The winner of the highly anticipated Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award, and £1,000 prize, is Stig Abell for Death Under a Little Sky published by Hemlock Press (HarperCollins).
The gripping crime debut from the Times Radio journalist features London detective Jake Jackson, who discovers that murder lurks even in the most idyllic English locations when a village treasure hunt turns deadly. Bestselling crime authors have heaped praise on the debut including Lee Child, who described it as “truly excellent,” Ann Cleeves who found it “totally immersive” and Vaseem Khan who described it as “beautifully written.”
Dame Mary Perkins, co-founder of Specsavers who sponsors the award, said: “It was an incredibly strong shortlist for the judging panel this year, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading all nominated titles. Stig Abell’s debut clinched the top spot. It offers a different slant to the usual detective mysteries, and I was compelled to finish the book and get to the end, which I didn’t guess. His mesmerising prose and deft plot made Death Under a Little Sky unputdownable.”
The eDunnit Award for the best e-book goes to Laura Lippman for Prom Mom, published by Faber & Faber. The acclaimed Baltimore author is a two-time CrimeFest eDunnit Award winner for Wild Lake (2017) and Sunburn (2019) and has won the Agatha, Anthony, and Edgar awards. Prom Mom tells the story of Amber Glass, desperately trying to get away from her tabloid past but compulsively drawn back to the prom date who destroyed everything. The LA Times described it as “one of Lippman’s most seductively mesmerising novels.”
Winner of the H.R.F Keating Award for best biographical or critical book on crime fiction is The Secret Life of John Le Carré by Adam Sisman, published by Profile Books.
A Financial Times and Spectator Book of the Year, it’s been praised for providing new insights into the author who created George Smiley, revealing a hidden perspective on the life and work of the spy-turned-author.
The Last Laugh Award goes to Mick Herron for The Secret Hours, published by Baskerville. Herron is a multiple CrimeFest Award winner; he received the 2023 CrimeFest Award for Best Adapted TV Crime Drama for Slow Horses; the 2022 CrimeFest Last Laugh Award for Slough House; and the 2018 CrimeFest Last Laugh Award for Spook Street. Praised as ‘pure class,’ by Ian Rankin, The Secret Hours was an instant Sunday Times bestseller. The mesmerising espionage thriller is dripping in wry wit and unexpected twists, as a parliamentary inquiry into the intelligence services turns lethal.
Best Crime Novel for Young Adults, aged 12-16, is awarded to Elizabeth Wein for Stateless, which features a group of young pilots who face intrigue and sabotage in a race around Europe in this thrilling murder mystery, from the bestselling author of Code Name Verity. Stateless was praised by the Guardian for its, “intriguing, page-turning plot.”
Best Crime Novel for Children, aged 8-12, goes to J.T. Williams for The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Portraits and Poison published by Farshore. It’s the second book in the middle grade mystery series that’s inspired by real Black British historical figures, which sees two resourceful amateur sleuths become embroiled in a deadly conspiracy stalking the streets of eighteenth-century London.
Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho, praised the series as a “must read” and The Observer praised its “atmospheric setting.”
The Thalia Proctor Memorial Award for Best Adapted TV Crime Drama goes for the second year running to Slow Horses (season 3), based on the Slough House books by Mick Herron. Produced by See-Saw, shown on Apple TV+, the drama, which follows a dysfunctional and disgraced team of MI5 agents, stars Gary Oldman. The award is named in honour of Thalia, a CrimeFest team member and a much-loved figure in the world of crime fiction, and is decided by public vote.
Adrian Muller, Co-host of CrimeFest, said: “Crime fiction is recognised as the biggest selling and most influential genre in publishing. As ever, this year’s nominees reflect the genre’s power, reach and popularity, and it was a hotly contested shortlist. We congratulate all 2024 winners, and would especially like to thank Specsavers for their on-going support in celebrating new talent, with the Debut Award. We’re especially proud too to be one of the few genre awards that recognise children’s and Young Adult authors. They do a vital job in enticing children and young people into reading, offering much-needed escapism, connection, and adventure.”
