Today I’m pleased to welcome fellow crime author
Juliet B Madison back to my blog to talk about A Winter Murderland, her
recently released DI Frank Lyle novellas collection.
Can you briefly sum up A Winter Murderland for
those who haven’t read it?
Juliet: It’s winter and DI Frank Lyle, along with his
team, are hoping for a crime-free
season.
DS Thomas Fox feels threatened after a chance
encounter with someone from his past. Can he and his boyfriend, James Lyle,
deal with the emotional consequences of both the encounter and a revelation it
forces Thomas to make?
John Cassidy is found dead. As DI Lyle and
his team investigate they uncover sinister secrets and darker motives as they
are drawn into the unfamiliar world of pharmaceutical malpractise and the
minefield of murder by prescription.
A Winter Murderland also includes two DI
Frank Lyle short stories: Wishing on a Star and The Dare.
I haven’t read the book as yet, but I believe it
includes your NaNoWriMo piece?
Juliet: Yes, that’s right Wendy. I’m really very proud
of Prescription for Murder. I had to
do more research than normal as I had to find out about pharmaceutical practise
and prescription drugs, including ones which contraindicate one another. Cathy
Goddard, the palliative care pharmacist where my mum works, was incredibly
helpful and her husband, Tim, features in a cameo role as a paramedic (his real
life profession)
Do you think DI Frank Lyle learns anything new as a
result of this investigation?
Juliet: I don’t think he
learns anything new police procedure-wise as he’s already an experienced
detective, but he learns about prescription drugs and gets an insight into more
of the darker facets of the human psyche.
Why did you include short stories in this
collection?
Juliet: Originally the
first novella, A Murder-Free Christmas, was to be published separately, but I
decided to put two novellas together. Wishing on a Star is a story set in 1977
when James, DI Lyle’s son, is only six. The other story, The Dare was published
in the Shadows & Light charity anthology to promote the work of Women’s Aid
and to raise awareness of the more subtle aspects of domestic violence. James
is sixteen and it’s a kind of emotional maturity coming of age tale (although
not legally coming of age as no one turns eighteen).
I understand that DI Lyle is a big fan of Joan Baez
and his colleague, DI Redfern, is into Bruce Springsteen. Do your characters’ musical
tastes reflect your own in any way?
Juliet: When it comes to
a character’s preferences in matters like music, reading matter, gastronomic
tastes and even sexual tastes I think a lot of the author’s personal
preferences do tend to creep in. Yes,
I do admire Joan Baez and have seen her live twice. The fact that she is still
doing live performances at the age of 73 shows incredible resilience. How many
X factor winners will we remember even a year from now? I suspect that there is
probably quite a bit of you in DI Shona McKenzie as well.
I know from previous interviews you’ve done that
you enjoy reading crime fiction, but what’s the last book you read that wasn’t
in the crime genre?
Juliet: I’m currently
reading “My Life”, (David Jason’s autobiography), which I’m really enjoying. I’m a huge David Jason fan and I think that DI
Frost was the best part he played. I learnt a lot from watching that series and
paid homage to the airing of the first ever episode in my last novel Best Served Cold. David is one actor I
would love to meet.
Do you think DI Lyle & DI Frost would get on?
Juliet: On a personal
level maybe, But DI Lyle would definitely be a straight man to Frost’s constant
flouting of procedure and rule-breaking. I think he would really disapprove of
Frost’s methods. They both get results in different ways.
Do you think that the crimes DI Lyle investigates
will change as you move the series closer to the present day?
Juliet: There will
ALWAYS be murderers, but yes, I suspect he will start to investigate things
like Internet crime and identity theft as time moves on.
What’s next for DI Lyle & his team?
Juliet: Another investigation involving people and drug trafficking, murder and
corruption. I haven’t gotten very far with Dead on Arrival yet though.
Would you be prepared to share
a short excerpt from A Winter Murderland with us?
JULIET: Here’s a little bit from Prescription for Murder
Jean crossed the street and pressed the intercom button for Cassidy’s
flat. The receiver crackled but there was no response. She swallowed hard.
“Mr Cassidy, are you alright?” she called. Ashbeck City Council paid
Cassidy’s housing benefit direct to his bank account on a fortnightly basis and
she came to collect. He had once been a lecturer at Ashbeck University, but
about a year ago he had had surgery for a heart problem and not worked since.
It seemed wrong to Jean, he was only in his early forties after all, but, she
reminded, herself, when had life ever been fair?
There was still no response. Jean gave a glance at the leaden skies,
before another tenant came out and held the door open for her.
“Thank you Mr Sakura,” she said, “Have you seen Mr Cassidy lately?”
“Not for a couple days, Miss Leyton,” he bowed respectfully as was
Japanese custom.
“Alright, thank you.” she watched the Japanese walk across the road and
down the street before ascending a flight of stairs to Cassidy’s apartment.
She knocked on the door, but there was no response.
She hated to invade a tenant’s privacy, but she had a need.
She unlocked the door and went in, calling his name. As she approached
the door to the lounge she smelt an overpowering stench of decay. Almost afraid
she pushed open the door and went in. She had not gotten more than two steps
inside when the reason for Cassidy’s lack of response was made shockingly
clear. Cassidy was slumped in the armchair, a bottle clutched in his hand. His
dead eyes stared past her at nothing.
Where can my readers get their own copy of
A Winter Murderland?
JULIET: You can buy A Winter Murderland
here
Thank you Juliet. It was a pleasure to have you on the blog today and to find out more about your latest book. I wish you and all the readers of Bookaholic a very Merry Christmas
