Writing the Murder

'A perceptive guide to the ploys and pleasures of writing and reading crime fiction thatwill appeal to novices and nerds alike.'

Mark Sanderson, author of the Snow Hill trilogy and reviewer for The Times

'Not just a dry or academic 'how to' but a provocative collection of varied essaysand revelations about what makes crime and mystery authors tick and what attractsotherwise normal human beings to a life of crime on the page. Informative, witty andfull of valuable insights, one of the best genre reference titles in ages.'

Maxim Jakubowski

'A fascinating collection of essays with an insight into some of the origins of thegenre, an examination of the current landscape and an intriguing glimpse of where thisendlessly adaptive genre may take us in the future. Highly recommended for all loversof crime fiction.'

Bridget Walsh, author of The Tumbling Girl

There's been a murder...

From the macabre tales of Edgar Allan Poe through to the locked-room mysteries ofthe Golden Age, to the many faces of modern crime fiction and the explosion of truecrime, writers have always explored the most taboo of human transgressions: thetaking of a life. What is it about murder that has fascinated us for so long? And whatis it about crimes of this nature that make for such compelling fiction?

Gathering an impressive line-up of suspects, Writing the Murder asks some of thefinest contemporary writers to dissect their craft and analyse the place of murderin fiction. Authors such as Charlie Higson, Louise Welsh, Jessie Greengrass and TomMead interrogate what it means to write about this most illicit of acts, the lastingappeal of crime fiction, and offer practical advice for those looking to write seriouslyand convincingly about crime.

An essential tool for the grizzled veteran and the fresh-faced rookie alike, Writingthe Murder gives you the motive and the means to write your own tales of murderand intrigue.