An Interview with David Fennell

An Interview with David Fennell

We had David Fennell in to sign our copies of A Violent Heart! Full of suspense, the return of DI Archer will have you gripped until the very last page. The fourth book in the Archer series, we could not wait to hear more about what to expect from DI Archer's latest case...

Can you tell us what to expect from A Violent Heart ? 

A Violent Heart is the story of a thirty year career of murders by an unknown person and he has murdered sex workers, drug users, all women, and always women on the fringes of society. Their deaths have gone pretty much un-investigated by the police. Grace Archer leads the investigation whilst navigating misogyny within the police force.

Who was your favourite character to write in this book? 

I really enjoyed bringing back Mallory Jones. Mallory Jones was the true crime podcaster from See No Evil. I brought her into this book because she is also investigating the same crimes that Archer is and they have a clash in the beginning, because Archer can't stand her! But they end up working together to solve these crimes. 

Writing her was brilliant, and of course her production partner Bruce Radley. 

Why do you think it's important to explore your main detective's personal life? 

If there is too my detecting in crime investigating it can be quite boring. Boring to write and I think boring to read. You need a bit of depth and you need to fall in love with these characters. Finding that balance between the career and home life can be tricky but it is an essential part of the book. 

Copies of our special edition of A Violent Heart are available on our website now!

Order your copy here!

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.

  • The Psychology of the Subscription Reader

    The Psychology of the Subscription Reader

    Regularly, it could be a customer visiting one of our shops, or during a publisher meeting, or even at one of our events, somebody discovers that Goldsboro Books has not...

    1 comment

    The Psychology of the Subscription Reader

    Regularly, it could be a customer visiting one of our shops, or during a publisher meeting, or even at one of our events, somebody discovers that Goldsboro Books has not...

    1 comment
  • Why Independent Bookshop Week Matters

    Why Independent Bookshop Week Matters

    Every year, Independent Bookshop Week gives us the chance to celebrate something remarkable. Not books. Bookshops. At first glance, that distinction might seem odd. Surely the books are the important part?...

    1 comment

    Why Independent Bookshop Week Matters

    Every year, Independent Bookshop Week gives us the chance to celebrate something remarkable. Not books. Bookshops. At first glance, that distinction might seem odd. Surely the books are the important part?...

    1 comment
  • Why We Still Queue for Signatures

    Why We Still Queue for Signatures

    The final panel finishes. The applause dies away. People stretch their legs, gather their bags, and begin making their way towards the exits. Or at least they could. Instead, they...

    Why We Still Queue for Signatures

    The final panel finishes. The applause dies away. People stretch their legs, gather their bags, and begin making their way towards the exits. Or at least they could. Instead, they...

  • PREM1ER: August 2026 Revealed

    PREM1ER: August 2026 Revealed

    Why We Chose The Ruins for August's PREM1ER Book For August 2026, we wanted to select a novel that would completely immerse readers in another time and place; a story...

    PREM1ER: August 2026 Revealed

    Why We Chose The Ruins for August's PREM1ER Book For August 2026, we wanted to select a novel that would completely immerse readers in another time and place; a story...

1 of 4