BEST OF CRIME with Elle Croft

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 

ELLE CROFT

to share her BEST OF CRIME ...

... AUTHORS

Gillian Flynn! The worlds and characters she creates are so dark and messy and intriguing - I love them. She’s the queen of the unlikeable character, and she uses such vivid imagery, all of her books are just perfect. I re-read them all at least once a year, because even though I know what happens, they’re written so well that I’m taken on the journey again and again.

... FILMS/MOVIES

I absolutely love The Fugitive and have probably seen it about 20 times. I have a slight obsession with wrongful conviction stories (which is why Double Jeopardy is another firm favourite), and The Fugitive has me on the edge of my seat every time I see it. Plus Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones are so much fun to watch!

... TV DRAMAS

I’m very much into true crime dramas right now, so Making a Murderer, The Staircase, Killer Women (the show hosted by Piers Morgan) and Evil Genius are all recent favourites. When it comes to fictional dramas, I’m really enjoying Ozark at the moment, and am excited to get stuck into season 2 soon. 

... FICTIONAL KILLERS

Dexter - he’s the only killer I’ve ever felt sympathy for, and his development over the course of the show was remarkable. He was such a cleverly written character, because as a viewer, I just wanted him to succeed. I’m not sure what that says about me, though!

... FICTIONAL DETECTIVES 

I know Castle is not technically a detective, but he fancies himself one and the results are usually (predictably) hilarious. And Detective Beckett, who’s an actual detective, and who Castle is sidekick to, is an absolute badass and knows how to put him in his place when he’s getting too cheeky. They make a fab pair. 

... MURDER WEAPONS

The gold paint that smothered the Bond Girl in Goldfinger was a stroke of genius, and after watching the film as a kid it haunted me for years. Apparently it wouldn’t actually happen in real life but it was still an incredible scene and a creative murder weapon anyway!

    

... DEATH SCENES

The method of his death was not unusual as such, but the murder of Ned Stark in Game of Thrones was so utterly shocking that it is an unforgettable scene. It was the first time I stopped trusting that the hero of a series was going to journey through to the end of the storyline, and it was a devastating moment. 

  

... BLOGS/WEBSITES

It varies so much, I think the only constant is Google. Honestly, the best word to sum up my search history is ’bizarre’, and definitely a little concerning if you looked at it without context!

... WRITING TIPS

Get rid of as many distractions as possible. I have an internet-blocker called Freedom, which I turn on for hour-long chunks of time, and I also keep my phone in another room. That way, there’s not much for it but to just get on with it and write.

... WRITING SNACKS

In an attempt to stay healthy, I tend not to keep snacks in the house. This results in some pretty weird food combinations being created at around 3pm when I’m inevitably starving or, more commonly, eating peanut butter straight from the jar.  

About ELLE CROFT

Elle Croft was born in South Africa, grew up in Australia and moved to the UK in 2010 after travelling around the world with her husband. She works as a freelance social media specialist and also blogs about travel, food and life in London.

Find Elle Croft on her Facebook page and on Twitter - @elle_croft

About THE OTHER SISTER

Publisher's description

How far would you go...

Gina Mills is desperate to be a newsreader, but her boss - the director of the struggling Channel Eight, won't help.

Walking home one night, Gina stumbles upon a dead body, and after calling the police, she makes the split-second decision to report the murder live. 

When questioned by the police, Gina can't remember specific details about her discovery, but these memory gaps are explained away as shock. 

...to uncover your family's deadly secret?

But when Gina finds a second body, it's clear she's being targeted. But why? 

And how is this connected to the death of Gina's younger sister so many years ago?

The Other Sister is published in paperback by Orion on 18 October 2018.

Look out for more BEST OF CRIME features coming soon.

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