Pauline Rowson's Blog, page 71
July 1, 2012
What's happening in July for Crime Author Pauline Rowson
It only seems like five minutes ago I was writing the entry for June and here we are in July (and with little sign of the summer in the UK). So what's happening in July?
On 5 July I am to be guest crime author at the annual conference of the British Society of Criminology taking place at the University of Portsmouth, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, (ICJS).
I'll be appearning on a panel on the afternoon of 5 July with my fellow crime writers, Graham Hurley, Peter Lovesey, June Hampson and Linda Regan and I'm really looking forward to it.
The conference is themed around ‘Criminology at the borders’ and coincides with the twentieth anniversary of ICJS. It brings together academics and practitioners operating at the cutting edge of thinking on crime and justice and provides an insight into some fascinating topics including cyber crime, international and organised crime; policing and law enforcement across national boundaries,global criminology, between and across national borders and her own panel event, crime cultures – fictional meets factional imageries of crime and justice.
On 6 July I'll be on the Julian Clegg Breakfast Programme on BBC Radio Solent between 6.45 am. and 7am on 96.1 and 103.8 FM and DAB Digital Radio.
I'll be in the studio chatting to Julian about my crime novels set in Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight and the Solent area and talking about the new DI Andy Horton, Death Lies Beneath which is published on 26 July.
If you can't catch the interview live then you can listen to the programme again via the BBC Radio Solent website.
July also sees the publication in the UK by Severn House of the NEW DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel Death Lies Beneath, number eight in the series.This is once again set in the Portsmouth and Solent area of the UK.
"When ex con, Daryl Woodley is found dead on the marshes bordering Langstone Harbour the Intelligence Directorate believe his murder is linked to big time crook Marty Stapleton currently serving time in prison. DI Horton is not so sure. He attends Woodley’s funeral in the hope it will give them a lead in an investigation that has drawn a blank at every turn. It does but not in the way he or anyone expected. A body found on a rotting boat being salvaged in Portsmouth Harbour throws Horton into a complex and frustrating investigation. As the tension mounts to solve the case, Horton receives a chilling message; time, it seems, is also running out for him personally…"
Also in July I'll be continuing to write the ninth in the DI Horton series, as yet untitled. I'm currently working on the revisions and hope to have it completed by the end of the month or at the latest the first two weeks in August.
On 5 July I am to be guest crime author at the annual conference of the British Society of Criminology taking place at the University of Portsmouth, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, (ICJS).
I'll be appearning on a panel on the afternoon of 5 July with my fellow crime writers, Graham Hurley, Peter Lovesey, June Hampson and Linda Regan and I'm really looking forward to it.
The conference is themed around ‘Criminology at the borders’ and coincides with the twentieth anniversary of ICJS. It brings together academics and practitioners operating at the cutting edge of thinking on crime and justice and provides an insight into some fascinating topics including cyber crime, international and organised crime; policing and law enforcement across national boundaries,global criminology, between and across national borders and her own panel event, crime cultures – fictional meets factional imageries of crime and justice.
On 6 July I'll be on the Julian Clegg Breakfast Programme on BBC Radio Solent between 6.45 am. and 7am on 96.1 and 103.8 FM and DAB Digital Radio.
I'll be in the studio chatting to Julian about my crime novels set in Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight and the Solent area and talking about the new DI Andy Horton, Death Lies Beneath which is published on 26 July.
If you can't catch the interview live then you can listen to the programme again via the BBC Radio Solent website.
July also sees the publication in the UK by Severn House of the NEW DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel Death Lies Beneath, number eight in the series.This is once again set in the Portsmouth and Solent area of the UK.
"When ex con, Daryl Woodley is found dead on the marshes bordering Langstone Harbour the Intelligence Directorate believe his murder is linked to big time crook Marty Stapleton currently serving time in prison. DI Horton is not so sure. He attends Woodley’s funeral in the hope it will give them a lead in an investigation that has drawn a blank at every turn. It does but not in the way he or anyone expected. A body found on a rotting boat being salvaged in Portsmouth Harbour throws Horton into a complex and frustrating investigation. As the tension mounts to solve the case, Horton receives a chilling message; time, it seems, is also running out for him personally…"
Also in July I'll be continuing to write the ninth in the DI Horton series, as yet untitled. I'm currently working on the revisions and hope to have it completed by the end of the month or at the latest the first two weeks in August.
