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Craig Murray
Former Ambassador, Human Rights Activist



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February 22, 2010

Disappearing Murder

I sometimes have to seriously query the competence of my publisher. They had a couple of months notice of the radio play of Murder in Samarkand, but Amazon were out of stock before the broadcast even started and now are showing 5 to 9 days dispatch, while I can't find the book at all on Waterstone's website.

There would be a good chance that some of the 2 million people who heard the play, casually coming across the book in a bookshop, might buy a copy. But a lady just contacted me having been to five different London bookshops - before she found a copy in Foyles.

Craig

Posted by craig on February 22, 2010 2:04 PM in the category UK Policy


Comments

Bad marketing form indeed Craig.

Posted by: Daniel Hoffmann-Gill at February 22, 2010 2:40 PM


There are a few copies of the book available on Ebay too, some of which are brand new.

Posted by: Stevie at February 22, 2010 2:59 PM


People are still ordering from Amazon, despite the 5-9 day dispatch time. Your sales ranking has leapt from 2275 immediately before the broadcast to 367 today.

Posted by: MJ at February 22, 2010 3:01 PM


The Book Depository (www.bookdepository.com) has it listed for dispatch within 48 hrs. I've had good service from them with delivery to Canada; I'd imagine that UK delivery should be very good.

Posted by: martin at February 22, 2010 4:24 PM


You know, I've been meaning and meaning to buy this thing, and just never seem to get around to it. Well, it's done now. Sorry for the delay!

Posted by: NomadUK at February 22, 2010 4:43 PM


@martin,

Thanks for the link. Looks like a handy site.

MIS ordered. Look forward to reading it.

Posted by: Wasp_Box at February 22, 2010 4:44 PM


Looks like you are having a good week Craig. You seem to be getting quoted all over the place.

Theophrastus left this link on the thread about Sting you may not have noticed

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/lostinshowbiz/2010/feb/22/sting-uzbekistan

A really good article by Marina Hyde.
137 comments and not one of them supporting Sting

Posted by: derek at February 22, 2010 4:53 PM


I had been meaning to buy a copy for ages, then, after reading some of your comments in advance of the broadcast I went and bought it from Amazon, er, about a week or so ago. Just before the rush, oh yes! Guess I'm partly to blame, then.

Posted by: mike cobley at February 22, 2010 5:10 PM


Foyles do a very good range of stethoscopes.


Posted by: arsalan at February 22, 2010 5:36 PM


any media event is bound to boost demand, and this can be difficult to forecast accurately. I'd have thought your publisher might have done better, in this respect, but most people don't mind waiting a bit for something they want. Like some others here I beat the rush. I think it was watching Craig's testimony to the parliamentary committee on Human Rights that convinced me. I thought, what is going on with all this 'extraordinary renditions', complicity in torture, and why have we not had a public inquiry into all this? The book didn't disappoint, and is well written.

Posted by: pete at February 22, 2010 6:38 PM


To those who are going to have to wait a few days more for the book. I can assure you that it is worth it.

If you are in a hurry though, you may be able to find the American version of the book called 'Dirty Diplomacy'. It seems to be the same book, but lacks the photos in the original.

Posted by: Chris Dooley at February 22, 2010 6:46 PM


I got my copy from the local library.
Easiest - it was in stock.

Posted by: spot at February 22, 2010 9:15 PM


Getting it into a local library is a v good idea, especially for people who have the book already, or don't have the dosh at the moment. In fact it is a great idea full stop. Will do.

Posted by: technicolour at February 22, 2010 9:19 PM


As is ordering a copy from a bookshop anyway; if what this results in is a reprint.

Posted by: technicolour at February 22, 2010 9:19 PM


I agree, libraries are a fine and splendid idea; and they still work, touch wood. And, yes - if you tell them about a book you'd like to read, they'll get it for you. Fantastic setup.

I first read MiS from finding it in the local library. It was on a shelf labelled "History: USA".

Posted by: Richard Robinson at February 22, 2010 9:54 PM


Great play..or documentary more like.

Very scary. But will any political party ever but any different.

My guess is that the only reason you have not been killed off in some way is that you are too high profile.

Is there any evidence of british citizens being victims of extra ordinary
rendition?

Thanks and I look forward to reading the book, Death in Samarkand.

Jane


Posted by: jane at February 23, 2010 7:51 AM


Sorry to hear that Craig, we have stock of the hardback and paperback http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9781845962210/Murder-in-Samarkand

best

Kieron
MD The Book Depository

Posted by: Kieron at February 23, 2010 8:01 AM


Chelmsford library has a copy. The computers gave a Dewey index number for it, but it wasn't there and eventually I had to ask - it was on the Autobiography shelf.

