A BBC TV Crime Correspondent turns crime writer in a new twist on the genre.
In Simon Hall's thetvdetective series, a television crime reporter covers a series of extraordinary cases, and becomes so involved that he ends up helping the police to solve them.
'I think the basis of the books is that if you look at it on a fundamental level, the arts of the journalist and detective are similar,' says Simon. 'Ask the right questions, cut through the lies, deceit and spin and get to the hidden truth.'
Adam, the detective in the series, and Dan, the reporter, realise they can use television to effectively talk to criminals, to influence them in subtle ways which can help the pair catch them. Simon is coy about whether some of the storylines for the books are based on his career as the Crime Correspondent for BBC television and radio in the south west of England.
'It says in my book of how to be a writer that mystery sells, so no comment,' he jokes. 'But it's certainly true that it would be strange if some of my experiences from work weren't reflected in the books. I'll leave it to the readers to judge where the fact ends and the fiction begins.'
In The Death Pictures, which came out at the beginning of the year (2008), a dying artist creates a riddle hidden in his final ten paintings. But before the answer can be revealed, the painter dies. Initially, it appears to be suicide, but the more Dan and Adam investigate, the more suspicious it looks.
Simon is proud that no one has yet managed to solve the riddle, without turning to the last pages first, anyway! 'I suppose it's a little cruel, but I can't help but enjoy how many people have said to me – "I spent ages trying to solve that riddle. And then when you revealed how it works, I really kicked myself. It's so simple, but so clever."'
Evil Valley, which has just been published, sees the same family of characters return, but this time the book centres on the hunt for a psychopath, a man tormented by memories of war, who is trying to teach society a lesson by committing a crime so shocking it which appall the nation. And it's down to Dan and Adam to try to stop him. All Simon's novels are set in his home county of Devon, and the book is named after a real place on Dartmoor.
'It's ideal for the denouement of a thriller,' he comments. 'Bleak, cold, lonely and very sinister.'
Simon's books have been warmly reviewed by the critics, as a fresh take on a favourite genre.
"A compelling thriller... very difficult to put down." (New Books Magazine)
"One to savour... absolutely first class." (Books Monthly)
"Hall is a first-rate storyteller with an enviable ability to present unusual page-turners with a twist." (Reviewing the Evidence)
His new tvdetective novel – The Judgement Book – is due out in September (2009), published by Accent Press. It's a tale of sordid secrets, corruption and blackmail.
'I'm having real fun working up the ideas on this one,' he says. 'It seems to me that just about everyone has a guilty secret, and one of our greatest fears is seeing them exposed.'
There's more about Simon, and his work, on his website – wwwthetvdetective.com
