The leaves are turning and the kiddies are heading back to school where books, books, books are the order of the day – and classics, at that. For this reason we always like to turn the clock back in September and honour the best crime fiction of years gone by.

It’s hard for some of us to believe now, but the 1990s is actually quite a long time ago. It was in that decade that the neo-noir movement really got underway and during Classics in September we’ll have a couple of features going in that direction including a look at an early work by James Sallis, and one of Joe R Lansdale’s finest novels, Savage Season.

If classic crime means the Golden Age, for you, then don’t worry. We’re also going to look up close at one of Agatha Christie’s greatest novels – And Then There Were None. We’ve also got a piece coming about June Wright.

There will be a dash of Dash – Hammett, that is – as well, and this time we won’t be fussing over the falcon but looking at another of his titles. Ted Lewis, Martha Grimes, Robert van Gulik… many more fine classic authors will feature. Plus, we’ll have contemporary writers on board sharing the classics that have influenced them.

Tune in each day in September and look for the articles with CIS in the headline.

Have a look at our Classics in September selection from 2012, 2013 and 2014 – each year is a link to the past!