Tuesday 6 November 2018

BEST OF CRIME with Jenny Blackhurst

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 

JENNY BLACKHURST


to share her BEST OF CRIME ...




... AUTHORS
Sophie Hannah. She’s an incredibly clever writer with an acute observational talent. Her books are like reading a social commentary wrapped in a twisty mystery with a sprinkle of comedy. The proudest moment of my career was when my quote was included on the hardback of Did You See Melody? It was on the back but still, pretty cool.


... FILMS/MOVIES
Se7enA killer uses the seven deadly sins against his victims, sounds like just another serial killer thriller but there’s a wicked twist and some beautiful use of character. What’s in the box?


... TV DRAMAS
Broadchurch. Aside from the David Tennant factor, Broadchurch was one of the nation’s biggest water cooler TV dramas in years. I loved it for the tight, claustrophobic feeling for the small town where everyone has something to hide. It’s not even a particularly original theme, young boy is killed… whodunnit, but an amazing cast and perfect setting set it apart from the rest. 


... FICTIONAL KILLERS
Gretchen Lowell. A beautiful but deadly serial killer who manages to infiltrate the investigation looking for her and make the lead detective fall madly in lust with her. If it wasn’t for the killing people aspect I’d totally want to be her. 


... FICTIONAL DETECTIVES 
Dr Gideon Fell. I feel like Dr Fell is one of the most underestimated detectives in fiction. Although I’m cheating a little here – he’s not a real detective in the sense that he works for the police force but then again neither was Sherlock Holmes, was he? Gideon Fell has all the ingenuity of Mr Holmes, just without the recognition. 


... MURDER WEAPONS
Umbrella spike. I picture a debonair killer in a smoking jacket, played by Tom Hardy, killing people with a very sharp ended black umbrella. Perhaps there would be a scene where it rains and he has to use the umbrella, rain washing droplets of blood onto the street and swirling into the drain.
    

... DEATH SCENES
Any from a Saw movie. Or at least the two inches of screen I could see through my fingers. I love those films, and the murder scenes are always ingenious.
  

... BLOGS/WEBSITES
www.chrisfoxwrites.com/Some great videos on Chris’ website on how to plot, how to increase productivity etc – also love his books, 5,000 words an hour and Lifelong Writing Habit. 


... WRITING TIPS
Don’t try to write on an empty stomach. You’ll only have to get up twenty minutes in for crumpets. Best to keep a drawer full of snacks and a thermos of hot chocolate on your desk. Like the Girl Guides say – Be Prepared. 


... WRITING SNACKS
Crumpets. With oodles of melted butter oozing from the squishy holes. Maybe some cheese melted on top. And caramelized onion chutney… Excuse me… I have to go.


About JENNY BLACKHURST
Jenny Blackhurst grew up in Shropshire where she still lives with her husband and children. Growing up she spent hours reading and talking about crime novels - writing her own seemed like natural progression. The Night She Died is Jenny's fourth novel. 

Find Jenny Blackhurst on her Facebook page and on Twitter - @JennyBlackhurst


About THE NIGHT SHE DIED


Publisher's description
On her own wedding night, beautiful and complicated Evie White leaps off a cliff to her death. 
What drove her to commit this terrible act? It's left to her best friend and her husband to unravel the sinister mystery. 
Following a twisted trail of clues leading to Evie's darkest secrets, they begin to realize they never knew the real Evie at all... 

The Night She Died was published in paperback by Headline on 1 November 2018.


Look out for more BEST OF CRIME features coming soon.

Click here to read more BEST OF CRIME features.

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