June 27, 2012
Pauline Rowson discusses how she researches police matters and police procedure for her crime novels
I'm often asked how I research police procedures and police matters for my crime novels and while the DI Horton crime series certainly doesn't conform to policing in the real world there is an underlying reality about some of the situations and procedures.
So where do I get my research from?
From talking to real live police officers, those working on the coal face and those who have also retired and my thanks here to the officers in the CID, the Major Crime Unit and the Marine Unit of Hampshire Police.
From the Internet blogs and twitter feeds of serving police officers - a great source of a snapshot on the unofficial and real world of policing, warts and all, the gripes, heroics and the banter all make for great background
From the official websites of the police agencies, establishments and organisations, the intelligence services and the European police agencies
From my fellow members of the Crime Writers' Association, by reading articles in the CWA magazine and attending lectures
From online sources, magazines like The Investigator, websites run by specialists and organisations such as CEPOL (the European Police College)
And from newspaper articles and media feeds.
All this is combined to give me a flavour of how things work but of course they are constantly changing and I could never portray exactly how an investigation is handled or the real world of policing because then it would read like a police manual and it is after all fiction.
So where do I get my research from?
From talking to real live police officers, those working on the coal face and those who have also retired and my thanks here to the officers in the CID, the Major Crime Unit and the Marine Unit of Hampshire Police.
From the Internet blogs and twitter feeds of serving police officers - a great source of a snapshot on the unofficial and real world of policing, warts and all, the gripes, heroics and the banter all make for great background
From the official websites of the police agencies, establishments and organisations, the intelligence services and the European police agencies
From my fellow members of the Crime Writers' Association, by reading articles in the CWA magazine and attending lectures
From online sources, magazines like The Investigator, websites run by specialists and organisations such as CEPOL (the European Police College)
And from newspaper articles and media feeds.
All this is combined to give me a flavour of how things work but of course they are constantly changing and I could never portray exactly how an investigation is handled or the real world of policing because then it would read like a police manual and it is after all fiction.
June 20, 2012
Pauline Rowson to be guest author at British Society of Criminology Conference
I have been invited to be a guest panel author at the annual conference of the British Society of Criminology taking place at the University of Portsmouth, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, (ICJS) between 4–6 July 2012. I will be on a panel on the afternoon of 5 July with my fellow crime writers, Graham Hurley, Peter Lovesey, June Hampson and Linda Regan.
The conference is themed around ‘Criminology at the borders’ and coincides with the twentieth anniversary of ICJS. It brings together academics and practitioners operating at the cutting edge of thinking on crime and justice and provides an insight into some fascinating topics including cyber crime, international and organised crime; policing and law enforcement across national boundaries,global criminology, between and across national borders and my own panel event, crime cultures – fictional meets factional imageries of crime and justice.
The programme includes keynote talks from learned academics and practitioners. There are special workshops on ‘marine crime and marine law enforcement’ (think I would enjoy that and I know my DI Andy Horton would) as well as on ‘military crimes and military justice’.
I'm really looking forward to it.
The conference is themed around ‘Criminology at the borders’ and coincides with the twentieth anniversary of ICJS. It brings together academics and practitioners operating at the cutting edge of thinking on crime and justice and provides an insight into some fascinating topics including cyber crime, international and organised crime; policing and law enforcement across national boundaries,global criminology, between and across national borders and my own panel event, crime cultures – fictional meets factional imageries of crime and justice.
The programme includes keynote talks from learned academics and practitioners. There are special workshops on ‘marine crime and marine law enforcement’ (think I would enjoy that and I know my DI Andy Horton would) as well as on ‘military crimes and military justice’.
I'm really looking forward to it.
June 6, 2012
The CWA's Crime Writing Month celebrates the hottest crime novels this summer
There’s a lot going on in Crime Writing Month, organised by the Crime Writers' Association (CWA) with my fellow crime writers giving talks, book signings and workshops around the country. The Crime Writing Month website also features some of the hottest new crime fiction novels and delighted to see included A Killing Coast featuring the rugged, hunky and flawed DI Horton.
Set in the Solent area on the South Coast of England this is the sixth in the series and was published this year.
