Minette Walters

She had a very dark side to her.

I mean, in a way, a little like Patricia Highsmith, who's another great favourite of mine.

And I love these writers who brought a much darker edge to their stories.

And Marjorie, I think it's called The Tiger in the Smoke.

I would urge anyone who's never read it to read that.

and anything by Patricia Highsmith, because that is quite absolutely the route I wanted to go.

And then of the more contemporary writers, both sadly dead now, both such nice people, but both Phyllis James and Ruth Rendell.

But again, I think I preferred Ruth's books, particularly her one-offs, because they did have a wonderfully dark edge to them.

And so I think those are the footsteps I followed in.

But there are some writers now, quite a lot of people have now moved into psychological crime thriller writing, and I'm told I was one of the pioneers, Ruth, I think, being the main pioneer beforehand, who are really good.

I mean, I was reading a book by Lisa Jewell called Watching You, finished it about two weeks ago.

I thoroughly recommend it, really good book.

So...

You know, it's fine tradition and there are lots of dark edges.

I'm less attracted to police procedurals, but that's purely me.

And I think the serial killer thrillers are getting a little bit way out and possibly formulaic now, which is a shame.

But Hannibal Lecter is probably one of the greatest characters invented in the 20th century.

Adore those books.

So...

I think there's a fine and wonderful tradition of crime writing still going very, very strong.