Author of THE CHEMISTRY OF DEATH, Gateway's fiction book of the month for April

Hi Simon, welcome to Gateway

What made you visit the Body Farm? And how did you become interested in pathology, in particular the chemistry of cadaver decomposition in the first place?

I initially went to the Body farm to write a magazine article on the National Forensic Academy. The NFA provides extremely realistic forensic training to American police and crime scene investigators. When I went over they were spending a week at the Body Farm carrying out staged ‘body-recovery’ exercises. Actual human cadavers had been buried, and the students had to treat it as they would a real crime scene. I found the whole thing completely fascinating – not least when I was given a pair of rubber gloves and overalls and told to help out myself. That isn’t the sort of experience you forget in a hurry.

What other options did you consider as a career before embarking on writing a novel?

There was a stint doing property repairs and playing in bands, but I always wanted to write. Since getting published is never easy, I tried my hand at freelance journalism. Which I still do – it gives me opportunities to meet people and go places I otherwise wouldn’t. Like the Body Farm. 

What made you choose Norfolk as the location for THE CHEMISTRY OF DEATH?

I wanted somewhere really isolated, where the landscape would add to the story. There aren’t too many places like that in the UK, but I really liked the otherworldly qualities you find in parts of Norfolk. The idea of marshes and hot sun was one I found very evocative.

You describe the experience of not being accepted in Norfolk with uncanny realism – have you lived there and was that your own experience?

I’ve visited Norfolk, but never lived there. Manham is entirely fictional, and I wouldn’t want to give the impression that I think the village or its inhabitants are representative. But I do know of places in the UK where outsiders aren’t exactly welcomed with open arms, and the smaller and more isolated it is, the more entrenched attitudes can be.

Are you, in fact, Dr David Hunter? Are any of the characters in CHEMISTRY based on family and friends?

No, I’m not Dr David Hunter. I’m sure there are aspects of me in him, the same as with any writer who creates a character. But we’re different people. And I never put family or friends into novels – that would really be asking for trouble. But then I’d have to say that, wouldn’t I?

I found the character of Mackenzie, the detective, particularly fascinating. Do you have any plans to feature him in more novels, as the Norfolk equivalent of, say, Barnaby?

Interesting idea, but probably not at the moment. Still, I liked Mackenzie myself, so it’s possible he may reappear at some point.

If you had to choose actors to play the parts in CHEMISTRY on TV or film, who would they be and why?

Greg Wise plays David Hunter in the audiobook, and I think he’d be good for film or TV as well. He’s got the sort of haunted quality that I think Hunter needs. Or Christopher Eccleston would be another good choice, for the same reason. Both of these are also good at quiet determination, which is important as Hunter is quite a driven character.

Are you working on another novel right now?

I am indeed. But I get squeamish talking about a work in progress, so I’m afraid that’s all I’m going to say for the moment.

Can you list your five favourite books and say how you might have been influenced by them?

This is always a difficult one, because I find it changes a little over time. But – in no particular order – my top five would be: Raymond Chandler’s The Long Goodbye, which is pretty much the ultimate ‘lonely detective as hero’ novel; Peter O’Donnell’s A Taste for Death – the entire Modesty Blaise series is terrific, but this is my favourite; Lord of the Flies, by William Golding – hugely atmospheric and chilling; Stephen King’s The Shining, because it’s probably the most frightening thing I’ve read. Finally, I’d include The Garden of Eden, by Ernest Hemingway – published posthumously and not one of his better known. But it’s still a beautiful, subtly disturbing book. 

Finally, congratulations on a fantastic first novel and Gateway's April Book of the Month! Thanks for taking part and good luck with your future writing.