When a body is found floating in the sea off Portsmouth harbour, Detective Inspector Horton initially judges it to be an accidental death. Soon though, to his dismay, he discovers he’s got it very wrong. Accused of being incompetent by his boss, and with the head of the Major Crime Team coming down heavily on him, Horton wonders if he’s allowed his ongoing investigation into the disappearance of his mother over thirty years ago to cloud his judgement. With no clear motive for the murder, Horton is sucked into a baffling investigation that he is determined to resolve despite the odds. Not only does he need to find a brutal killer, but Horton now has to prove to himself, and others, that he is still up to the job.
If you enjoy reading crime fiction then check out the list of crime novels at
http://www.crimewritingmonth.co.uk/20...
There is also a list of events taking place during Crime Writing Month.
http://www.crimewritingmonth.co.uk/20...
Set in the Solent area on the South Coast of England this is the sixth in the series and was published this year.
When a body is found floating in the sea off Portsmouth harbour, Detective Inspector Horton initially judges it to be an accidental death. Soon though, to his dismay, he discovers he’s got it very wrong. Accused of being incompetent by his boss, and with the head of the Major Crime Team coming down heavily on him, Horton wonders if he’s allowed his ongoing investigation into the disappearance of his mother over thirty years ago to cloud his judgement. With no clear motive for the murder, Horton is sucked into a baffling investigation that he is determined to resolve despite the odds. Not only does he need to find a brutal killer, but Horton now has to prove to himself, and others, that he is still up to the job.
If you enjoy reading crime fiction then check out the list of crime novels at
http://www.crimewritingmonth.co.uk/20...
There is also a list of events taking place during Crime Writing Month.
http://www.crimewritingmonth.co.uk/20...
May 28, 2012
Sunshine and Sub Genres at Crimefest 2012 Pauline Rowson reports back on her panel appearance
Just as in CrimeFest 2010 this year’s CrimeFest was again a glorious hot day with wall-to-wall sunshine in Bristol. Not the best time to be closeted inside the Royal Marriott Hotel but a very pleasant one to be strolling along the regenerated dock area and catching the little ferry across the narrow strip of water, which I managed to do. It was great to be back on the water, albeit for about two minutes, and I wondered whether DI Horton might take a trip into Bristol on his yacht one day. Or perhaps another character in a future thriller might be drawn to the area.
It was an early morning start for the panel on which I was appearing, beginning at 9a.m., but the audience seemed attentive enough and the authors were awake, which helped. And I noted that we didn’t send anyone to sleep.
I met my fellow crime writers; Mary Andrea Clarke, Frances Brody, Leigh Russell and our excellent moderator Adrian Magson in the Green Room, a dimly lit space in the basement of the hotel. It looked like a set from a murder mystery play. I half expected to trip over a dead body but there were none only very much alive authors.
Our brief was to explore Genres and Sub Genres but as in most of these panels we ended up talking about many different aspects of crime writing and our crime novels. Frances Brody talked about her Kate Shackleton mysteries set in the 1920s, Mary Andrea Clarke about her historical crime novels set in the late 18th century and on the contemporary side there was Leigh Russell with her female detective Geraldine Steel and me with my hunky DI Andy Horton. Adrian Magson, as moderator, didn’t talk about his crime novels, except when introducing himself, but for the record he is a very accomplished and successful crime author having written many novels, articles and short stories.
Adrian asked us about our secondary characters, and if they would continue to feature in future novels. In my case he singled out DCI Lorraine Bliss, Andy Horton’s abrasive, alpha female, ambitious boss. I can’t say at this stage if she will continue to appear in the Horton novels but she appears in the new DI Horton, which is being released in July, called Death Lies Beneath, and she also features in the Horton novel I’m currently writing.
I was asked why I chose to create DCI Bliss. The reason is because she is completely the opposite of DI Horton and this therefore creates tension between them. Horton is a maverick cop, who likes action, and doesn’t much care if he cuts corners or gets into trouble just as long as the villains are caught. While Bliss is a desk johnnie, intent on doing everything by the book and making sure that whatever happens she comes out looking good with a couple of brownie points to boot, to help her in her climb to the top.
Adrian also asked me why I wrote from the male point of view, while the others on the panel had chosen to have a female protagonist. It wasn’t until I created DI Horton, after writing several novels with a female lead that didn’t get published, that I realised writing from the male point of view was more natural and exciting for me. I have also written two stand alone thrillers, In Cold Daylight and In for the Kill, both with male leads. I joked with the audience that maybe I’m a closet man! But in reality perhaps it’s because I have spent most of my career working in male dominate organisations.
