 Reviewed by: Cecilia Jansink
I must admit, I am a British mystery junkie. The Brits have a certain magic when it comes to intrigue and evil-doings that, while mind-blowing, lack the “ewww” factor that is often part and parcel of the mystery set. The number one show on my must watch list? The delightfully mystifying Jonathan Creek.
The series stars comedian – and downright cheeky - Alan Davies, as our title character; a creative consultant to a magician, who uses his knowledge of illusion and trickery to help solve some rather baffling and often seemingly supernatural crimes. Crimes that will leave you puzzled and begging for more. I dare you to break through the illusion and give me a culprit faster than Jonathan can. From baths that disappear, to the reliance of a sight angle, or an old Ghost story – these murders are a cut above the rest.
Jonathan has also been treated to a spectacular trio of ladies; Caroline Quentin(Men Behaving Badly, Blue Murder, Life Begins), Julia Sawalha (Absolutely Fabulous, BBC Pride and Prejudice) and Sheridan Smith(Gavin and Stacey, Benidorm) to act as the Watson to his Holmes. These ladies,  though apparently sidekicks, have deftly added their own stamp on this entertaining mix of murder, mystery, wit, laughs and illusion.
Each murder is plotted and wrapped up in so many layers of intrigue you will be furiously unpicking all the clues and sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for Jonathan to reveal the sleight of hand or trick of the eye. Some of the props used will have all mystery junkies imagining far flung theories, and yet, the truth will still, more often than not, be stranger than the wildest imagining. The laughs sprinkled throughout, and the cringe-worthy antics of Jonathan’s boss, keeps each episode feeling fresh and light, despite the often gruesome crimes we’re presented with. For those who are often big scaredy-cats like me, this show won’t leave you with any haunting dreams.
Jonathan Creek first ran semi-regularly from 1997-2004, and after a 5 year hiatus fans were rewarded with two specials that once again had us on the edges of their seats. There is no news of any new mystery popping up for Jonathan to solve as yet but I live in hope! The stellar ratings 7Two has received since airing the re-runs, may be incentive enough for “the powers that be” to grant us some more illusion and magic to enthrall us all.
Whether you’ve seen them all before, or are new to the magical world of Mr Creek, this series still packs a punch to capture all.
Jonathan Creek 7Two- Monday’s 8.30pm
 Shatter the Bones – By Stuart MacBride
ISBN: 978-0-00-734422-2
Reviewed by: Kylie Fox
Stuart MacBride is nothing if not gritty. His writing style, his characters, the world his detectives live in and the cases he creates for those detectives to solve are gritty. There is nothing pretty about his books. And I like that!
In MacBride’s novels, he explores some of the most heinous of crimes and those on the frontline trying to solve them – there’s nothing pretty about that. He creates characters and settings that are believable. I don’t want fancy words and flawless detectives – and victims – I want them to become real to me. That is exactly what MacBride delivers. Shatter The Bones is no exception.
In this case, DS Logan McRae, who readers will recognise from earlier books, is embroiled in a crime that has rocked the world. Alison and Jenny McGregor are a mother-daughter singing sensation set to take out the coveted title of “Britain’s Next Big Star”. Their lives have been the spotlight of all the gossip magazines, they have millions of hits on YouTube – in short, everybody loves them.
Now they’ve hit the headlines in the worst way – they’ve been abducted, the kidnappers demanding a ransom to be paid by the people who adore them. The nation must dig deep, telethon-style, to save their darlings. Only if enough money is raised will the pair be released.
The ransom demand is the focus of all the papers, the radio, TV and the internet – and grief and anger amongst the media and the public reach fever pitch.
Some though, don’t believe the kidnapping to be genuine, asserting that the television network that airs Britain’s Next Big Star has set it up as a publicity stunt. Nothing could be further from the truth, as they soon discover, when the kidnappers up the ante.
DS Logan McRae and his team must overcome public perception to interview scores of suspects, which, at times, is like an episode of Keystone Kops. The team fumble their way through, making error after error, which would be laughable if the stakes weren’t so high.
