I became an instant fan of Imogen Robertson early last year when I first encountered her amateur Georgian detectives, Harriet Westerman and Gabriel Crowther in her debut novel Instrument of Darkness. It was immediately evident from that novel that the Daily Telegraph had picked a real talent to win its Novel in a Year competition in 2007.
The two novels that have followed, Anatomy of Murder and Island of Bones, confirmed those first impressions. This is an historical series to rival the best in the genre.
I am very grateful to her for taking the time out to answer a few questions...
Favourite author:
Nevil Shute. Today that is. Like most people I find it impossible to stick to one favourite, but I do envy Shute’s prose and I find the books deeply moving.
Favourite book:
Gaudy Night by Dorothy L Sayers. A great detective novel, with the best marriage proposal in Latin ever delivered in 20th century literature.
Favourite character:
Stephen Maturin from the Aubery-Maturin novels of Patrick O’Brian. I love his intelligence and awkwardness, and the way his fascination with natural history can blind him to what else is happening around him. I read through the entire series in the matter of a couple of months some years ago, and suspect he is one of the spiritual Godfathers of my own character, Gabriel Crowther.
Best book read in 2011:
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters. Bit of a cheat this, because I read it when it first came out, but I did reread it this year when I was preparing for a workshop on historical fiction. Meant to just look for a passage to use for teaching, then couldn’t stop. The way Waters manages to convey the tone of a certain age is remarkable. Reading her is a masterclass in historical writing.
Best crime city:
London. Of course. The way we are all piled on top of each other in this city of secret corners, back alleys and crowds. Sit on a London bus for an hour and you’ll have a story.
Best film adaptation:
No Country for Old Men. The Coen brother’s film of the book by Cormac McCarthy. One of the most frightening but beautiful films I’ve seen in years. I never thought they could match the poetry of McCarthy’s prose, but they do. I still have nightmares about being out on the Mexico border being chased by Javier Bardem
Book that gave you the thriller bug:
I’ve read mystery and crime novels since I could smuggle a flash-light into bed, but as an adult I think it was Nicci French’s The Memory Game. I missed stops on the tube and fell of escalators reading that one.
New/Young author to watch:
I met Diane Janes at an event last year and so bought her first book The Pull of the Moon. I loved it. A brilliant thriller, taught and atmospheric. I’m really looking forward to the next one. ‘Why Don’t You Come for Me?’ which is out in May.
What do you snack on while writing:
Coffee, cigarette, sugared almond. Coffee, cigarette, sugared almond. Repeat till word count is completed.
Who would play you in a film of your life:
On my good days, Emma Thompson. On my bad days Richard E Grant in Withnail mode.
My thanks to Imogen and to Helena Towers at Headline for facilitating the interview.
