First written: August 5, 2009
I've never really been one for the crime novel. Odd
really, when you consider I proudly tell anyone who asks (and quite
a few who don't) that I write them for a living. But the
traditional village mystery/ rampant serial killer/ police
procedural has never really rocked my boat as we say in
sailing circles.
So I do rather come unstuck when I'm asked to talk about the
genre. Who is my favourite crime author, I'm often
asked. Which crime writer most influenced me, is another one
I struggle with. Because the truth is, I always want to say…,
no, I really shouldn't, I'll get into terrible bother…,oh sod it,
I'm going to… the crime writer I was most influenced by
was….
Charlotte Bronte
Now, come on, stay with me for a bit. Jayne Eyre is one
of the darkest, creepiest and most exciting thrillers ever written.
Okay, it's also a bit of a romance and all credit to the author for
keeping such a strong sub-plot running alongside what is, first and
foremost, the most tremendous mystery story. I mean, what is
going on in that spooky old house? Who is stalking the
corridors at night? What dark secret is tormenting the brooding
hero? And where is all the blood coming from? And, on top of all
that, it's so beautifully written. In Bronte's day, nobody had to
worry about the distinction between literary fiction and the bloody
good read because Charlotte (and her sisters) had both down to a
tee. And while we're on the subject of the superbly penned
classic mystery story, what about Bleak House? Great Expectations?
Oliver Twist? That's before I even get started on Wilkie
Collins, Nathanial Hawthorne or Edgar Allan Poe.
Because the truth is, the classics have more to teach us about
writing first class suspense books then most living
authors.
I say "most" advisedly, because there are some still-living
authors whom I revere. I'd love to have Dick Francis's skill
with an opening line, or be able to pen a first chapter on a par
with Grisham. I am in absolute awe of the research and
plotting ability of Dan Brown, of the forensic skill of Cornwell,
Reichs and Beckett, of JK Rowling's colourful and funny
imagination. I would give anything to be able to break the reader's
heart in a single sentence like Winston Graham. (Look him up -
actually, don't - I have a feeling he's no longer a "still living"
author.)
These days I read very little but contemporary crime. I have to
keep up with the competition. But given the chance to read
for pleasure, I invariably turn to the books that, although dark,
full of mystery, crammed with suspense and with all sorts of
improbable twists and turns, have probably never appeared on a
crime shelf.