Hosted in Bristol, CrimeFest is the biggest crime fiction convention in the UK, and one of the most popular dates in the international crime fiction calendar, with circa 60 panel events and 150 authors attending over four days [9-12 May]. 2024 featured guests include the author behind the international hit Murdle – G.T. Karber; Diamond Dagger winners James Lee Burke and Lynda La Plante; the acclaimed American author Laura Lippman; and the seminal Scottish author, Denise Mina. The line up also features Ajay Chowdhury, Cathy Ace, Janice Hallett, Abir Mukherjee, Vaseem Khan, Holly Jackson, Kate Ellis, Ruth Dudley Edwards, and Martin Edwards.
CrimeFest was created following the hugely successful one-off visit to Bristol in 2006 of the American Left Coast Crime convention. Established in 2008, it follows the egalitarian format of most US conventions, making it open to all commercially published authors and readers alike.
All category winners will receive a Bristol Blue Glass commemorative award.
The ultimate Father’s Day gift for Bourbon connoisseurs and casual whiskey fans alike must be Elijah Craig Bourbon, one of the fastest growing super premium whiskies in the US, which is happily now available in the UK.
Elijah Craig bears the name of Reverend Elijah Craig who established his distillery in 1789 on the banks of Elkhorn Creek in modern day Georgetown, Kentucky. Interestingly Elijah Craig is credited with being the first distiller to age his whiskey in new charred oak barrels, thereby creating a smooth rich flavour. While tasting this whiskey, Elijah Craig realised he had discovered something great and continued to refine the barrel charring process, imparting this unique flavour to the spirit that would become known as Bourbon. 250 years later, he is still known as the “Father of Bourbon”. Heaven Hill Distillery craft the bourbon today using the same time honoured methods.
Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon is made exclusively from a blend of 200 or less 8 to 12-Year-Old barrels, aged in open air Rickhouses. It is this extra aging and expertise in barrel selection (Level 3 charred oak barrels) that gives Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon its robust body and rich flavour of distinctive warm spice & subtle smoke. In case you are wondering, a Rickhouse is a warehouse, where whiskey barrels can be stored one on top of the other in ventilated conditions, resulting in the uniform aging of the barrels. The stacks of barrels are known as ‘Ricks’.
The Master Distillers at Elijah Craig use malted barley, rye and local corn to produce this burnished copper coloured Bourbon, with a delightfully complex aroma, notes of vanilla bean, sweet fruit and fresh mint. The taste is smooth and warm, woody with accents of smoke and nutmeg and a long, sweet and slightly toasty finish.
As with all things, there is a knack to tasting spirits and this works well for me when tasting whisky and bourbon.
Lift the glass to a light source and check out the colour; the darker the Bourbon the richer and stronger it tends to be. To appreciate the aroma, you need a glass that can contain it and that can be held under the nose. Inhale gently so that you can pick out the various notes, though I must confess that I was unable to detect the fresh mint mentioned in the tasting notes, hopefully you will be more successful.
Take a sip and allow the bourbon to coat your tongue so that you can pick out the flavours. The more obvious flavours are likely to be vanilla, oak and caramel but read the tasting notes for the Elijah Craig. Finally, the finish: is it long and does it have you smacking your lips? Or perhaps it is shorter and more powerful?
This would be a great present for Father’s Day or any other day for that matter and hopefully he won’t wish to drink alone so you can compare tasting notes -in the interests of research, of course.
Such a great read and, good grief, has this copper seen it all. Let’s start with the title: A Bonsai Tree called Geoff … Doesn’t it just make you want to dive in. Really? Geoff, a bonsai Tree? I had to find out. Indeed you must find out… And I have no intention of telling you – so very there. Let me just say that this hilarious and of course readable author, does what he does best, entertains with his bizarre, crazy and funny reminiscences.
