A CRIMINALLY GOOD READ

BESTSELLING AUTHOR OLIVIA KIERNAN TELLS CRIME MONTHLY WHAT INFLUENCES HER WRITING

What was the inspiration behind your new novel?

I began with the idea of a community of murder-mystery fans. I kept visualising the map of Dublin city laid out on the Bureau’s investigation board, and there was a likeness to a board game that really pushed the concept of The Murder Box forward in my mind. That concept was the idea of a boxed murder-mystery game presented to my detective, Frankie Sheehan – a game with a real victim.

Are there any key ingredients for an authentic police procedural?

Interesting and compelling characters, and a setting that echoes or enhances the tone of the novel. I like to get as much right as possible, but

I try not to get hung up on the procedural elements. Just like if I was world-building in any other genre, I lay out the rules of my fictional world, then allow the story to unfold within them.

What’s next for Frankie?

I think there might be some professional changes on the horizon for her. After writing a series book a year for four years now, I’m currently writing a non-series thriller. But I hope to take up with Frankie after that.

What attracts you most about writing crime?

I enjoy the suspense. Mysteries have a natural shape – as soon as the mystery is presented, you have your catalyst to the story and answers to seek.

How much, if anything, of what you write is based on real life?

Sometimes, I’ll see or read about an investigative technique that results in a new avenue of research for me. For example, I heard about a cold case that was solved because detectives traced the genetic heritage of a particular vegetable found with the body back to the suspect’s location. That sent me on a research trail through forensic techniques on biomarkers for plant life that ended up in one of my books.

Has anyone particularly influenced your writing?

I’m sure whenever a writer reads a novel, it inspires them in some way. At the moment, I’m reading Fear by Peter Swanson, and I’m really enjoying the character development and the growing tension in the plot.

What’s your writing process?

I spend quite a bit of time mentally warming up for a project. I read around the subject, and let my imagination conjure up characters and voices. I’ll make decisions on setting and try to visualise a few key scenes, then

I’ll dive in. Once I get into that flow state, where you’re immersed and the words are writing themselves, there is no better feeling.

‘PRACTISE QUIETING THAT INNER CRITIC’

Any advice for aspiring writers?

Practise quieting the inner critic. Fear of making mistakes or getting it all wrong is often the biggest hurdle to creativity, no matter your experience.

Finally, what do you love most about your job?

When the story is unfolding at a steady pace, the voices of my characters are clear as life in my ear, and it’s only a matter of uncovering that thread and writing it down all the way to the end. That’s wonderful.