What is your most favourite part about Christmas?
Without a doubt it is the evenings in the run up to Christmas, when we have all the lights off in the sitting room, apart from the Christmas tree lights and we are usually sharing a tin of chocolates. I could honestly just have that rather than all the rest of Christmas day etc.
What is it about the Christmas Season that makes the most perfect crime novel?
I think it probably comes from the increased social interaction around this time. I know it isn't true for all people, but whether it is work or at home, people are suddenly forced into closer proximity with each other, and we see more exchanges taking place. Therefore, it is a time of heightened emotion (whether positive or negative) and, for some, stress. Throw into the mix some nostalgia, the constraints of tradition and you have the perfect setting for crime!
Grand houses with all their history make a perfect playground for mystery. Was there a particular house that inspired the setting for Murder Most Haunted?
My original idea for the book series was that they would each be set inside a different house however that concept has evolved over time! What I hope has come out through the first book, is that these types of houses lend themselves to becoming almost another character in the story. I'm based in Dorset which has an abundance of old manor houses and this particular one was a mix of Came House where I spent a lot of time playing in the fields of when I was younger and some aspects of Max Gate, the home of Thomas Hardy - also on my doorstep.
Detective Midge is a newly retired Police Officer, why choose a protagonist at the very end of their career?
Good question. I think that although Midge is most definitely at the end of her police career, she is actually just beginning to live her life. She was held back from developing her skills at work for various reasons and it is only when she is supported by friends that she finally comes into her own. And don't forget, the police retirement age is relatively young. There's plenty of living to do after! Although I was told at training school that most officers die within an average of three years after taking retirement. Take from that what you will.
Crime books are all about the unexpected, what do you love about writing in the crime genre?
I think the biggest thrill for me is red herrings. It adds so many extra layers to the story and allows you to bring in more depth to characters etc. I have a lot of fun with it and it's not necessarily something that I use in other forms of writing.
As a former detective yourself, how does your professional experience inform your writing process?
Cosy crime is a step away from police procedurals. I would very much like to write a thriller with more police information in but, for now, I allow a little bit of license in my stories because that lends itself to the 'cosy' genre. Midge, my protagonist, does have a very keen investigative mind and she revels in the detail and paperwork. These skills are just as necessary as intuition for good police work.