This is the latest instalment of Donoghue’s memoirs, his fourth, and it is only now he is out of the force that we can share in the fun of this particular one. However, with all good humourous writing there is a darker underbelly of – I never knew, how very strange, oh how sad, thought provoking… this really happened??? Empathy abounds. Passion for his job too though would John agree about the passion? I don’t know, but I think it’s there.
John Donoghue served for twenty years as a front line police officer, he’s not perfect, which makes him one of us. ‘Having served in police forces in both England and Wales, I have changed names and places to protect the guilty. I have used the imaginary ‘Sandford’ as the station at which I was based. This could be your local station.’
‘With three bestselling books about my adventures in the police to date already published, my books are all imbued with humour, but have opened people’s eyes to what actually goes on behind the scenes but now that I’m retired, I can, and do, really tell it like it is.’
Having served Queen, King & Country over 40 years in the military and Police, John Donoghue has also been awarded the Chief Constable’s Commendation for Bravery after saving a family of seven (and their dog and cat) from a house fire one Christmas Eve… and routinely been castigated for telling it like it is.
Well, I should say so.
Give yourselves a treat, buy it, or ask for A Bonsai Tree called Geoff for a birthday present, or remember Father’s Day is coming up, and then beg steal or borrow – ooops, perhaps not steal – the other three too. Addictive they are. Enjoy them all as much as the Frost team have.
Price £9.99 and Kindle format (priced £2.99) on Amazon. Previous books: Police, Crime & 999 Police, Lies & Alibis. Police, Arrests & Suspects.
Donoghue has also previously written a humorous book about his military service and travels with his dog around the funny places in Great Britain – described as “Bill Bryson on Magic Mushrooms” when it first came out, it has now been updated and republished as ‘Tails of the Unexpected.’
Donoghue also enjoys an X (Twitter) following of over 65k – @johndonoghue64
As a recent retiree, one could be forgiven for thinking that I am enjoying a stress-free lifestyle. One would be wrong, and has certainly not met my wife, who is more than capable of setting targets and deadlines.
However, sometimes the universe intervenes, and the stars duly align. Such was the case with my Banaras Sandal incense sticks which arrived just after we had finished decorating a room transformed into my reading space, a place to relax and dare I say it? A sanctuary.
‘From what?’ my wife asks handing me a list of outstanding jobs (by which she doesn’t mean jobs that I have completed with excellence)
The Temple of Incense story began in 2012, on a little market stall on Portobello Road, where they sold their hand made fresh and diverse vegan and cruelty-free temple-grade incense sticks, resins, oudh and oils for every occasion. Trust me, they are quite something. These hand-made vegan, easy to light sticks surreptitiously scent the room with a relaxing atmosphere. I tested out the Banaras Sandal which was sandalwood with a lift of lemon, and the icing on the cake is that the 20 luxury incense sticks came in an elegant box, so are more than suitable as gifts.
The incense sticks bring a spiritual scent into the room, which I definitely found both soothing and relaxing. What’s more, the beautiful carved wooden leaf incense stick provides an elegant solution to prevent ash from dropping onto furniture.
Lighting incense can transform any living space into a sanctuary of calm, providing an ideal backdrop for relaxation and stress reductionall of which fight feelings of stress. Indeed, during moments of heightened anxiety, the gentle fragrance of the incense can act as a focal point for deep, mindful breathing exercises, which can significantly alleviate feelings of stress.
The Big Cleanse Box, £75 includes White Sage Incense Sticks – all the benefits of sage, with the lift of camphor and mint to cleanse and protect.
Frankincense Incense Sticks – for purification and cleansing.
Amber Incense Sticks – for healing
Dragons Blood Incense Sticks – a powerful fragrance for inward healing, empowering the mind to reach its full spiritual potential.
