Author Interview: Angela Marsons – Silent Scream

24483265Angie Marsons with Silent Scream Books Image

Today I am very pleased to welcome Angela Marsons to the blog – Silent Scream is a terrific novel and I was lucky enough to ask her some questions. Here is what she had to tell me.

 

Tell us a little about the inspiration behind the story.

 

I wanted to write a storyline that was as dark as the main character. I remembered an old Children’s home in my local area and the mystery that surrounded the occupants. Once the character of Kim Stone was set in my head I was drawn back to the memory and it seemed the perfect case for her to get stuck into.

Kim Stone  is great – did you do a lot of research to give her character an authentic attitude towards her upbringing?

 

It really worked the other way around. Kim’s character traits came to me first. I wanted a character that is not always likeable but is passionate and driven. I wanted to demonstrate someone lacking in social skills and brash to the point of rude but with a real affinity for the underdog. Then I began to discover why she was that way. What could have happened to her in her earlier life to instil the traits and attitudes she has?

Are you a fan of the “serial killer thriller” yourself?

 

I do like a good serial killer thriller but I also like a good psychological thriller that explores the psychology and motives behind a crime. I’m fascinated by the subject of profiling and love to read Val McDermid’s Tony Hill series.

Can you tell us a little about what is next for Kim?

 

Yes, the next book in the series is called Evil Games and sees Kim pitted against a female sociopath who uses her psychiatric patients for experimental purposes.

Desert Island book –

 

Disclosure by Michael Crichton. The only book that’s ever caused me to phone in sick for work and so much more than the film.



Any writing habits? When I start a new project I like everything fresh and shiny.

 

New A4 pads and a pack of pencils. I like to lay out the dining table, where I write the first draft by hand. To my left is a pile of research including notes, factual books and snippets. Close by is an A5 pad ready for random thoughts or ideas. It doesn’t necessarily stay this organised but it’s how I start. A mug of Latte Macchiato is never far away.

 

One thing you wish you were good at but are not.

 

I would love to be able to paint with watercolours. I enjoy finding stunning views and would love to be able to capture them. Unfortunately the moment I pick up a paintbrush my hand grows nine sizes and develops more thumbs than fingers.

 

Thank you so much!

My original review for Silent Scream:

Five figures gather round a shallow grave. They had all taken turns to dig. An adult-sized hole would have taken longer. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried, bound in blood …
Years later, a headmistress is found brutally strangled, the first in a spate of gruesome murders which shock the Black Country.
But when human remains are discovered at a former children’s home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed. D.I. Kim Stone fast realises she’s on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades.

So these days one of my very favourite things to do is try out new Crime fiction. I especially like it if it is the start of a series. And I like it even MORE when you get one as good as this and know that you will probably have many happy reading experiences ahead of you.

In “Silent Scream” we meet Kim, Detective and a bit of a loner, for good reason. She is a brilliant character, flawed as it seems detectives need to be but in a way that makes her very intriguing. When a brutal murder is discovered she finds herself caught up in a case that has its roots in the past and uncovers a killer who has remained hidden for decades.

The main thing for me, with crime fiction, especially when it is a series, is that our main “core” characters are both interesting enough that you want them to appear in further novels, but enough in the background that the story is not all about them. The yin/yang of detective fiction if you like and Angela Marsons has pulled this off extremely well. Kim and her team are all a terrific mix, we learn plenty about them but not too much and there is huge potential for the future. So that is a real plus.

The second thing of course is that the mystery element is intelligent, addictive and well flowing, with enough twists and turns to make it thrilling – again this is done extremely well here, it is a very dark tale at its heart and is highly addictive. It also has an emotionally resonant core that is extremely compelling.

Overall a really really good addition to the Crime fiction genre, I look forward to seeing what is next for Kim and co.

Happy Reading Folks!

Find out more here: http://angelamarsons-books.com/

Follow the author on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/WriteAngie

Purchase Information: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silent-Scream-serial-thriller-Detective-ebook/dp/B00S5K0CAU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1424332716&sr=1-1&keywords=9781909490918

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3 Responses to Author Interview: Angela Marsons – Silent Scream

  1. Angela says:

    Thank you so much for your review and for asking me over to your site. I loved your questions x

  2. crimeworm says:

    Your review is great, especially about the yin/yang of crime fiction – very perceptive, I’ve never thought about that. The Rebus books are perfect in that respect.

  3. Michele says:

    Hi Angela – fab book 🙂 were you Angela from Heathfield?

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