McRae, with his own personal demons to face, finds himself all too close to the action when someone starts targeting him personally with devastating consequences.
Shatter the Bones is a gripping read, with a somewhat frantic pace, giving the reader the very real sensation of that ticking clock. The story twists and turns as more details are revealed, so that we always feel as though we’re making each new discovery along with the police – not as though we are merely witnesses to a crime orchestrated by the author.
The most enjoyable aspect of all of MacBride’s work is the sense that anything can happen – and usually does. The good guys don’t always come away unscathed. The shocks at the conclusion of this story will leave you reeling long after you’ve finished reading.
The SheKilda crime convention now has an active website. Have a look at all the wonderful guests coming. It will be a feast of criminality! Kylie, Mandy, Janette and myself will all be there – so the Sharp Girls will be out in force!
 Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Series
by Charlaine Harris
Reviewed by: Mandy Wrangles
Unless you’ve been hanging out in a coffin of late, you’ve probably heard of the television series True Blood. Yes, the one about the vampires with lots of sex, nudity and even more gloriously gooey blood.
But have you read the books?
Those fabulously kooky characters from Bon Temps began (and continue) their lives in the imagination of author Charlaine Harris in the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Series. Given that book number eleven – Dead Reckoning – has just hit the shelves, I thought it was about time we looked at this fantastic example of Paranormal Crime Fiction. Yes, Paranormal Crime.
So what have vampires, shifters, fae and a telepathic waitress have to do with crime? Plenty, actually. Charlaine Harris is a crime writer to the bone, with a number of other crime and mystery series under her belt. The Sookie Stackhouse novels are each centred around a crime (or three or four, depending on the novel) and always smack bang in the middle of it is Sookie herself, trying to put two and two together to get three. This is one of the many areas the books differ to the television program – but don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of the True Blood; it’s just a different animal, that’s all. Throughout the book series are continuous story arcs, but each novel is also a self-contained mystery. A who or whatdunnit. And since the books are all told from telepath Sookie’s point of view, we get a great insight into exactly what she hears transmitting from other people’s heads, even if they’re trying to hide it themselves.
Book One, Dead Until Dark introduces us to many of the long term characters of the series. We meet Sookie, her brother Jason, Bill the vampire as well as his ‘boss’, Sheriff Eric Northman and Eric’s right-hand gal, Pam, Sam the Shape-Shifter and Sookie’s boss and loads of other favourites from Bon Temps. Vampires are out of the closet / coffin and slowly integrating into human society when a couple of Fang-Bangers are murdered (for those not in the know, a Fang Banger is a human who err, likes to ‘hang out’ with vampires. In a very intimate manner.) At first it looks like a rogue vamp is on the loose, inciting hatred from bigoted humans, but it soon becomes obvious – to Sookie anyway – that this is the work of something more sinister, a set up of some kind. And unfortunately her brother, Jason looks like he may well have played a part. So begins Sookie’s quest to uncover the true murderer and clear her brother’s name.
 This is a pretty typical scenario in the Sookie books, although they’re by no means formulaic. As a reader, you’re never quite sure who the bad guy or girl will be, if they’re a ‘supe’ (supernatural being) doing wrong by humans, humans doing wrong by supes, or just supes doing bad by eachother. But the crime and the twist are always there, and Sookie just keeps on getting in – and out – of trouble. Sookie herself is by far one of the strongest, most engaging female protagonists I’ve read in forever. After eleven novels and a short story collection, she feels like an old friend I only get to visit with once a year as each new novel is released. She’s laugh-out-loud funny, compassionate, whip smart and ready to stand up for herself and her friends. She also has utterly exquisite taste in men – or should I say vampires.
Most of the Sookie Stackhouse novels are what I’d classify as one or two day reads. They’re just too much fun to put down. Sure, some of the eleven novels are stronger than others, but in such a complex world this is bound to happen. Even by Dead Reckoning, the magic is still there. I would, however, recommend reading the books in correct order to get the most out of the back story.
Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire Series (True Blood) novels in reading order:
Dead until Dark
Living Dead in Dallas
Club Dead
Dead to the World
Dead as a Doornail
Definitely Dead
All Together Dead
From Dead to Worse
Dead and Gone
A Touch of Dead (short story collection)
Dead in the Family
Dead Reckoning
 The Family- Martina Cole
ISBN:978-0-7553-7550-9
Reviewed by: Cecilia Jansink
To Phillip Murphy family is everything. He dotes on his two young sons and beautiful wife giving them their hearts desires. He even looks out for his Mum and has ensured his siblings have a place in his somewhat shady business empire. On the outside he appears the perfect catch, a wholesome family man – but Phillip is well adept at hiding the cold, vicious monster within.
Christine thought all her birthdays had come at once when Phillip made her his. After all, it’s a way to escape her overbearing mothers’ expectations and Phillip offers a solid future. Unfortunately for Christine, she sees the man behind the mask all too late and as far as Phillip is concerned -once you’re in the family there is only one way out.
In some respects The Family is unlike any of Cole’s other work to date. It isn’t as gritty or hard hitting and, although there is still a glimpse into the seedy underbelly of London that keeps her fans coming back, it takes a back seat to the complex relationships that make up the Murphy crew. By no means is this a negative, it actually gives us a closer bond and understanding of the key players rather than focusing on their nefarious activities. You will find yourself wrapped up in the family drama and taking sides in the conflict and scheming, and the pages will still speed by.
The characters are all well developed and the plot holds enough hidden surprises to make you gasp. The character of Christine grated on my nerves for the best part of the book; annoyingly she allowed herself to wallow in her circumstances and make them worse. She comes across as spineless and a victim of her own choosing. Thankfully there’s a catalyst that forces her to pick herself up and show us the strength buried deep within. It almost makes you want to apologise for any inner grumbling you had sent in her direction. As for Phillip he will surprise you but not in a pleasant way. Frankly he’s downright nasty and although there are a few half redeeming moments, on the whole you will beg for him to finally cop his just desserts.
So although I would describe this as more family drama with a sprinkling of crime than hard hitting, it still holds the Cole character magic and is certainly a book to sink your teeth into. If you are new to Cole’s work or have been recommended giving her a try based on earlier novels, start with The Take or The Graft to get well and truly hooked, but add The Family to your must be read list. You’ll thank yourself for it.
 Crime TV: Sons of Anarchy
Review by: Mandy Wrangles
There is one night a week my husband and I agree on what to what to watch on TV. One night when he gives up his doco’s on building muscle cars, and I step away from the SciFi and crime channels. Sunday night. Sons of Anarchy night.
The show focuses on the Sons of Anarchy (also called SAMCRO or Sam Crow) motorcycle club. So what’s that got to do with crime? Well, a lot actually. SAMCRO are outlaw bikers, they run guns and protection scams and make deals with crooked cops. They murder – and are murdered – for money, revenge and, quite often, by accident. This is crime and drama from the other side of the fence.
The Sons of Anarchy aren’t all bad. In fact, the scriptwriters have done an amazing job of luring the viewer into having sympathy for what are, essentially, criminals. But they’re criminals with a conscience. SAMCRO protect the small community of Charming where they’re based from meth traffickers and other drug dealers. This puts them at odds with other local bikers and, in series two, white supremacists, the Nords. They’re tightly entwined with the local police chief, Wayne Unser who has a past with Gemma – the matriarch and one of a handful of central characters in Sons of Anarchy.
Gemma is played superbly by Katey Sagal – yes, she of Peg Bundy fame. Only two things matter in Gemma’s life, and that’s her family and her club. Her first husband, John Teller, was one of the founding members of the Sons. After his death, she married his deputy, Clay Morrow played by Ron Pearlman (Hellboy himself). But it’s Gemma and John’s son who’s the star of this drama. Jaxon, known as Jax is Vice President of SAMCRO. Series one kicks off with the birth of Jax’s son, Abel, to his ex – a meth addict. With full custody of Abel, he soon hooks up with another ex-love; the brilliant but flawed Dr Tara Knowles.