Big Cleanse Incense Sticks – made from camphor, benzoin, frankincense and a mix of sacred woods and oils.
Sage smudge bundle – ‘smudging’ is well known for its ability to purify and cleanse ideal for new homes and – carved wooden incense holder Sandalwood meditation oil.
Temple of Incense Jasmine Blossom 20 luxury incense sticks @ £10. The sweet, exotic floral scent is a potent stress-reliever encouraging harmony, restful sleep and healing.
Temple of Incense Banaras Sandal 20 luxury incense sticks @ £10. A classic Temple Masala incense with a subtle lift of lemon. The warm, earthy aroma has a calming power creating an atmosphere of comfort and peaceful environment, encouraging mental clarity, focus, and emotional balance.
Available direct to your door from templeofincense.com @templeofincense #templeofincense
If your dad is a would-be chef, and you are wondering what to buy your father this Father’s Day, you could not do much better than an item from the GreenPan collection. Of course, it would make a great gift whatever the occasion and not wishing to be sexist, for any woman who enjoys cooking as a hobby, rather than a chore. It is the gift that goes on giving.
I was lucky enough to be sent the 28x 28 cm grill pan, with its non-stick coating (PFSA- free), and best of all suitable for all and any hobs, oven and grill safe and even dishwasher safe.
From the moment you open the package, it looks and feels like quality. It is sturdier, better balanced and dare I say that it also looks good.
To quote the makers, ‘the GreenPan Barcelona Pro Collection features the latest PFAS-free Thermolon™ Infinite8 ceramic non-stick coating with ScratchGuard™ for ultimate non-stick performance and amazing durability.The BalancePro™ base, stays perfectly flat when heated which means you can use less fat and the Pro-Tec reinforced rim won’t chip when tapped with a spoon.’
The Barcelona Pro Grill Pan RRP £90 (28cm) is not cheap, but then it doesn’t look or feel cheap, and it will have pride of place in my kitchen for some time. Already, it has become my go to pan, it is called Pro for a reason.
I tried it with vegetarian beef burger, sausages, aubergine, courgettes, carrots and used it under the grill and in the oven. Perfect results and yes, the pan is easier to clean. Although if it is a Father’s day gift, Dad should not be washing up, and as it is dishwasher proof you could slip it into the dishwasher and simply claim the credit.
The GreenPan Première Collection is a professional grade 3-ply stainless steel range.
Also in this range are:-
Premiere Wok RRP £130 (30cm)
Premiere 2pc Frying Pan Set RRP £170 (20 and 28cm)
Fight Heart Disease Like Cancer by Michael McConnell is a must read for everyone. It is a fantastic book that lays down the facts of heart disease and then tells you how to avoid it. This book is a gift to humanity. I know that may seem like overkill, but if everyone read it, and impacted the changes, then it would save millions of lives.
Micheal McConnell, a cardiologist and clinical professor of medicine at Stanford University School, is clearly a man with a passion. People do not take heart diseases seriously enough and there are many myths about bit. Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women. It also presents differently in women and women are more likely to die from it. He has even given all author royalties from sales of this book to the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society. An impressive man indeed.
Unbeknown to many, the main cause of heart disease—the world’s number one killer of women and men—is a cancer-like “tumour” inside the coronary arteries that keep our hearts beating. Although this similarity to cancer is well-established in medical journals, most people (and their health care providers) don’t approach heart disease as seriously as cancer, even though it’s just as deadly. In Fight Heart Disease Like Cancer, cardiologist Michael McConnell shares the stories of his family, patients, and research to lay out a modern and effective approach to preventing, screening for, and treating heart disease like cancer to avoid its dire consequences.
Highlighting the latest research on the substantial overlap between heart disease and cancer—from shared risk factors to screening for early detection to new and powerful therapies—Dr. McConnell also highlights the many ways our society can reduce heart disease for all. Fight Heart Disease Like Cancer will guide you step-by-step on how to prevent, screen for, and treat heart disease to live a healthier and longer life.
