BEST OF CRIME with Niki Mackay

Welcome to my latest BEST OF CRIME feature, looking at crime writers' top picks, from their favourite author and fictional detective to their best writing tip. 

Today I'm delighted to welcome 

NIKI MACKAY

for her I, Witness blog tour

to share her BEST OF CRIME ...

... AUTHORS

Lynda la Plante, Martina Cole, and Minette Walters. They excel at character. I have re-read several of their books and will continue to do so just to revisit the people they put on the page. That takes an insane level of talent and skill. 

... FILMS/MOVIES

The Crow, not strictly crime but it has a murder at its heart. It’s a really gripping tale of retribution and justice. It’s also stylish, beautiful and true to the comic. 

... TV DRAMAS

I will endlessly binge watch The X-Files – I’m a complete Sci-fi geek so it ticks that box too. I like the long storyline and the big conspiracy stuff, and of course Mulder and Scully.  

... FICTIONAL KILLERS

Mickey and Mallory Knox – from Natural born killers. Iconic and chilling. 

... FICTIONAL DETECTIVES 

DCI Jane Tennison from Prime Suspect – she was so well drawn, fiercely clever, complicated and a bit of a mess. I think she was quite ground breaking at the time. 

... MURDER WEAPONS

I’m fascinated by mind control – when people manage to manipulate others and use them as weapons. Like the Charles Manson case. 

    

... DEATH SCENES

The big moment in Sarah Pinborough’s ‘Behind Her Eyes’. I can’t in any way describe it without spoilers, but it’s bloody genius. 

... BLOGS/WEBSITES

I tend to research from books still to be honest, I do listen to quite a few podcasts though.  

... WRITING TIPS

Read. A lot and widely. 

... WRITING SNACKS

Coffee, endlessly. Dairy milk and maoams. 

About NIKI MACKAY

Niki Mackay studied Performing Arts at the BRIT School, and it turned out she wasn’t very good at acting but quite liked writing scripts. She holds a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Drama, and won a full scholarship for her MA in Journalism.

Find Niki MacKay on her website, on her Facebook page and on Twitter - @NikiMackayBooks

About I, WITNESS

Publisher's description

“They say I'm a murderer.

Six years ago, Kate Reynolds was found holding the body of her best friend; covered in blood, and clutching the knife that killed her.

I plead guilty.

Kate has been in prison ever since, but now her sentence is up. She is being released.

But the truth is, I didn't do it.

There's only one person who can help: Private Investigator Madison Attallee, the first officer on the scene all those years ago.

But uncovering the truth means catching a killer.”

I, Witness is being published in paperback by Orion on 26 July 2018.

Look out for more BEST OF CRIME features coming soon.

Click here to read more BEST OF CRIME features.

FOLLOW THE BLOG TOUR