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Ayo: You have written and had published a number of legal books as well as numerous articles for law journals. What gave you the idea to try and write a novel? And had you always wanted it to be a crime novel?
Martin: I wanted to be a writer from the age of about 6, and when I saw my first Agatha Christie film, ‘Murder Most Foul’when I was 9, I became hooked on the idea of a life of crime! But it took a long time to write a novel that I thought might be publishable: I didn’t relish the prospect of rejection slips. In the meantime I wrote legal articles and books, but I saw it mainly as an apprenticeship for writing fiction. I was commissioned to write my first book at the fairly tender age of 26 and that early experience of dealing with publishers proved very useful.

Ayo: Who were your influences when you decided to start writing fiction and What books have had the most influence on you?
Martin: I remain a Christie fan. There are good reasons why she remains so popular, Long after her death, and her work had a direct influence on The Devil in Disguise But plenty of other writers, whose style (like Christie’s) is very different from mine have influenced my approach. An example is Reg Hill, who has shown the possibilities for developing series detectives over the years better than anyone. I admire Conan Doyle and have written several Sherlockian pastiches. And generally, I enjoy Victorian fiction as well as most of the Barbara Vines and also novels, which made a big impact on me as a teenager, such as ‘Billy Liar’ and ‘Catch-22’.

Ayo: As well as being a crime writer you are a solicitor and you specialise in Labour Law. How do you manage to juggle the two parts of your life so efficiently?
Martin: I’m not sure I’m that efficient! But I do care passionately about everything I Take on. You see, I think life is very short and there’s no sense in not making the most of it. Ayo: Why did you decide (for yourself and Harry) to become a solicitor and not a barrister? Martin: In recent years, I’ve become more of a performer, especially at ‘Murder Squad’ gigs. But instinctively I tend to shrink from being centre stage. You have to be a bit of an actor to be a barrister and that’s not my style. Nor is it Harry’s.

Ayo: As an author you are not easily categorised. You write crime fiction, you write about crime fiction and you also have your legal writing. However, you also edit crime anthologies as well. Over the years you have edited anthologies for regional chapters of the CWA and more recently over the last couple of yearsyou have also edited the CWA national anthology. While I am sure you enjoy editing, do you sometimes find that it is a difficult job?
Martin: It’s only difficult when I have to reject a story, especially if written by a mate or an author I admire. All I can try to do is to be as fair and objective as possible, so that the anthology is as good (and diverse in its contents) as can be. In truth, editing anthologies is great fun. In the past few weeks I’ve been the first recipient of new stories about Dalziel Pascoe, Inspector Rebus and Inspector Ghote and by the likes of Peter Lovesey, Lindsey Davis and Val McDermid. For a crime fan like me, that’s heavenly.

Ayo: Your first Harry Devlin novel was written in 1991 with the title All The Lonely People. What made you decide to take each of your titles from pop songs? Martin: The title for that first book fitted the theme and plot perfectly. And at long last, it’s coming out in the States, later this year. When I was writing the follow-up, ‘Suspicious Minds’, the title sprang to mind from nowhere and from then on I was committed to the 60s pop song motif! The titles always reflect the theme of the story in some way. I like to include things in the books that appeal to me. So all the Devlin books contain references to films, and also to the songs of Burt Bacharach, whom I admired long before he came back into fashion.

Ayo: How much do you and Harry have in common with each other or is more of a case that opposites attract?
Martin: He’s much braver than I am, but I wouldn’t swap my life for his! We like many of the same things, but our lives are influenced by our family backgrounds and current lifestyles, which (even though we are both Liverpool solicitors) are totally different. The more I’ve written about him, the more I’ve got to understand him. I like him a lot. I especially like his bafflement about the mysteries of life (including the women in his life)

Ayo: The last Harry Devlin novel was The First Cut is the Deepest, which was much darker than the earlier ones. We are all hoping that we haven’t seen the last of him. Is there another Harry Devlin novel on the horizon? And is there any chance that he might find time to sort out his private life?
Martin: Poor old Harry. He worships women but never has much luck with them. I can't see that changing yet awhile. I’m keen to vary and develop the series and I’ve drafted a detailed synopsis for an eighth Devlin book, but I’ve been too busy writing other books to develop it. At one point, I was just about to start on chapter one when I was offered the chance to write a book for the American and Australian markets on true crime investigation – ‘Urge to Kill’. An offer I couldn’t refuse…

Ayo: You were asked to finish The Lazarus Widow by the late Bill Knox. How did you become involved in that project?
Martin: Bill died suddenly and his widow was very anxious to have his last book completed. His publishers thought it was a good story and asked me if I’d be willing to tackle it. Then they broke the news that he’d never written a synopsis and no-one knew how the book was going to finish. So I had to play the detective myself – another challenge that I found totally irresistible.

