First of all, a HUGE THANK YOU to those who took part in last week’s survey and got that kitten tally so high. The result was a phenomenal 188 responses, and I’m incredibly grateful to you for taking the time to help me out. I now have lots of lovely and interesting data to collate, and will share the findings with you in due course.

Now then… Mrs. Peabody will be taking a bit of a blogging breather for a few weeks, as we’re off to the land of Mounties, Moose and Molson to meet some far-flung family. I’m looking forward to finding out a little more about the Canadian crime fiction scene while we’re there as well.

No national stereotyping here, eh?

I have, of course, been stocking up on some summer treats to take along on the journey. Here’s a selection of the novels I’ll be reading, hopefully with a view of the Pacific and a cool drink in my hand.

Anya Lipska’s Where the Devil Can’t Go, a highly-praised debut set in London and Poland. The author is on the ‘New Blood panel’ at the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival at Harrogate on Saturday 20 July (along with Derek B. Miller, author of the wonderful Norwegian by Night). I’m extremely sad that I can’t make it this year, especially as there’s also a panel devoted to German Krimis, winningly entitled ‘Dead in Deutschland’…

Yrsa Sigurdardottir’s Ashes to Dust, the third of the Icelandic Thóra Gudmunds-dottir series. I’ve picked this one because it’s partly set in the 1970s, my favourite decade, and I’ve not read any of this author’s novels before (shocking I know).

Geoffrey McGeachin’s The Diggers Rest Hotel, which won the 2011 Ned Kelly Award for best crime fiction novel, and is the first in the Charlie Berlin series. Set in rural 1947 Australia, it looks to have an interesting take on the legacy of the Second World War. The novel is featured in one of Margot’s Kinberg’s ‘In the Spotlight’ posts, which provides a lovely overview.

Before I head off, here are two additional treats for you:

Word reaches me from Raven and Euro Crime that five more Foreign Bodies episodes are airing on BBC Radio 4 this week. This time the focus is on Greece (Markaris/Haritos – see my post on the author here), Argentina (Mallo/Lascano – my review of Needle in a Haystack is here), Northern Ireland (McGilloway/Devlin), South Africa (Meyer/Griessel), and on female crime drama investigators (Miller/Lund/ Berthaud). If you happen to miss any, they are available online for seven days. It also looks like the first series is being repeated from Monday 15 July.

Last but not least, this week’s ShortList features The 39 Greatest Maverick Cops. I’m not sure I agree with all of their rankings or analysis, but there are some good ones in there, including some storming women.

Wishing you all wonderful, relaxing summer days.

This week, in place of my usual post, I’m going to ask you for some help.

If you’re a regular visitor to ‘Mrs. Peabody Investigates’, or even if you just drop by every now and then, would you mind filling out a short, anonymous survey on the blog? Pretty please? It has just nine questions, and mainly involves ticking boxes.

THE SURVEY IS NOW CLOSED 🙂

The survey is linked to my day job as a UK academic: we’re exploring the impact of our research beyond a university audience, for example in blogs or in the media. And your opinion really counts – whether you’re a reader, blogger, publisher, translator, author, bookseller or anything else to do with the wonderful world of crime!

In return, I offer you oodles of gratitude and this picture of an adorable kitten. I’ll be adding an extra kitten for every 10 people who take the survey…

No, not a kitten. Walnut whip reward by special request 🙂

Cute bunny by special request

Puppy from dooziedog.com *melts*

By special request: otters holding hands 🙂

THANK YOU!