Pauline Rowson

, Female

Hampshire

United Kingdom

Profile Information:

Hometown:
Hampshire, England
About Me:
Pauline Rowson, author of thrillers and the DI Andy Horton crime series, has been hailed as "redefining the genre of the police drama” by setting it against the atmospheric backdrop of the ever changing sea. Her cops are tough yet fallible. The DI Andy Horton series of crime novels has everything: compelling crimes, complex past history, a tough work environment, romantic entanglements and political intrigue played out against the dramatic and powerfully evocative British marine landscape of Portsmouth and the Solent.

"Andy Horton is an especially good series hero, a likeable fellow with plenty of street smarts and the requisite personal baggage – an abrasive supervisor and an antagonistic soon-to-be ex-wife. Procedural fans who haven’t already read Rowson should be encouraged to do so in the strongest possible terms." Booklist

"Deserves mention in the same breath as works in the upper echelon of American procedurals (those by Ed McBain or Joseph Wambaugh for example) and their British counterparts, including the work of Peter Robinson and John Harvey." Booklist

‘Like Rebus, Rowson’s DI Andy Horton, if not a loose cannon, is a detective who does not always work within the rules. As with all Rowson’s novels the ending is dramatic and deeply menacing. If you are a fan of traditional detective fiction in a vivid setting that makes you believe that you are there, you will love this one.' Mystery People Magazine

'Like Ed McBain, Rowson works many subtle variations on the procedural formula (including very interesting relationships between Andy and a couple of his superiors). A definite winner in the crowded field of British procedurals.' Booklist
I Am A:
Writer
Website:
http://www.rowmark.co.uk
Books And Authors I Like:
The Golden Age of Crime, Georges Simenon, Josephine Tey and Hilda Lawrence. I also enjoy reading Reginald Hill, Robert Goddard, Robert Barnard and R.D. Wingfield.

Comment Wall:

  • JackBludis

    Listening to your inteview now. Pretty good so far.

    Jan 29, 2008

  • Pauline Rowson

    Think I've just added a comment in the wrong place! Whoops! I'll get the hang of this soon. I've got two interviews on my blog at www.paulinerowson.com I'll add it on here later when I have the time.

    Jan 29, 2008

  • David L. Hoof

    From your website photo it looks like you're a sailor, and that was the connections. Although I haven't been on the water in far too long, I used to love sailing in Annapolis, and on the Chesapeake Bay. The Baltimore chapter of Sisters in Crime does an annual short story collection featuring stories set in and around the Bay, so there's an 'opportunity' if you like. If there is any purpose to this kind of connection, it ought to be -- in my mind at least -- calling attention to opportunities that might not otherwise occur to those farther away. The sea and sailing always has an uncanny allure for readers and movie-goers (Dead Calm, for example) Again, let's hope these connections do you some good. Don't be shy, or afraid to ask.

    Jan 30, 2008

  • Pauline Rowson

    Hi, everyone. Delighted to say that my thriller, In Cold Daylight, inspired by the tragic true story of the mystery deaths of several fire fighters from one watch, has been shortlisted for World Book Day. You can read all about it on my blog. In order to win, I need votes! You can vote on line from a list of ten books. And if I win I am donating the prize money to the Fire Service National Benevolent Fund. You can read all about it on my blog. Thanks.

    Feb 9, 2008

  • Lawrence Kelter

    Good to know you. Hope to hear from you often.

    Feb 28, 2008

  • Pauline Rowson

    Hi, Have been interviewed by our local newspaper, the Portsmouth News about my favourite books for their Spread The Word Campaign which aims to get more children and young people reading. Here I am talking about one of the great novels from the Golden Age...

    Jul 1, 2008

  • Greymalkin

    Marine mystery? Fascinating. A friend is a marine biologist who works for a non-profit organization, the Blue Ocean Institute, and I've been looking for ways to incorporate some of her knowledge/environmental-awareness-lessons into a vehicle like a horror movie. Never thought of the mystery novel route. I will certainly have to check your work out. It's a pleasure making your acquaintance!

