Behind the Crime Scene – An evening with crime procedural novelist, Mari Hannah

Monday 25th February saw the second of our special “Word Sharing” events sponsored by the Van Mildert Trust.

Internationally acclaimed novelist and script-writer, Mari Hannah, talked to a packed house (SCR members, book group members from Van Mildert and Josephine Butler colleges, and students) in the Ustinov Room. Mari, winner of the Polari Prize, the Northern Writers Award and the CWA Dagger in the Library 2017, detailed the importance of research in writing crime novels from the first steps in selecting agents and publishers to establishing actual sunrise and sunset times and first hand geographical knowledge to add veracity to the action in the novel. She emphasised that an understanding of police procedure is essential (her background in Probation work and the experience of her partner, a Murder detective for 30 years provides the basis) and has to be kept up to date.

The entertaining and enlightening talk was followed by a lively and engrossing Q & A session with a free drinks reception, during which Mari chatted with participants and signed copies of her books provided for sale by Forum Books of Corbridge.

A meal in the Lakeside Room rounded off a wonderful evening, very much enjoyed by all who attended.

Report by Kathryn Armstrong