The family drama surrounding the Morrows and the Tellers is the central theme of Sons of Anarchy. Based loosely on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the character of Clay is based on King Claudius, Gemma on Gertrude, Tara on Ophelia and Jax stands for Prince Hamlet himself. Jax has a journal that once belonged to his father, and is constantly questioning the SOA culture, especially after the birth of his son. He ‘communicates’ with his Dad (via voiceover reading of the journal) just as Hamlet communicates with the ghost of his father. There are many references throughout the show to the Shakespearian element – Kurt Sutter, the creator of the show admits the Hamlet connection, but says it’s more of a nod to the Bard rather than a direct version.
 Sons of Anarchy is violent and not for the squirmish. The political aspect is intense between a crooked ATF agent, local cops and other outlaw gangs, as well as the IRA and white supremacists. It’s been proven that no character is safe, anything can, and usually does happen. Throughout it all, the moral decisions of the club and its members remain strong, and though they may be criminals, these are definitely good guys.
Strong female characters play an enormous role in this series. Maybe this has something to do with Sutter and Sagal being married in real life. Both Gemma and Tara prove that a woman can be smart, beautiful and have a career as well as a family. They’re not above getting their hands bloody – but, of course – it’s always for the right reasons.
Sons of Anarchy is currently in production for season 4. In Australia, series 3 is airing now on Showcase on Sunday evenings at 8.30pm.
… oh, and I can’t go without mentioning Charlie Hunnam who plays Jax. Ladies – I guarantee he’ll be your newest piece of must-see-TV <wink!>
As of May 11, Sons of Anarchy can be viewed on free-to-air TV: Wednesday nights, 9:30 on ONE HD.
 NEWS FROM SISTERS IN CRIME, AUSTRALIA
Crime lovers, particularly those of us in Melbourne, have some dates to mark on their calendars. Sisters in Crime apologise that there are fewer events throughout the year – but it’s with good reason. SheKilda 2 is coming!!! Featuring the best crime fiction talent from around the country (including, of course, our very own Marianne Delacourt), this is the convention that all lovers of crime MUST attend. October 7 – 9, 2011.
SheKilda Again, marks the 20th Anniversary of Sisters in Crime Australia and will include panels and workshops with all of your favourite Aussie crime authors. And, some very special international guests too: Margie Orford – South Africa, Vanda Symon – New Zealand and, Shamini Flint from Singapore.
The new website for the event which will include all the exciting news of the event will be launched on Friday May 20 at SinC event, Courting Justice (see below).
8pm FRIDAY MAY 20, 2011: COURTING JUSTICE
Three of Victoria’s top female legal eagles bring experience, verve and humour (and many tales) to a debate about where you go for justice when faced with a legal issue, whether it’s a neighbourhood dispute, settling a will or a (nasty or very nasty) accusation? Who does what and what can (and does) happen?
Interrogating the judges is true crime author and novelist, Robin Bowles.
Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth has served on the Supreme Court of Victoria since 2004 and is a former Rhodes Scholar and Senior Counsel. She has sat in a broad range of civil and criminal trials and appeals including the recent trial of serial killer, Peter Dupas, for the murder of Mersina Halvagis.
Judge Liz Gaynor was a defence barrister before becoming a judge in the County Court in 2002. In last year’s ‘Punji hunting’ case, she declared that some boys ”ought to be “put in a dark cupboard at 16 and brought out again at age 25”. She is a different sort of judge (and frequent debater) in the annual Ned Kelly Crime Writing Awards.
Jelena Popovic, Deputy Chief Magistrate, was appointed to Magistrates’ Court of Victoria in 1989 after ten years in practice as a solicitor. She is passionate about the significant role of the Magistrates’ Court in our community, particularly its role in problem-solving and reducing crime. An advocate of “therapeutic jurisprudence”, she’s interested in how factors like disability, drugs, mental health, homelessness and Aboriginality impact on defendants in the criminal justice system. She is the Co-ordinating Magistrate of the Koori Court and has court portfolio responsibility for the Criminal Justice Diversion Program.