Out now | Hardback 232 pages | ISBN 9781421448466 |
I’ve had a busy day off. Up at 6am for new washing machine delivery, then a dash to yoga for a quick relaxation (yes, the irony is not lost) before shooting to the supermarket, followed by intense dance workshop, zoom meeting, urgent lawn-mowing – it had shot up to two feet whilst my back was turned – then a whizz through urgent emails, and before I knew, it was 8pm and my day off had disappeared. Frankly, I’m exhausted.
I’ve prepared something to eat (if taking a ready meal from freezer to microwave counts as food preparation – listen, I was tired) and now I’ve collapsed on the sofa and feeling a desperate need to be kind to myself.
So thank heavens for Northumberland Candle Company. They do an incredible variety of wax melts, covering pretty much any gift theme you could imagine.
I chose the Meditation Melt Selection Box. Even the box is simple, beautiful and calming with a sweet Buddha seal. As I opened the inner wrapping, embossed with buddhas, Aum, lotus and other symbols of Eastern spirituality, I caught the gentle aromas of the wax melts, five different scents. The stress of the day was already melting as I chose Nag Champa, placed it on my burner, sank back and let my mind drift to another place, far away.
My room is still pervaded with that wonderful perfume as I write, sandalwood infused with frankincense, geranium and rosewood, and I can’t wait to try the other fragrances too – Lemongrass & Ginger, Tranquility, White Patchouli and Seawood & Juniper.
Their Spa/Relaxation selection is another fabulous remedy for a stressed lifestyle, with Sweet Pea, Tranquility, Arabian Silk, Lavender Spa and Melon & Cucumber. At just £15 for each selection box of 25 melts these are such thoughtful and welcome gifts, particularly for someone who’s life is going through a few bumps.
But the Northumberland Candle Company doesn’t restrict itself to calm nurturing, lovely though that is – there’s so much more, from Girl Power to Molton B to Cake selections – yes, really. You can even buy a Mystery box reduced from £15 to just £10.
So whatever your mood Northumberland Candle Company have a wax melt selection for you, or a deserving friend, but you first. Do take a look.
By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.
I’m fascinated (and impressed!) by your many high-flying careers. You have been a pro tennis player and a lawyer before becoming a writer. Would you say you’re a Type A person?
That’s very kind, thank you! I would say I’m a mixture of Type A and B! I am a naturally competitive, driven and disciplined person. I enjoy working hard and putting a hundred per cent into whatever I do. That’s the good side to being Type A! On the downside, I can put a lot of pressure on myself and find it hard to switch off which I know isn’t great for my health and stress levels! Having said that, Type B people are known for their creativity and for being good listeners as well as being quite shy, which fits my personality too, and which is why I never really enjoyed law which was ultimately too dry for me, as well as being the type of cutthroat environment in which the more vocal, pushy personalities tend to flourish!
2. How do you think your past careers influenced your writing?
Although things didn’t work out for me with both tennis and law, both experiences gave me valuable life experience. All writers are great observers of the world around them, and I truly believe the more life experience you have the more authentic and rounded your writing can become, and that you willbe influenced by the people and situations you encounter, even if subconsciously. Both careers made me a stronger, more disciplined, resilient and focused person, which is what you need to be if you’re going to succeed as a writer. I had to be very disciplined playing tennis, and I feel this has helped with my writing in managing my time and making deadlines. The same goes for law which requires a methodical, organised approach and rigorous attention to detail, all of which are necessary traits in crime writing. My first two books in my Kramer & Carver thriller series – The Scribe and The Abduction – are set in the legal world, and Idefinitely drew inspiration for these from my time working in that environment, in terms of the setting, the legal aspects, the culture and the characters! Although I never practised criminal law, The Scribe is largely inspired by my time as a law student at the then London College of Law where I studied and took exams in seven legal subjects, including crime. These subjects form a crucial part of the plot, with the murderer killing in line with a pattern corresponding with the legal syllabus. Also, although none of my books feature characters based solely on any of the people I came across whilst playing tennis or practising law, there’s no doubt I’ve drawn inspiration from some of them. I tend to write about the darker side of human nature, and I definitely came across some of life’s more ruthless, dubious characters both as a tennis player and a lawyer!
