I'm often asked how I research my crime novels and in particular the police procedure and crime scene investigation side of things. I'm not married to a police officer or a former police officer (although I am married to a former fire-fighter) so I don't have inside knowledge except when it comes to fires, burnt bodies and serious road and other incidents which fire fighters attend, and they can all be incorporated into a crime novel, which indeed I have done.

So where do I…

CSI Basingstoke, where crime fiction met crime fact, held on Saturday 6 July at the Basingstoke Discovery Centre in Hampshire, England, was a big hit with the audience. The sell out event was attended by a capacity audience of fifty crime fiction and CSI fans.

The event was modelled on the highly successful CSI Portsmouth, which I first organised in 2010. This year will be the fourth year of CSI Portsmouth,…

I've uploaded a new video here to my You Tube Channel. In this video interview I'm talking to Tony Smith about bringing in the baddie.

It's also featured on my publisher's website.

There are lots more interviews on my …

Nearly a hundred and twenty people attended the first ever CSI Gateshead event at Gateshead Library on Thursday 25 April. Inspired by the CSI Portsmouth event, which I help to organise. The CSI Gateshead event was a huge success.

CSI Gateshead was modelled on the CSI Portsmouth event with some slight variation. The Gateshead event took place over two hours on an evening with one panel of crime fiction authors and crime experts whereas CSI Portsmouth is a full day event with…

Jeffery Deaver and Peter James are lined up to take part in this year’s Crimefest and I'm delighted to be there with them.

Peter James and Pauline Rowson, looking very happy or a bit sozzled! CrimeFest 2011

I haven't met Jeffrey Deaver but I am sure that his Thriller Writing Seminar as part of the festival’s Crime…

A DVD of CSI Portsmouth 2012, which was held on 3 November as part of Portsmouth Bookfest, featuring crime authors Stephen Booth, Ann Cleeves, Matt Hilton and Pauline Rowson has now been released and is on sale as a two disk set.

Over a hundred and sixty people attended the one day event held…

In this short video I'm talking to Tony Smith of Angel Radio about the forthcoming CSI Portsmouth event being held on Saturday 3 November at the John Pounds Centre, Queens Street, Portsmouth UK.

This video appears on my You Tube Channel where you can also find lots of other videos and interviews with me discussing my crime novels and my writing and giving tips and techniques.…

After the Severn House drinks party it was time for another drinks reception this time hosted by CrimeFest and with the purpose of announcing those authors shortlisted for some of the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Daggers Shortlist. Here are some photographs from the event where I was lucky enough to meet up with some DI Horton fans and chat to them about the…

I'm looking forward to giving a talk this week on 16 November at the U3A group at Sarum, near Salisbury on how I write my crime novels and thrillers and about my DI Andy Horton marine mystery series of crime novels.…

Have you ever wondered?  Hey, how’d they do that?

One of the most difficult and scientific parts of reconstructing a shooting incident is to determine the direction of the projectile travel and the angle of impact by examining the bullet holes that were left at the…

Crime has descended on the otherwise respectable spa town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England. Not a crime wave as in the criminal sense, although that could always happen, but an invasion of crime fiction writers and crime fiction fans. Yes, the Theakstons Old Peculiar Crime Festival , or the Harrogate International Festival as it is now called, has kicked off and runs until 24…

I find it absolutely fascinating how bloodstain patterns are interpreted and examined to help solve a crime.  This can answer so many questions on where the perpetrator was standing, how tall the perpetrator was, weapon used, and how the crime was committed.  Once you get past the “blood” part and really take an objective look at the patterns, it reveals a whole new perspective of what had…

I've enjoyed writing and undertaking many speaking engagements and media appearances throughout the year. I've met some fascinating people and made lots of new friends. As 2010 draws to a close I thought it appropriate to thank my many readers, my publishers, booksellers, agents, those who have supported me in the book trade and the media, and in the libraries across the UK, the Commonwealth and the USA. 

Here is a quick round up and some of the highlights of 2010 which…

In this video clip I am talking to Tony Smith of Angel Radio about a unique event where I and four of my fellow international crime authors: Simon Brett, Graham Hurley, Peter Lovesey and June Hampson join police, CSI, forensic and fingerprinting experts in Crime and the City, CSI Portsmouth on Saturday 6 November at the John Pounds Centre, Portsmouth.

Fiction meets fact at this…