NOTE: New venue: The Rising Sun Hotel, corner Raglan Street & Eastern Road, South Melbourne (cnr Coventry). Mel 57, H2.Try 112, 55 or St Kilda Road trams. Free on-street parking after 6pm.
Entry is $5 for SinC members, $10 for non-members. Dinner can be purchased from the venue before the event.
 Tuesday May 24, 2011: Where (and How and Why) Crime Fiction
Gets It Wrong
(Part of the 2011 Bayside Literary Festival)
True crime author & Brighton resident Vikki Petraitis has rounded up some of the usual (often unusual) suspects to spill the beans. She interrogates a judge, a true crime writer and a novelist on where (and how and why) crime on the page and screen contrasts so wildly with what really happens in real life:
Judge Liz Gaynor was a defence barrister before becoming a judge in the County Court in 2002. She is a different sort of judge in the annual Ned Kelly Crime Writing Awards. She’s outspoken, funny, fair and very, very smart.
Liz Porter, a Brighton resident journalist Liz Porter is the author of Written On The Skin: An Australian Forensic Casebook (Pan Macmillan), a joint winner of the 2007 Ned Kelly Award for best true crime book. Her latest work, Cold Case Files: Past crimes solved by new forensic science, published by Pan Macmillan in May, features cases from Australia, the UK and the US. Murder and DNA are recurring themes, but the book also covers mysteries involving art fraud, the mysterious death of an Egyptian mummy and the authorship of Bach’s cello suites. Info: http://www.panmacmillan.com.au/display_title.asp?ISBN=9781742610092&Author=Porter,%20Liz
P D (Phillipa Deanne) Martin has written five novels featuring ex-pat FBI criminal profiler Sophie Anderson, all of which have received glowing reviews in Australia and overseas. To date, the series has been published in thirteen countries. She’s also written an ebook. To date, the series has been published in thirteen countries. She’s contributed to a true crime anthology titled Meaner than Fiction. Info: www.pdmartin.com.au
7.30-9pm, Tuesday May 24 — Brighton Savoy Hotel, 150 The Esplanade, Brighton Cost: $15.Bookings (from early May): www.bayside.vic.gov.au/literaryfestival
PHRYNE FISHER TV SERIES – seeking extras
http://www.everycloudproductions.com.au/news/p/16
Every Cloud Productions:We are excited to announce an opportunity for Phryne fans to get involved in the production.
We are looking for people interested in working as extras on the series, which is set in 1920s Melbourne.
Our casting department is looking for men and women over the age of 18. Of course, the ‘look’ of the 1920s is a world away from 2011, so we would not be able to cast anyone with gel nails, any obvious hair colouring or hair extensions, any visible tattoos or piercings or fake tans. Men would have to be prepared to have their hair cut in the period style.
 If you are interested in working as an extra please email gow.martine@abc.net.auwith your full name, age, contact details, measurements (chest, waist, hips, shoe) and two photos of yourself (a head shot and a full body shot).
Become a Facebook friend of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries or see here for any updates and upcoming Phryne news!
CARMEL BIRD SHORT FICTION COMPETITION
http://shortaustralianstories.com.au/submissions/
Spineless Wonders are calling for short fiction submissions, to 3,000 words, open theme. Closing date is 31 July, 2011.
First Prize – $500
Two runners up – $100 each
Sisters in Crime have announced that the voting for the annual Davitt Readers Choice awards is open. So if you’re a member of Sisters in Crime and a fan of Tara Sharp then you know what to do!
with Janette Dalgliesh
Top Crime Myths
I’m a placid soul, and I know crime on TV is supposed to be escapism. But that doesn’t stop me wanting to throw a brick at the screen when stories get the simple stuff wrong. Dear writer, is it too much to ask? Here are my top five crime myth peeves:
24 hour wait
Scene: Wife turns up dead after not going home the night before. Detective scowls: “Did you report her missing?” Distraught husband sobs: “I called but missing persons said I had to wait.”
