Wednesday, September 14, 2016

I Have Paul Doiron Covered!


I recently bought some DVDs from the UK. I just couldn't resist. Now I'm tying to resist making a purchase from the Book Depository. I think I'll be able to succeed. After all, it's not as if I have nothing to read, and I do have a vacation coming up in which I could scout out new bookstores. That's it! Save my spree for vacation!

Whew. I'm glad I talked myself out of that one. 

Now let's get to what we all came here for. It's time to compare the US and UK book covers of a crime fiction novel. Once again this week I chose a title to remind myself that I'm behind in reading the author's books. I enjoyed Paul Doiron's The Poacher's Son, and it's time to get further along in the series. In the mean time, let's take a look at those covers!







This is two completely different ways of viewing books set in the outdoors, isn't it?

The US cover goes for the total outdoor feel with a stream meandering through a shadowy forest. The title of the book is in red, which gives a rather sinister edge to the word "massacre." There's a one-size-fits-all blurb at the top from the Associated Press, and we're given the name of the author's previous book and the fact that he's been nominated for at least one award. (I've never really understood the penchant for only reading books that have won something, but we don't need to go there.) The cover is a very attractive scene and pulls me in, but it's rather generic.

On the other hand, the UK cover went for the less colorful exotic. You don't find many moose in the British Isles, and this particular beast is making its way through fog-laden water. Like the US cover, the title of the book is in red, but there are what appear to be claw marks through it. I don't even know what this book is about, but the presentation of the title on the UK cover makes me think of a nasty death.

One last thing that I would like to mention is how the author's name is presented on each cover. It's quite small and almost an afterthought on the US cover, while on the UK cover it's right at the top in large black letters. I wonder if Doiron sells better in the UK than he does in the US? It would be interesting to find out.

Now I get to choose which one I prefer, and it's not that easy. In general, I think the US cover is much more attractive than the UK one, with its liberal use of glossy color and the rather peaceful outdoor scene of water and trees. The UK cover looks downright plain in comparison. But to me it all boils down to one thing: which cover would make me stop and pick up the book if I were strolling down the aisle in the bookstore?

For me, it's the UK cover. That moose stands out much better than the generic outdoor scene of the other cover.  A-yup. (Yeah... I don't sound much like a Mainer, do I?) It's the moose that does it for me.

How about you? Which cover do you prefer? US? UK? Neither one? Too close to call?  Inquiring minds would love to know!  

    
 

14 comments:

  1. Well, I would pick the U.S. cover. I love bodies of water surrounded by trees, ponds, rivers, lakes. And it looks so New-Englandish, which I love in all seasons.
    Have been in Maine and went to school in Vermont, driven through New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
    So the scene appeals to me -- except when I see the word "Massacre"; then it's not about lovely ponds, but violence.
    Still, that cover would grab me.
    A moose would puzzle me more than anything.

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    1. And one of your nicknames isn't "Elly Mae Clampett." I don't find the moose puzzling at all.

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  2. I like both covers, Cathy. But the US cover is more appealing. It's hard to say exactly why, to be honest. But there it is.

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    1. From glancing down at the comments, it looks as though almost everyone is going for pretty, and I went for strange. I really like the US cover. It is pretty and peaceful, but it blends in with so many other covers I've seen that--unless I happened to see the author's name-- I'd pass right on by.

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  3. I like the US cover. It reminds Kathy D. of Maine. It reminds me of fall in Northern or Central Wisconsin. It looks so peaceful and lovely. Northing bad could happen here, right? Then you see the red title Massacre Pond and all is not what it seems in this lovely idyllic and serene spot.

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    1. Very well said, Lynn. I'm being outvoted this week, and I don't mind a bit!

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  4. I am the author and I agree! I love the covers that C&R did for my first 4 books.

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    1. I am no longer alone! I see that moose and I see the wild North Woods and start thinking of everything that could happen there.

      Now I'm *really* going to have to catch up with your series! (I'm heading for the Doiron section of my to-be-read shelves right now.)

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  5. Well, I think I like the UK cover too. It's the moose for me. Although I might like a bit more color, the US one is too peaceful or something. I am definitely going to start this series this winter. I know almost nothing about Maine, except for Stephen King. It's a long way from Texas. We don't have any moose here either. Oh, and I've recommended this series to my husband. He's working on another one right now, but he'll get around to it I suspect.

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    1. I'm sitting here looking at the next book in Doiron's series now. All I have to do is finish the last 30 pages of Hockensmith's last Holmes on the Range mystery.

      Kay, if you'd like to learn a bit more about Maine, try Lea Wait's Mainely Needlepoint cozy series. She's a Maine author, the series is set there, and she manages to include a bit of state history in her storylines. I've really been enjoying this series.

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  6. A moose would puzzle me because all of the time I was in New England I never saw a moose nor did anyone I knew ever mention seeing one. I associate them more with Canada and the Midwest.

    Maine is glorious. It's beautiful. Just look at photos online. There are vast areas of unspoiled land and forests. Some rich people just donated much acreage to the state to remain public land.

    Mount Desert Island is my favorite place - ocean, lakes, mountains, coves, islands, harbors, hiking trails. It's peaceful.

    One summer we got a cottage right off a small harbor, would have breakfast sitting on the grass looking at the sail boats in a harbor. This on Mount Desert Island.

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  7. I do agree that the US cover looks more like Maine! But, I wonder if his larger name on the UK version means he has a big following there? And I see he stopped by, how exciting! I am a big fan of this series, it's fantastic.

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    1. Hmmm... I thought I answered this a few hours ago. Oh well. I was trying to talk with Denis at the same time, so who knows what happened? LOL

      It looks as though you and I are both wondering about his UK sales. But I did follow my own "advice"-- I'm in the middle of Trespasser and wondering what took me so long to get back to this series!

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