It was a relaxed but lively discussion with some good questions from the audience many of whom had travelled from as far as Canada and America. And it was expertly chaired by Adrian Magson who made sure that we all contributed equally to the discussion.
I met some lovely people after the panel and had a chance to chat to them about what they like about crime fiction: a puzzle to solve, great characters, atmospheric settings, action packed novels were some of the answers, which varied as much as the genre does itself, and that’s what’s so exciting and fascinating about both writing and reading crime fiction. There’s something for everyone.
I’m already looking forward to CrimeFest 2013.
It was an early morning start for the panel on which I was appearing, beginning at 9a.m., but the audience seemed attentive enough and the authors were awake, which helped. And I noted that we didn’t send anyone to sleep.
I met my fellow crime writers; Mary Andrea Clarke, Frances Brody, Leigh Russell and our excellent moderator Adrian Magson in the Green Room, a dimly lit space in the basement of the hotel. It looked like a set from a murder mystery play. I half expected to trip over a dead body but there were none only very much alive authors.
Our brief was to explore Genres and Sub Genres but as in most of these panels we ended up talking about many different aspects of crime writing and our crime novels. Frances Brody talked about her Kate Shackleton mysteries set in the 1920s, Mary Andrea Clarke about her historical crime novels set in the late 18th century and on the contemporary side there was Leigh Russell with her female detective Geraldine Steel and me with my hunky DI Andy Horton. Adrian Magson, as moderator, didn’t talk about his crime novels, except when introducing himself, but for the record he is a very accomplished and successful crime author having written many novels, articles and short stories.
Adrian asked us about our secondary characters, and if they would continue to feature in future novels. In my case he singled out DCI Lorraine Bliss, Andy Horton’s abrasive, alpha female, ambitious boss. I can’t say at this stage if she will continue to appear in the Horton novels but she appears in the new DI Horton, which is being released in July, called Death Lies Beneath, and she also features in the Horton novel I’m currently writing.
I was asked why I chose to create DCI Bliss. The reason is because she is completely the opposite of DI Horton and this therefore creates tension between them. Horton is a maverick cop, who likes action, and doesn’t much care if he cuts corners or gets into trouble just as long as the villains are caught. While Bliss is a desk johnnie, intent on doing everything by the book and making sure that whatever happens she comes out looking good with a couple of brownie points to boot, to help her in her climb to the top.
Adrian also asked me why I wrote from the male point of view, while the others on the panel had chosen to have a female protagonist. It wasn’t until I created DI Horton, after writing several novels with a female lead that didn’t get published, that I realised writing from the male point of view was more natural and exciting for me. I have also written two stand alone thrillers, In Cold Daylight and In for the Kill, both with male leads. I joked with the audience that maybe I’m a closet man! But in reality perhaps it’s because I have spent most of my career working in male dominate organisations.
It was a relaxed but lively discussion with some good questions from the audience many of whom had travelled from as far as Canada and America. And it was expertly chaired by Adrian Magson who made sure that we all contributed equally to the discussion.
I met some lovely people after the panel and had a chance to chat to them about what they like about crime fiction: a puzzle to solve, great characters, atmospheric settings, action packed novels were some of the answers, which varied as much as the genre does itself, and that’s what’s so exciting and fascinating about both writing and reading crime fiction. There’s something for everyone.
I’m already looking forward to CrimeFest 2013.
May 20, 2012
Pauline Rowson will be appearing at CrimeFest on 25 May 2012
I'm looking forward to being at CrimeFest this coming weekend where I will be appearing on a panel on Friday 25 May at 9am. This will be my third year of attending and if it's anything like the last two it will be enjoyable and fun.
CrimeFest is a convention for people who like to read an occasional crime novel as well as for die-hard fanatics. First organised in June 2008, CrimeFest is now one of the most popular dates in the crime fiction calendar. The annual convention draws top crime novelists, readers, editors, publishers and reviewers from around the world and gives delegates the opportunity to celebrate the genre in an informal atmosphere.
It follows the format of US conventions of interviews, panels, a Gala Dinner, and one or two surprises. The event takes place at the Royal Marriot Hotel, Bristol from 24 - 27 May 2012.
My panel event is on Friday 25 May when I'll be joining some of my fellow crime writers for a lively debate between 9am and 9.50am. Plus there will be questions and a book signing. Greatly looking forward to it.Might see some of you there!