The 24-hour waiting period isn’t universal, even in the USA. In many cases, circumstances would be assessed before dismissing a concerned relative. And in Australia, there is no waiting period for reporting a missing person. If you don’t know where someone is and you have concerns about their safety, you report them straight away. Scriptwriters who reinforce this myth need their wrists slapped.
Sex before science
Scene: Luxe hotel room, blood everywhere and a corpse on the floor. The forensic expert arrives, long hair waving in slo-mo, and proceeds to collect samples protected only by a pair of latex gloves.
I love the forensics sub-genre, to the point where I can forgive its many myths. But this one really gets my goat. UK drama Silent Witness at least pays lip service to the notion of protecting the integrity of a crime scene, with the gorgeous Emilia Fox happily donning baggy disposable coveralls and bootees to do her job. But according to CSI – the biggest franchise in the pack – as long as scientists have their trusty gloves, they can shed hair, skin and clothing fibres to their heart’s content. Grrr.
Instant results
Scene: the forensic lab (yes, again – promise I’ll move on after this). Our sexy scientist prepares her samples in a montage of serious-forehead and shiny equipment. And look! Within minutes of putting the sample into the machine with the to-die-for graphic design – a match!
The science of DNA fingerprinting has been developing and improving for many years, since its first court appearance in a UK immigration case in 1985. While it’s true that the tests are much faster than they used to be, most times the lab work and subsequent analysis and reporting requires more than an ad-break to complete. And it’s rare that DNA evidence comes in the neat package most forensics shows would have us believe. And this could be having an effect on real court cases.
In 2004 a Peoria, Illinois jury let off an alleged rapist because the DNA evidence presented by the prosecution – his saliva on her breast – didn’t match their expectations of forensics.
Witnesses are dumb
Scene: detective gets a phone call from a witness, who whispers “I can’t tell you over the phone… meet me tonight…”. And you know they’ve signed their death warrant.
Really? Witnesses the world over are all calling the cops, and conveniently timing it so they’ll be killed before they can pass on their all-important information? This isn’t a myth about the legal system or the process of investigation, but it’s a myth about what’s likely. Midsomer Murders is a particular offender with this annoying narrative device, though it doesn’t stop me watching (albeit with iPhone game or laptop handily in reach).
Wire me up
Scene: a sympathetic suspect agrees to a lie detector test, and the results prove she didn’t do it. Woohoo!
We love the idea that the bad guys can be caught out, or the innocent exonerated, by a machine. But in the real world, lie detector tests only work on some of the people, some of the time. In the USA, each state has different approaches to the admissibility of these tests, while in Europe, they’re generally not accepted by the courts. Here in Australia, only NSW has made a specific ruling on the matter, also finding the tests not admissible.
Happily, lie detectors in crime fiction are increasingly depicted as having a purely investigatory role, which is closer to the real world. I’ve even seen scripts that discuss the unreliability of the tests.
Perhaps this is a sign that given enough time, writers of crime do eventually let go of their favourite myths. Perhaps all I need to do is wait.
What’s your favourite peeve? Feel free to share!
 Author In Focus: Felicity Young
Interview by: Kylie Fox
Felicity Young is a Western Australian crime writer. She has penned four crime novels but is set for a change with a series of historical novels soon to be released.
Felicity’s novels, in order of release are:
A Certain Malice: You can run from anything… but your fears.
When Sergeant Cam Fraser thinks the gang who murdered his wife and son are targeting his daughter, he relocates to the other side of Australia, not expecting trouble in the small country town where he was raised. But a violent, puzzling murder at an exclusive girls’ college plunges him into a baffling and deadly investigation – and raises menacing ghosts from his past.
An Easeful Death: The first book in the DS Stevie Hooper series.
 Someone is killing beautiful young women and taking extraordinary risks to carefully pose their painted bodies in public places. The first is bronze, then silver – who will be gold?
The lines between Stevie’s personal and professional lives becomes increasingly blurred as she sets out to solve this bizarre case – but who can she trust?
Harum Scarum: The second book in the DS Stevie Hooper series.
This tale of cyber technology and an internet paedophile ring takes us into the heart of every parents worst nightmare. When the body of an 11 year old girl is found dumped, Stevie must embroil herself in the world of technology to decipher the codes and internet nicknames before another child is taken.
