It was a great shock to discover that Maxine Clarke, one of the best known and best loved crime fiction reviewers, had passed away.
Although I never met her in person, she was one of the first to welcome me "on board" when I joined the Eurocrime team and was always extremely encouraging about my reviews. She said she loved to read them - praise indeed from someone who wrote reviews as well as she did and worked for NATURE; that most hallowed scientific journal that every biologist dreams of publishing in.
As you can see, she even commented on my Tombstoning review - the last post on this blog. I shall treasure her warm remark. It was a delight to read and is now all the more precious.
Maxine was so friendly and took time to make you feel welcome. There is now a huge hole in the crime fiction reviewing community. I am sure that every one of us will feel her loss.
Can I extend my thoughts and prayers to her friends and family, who must be missing her most dreadfully. I hope the outpouring of love and best wishes from around the world in response to the sad news will do just a little to warm your hearts in the days ahead.
Amanda xx
Amanda - Thanks for such a lovely tribute. I know exactly how you feel about how welcome Maxine made one feel, and how supportive and interesting her blog comments always were. She was a good friend and her passing has opened a real vacuum in the crime fiction community and in our lives.
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