    Jul 3, 2008

  • Pauline Rowson

    Please do. The mystery or thriller route might be ideal. I love the way that crime novels can highlight social issues without being patronizing or ramming them down people's throats. I just want to get people thinking - could this really be happening? My thriller novel In Cold Daylight was based on the tragic true story of firefighters dying of cancer. My husband is a former fire fighter and it was a conversation I overheard at the station of several firemen from one watch all contracting cancer that sparked the idea for a book. I researched and wrote this before 9/11 (though it wasn't published until 2006) and the research that has since been carried out by the University of Cinncinati ( hope I've spelt that correctly) has shown the rates of cancer for fire fighters is in many cancers 100% higher than for other occupations. I have been in touch with some US web sites highlighting this debate and have tried to get the debate going in the UK without success, but it will come. You can borrow my marine mysteries, and In Cold Daylight, from most libraries and of course they're available on Amazon and other on line stores. Good luck.

    Jul 3, 2008

  • Pepper Smith

    Hi Pauline, thank you for accepting!

    I was nine years old in the sixth grade. It's funny how different the systems for labeling the school years are in different countries, isn't it? What used to be the common designations are changing here, so I'm having to relearn whether kids are in grammar school, junior high, middle school, or high school.

    I'm looking forward to reading how your mystery evening event goes. Sounds like a pretty neat way to promote a book.

    Jul 24, 2008

  • L.J. Sellers

    Just saying Hello and Good Morning. Great photos. Thanks for sharing.
    Lj

    Aug 13, 2008

  • carole gill

    I can guess!
    thanks, Pauline.

    Aug 13, 2008

  • Lee Martin

    Good Afternoon Pauline,
    Thanks for being on "my friends". You are right though, I have multiple cases and experiences I can write about. I'm concentrating on getting my first book selling better, promoting and the likes. When you can, keep in touch...............

    Lee

    Aug 21, 2008

  • Pauline Rowson

    Will do. I'm in the middle of writing right now. Marketing your book is so very important. Good luck with it. And don't forget to keep writing,because the more you write the better it gets, that's my experience anyway. I try to write every day even if it isn't much some days. But then I'm hooked on it and love creating plots and characters. It's tremendous fun. Speak again soon. Bye for now. Pauline.

    Aug 21, 2008

  • Maggie Bishop

    Hello Pauline, you mentioned the RAF and my dad, now 90, has a story. He was career USAF and was transferred from Texas in 1954 to a closed RAF station called Molesworth in Hemingford-Abbots (Hunginton Shire, 60 miles north of London). Dad had the first busload of American troops to reopen the base. The entire mission was classified and he didn't know what was going on until years later. Each person had a top secret clearance and didn't know what other sections worked on. They took the belly out of B29s and put in a bar for paratrooper spies to hold onto to be dropped behind enemy lines. A new windowless building was built to produce pamphlets to be dropped.
    I went to first grade there and remember learning to hand stitch a napkin. I'll check out your website.

    Aug 27, 2008

  • Roger (R.N.) Morris

    Hi Pauline, I'm just catching up on some of my social networking thingies after 2 weeks or so away from a computer. Thanks for the friendship. Good to meet you here in crimespace, maybe one day we'll meet in real space at some crime get together or other!

    Roger

    Aug 27, 2008

  • Matt Hilton

    Hi Pauline, I'm not at the London Book Fair but am at Crimefest and Harrogate - I'm pretty sure you're at one of those and will certainly say Hi. Nice to catch up again.

    Apr 19, 2009

  • Gary C. King

    Hi Pauline--thanks for accepting my friend request! Congrats on your successes in crime fiction. I hope one day to write some crime fiction myself. I'll check out your true crime on your site--best wishes to you when you decide to write it. Historical true crimes can be very interesting, and yours is so close to home, so-to-speak.

    Kind regards,

    Gary

    Aug 11, 2009

  • Stephen Booth

    Hi Pauline. Not sure if I'll be at CrimeFest yet. Hope everything is going well for you!

    Stephen

    Jan 5, 2010

  • Peter James

    Hi Pauline, nice to hear from you and lots of luck with your writing. Us South Coat writer folk have to stick together!

    Jan 6, 2010

  • Reece Hirsch

    Hi Pauline -- You can never have too many friends, right? Best, Reece

    Jan 6, 2010

  • Margy Rydzynski

    Thanks, Pauline. I look forward to your updates, et al.

    Jan 1, 2011