Posted by: Clark at February 23, 2010 9:45 AM


Did you keep hassling them about it in the weeks up to broadcast ? Either you, or your agent needs to be persistent. In this chaotic economy a lot of people are overworked, they can't keep tabs on everything.

Posted by: mrjohn at February 23, 2010 10:07 AM


another review:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2010/feb/22/saturday-play-murder-in-samarkand

Posted by: technicolour at February 23, 2010 5:25 PM


I've just listened to the radio play and it is quite excellent. It faithfully brings to life the core parts of the book I read nearly a year ago.

Tony

Posted by: tony_opmoc at February 23, 2010 9:12 PM


I listened to the play. I found it able to keep my attention.
Normally I cannot stand radio four plays or stories. I prefer the documentaries, chat or panel shows.

So it was good to keep my attention.
It raised serious issues.

Posted by: isle of man mansions at February 23, 2010 10:36 PM


Great job. I hope Jack Straw enjoyed it.

Posted by: Tony at February 23, 2010 11:55 PM


The radio play for Murder in Samarkand is still available on the BBC i-Player for a few days. Even if you've already heard it, please play it again on the i-Player. That way it will remain one of the most popular shows and hopefully ensure that even more people will get to hear of Craig's amazing true story. Cheers folks

Posted by: Stevie at February 24, 2010 12:02 AM


Shame we can't get this as a podcast. Back in the day, we'd have taped something like this, even if we had to set a timer for it. But with all this modern stuff, DAB and so on, we can't do what was once simple and obviously more functional. Easily accessible technology everyone could understand.

Sometimes - as someone who makes their living from the most cutting edge IT - I do often wonder if we've gone backwards, yet happily paid through the nose as though we were making huge strides forward.

Posted by: glenn at February 24, 2010 3:10 AM


Craig, you have cheated your wife for a prostitute whom you call wife. You were fired for that. However, you are trying to gain cheap fame at the expense of defaming the country. I agree there human rights issues, but the fact that you don't have credibility does more harm to country's improvement.

Posted by: Marat at February 24, 2010 3:27 AM


Marat,

Still, better than being an Uzbek govt troll. What have you ever done to counter human rights abuses? - (serious question, expect an answer).

If adultery were a sackable offemce, I wonder how many people would be out of a job. Not even New Labour ever tried the "We sacked him for adultery" line.


Posted by: Craig at February 24, 2010 9:17 AM


Marat: you are the one lacking credibility here. If you had even a passing acquaintance with the facts of the case you would know your accusations are false. Is this really the best you can do?

Posted by: MJ at February 24, 2010 10:56 AM


Completely off topic but saw the BBC's 'Getting our Way' prog about ethical foreign policy on i-player yesterday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00r06j3/b00r063d/Getting_Our_Way_Values/

Craig was on it, briefly, with a contribution about the formation of the League of Nations.

Seemed a bit odd that the Beeb didn't say, "Oh, while you're here, do you mind having a quick chat about that business in Uzbekhistan?"

Posted by: Andy at February 24, 2010 2:02 PM


Arsalan, do gynaecologists need stethoscopes?

Posted by: Suhayl Saadi at February 24, 2010 6:09 PM


Glenn,

I think that the VLC media player can capture a stream from the Internet and save it as a file. Or, you can use iPlayer, and use audio recording software to record it at the same time.

Posted by: Clark at February 25, 2010 10:09 PM


@clarke

Agreed. I recorded the stream with Audacity and have put it up on my site:
http://www.photopol.com/craig/murder_in_samarkand.mp3


@glen

Not rocket science.

Posted by: Póló at February 26, 2010 10:54 AM


@Marat - is a justification possible in any circumstances, in your view, for a government to boil a man to death, in an attempt to force him to make a confession of some kind?

Either way, do you think this issue is more important, equally important, or less important than the issue of adultery?

A genuine, reasoned response to these questions would be much appreciated!

Posted by: Jon at February 26, 2010 11:58 AM


Craig.

Just finished listening to Murder in Samarkand and was very impressed. Unfortunately the BBC streaming expires in another few hours no doubt ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission) radio national will eventually broadcast it in Australia. I thoroughly recommend to others that they listen to it if given the opportunity.

I will make sure to get the book even if I have to put it on special order and wait months.

Posted by: Carlyle Moulton at February 27, 2010 9:02 AM


If anyone out there knows where to find the book, please let me know. I'd really love to have my own copy.

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