The past is never dead, it isn’t even past
Rachel Bellman’s play, These Demons, comes to life in an unkempt cottage set, staged at Battersea’s Theatre503 in London. A dark comedy-horror, These Demons is a layered piece that explores Jewish demonology, an arguably niche subject not often depicted in theatre,...
A cup of coffee and the question ‘What is your fantasy death?’ A unique welcoming as you enter the set of Ben Target’s Lorenzo, though one that aptly sets the successive warmth and whimsical tone of the evening. Directed by the late Adam Brace, the Edinburgh fringe...
Blood and Poison is the brand-new instalment of the critically acclaimed Spies of Rome series - the last hurrah for Rufus Varro In this final farewell to Foreman’s secret agent of antiquity, we follow Varro as he is called upon once more to protect Augustus’ Empire...
JC Briggs brings the reader into the world of mid-nineteenth-century London very effectively indeed. The Jaggard Case is the tenth in Briggs’ series of crime novels featuring the writer as detective, which began with The Murder of Patience Brooke in 2014. The mystery...
M.J. Porter, congratulations on the Brunanburh Series. Why does Æthelstan appeal to you as a historical figure, and why does his story demand retelling in contemporary society? Æthelstan is an intriguing character to explore. We actually know very little about him,...
Richard, can you first tell us about the genesis of Turpin's Tales and why you decided to revisit the character? I wanted Dick Turpin to ride again. Turpin's Prize finished the series off nicely, but I had written a couple of Turpin short stories for other...
The Redeemed Detective is the latest instalment of the Inspector Lafarge series, Pirate Irwin’s historical thriller series featuring French policeman, Gaston Lafarge. Beginning with the Nazi occupation of France, The Redeemed Detective sees Lafarge in Paris after...
Pirate Irwin – congratulations on your latest novel, The Redeemed Detective. Could you tell us about the hero of your detective series, Inspector Gaston Lafarge – did you have any real-life inspiration? Thank you. But no, the complex cove’s character is all on me....
Mark, you’ve created quite the character in Frank Merlin. What sort of man is he? Frank Merlin is a man in his early 40s as the series starts. He holds the rank of Detective Chief Inspector and heads a Scotland Yard serious crimes unit. Merlin is an extremely, brave,...
Bunkeya is the first ever instalment of A P Handley’s Danny Rook secret history series. In the genesis of this enthralling secret history, we are introduced to seventeen-year-old wonderkid, Danny Rook, who against his family's wishes, leaves his comfortable, albeit...