3. Can you tell us about your publication journey?
My journey was not unlike that of most writers: long, arduous, at times soul-destroying, but ultimately rewarding! I started writing in 2010, andended up self-publishing a couple of women’s fiction novels in 2012/2013 having had no luck getting an agent. It took me five years to get my agent, Annette Crossland (in that time I had a rather upsetting agent experience which very nearly broke me!), and then another three years to get my first publisher, Lume Books. This, despite working non-stop on my books for eight years, editing and refining them until I practically knew them off by heart and had almost given up hope they’d ever see the light of day. I’ve faced a lot of rejection over the years, come close to offers from several of the big five publishers (which can sometimes be more heart-breaking than a straight ‘no’) and shed numerous tears during that time. But I kept going, kept honing and refining my books, hoping that one day I’d catch a break. I know that my story is no different to hundreds, if not thousands of authors out there. Writing is a tough, competitive business, and you need a thick skin to cope with the inevitable setbacks you will encounter along the way. The overnight successes are few and far between and you can’t let the turndowns get to you.Being a highly subjective industry, with so many variables, getting a publishing deal is akin to winning the lottery! When my Kramer and Carver books were published in 2019, nine years after I first started writing, it was such a great feeling knowing my work was finally out there being read! Then, in February 2021 I signed a deal for two psychological thrillers with Hera Books, and I suppose you could call the first of those – She’s Mine – my breakout book. It’s funny to think it was the eighth book I’d written (back in 2017) in all the time I was trying to get published, and took three years of submitting to get picked up. I am so grateful to Keshini Naidoo for loving She’s Mine and having faith in me. Hera have been fantastic to work with, and I suppose having struggled for so long to get my foot in the door it made me appreciate even more the incredible opportunity to work with such a phenomenal editor like Keshini. Having struggled for so long, it’s also rather incredible to think I have just finished my fifth psychological thriller for Hera, and for this I owe so much to my agent, Annette Crossland, who never stopped believing in me. Her support really kept me going through the ups and downs, as did immersing myself in my writing. I’d strongly advise all aspiring authors to start the next book when on submission. Like any skill, the more you write, the better you become at your craft, and you never know, the next book you write may just be the one that gets picked up. Writing also helps you to stop constantly checking the inbox for that magic ‘yes’!
4. You have written a lot of books. Which one is your favourite?
I would have to say that of all seven, Under Her Roof is my favourite so far, closely followed by She’s Mine. I think She’s Mine is unique in the way it is written from nine perspectives – which is quite a tricky thing to manage (!) and I’m quite proud of the twists, especially the end twist which no one has guessed so far. I suppose Under Her Roof tips the balance because of the creepy, claustrophobic vibe I’ve hopefully managed to generate, and which I feel really typifies the classic psychological thriller. Being stalked is something I think most of us fear, and is a subject I feel lends itself well to the tension, and mind games that exemplify this genre.This book is also a change from my other psychological thrillers in that there are largely only two points of view, and I really worked hard on the characterisation and chemistry between Seb and Adriana, both of whom are probably my most sympathetic of protagonists to date. Not only do they share an artistic connection, they are also drawn to one another by their mutual loss and grief. Both perfect examples of what we all are as human beings – fallible. Two people with troubled pasts and terrible secrets that haunt and entangle them in a never-ending cycle of sadness, guilt and fear. I hope this makes them more likeable and sympathetic, particularly when they find themselves at the mercy of the person who’s watching and tormenting them, and whose intentions remain unclear.