Take Out: The third DS Stevie Hooper novel.
 With her own family in crisis, Stevie steps into a world that has a ruthless disregard for human life – and she’s managed to cross those on both sides of the law.
Felicity was kind enough to answer a few questions:
Kylie: You attended boarding school in the UK while your parents travelled with the British Army. How much did that impact on your eventual path to crime writing?
Felicity: We changed countries every two years, living between Germany, Canada and the UK. When I was nine I was sent to boarding school in the UK and shortly after that my father was posted to Australia. I joined my parents for school holidays, which meant four to six long flights a year.
Those long boring plane trips were a great aid to developing my creative imagination. I would spend most of my time plotting aircraft disaster/hijack scenarios, with myself as the heroine, naturally. By the time I was sixteen I had flown around the world twelve and a half times and composed dozens of stories.
It’s really only since becoming a published author and being asked, ‘why crime writing?’ that I’ve realised that those adventure stories were probably my way of coping with the stressful situation of being a child flying alone during a very dangerous period of air travel (1970’s).
I’ve read similar theories about crime writers and readers. They say that writing or reading crime novels is a way of allaying our anxieties in a violent world over which we have little control.
Interesting theory.
Kylie: Many crime writers seem to have come from a background in science or medicine. Your first career was in nursing – how much do you draw on your nursing experiences when formulating your plots and characters?
Felicity: I haven’t nursed for over twenty years and I can’t say that I draw specifically on past nursing experiences when formulating my plots and characters — though this probably did influence my choice of career for my heroine in my new series (see questions below).
I also spent years studying English lit at uni, learning to play the piano, raising children and stud sheep, and I am still an active member of our local volunteer bushfire brigade. I think you will find elements of all these experiences in my books.
But back to medicine: perhaps the type of personality drawn to a medical career might also be the type attracted to the genre of crime writing? Medicine is as much an art as it is as science, just as crime writing tends to rely on creativity as well as logic; a whole brained activity rather than just left or a right.
I also think both professions require a certain amount of earthiness – you can’t be squeamish or precious if you want to do either!
 Kylie: The main character in three of your novels is DS Stevie Hooper who is posted with the Sex Crimes Unit. She tackles some of the most sickening and heinous of crimes. What came first for you: the decision to set your character in the SCU, or the cases which could only fit with a character based there?
Felicity: Stevie started off in the Serious Crime squad and switched to the SCU for the second and third books in the series. It was a deliberate move on my part. I wanted her to be faced with challenging cases that pressed her emotional buttons.
Kylie: Stevie Hooper is one of the few crime novel heroines to live a “normal” life – a husband and a daughter – outside of the job. How deliberate was that?
Felicity: Again, very deliberate. By giving her a family I hoped to break the stereotypical troubled, loner – cop we so often read about. I also wanted a protagonist my female readers could identify with. When Stevie’s not chasing villains, she’s worrying about childcare and what to cook for dinner.
Kylie: You have two untitled novels due for release in 2012 and 2013 respectively – are these continuing the Stevie Hooper saga? If so, what troubles can we expect to see Stevie embroiled in this time around?
Felicity: These new novels for HarperCollins are historical mysteries set in Edwardian London and are as yet untitled. They feature my new protagonist, Dr Dody McCleland, Britain’s first (fictitious) female autopsy surgeon and her sidekick, Scotland Yard detective Mathew Pike.
I still have plenty of ideas for more Stevie Hooper adventures, though. Whenever I pick up the paper I find something I could imagine Stevie getting her teeth stuck into. Unfortunately I just can’t see myself finding the time to write them at the moment.
Kylie: Is there anything else on the boil for Felicity Young?
Felicity: The Dody McCleland series is keeping me very busy. It takes me twice as long to write an historical novel as it does a contemporary novel, and the amount of research is huge. I’ve finished number one, am on the second draft of number two and vaguely beginning to plot number three — so there’s enough going on to keep the pot and the plot boiling for a while yet!
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