With Britain dominating the news, I have to give a shout-out to one of my favorite Brits, the great mystery and comedy writer Simon Brett. In an amazing year, Simon was awarded both the Order of the British Empire and fellowship to the Royal Society of Literature – this is to go along with his 2014 Diamond Dagger, the highest honor of the Crime Writers Association.
Aficionados of spectacularly well-written crime films will remember that I adapted Simon’s terrific novel Shock to the System for the 1990 movie starring Michael Caine. I can only hope the Queen mentioned me in awarding the OBE.
I was disappointed to learn that, while Simon is now a knight, he doesn’t get to be called ‘sir’ or wear armor outside of the house. I suggested that he insist on being called “O.B.E. wan KenO.B.E.” It did wonders for Alec Guinness.
By the way, if you want to sample Simon’s wares, I really do recommend the novel of Shock to the System. It’s genuinely wicked fun.
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