Friday, 25 May 09:00 - 09:50
Frances Brody
Mary Andrea Clarke
Pauline Rowson
Leigh Russell
Participating moderator: Adrian Magson
CrimeFest is a convention for people who like to read an occasional crime novel as well as for die-hard fanatics. First organised in June 2008, CrimeFest is now one of the most popular dates in the crime fiction calendar. The annual convention draws top crime novelists, readers, editors, publishers and reviewers from around the world and gives delegates the opportunity to celebrate the genre in an informal atmosphere.
It follows the format of US conventions of interviews, panels, a Gala Dinner, and one or two surprises. The event takes place at the Royal Marriot Hotel, Bristol from 24 - 27 May 2012.
My panel event is on Friday 25 May when I'll be joining some of my fellow crime writers for a lively debate between 9am and 9.50am. Plus there will be questions and a book signing. Greatly looking forward to it.Might see some of you there!
Friday, 25 May 09:00 - 09:50
Frances Brody
Mary Andrea Clarke
Pauline Rowson
Leigh Russell
Participating moderator: Adrian Magson
May 14, 2012
Pauline Rowson will be talking to David Nove Angel Radio 17 May 2012
On Thursday 17 May I will be talking to David Nove on Angel Radio Isle of Wight, at 1pm.
I’ll be talking about my crime novels, writing, plotting and characters and the locations around the Solent area for my DI Horton marine mystery crime novels and my thrillers, In Cold Daylight and In For The Kill. Hope you can join us.
Angel Radio broadcasts on 91.5 fm and via the Internet. It is unique in that it specialises in records made before 1960. The station has a huge following across the ages and has listeners all over the World including Europe, Australia and the USA.
I’ll be talking about my crime novels, writing, plotting and characters and the locations around the Solent area for my DI Horton marine mystery crime novels and my thrillers, In Cold Daylight and In For The Kill. Hope you can join us.
Angel Radio broadcasts on 91.5 fm and via the Internet. It is unique in that it specialises in records made before 1960. The station has a huge following across the ages and has listeners all over the World including Europe, Australia and the USA.
May 10, 2012
Great talk yesterday to a packed U3A audience, talking about my Solent based crime novels
Over a hundred people turned out on a damp May day yesterday in Hook in Hampshire to hear me talk about my Solent based thrillers and my marine mystery detective crime novels featuring the hunky DI Andy Horton, and what a marvellous audience they were.
My thanks to the programme secretary, Angela Powell, for organising the event and to everyone who came. Also to those who bought signed copies of my crime novels. I thoroughly enjoyed it and from the comments received am pleased the audience did too.I look forward to the next one.
If you would like to book me as a speaker at your event please contact me via my web site at http://www.rowmark.co.uk
My thanks to the programme secretary, Angela Powell, for organising the event and to everyone who came. Also to those who bought signed copies of my crime novels. I thoroughly enjoyed it and from the comments received am pleased the audience did too.I look forward to the next one.
If you would like to book me as a speaker at your event please contact me via my web site at http://www.rowmark.co.uk
May 2, 2012
What's on in May for crime author Pauline Rowson
May is going to be a busy month not only will I be writing the ninth in the DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime series but I'll also be giving a couple of talks.
May also sees the publication in hardcover in the USA of the seventh in the DI Andy Horton series A Killing Coast which was published in the UK in January 2012.
Like my other crime and thriller novels this is set in the Solent area on the South Coast of England, the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth.
On 2 May I'll be attending the committee meeting of the Crime Writers' Association having just been voted onto the commmittee.
On 9 May, I'll be guest speaker at the Basingstoke and Old Basing U3A which I'm really looking forward to.
I'm also looking forward to appearing at Waterstones Newport, Isle of Wight on 15 May, where I'll be talking about my DI Horton marine mystery crime novels and my thrillers after which I'll be signing copies of my books. The event begins at 6.30pm and tickets cost £3.00 refundable against the purchase of one of my novels.
Then on 17 May I'll be interviewed on Angel Radio at 91.5 fm or you can tune in via their website.
On May 25 I'll be appearing at Crimefest 2012 at the Royal Marriott Hotel, Bristol.
I was delighted that my crime novel, the sixth in the DI Andy Horton crime series, Footsteps on the Shore was longlisted for the eDUNNIT AWARD at CrimeFest 2012.
