First Monday Crime is fast becoming the place to be or to follow if you want to get your reading on (although not necesssarily good for your bank balance I always come home with a bag full of books) – fascinating panels showcasing some brilliant authors and their equally brilliant books. I was very happy (after a little bit of stalking in my book love way) to be able to get a short sharp interview with each of the amazing writers appearing at First Monday in July – and I’m really happy to say they will all be back on the blog individually soon to talk more about their novels and other things in further features (or have already eh Mr Booth?) But in case you fancy tootling along to London to hear them speak in person on the 4th July and perhaps pick up some new reads for your book heap (ticket information to follow) here’s a little taster from each of them.
Anna Mazzola is the author of “The Unseeing” (Tinder Press) A novel I have just finished and boy are you in for a treat.
“The Unseeing” is the novel we will be hearing about at First Monday – could you tell us a little about the inspiration behind it?
The Unseeing is based on the Edgware Road murder, which I first read about in the Suspicions of Mr Whicher. When I read through the Old Bailey transcript of the trial, I noticed that very little was said in defence of Sarah Gale, who was accused of helping her lover, James Greenacre, to conceal the murder of Hannah Brown. As Sarah Gale was facing the death sentence for her part in the horrific murder of another woman, I thought that was very strange. What was preventing Sarah from speaking out to defend herself? Why was her lawyer not denying the things said against her?
Can you give us a brief soundbite about what readers can expect from the story or that you hope they will take from it?
The Unseeing is about truth and deception – about the lies we tell ourselves as well as the lies we tell others. Mainly, I hope that people will find it a fascinating read, but maybe also that they will see things a little differently afterwards.
Which writers inspire you?
Ooh, lots. Margaret Atwood, Sarah Waters, Jane Harris, Patricia Highsmith, Christie, Dickens. My favourite books generally have crime at their centre but aren’t always classed as ‘crime’ novels: they’re explorations of why people end up committing terrible acts.
Tell us one fact about you that is unlikely to come up at the First Monday event.
My love of mystery stories goes a long way back. As a child, I was obsessed with the Riders at Black Pony Inn series by Christine Pullein-Thompson, and then with supersleuth Nancy Drew. I in fact made my poor friends act out the stories, playing the parts of Bess, George and Ned Nickerson. I, of course, was always Nancy.
Thanks so much Anna!
You can visit Anna at her website HERE
Andrew Taylor is a Crime and Historical novelist whose latest novel is The Ashes of London (Harper Collins) I’m a big fan of this author so very much looking forward to the new book and to hearing him talk about it in July.
“The Ashes of London” is your latest novel and the one we will all be hearing about at First Monday Crime on 4th July – you are known for novels with a strong evocative historical flavour – not all in the same period but varied and intriguing. Can you tell us a little about what inspires each setting?
It’s very simple – it has to be a setting that interests me, something I want to find out more about. It’s as simple as that. Researching the setting is one of the hidden benefits of writing – and reading – historical crime fiction. The only trouble is, the research is by its very nature open-ended and sometimes it’s so interesting that it’s hard to stop doing it and start writing.
Can you give us a brief soundbite about what readers can expect from the latest story?
A glimpse of London reduced to smouldering ruins, St Paul’s Cathedral as you’ve never seen it before, and a variety of corpses…
Which writers inspire you?
Among the dead (so much more tactful): for crime, Margery Allingham, Josephine Tey and Patricia Highsmith; for history, Penelope Fitzgerald, Mary Renault, Alfred Duggan. Almost all women…
Tell us one fact about you that is unlikely to come up at the First Monday event.
I once played in a band called The Pukes. You didn’t hear that from me.
Thanks Andrew!
You can visit Andrew at his website HERE
Stephen Booth is the author of the long running Cooper and Fry series (of which I am a huge fan) – the latest, Secrets of Death ( Sphere) looks brilliant and I can’t wait to get to it.
“Secrets of Death” is the novel we will be hearing about at First Monday – this is number 16 in your long running series – does that feel mad?
Insane! I set out to write one book about Ben Cooper and Diane Fry originally. But all the publishers who were interested in it wanted two books. Since then, I’ve never known how many there were going to be in the series. People just seem to keep wanting more…
Can you give us a brief soundbite about what readers can expect from the story or that you hope they will take from it?
‘Secrets of Death’ explores the idea of ‘suicide tourism’ – suicidal individuals who choose to end their lives at a favourite location. Ben Cooper and his team are faced with a spate of suicide tourists in popular Peak District beauty spots, with no idea where the next dead body might turn up. And of course there’s always the possibility that one of those deaths might not have been suicide at all…
Which writers inspire you?
One of my greatest writing heroes was Ruth Rendell, who had a talent for subverting the genre and was always able to come up with something new and exciting. But I admire anyone who can create strong, believable characters with the potential take on a life of their own long after the author has gone. I think that’s the greatest achievement any writer can hope for.
Tell us one fact about you that is unlikely to come up at the First Monday event.
People still ask me about the dairy goats we used to breed (which we haven’t had for a few years now). But a fact which doesn’t come up very often is that I was once a director of an artificial insemination company. Of course, we employed specially trained people to do the technical stuff!
Thank you Stephen!
You can visit Stephen at his website HERE
Last but by no means least is Beth Lewis – her debut novel The Wolf Road (The Borough Press)you may have already seen me raving about here but if not here’s Beth to give you the lowdown…
“The Wolf Road” is the novel we will be hearing about at First Monday – could you tell us a little about the inspiration behind it?
The Wolf Road was initially sparked by a short scene in a TV show. It was a few seconds showing a girl and her father – who was a monstrous serial killer – and the girl’s complicity in his crimes. It made me question who was the victim, did she know what she was doing, did she willingly partake? I thought that was a fascinating psychology to explore, so The Wolf Road and Elka were born.
Can you give us a brief soundbite about what readers can expect from the story or that you hope they will take from it?
I want readers to come away feeling unsettled, not because of a gory or brutal scene but by being invested in a character who has done so many awful things and then to still be rooting for her.
Which writers inspire you?
Probably my biggest inspiration is David Mitchell. He’s just so damn good and takes so many risks, it’s hard not to be inspired.
Tell us one fact about you that is unlikely to come up at the First Monday event.
When I was 21, I spent six weeks in South Africa cage diving with great white sharks. I even touched one!
Thanks Beth!
You can visit Beth at her website HERE
I’d like to thank ALL the authors for taking time out of their busy schedules to answer a few questions and hopefully you guys reading this will have found a book or two that takes your fancy (or like me all of them!)
If you would like to come along to First Monday Crime for July HERE is the ticket link via the amazing Goldsboro.
July’s First Monday is sponsored by the equally amazing KILLER READS where you can ALWAYS find your next Killer Read…
Happy Reading Everyone!
