Ian Rankin of Rebus fame (I’m a great fan) suggests crime
novels are going out of fashion given the bleakness of the news. Respectfully
I’d disagree. There’s no sign of audiences for murder mysteries in books or TV
series/films diminishing.
There’s a place for
soft, feel-good books but given the state of the world, focussing on gritty,
realistic subjects feels more in tune with the times. And crime novels, despite
being looked down on by the literati, do reflect and often illuminate matters of
serious social concern - people trafficking, honour killings, corporate
misbehaviour, illegal drug testing and the like. As real crime diversifies and
escalates, so does the need for understanding – and there’s no better way of
getting the message across in palatable form than in fiction and drama.
My newly published
By the Light of a Lie tugs away the veil of respectability which cloaks the
secrets of public figures; touches on child abuse and the manipulation of memory;
and hints at a long overdue dialogue about the paranormal and astrology. All, I hope, wrapped up in a rollicking
adventure.
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