5. You have an amazing career. What are your future writing ambitions?
Like most writers, it would be a dream come true to see a book of mine adapted into a TV series or a film. Many readers have said my books would adapt well to the screen, so I am keeping my fingers crossed for that wish to come true one day! Obviously, it would be amazing to have a Sunday Times bestseller, while winning a prestigious writing award is also a long-held ambition of mine. More than anything, though, I just hope I can keep on producing high quality addictive books that entertain and bring people joy. I’d also like to finish and see published the third in my Kramer and Carver series, and find a publisher for two standalone action thrillers I wrote back in 2013 and 2016, featuring gutsy female lawyer lead protagonists. I’m really proud of those books and it would be wonderful if they could see the light of day.
6. I loved Under Her Roof. Can you tell us about the inspiration behind it?
Thank you. I like to write about ordinary people and everyday situations we can all relate to in our own lives, but which necessarily take a darker turn. Thrillers are, after all, about what goes wrong! The relatability is what makes the psychological thriller genre so compelling, with the landlord/tenant relationship being a perfect example of this, and one I felt inspired to write about. Many of us will have been tenants at some point in our lives, some of us even Landlords, and in fiction this set-up has the potential to take a particularly dark turn because often, each party will be a total stranger to the other, thereby evoking all sorts of frightening scenarios in the Machiavellian minds of thriller authors like myself! ‘Stalking’ is another ‘real’ issue I was keen to explore. Rather sadly, it’s something you often read about in the newspapers these days, but at the same time, there’s something strangely compelling about it, probably because it’s so creepy and something we all fear. Likewise, living in a world where we freely and religiously expose our lives to perfect strangers on social media, along with the idea of ‘Big Brother’ watching, I thought it would be intriguing to weave this into a Landlord/Tenant story and the sheer feeling of powerlessness, claustrophobia, panic and fear it can induce.
In terms of setting, I was inspired to choose Hampstead to base the book in, having lived in the North West London area for over a decade, first as a student and then later when I became a lawyer and, later still, a mother. Although I could never in my wildest dreams have afforded to live in Hampstead, I remember taking long winter walks around Hampstead Heath with my flatmates in my student days, marvelling at the area’s mansions with their stately gates, and then in later years pushing my son around in his buggy with my NCT friends. It’s a very quaint, pretty, affluent part of London, where a person should feel incredibly safe. But of course, this is not the case for my two main characters – Seb and Adriana – and therein lies the dramatic irony I wanted to convey. The idea that appearances can be deceiving, and that just because you live a beautiful house in an extremely wealthy area, you aren’t necessarily safe!
7. I also adored The Final Party and it was set in glamorous Italy. What other locations do you have your eye on for future books?
Thank you! I always wanted to write a thriller set abroad. For one, it’s nice to be able to transport myself and my readers to another country, preferably somewhere hot and idyllic (!) especially when the weather is bad here. Basing a thriller in a sublime setting can often prove more impactful because the characters are not necessarily anticipating danger or threat but rather, a blissful, stress-free escape, only to find themselves thrown into nightmarish circumstances, often in isolated locations, thereby ramping up the tension and intrigue! I chose Sorrento because it’s an area I’m very familiar with, having holidayed there many times as a child and got married there. I’ve visited other parts of Italy too – it’s hands-down my favourite country – and I’d love to set a book somewhere like Venice or Rome because they are such fascinating, beautiful cities, with a myriad of amazing landmarks and places to hide, not to mention a labyrinth of narrow, cobbled streets to be chased down! Sadly, though, I fear Dan Brown got there first! I travelled all over the world playing tennis, and many of those locations would also make for interesting settings, as would India where my father is from, and with which I share a strong affinity.