CrimeFest is a convention for people who like to read an occasional crime novel as well as for die-hard fanatics. First organised in June 2008, CrimeFest is now one of the most popular dates in the crime fiction calendar. The annual convention draws top crime novelists, readers, editors, publishers and reviewers from around the world.
On Friday 25 May I'll be taking part in a lively panel debate between 9am and 9.50am at the Royal Marriott Hotel, Bristol. There will be plenty of time for questions, followed by a book signing.
All in all a busy month.
A Killing Coast
May also sees the publication in hardcover in the USA of the seventh in the DI Andy Horton series A Killing Coast which was published in the UK in January 2012.
Like my other crime and thriller novels this is set in the Solent area on the South Coast of England, the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth.
On 2 May I'll be attending the committee meeting of the Crime Writers' Association having just been voted onto the commmittee.
On 9 May, I'll be guest speaker at the Basingstoke and Old Basing U3A which I'm really looking forward to.
I'm also looking forward to appearing at Waterstones Newport, Isle of Wight on 15 May, where I'll be talking about my DI Horton marine mystery crime novels and my thrillers after which I'll be signing copies of my books. The event begins at 6.30pm and tickets cost £3.00 refundable against the purchase of one of my novels.
Then on 17 May I'll be interviewed on Angel Radio at 91.5 fm or you can tune in via their website.
On May 25 I'll be appearing at Crimefest 2012 at the Royal Marriott Hotel, Bristol.
I was delighted that my crime novel, the sixth in the DI Andy Horton crime series, Footsteps on the Shore was longlisted for the eDUNNIT AWARD at CrimeFest 2012.
CrimeFest is a convention for people who like to read an occasional crime novel as well as for die-hard fanatics. First organised in June 2008, CrimeFest is now one of the most popular dates in the crime fiction calendar. The annual convention draws top crime novelists, readers, editors, publishers and reviewers from around the world.
On Friday 25 May I'll be taking part in a lively panel debate between 9am and 9.50am at the Royal Marriott Hotel, Bristol. There will be plenty of time for questions, followed by a book signing.
All in all a busy month.
A Killing Coast
April 23, 2012
Introducing the real Hampshire Police Marine Unit at the Crime Writers' Association Conference
My fictional detective, DI Andy Horton, is based in the Solent area and the Horton marine mystery crime novels include members of a fictional Hampshire Police Marine Unit - Sergeant Dai Elkins and PC Ripley who are nothing like the two police officers I introduced on Saturday from the team of the Hampshire Marine Police Unit at the Crime Writers' Association (CWA) Conference .
PCs Kerry Murray and Matt Gransden are younger and much better looking, although readers of the Horton novels might be aware that PC Ripley is only a little older than Matt. But the work my fictional marine unit are involved with in helping DI Horton of Portsmouth CID and Detective Superintendent Uckfield of the Major Crime Team isn't that far removed albeit fiction.
It was great to meet Kerry and Matt and to hear about their fascinating job. They gave me plenty of ideas not only for plots for future DI Horton crime novels but also for characters! Can't wait to get writing. It was a fantastic talk with lots of questions from the audience and I'm hugely grateful to Kerry and Matt for giving their time and to their boss for letting them especially when they are so busy. The Hampshire Police Marine Unit's area of responsibility stretches from Dorset to Sussex and out to 12 miles offshore.
I'm looking forward to meeting them again and spending the day with them on the Solent for further research for my crime novels. Must remember to pick a calm day though!
A Killing Coast
PCs Kerry Murray and Matt Gransden are younger and much better looking, although readers of the Horton novels might be aware that PC Ripley is only a little older than Matt. But the work my fictional marine unit are involved with in helping DI Horton of Portsmouth CID and Detective Superintendent Uckfield of the Major Crime Team isn't that far removed albeit fiction.
It was great to meet Kerry and Matt and to hear about their fascinating job. They gave me plenty of ideas not only for plots for future DI Horton crime novels but also for characters! Can't wait to get writing. It was a fantastic talk with lots of questions from the audience and I'm hugely grateful to Kerry and Matt for giving their time and to their boss for letting them especially when they are so busy. The Hampshire Police Marine Unit's area of responsibility stretches from Dorset to Sussex and out to 12 miles offshore.
I'm looking forward to meeting them again and spending the day with them on the Solent for further research for my crime novels. Must remember to pick a calm day though!
A Killing Coast
