Four places you’d run away to

EVER since he kicked off his writing career in the ’80s Peter James has been pushing the boundaries. He made publishing history in 1994 when Penguin published his novel Host on two floppy discs as well as in print formats. It caused huge controversy and is now in the Science Museum in London as the world’s first electronic novel.

Today he’s widely known as the “king of the police procedural” and has dozens of bestsellers to his name, including his popular Superintendent Roy Grace crime series.

In James’ latest offering, Need You Dead, Grace faces his most mysterious case yet when the body of a woman is found in a bath in the British seaside town of Brighton. Always game for a challenge, the award-winning author agreed to answer these devilishly difficult questions, cooked up to reveal what makes him tick. 3 A stuffed Nile crocodile head. 4 A photograph of me inside my 1965 BMW in mid-air upside down at 152km/h at Brands Hatch [a racing circuit in Kent, England]. 5. My CWA Diamond Dagger [the Crime Writers’ Association’s most prestigious award which he won in 2016]. 6 My Charterhouse [his high school] leaving report from 1967 which ends: “A literary career seems inevitable . . .” 7 A goldfish called Marlon given to me by a fan. 8 My police museum with memorabilia from around the world. 9 A framed fan letter from [English playwright and director] Sir Alan Ayckbourn. 1 Provence 2 Maldives 3 Florence 4 Los Angeles