Tuesday, August 09, 2022

I Have Michael Connelly Covered! (So What Else Is New?)

 


It's been awhile since I've conducted a cover-off, and since someone on Michael Connelly's team has kindly gathered together book covers for the upcoming Desert Star release, I'm going to pass along my thanks and take advantage.
 
Let's get right down to it!
 
 
 


As far as the US cover goes, I think the author's name and the book title stand out well against the background color. The cover is also clean and relatively uncluttered, which goes to show you that you have to reach the stratosphere of a Stephen King or a Michael Connelly before the marketing teams at the US publishing houses will consider leaving off all the needless quotes.
 
On the other hand, the cover for the UK and Ireland is cluttered with blurbs. You'd think this would be completely unnecessary since Connelly was awarded the Diamond Dagger in 2018 by the UK's Crime Writers Association and was recently honored at the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate.
 
Now we come to my favorite one of the three, the cover for the edition being released in Australia and New Zealand. It's relatively clutter-free, and the author's name and the title stand out well on the darker background. What makes this cover the winner for me is the graphic. There's just something about that dead tree, the sand, and that sun popping up over the mountain that makes you long for air conditioning, a day that convinces you that you're going to sizzle if you walk down the steps into a swimming pool. There's nothing like the desert sun to make you feel as though you're being fried on the hoof. (As you can see, this cover took my imagination on a short flight of fancy.)
 
Which cover do you prefer? They're all very similar, so I think your choice is going to be narrowed down by small details. Which one works the best for you? Inquiring minds would love to know!

16 comments:

  1. Hooray for clutter-free covers! I love 'em, too, Cathy. And the US and AUS/NZ covers are beautiful. Hmm....... I think the one that most gets my attention is the AUS/NZ cover, and I think it's because, as you say, it's clean, but attention-getting and appealing. And, yes, that sun popping up - that's what really does it for me.

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  2. I'm with you! I think the Aus/NZ cover is the best. And then the USA cover.

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  3. Since I read on Kindle, covers in general don't mean much to me, but of these three, I really prefer the US/CAN cover.

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    1. To be completely honest, Dorothy, I'm not a cover junkie either, but I've conversed with those who are for so many years that I think tiny bits of their enthusiasm have rubbed off on me. At least when it comes to comparing covers between various countries.

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  4. The third one is the winner for me as well. My eye was drawn to that one first. I think it is the softness of the light and the colors. Also the sun being centered on the cover. Just more pleasing to the eye somehow.

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  5. Both the USA and AUS covers are good, I think. They're similar enough that I don't have a preference between the two. The UK cover is missing the desert hues of the other two, and had too much flora, with the spikes on the front cactus as well as all the other cacti - almost in neat rows - behind it.

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    1. Yes... too neat-- just like most of their fields! (Shame on me...)

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  6. I prefer the font and print layout of the UK cover, it doesn't overpower the image quite so much. If we are talking image though, then the AUS/NZ wins out! :)

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    1. It's amazing how much difference the chosen font makes, isn't it? Thanks for stopping by, Yvonne. :-)

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  7. This comment is from Kathy D., who is fighting the good fight against Google's bad manners:

    "I love the Aus/NZ cover, like the U.S./Can cover but the star
    has to be bigger. I could tolerate the Brit/Ire cover if the
    blurbs were taken off and the color not so dull."

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    1. There's only been one person who's come out for the UK/IRE cover, and he did it on Twitter. He's tired of bright, bold colors on covers and prefers the more understated ones. I can understand because I've seen several covers with bright, bold, slap-you-in-the-face colors, and they make me turn away.

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  8. I do like the colors on the Aus/NZ and US/Can covers, but think the Brit/IRE cover is boring and the blurbs not necessary.

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    1. Nice to see that Google let you leave a comment, Kathy! Progress is being made.

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