8. You explore the dark side of human nature. What draws you to it?
Because it’s fascinating, albeit in an unnerving way! When I think about psychological thrillers, the words dark, sinister and twisty come to mind, along with a feeling of dread, tension and constant suspense, and not being able to trust what you’re being told. This is largely why I’m drawn to write about the dark side of human nature – by definition it helps fulfil those elements we deem the hallmarks of a good psychological thriller in a way writing about people’s good side would not! Focussing on people being kind and honest with each other would be far less interesting than having characters who lie and keep secrets from each other, the latter being a situation which leads to feelings of guilt, shame and conflict and which in turn, ramps up the tension. After all, readers want to feel intrigued and on edge, not comfortable! I love the way psychological thrillers explore the psychology of the human mind, how and why seemingly good and law-abiding people can commit the most heinous of crimes, whether it stems from their upbringing, or a particular wrong that’s been done to them. They prompt us to consider the darkness in ourselves as well as others. As fallible human beings we are all susceptible to the darker side of human nature – sentiments like envy, lust, greed, revenge – and I love to explore this phenomenon through issues, relationships and situations we can all relate to, and feel a connection with. Themes like friendship, marriage, motherhood – ones that strike at the core of human existence and therefore cut close to the bone.
9. What is your writing routine?
As mentioned, I’m quite a disciplined, focussed person by nature, and routine is important for me as far as my writing goes. I get up at 6.30 a.m., drop both my sons off to the bus stop around 7.15 a.m. Then I come back home, have breakfast and do some form of exercise for around an hour. I guess exercise is something that’s very much ingrained in me since my tennis days, but now it’s more important to me from a mental health perspective. It helps relieve any stress I might have and gets my brain in gear for the writing day ahead! Then, bar any appointments/errands I might have, I’ll sit down at my desk and barely move except for tea and lunch breaks, until it’s time for the boys to come home around five. If I’m in the middle of writing a book, I’ll try to get at least 2,000 words down. If I’m editing, I’ll spend all day working on that. In short, my time will be devoted to either working on my current book, doing book promotion/articles like this, or editing/researching, or a mixture of everything! I’ll invariably do a bit more work once the boys are back from school and settled but unless I’m under pressure to meet an editing deadline I rarely work beyond 7.30/8 p.m. because that’s have dinner andcollapse in front of the sofa with a great thriller/drama series time! I would rather make up the time on weekends than work into the night. I did enough of that as a lawyer and, in any case, I am much more productive in the day!
10. What advice do you have for other writers?
Become a writer because it makes you happy and you can’t imagine doing anything else! Rejection is inevitable in this industry – overnight successes are few and far between – so you really have to LOVE writing and must never stop believing in yourself else the turndowns will break your spirit. If you have talent and work hard, you will get there. You may not become a Sunday Times bestseller but you will get published, and people will eventually read your books, which is the greatest feeling, as is the first time you get to hold your published novel. Writing is a highly subjective business, and you need a thick skin to cope with the inevitable rejections, setbacks and criticism you will encounter along the way. It’s important to surround yourself with people who believe in you, as well as you believing in yourself. Also, focus on perfecting your craft and write what comes naturally to you, rather than writing what you think is on trend. It has to come from the heart, rather than a forced process readers will see through and therefore leave you open to criticism. Make sure you read widely too, as you can learn so much from other writers, and be inspired by them. It’s also a good idea to be active on social media, not just as a means of connecting with the reading and writing community, but because it’s an invaluable way of getting your name and work out there. I’d also advise asking other people you trust to read your work because it’s so easy to get so caught up in your story, you lose perspective, and so having the benefit of a neutral eye can prove invaluable. In terms of submissions, I’d say do your research and tailor them accordingly, be polite and make sure you have a strong hook for your novel that will make it stand out in a crowded market. Practically speaking, when it comes to writing your book, I’d advise aspiring writers to focus on finding a time and place that works for them as everyone is different. Wherever and whenever you choose to write, it’s important to cut out distractions, to get the nuts and bolts of your book down, then go back and refine! The most important thing is having a basis you can work off, with the finessing coming in the second and third draft.
