about this who would play them
Think that’s coming to either film or TV – she’s been tweeting about it.
Ok was thinking wonder who play the people
The thing is when you read a book you think the characters look like this
I’ll stick to books thank
Mine please 😉 Form an orderly queue for the screen rights 😉 🙂
Oh, I’d love to see Ted, Trev and all the Meeeeows on the small screen!
I’m ashamed to say that I’m not very well up in the young fifties of today! ‘Scuse me while I go and Google Justin Trudeau!
Oooooh, nice!! Yes, he’d make a good Trev! It’s harder to picture Ted, though!
Love the Darling books..Love the characters the ice queen is my favourite but love Darling as well ..
@Livia Thank you! That is very kind indeed. I like Debs, too 🙂
What’s really needed is an anthology where each story can be developed into a 30 minute film. Anybody got any ideas? I’d be looking for 39 great writers with all the cash going to Sophie’s Appeal and Hospice UK.
Rather like Tales of the Unexpected
Used to love watching that @Susan..it was a treat to stay up and watch it.
@Alexina I used to love them too! I think there was a rerun of them on an obscure TV Channel.
Can’t wait to read this some really good authors here ..this is next on my list to read after my next 4 books !
The Hunger Within by @Jeanette would make a fab TV drama. It’s set amongst the troubles in Northern Ireland in the early 80’s and incorporates the religious tension and the hunger strikes.
Wow, thank you @Gail. One day, maybe…
Janet Evanovich – Stephanie Plum series 🙂 x
They did the first one and stopped. Would love to see all of these done, if properly!
Hard to choose because I find that most I have seen weren’t done well. I would love to see a good TV show of Jim butchers Dresden series which is a fantasy and crime kinda
I would love to see @Louise books on tv. As long as she gets to pick the actors – or me!
Love her books just downloaded Heavenfield know before I even open the first page this will be a good read.
@Livia I love her books too. Cannot wait for the next one!
I would like to Peter Robinson’s Inspector Banks on tv
There is one already, surely? With Stephen Tomkinson?
Inspector Banks has been in the telly for ages
@Steven books
I’d like to see a TV adaptation of Belinda Bauers’s ‘Rubbernecker’ . Fantastic characters and a great storyline.
Agree with the Belinda Bauer suggestion but there are also so many others…. Would like to see the Steig Larson books or Jo Nesbo books done for TV even though some have been adapted already for film.
The Snowman has been made into a film but it’s Nesbo himself who blocks the TV idea. ‘The clamour to secure film rights to Nesbo’s books was sparked by him allowing The Snowman, the seventh Harry Hole story, to be made into a film.
He says: “I turned down offers for a long time because, as long as I was writing the Harry Hole stories, I did not want them to become a TV series or movies.’
@Lesley I know but I still would love to see them maybe done by the Wallander producers and directors who I think would do them justice! ?
Sweetheart, Chelsea Cain
Anne Rice – Mayfair Witches Trilogy
@Steven ‘s One Man Crusade. Sally Wainwright would do it proud!
Sally Wainwright is a great writer 🙂
Producer & director too x
Both Happy Valleys were amazing, Scott & Bailey too. Not so keen on her family drama stuff – but that’t not because it’s not well written but just because it’s not my sort of genre.
Preferred the 1st series of Happy Valley x
Over the past few years we have seen some terrible tv adaptations. I’m referring to John Rebus & Charlie Resnic. Both shoes complete & utter tosh
Which Rebus was worse, do you think? Stott or Hannah?
Hannah was the worst
I’m looking talking about the length of each episode. They only lasted about forty five mins. Even Rankin was not happy with this
Really? Just looking on YouTube and all the episodes there seem to be 1h 08.25.
Can’t remember what channel they were on. Do you mean 45mins excluding ad breaks?
STV Running time 60–120 mins.
(inc. commercials)
An hour drama on ITV (or any of the commercial channels) is basically about 42 to 45 minutes running time. BBC hour dramas – obviously no ad breaks so you get about 55 minutes. Neither is long enough to develop a stand along story with twists and turns. Basically whoever is the most famous guest star of the week will be your murderer. The only way to tell a great crime story is to do it as a serial…. like The Killing or Happy Valley, over as many episodes as you can persuade the channel to pay for.
@Angela But not like Paranoid which has to be the biggest turkey I’ve watched in a long time 🙂
Interesting to see that it was Hannah’s own production company which made the first series.
OMG – wasn’t Paranoid terrible?! We gave up watching after four episodes. It should have been good as it had all the elements – good, experienced TV writer, a production company with an impressive track record and a great cast (how can anything with Lesley Sharp be so bad?). But sometimes there are so many people, so many components in making TV drama that despite having good ingredients the final product just doesn’t work.
The Opticians Wife…Great book that would work so well on tv.
It would..
Most definitely. Great book.
Totally agree, Helen. X
How exciting. xx
Would definitely watch!
Betsy fingers crossed for you. Xx
My fingers are crossed too. Xx
Mine ?. Or the Stuart macbride novels
Would like to see mine as well. Good luck with yours.
The Justice series by @Mel
What a series that would be.
Aww thank you @Craig and @David. That would be a dream come true. Xx
Hopefully it will grab somebody’s attention. I don’t know the procedure. Xx
@Mel who would you have play Lorne?
What about Keeley Hawes. She’s a great actress. Xx
@David great choice
Suranne Jones, definitely. Xx
Hoping to look at that in the near future, David. ? xx
@Mel that’s great choice as well, wouldn’t mind watching her all night
She’s brilliant. Xx
E V Thopmson books and Robert Goddard’s books, but they did dramatise one of his early books and he didn’t like their interpretation of it and now declines anymore being dramatised.
The Tony Cross books have been done very well
Not familiar with those. What does he write?
Val Mcdermid writes the Tony Cross books ie Wire In The Blood
@Jason Oh, of course, silly me, I always forget what his name is!
Ah no, not as silly as I thought, it’s Tony Hill, of course, that’s why Cross meant nothing to me 🙂
I watched bones from the author Kathy Reich’s not all the characters were in the show preferred the books
Tuesday falling could be great.
The Magpies by Mark Edwards
Angie Marsons books
These http://www.authorjasoncook.com/ @Jason
The Power of One, Bryce Courtney. Pharaoh, Wilbur Smith
The Lasser series, @Robin‘s books.
Angela Marsons – Kim Stone books – would love to see these bought to life!
I’d love to see more faithful adaptations Jack Reacher novels. Especially the first one, killing floor.