Murder she wrote..

Book: Let Me Lie
Author: Clare mackintosh
Publisher: Sphere
Pages: 400 
Price: Rs 267

Clare Mackintosh is foremost of a new generation of British crime writers who've powered a surge of popularity for the genre of late. In 2016, I Let You Go, the first novel by this former policewoman, won the UK's top crime fiction of the year award, piping Robert Galbraith, alias JK Rowling, whose novel was among the shortlist. Let Me Lie, her recently published third novel, is a touching, thrilling roller coaster about a couple, Caroline and Tom Johnson, believed to have committed suicide; their daughter Anna who feels they were murdered; and Murray Mackenzie, a retired policeman with a suicidal wife who is determined to get to the truth.

Edited excerpts from an email interview.

Q: How much of your experience as a policewoman comes into your books?

A: My experience in the police force is absolutely critical to my books. I want to write novels that are not only interesting and well-paced with terrific twists, but also immerse the reader into the narrative so that they believe entirely in the story. My debut novel, I Let You Go, was inspired by a real-life crime in Oxford the year after I joined the force. A hit-and-run incident killed a nine-year-old boy and the offender never got charged. It got me thinking about how someone could live with that knowledge.

Q: Each of your books has had a different detective – do you plan to write more books with any of them, make a series?

A: I do like many of my characters and have enjoyed building them into personalities that fees authentic and with whom readers can identify. I've got no specific plans to write a series but I really like Murray Mackenzie – he might come and visit again one day. Watch this space!

Q: Who are your inspirations in crime writing?

A: There are so many. I love books and enjoy lots of different genres, but when it comes to crime, I'd have to say Agatha Christie is one of them. As a child, I read her books voraciously and I loved that it was often really tricky to guess the bad guy. Andhere are so many modern-day writers that I think are quite brilliant – too many to list! I do read a couple of books every week and am constantly inspired by the devious and compelling plots that other writers come up with.

Q: Do you believe in the occult, given Let Me Lie, seems to be about ghosts and the afterlife?

A: I don't personally believe in the occult but I am absolutely fascinated by people who do.

Q: The titles of your books are of a kind – first person, immediate, speaking to the reader as it were. What's the thinking behind it?

A: I want my readers with me all the way – and the title is a good place to start. I think the titles put the reader at the very heart of the book, making them feel part of the story. The tension starts to build with the title and if I'm doing my job properly, continues to ramp up in that 'page-turner' fashion.

Q: The unexpected "twist" is an important plot device in 'Let Me Lie', and also in your first novel. How do you bring it about without it seeming unnatural?

A: I think readers love twists in a book, as much as a well-paced plot. It can be tricky to build them in without making them too obvious. I think a good twist has a lot to do with timing. The trail has to be laid effectively so that readers can look back and metaphorically smack their hands to their foreheads – of course they should have realised!

Q: Your central figures have all been mothers – Anna, here, has an infant daughter. Is this to do with you being a mother yourself, or is there some other reason?

A: I am a mother to three wonderful children – and am constantly amazed at what mothers achieve, on a daily basis, as a result of being mothers. I think becoming a mother changes the way women view the world, risk, violence, lies… so, in my books, having the central characters as mothers allows me to push the boundaries of what they will do and how they will react, when cornered, frightened or distressed.

Q: What is it about the crime genre that appeals to you? Have you considered writing, say, a science fiction or a social comedy?

A: As a police officer, crime was part of my daily life for 12 years. I feel that I can write what I know in a way that is interesting for the reader and at the same time, indulge myself in telling a story that observes people at high times of stress, when human nature is at its most raw. As a police officer, people-watching was critical to my getting the job done – understanding how people think, speak, live and ultimately lie. The crime genre feels right. That's not to say that I won't ever write a book in a different genre – you'll have to wait and see…