Ayo: Take My Breath Away is a psychological thriller and a complete departure from the Harry Devlin novels. What made you decide to write such a different novel?
Martin: Much as I enjoy writing about Harry, I am keen to expand my horizons as an author. That’s one of the reasons why I love writing short stories – they offer the chance to experiment and try something completely different. The idea, which underpins the story of Take My Breath Away was one that fascinated me for years. It’s complex, and very difficult to execute, but I just couldn’t escape it – so in the end, I had to turn it into a novel. Of course, publishers tend to like you to keep to a winning formula, but I think it’s more satisfying to follow your instincts. Having said that, Take My Breath Away was murder to write! It went through several different incarnations over the course of two and a half years. The published version is little more than half the length of the original and the constant revision and cutting was pretty painful at the time. That’ll teach me! But I was happy with the final result. And with the reviews, sales and the fact that it rapidly went into fresh editions.

Ayo: Have you any plans to write another standalone novel?
Martin: More than that, I’m just putting the finishing touches to Dancing for the Hangman, which is a novel telling the story of Dr Crippen’s life, from his point of view. It’s been tremendous fun to research and also to write, perhaps the book I’m proudest of so far. Again, it’s totally different from the rest of my work, but the pleasure it’s given me makes me think that, even though it’s commercially risky and sometimes arduous, a writer gains immeasurably from trying something fresh.

Ayo: We have so many brilliant crime writers around at the moment that one would think that we have an overcrowded market. What are your thoughts on the state of crime writing in the UK today?
Martin: Just before Christmas, a wonderful crime editor took me out to lunch, Hilary Hale of Time Warner/Little, Brown. I’m working with her on an anthology to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the CWA. I asked her about the state of the market And she said it was difficult. Then I came across a letter from the publishers who accepted my first novel back in 1990. They said the market was difficult too! So – the more things change, the more they stay the same. The very first CWA anthology back in the 50s lamented the lack of decent markets for short stories, just as we do today. It’s tough for first time writers, but just as much so for mid-list writers, who are regularly dropped by their publishers, despite achieving critical acclaim and decent sales. But ‘Murder Squad’, and the other collectives of crime writers, which have followed our lead, are valuable; it’s good to be reminded that the challenges are universal, shared by all one’s colleagues. And to remember that the challenges can be overcome. Especially if one is prepared to take a few risks as a writer.

Ayo: Part and parcel of being a crime writer is the camaraderie that goes along with it. Do you enjoy attending conferences and book signings?
Martin: Absolutely love them. I’m not normally a very sociable character – there are only so many lawyers’ gatherings one can gladly attend in a single lifetime, that’s for sure. But I find the company of crime writers, and crime readers, uniquely appealing. Something to do with a shared bond, perhaps, maybe a bit of a support network (often supported by the bar as well, of course!) So many of my closest friends nowadays are writers and readers that I can honestly say that becoming part of the community has changed my life. Emphatically for the better.

Ayo: What part of the whole writing experience do you enjoy the most?
Martin: I’m tempted to say – finishing the book. The truth is more complicated. With the Crippen novel, I’ve really loved developing the black humour in a true-life story, researching and respecting the proven facts but trying to convey something of the man’s character, exploring the gap between his view of the world and everyone else’s. All books are hard to write, but some are more rewarding than others. I enjoy tossing around ideas for a new novel – but I’ll be lucky e hard to write, but some are more rewarding than others. I enjoy tossing around ideas for a new novel – but I’ll be lucky anything as enthralling to me as the Crippen concept. Yet when my agent suggested the idea to me originally (because there’s a character in Take My Breath Away who has written a non-fiction book about the Crippen case) I thought it was a daft idea. A good job I changed my mind!

Ayo: What is your biggest distraction when you are writing?
Martin: I have two children, aged 9 and 12, both of whom are themselves fanatical writers and readers; I’m pleased to say. They distract me a lot, but I’m very glad, and very very lucky, that they do.

Ayo: What are you working on now?
Martin: Apart from Dancing for the Hangman, a story about Charles Dickens for an anthology edited by Anne Perry, another Sherlockian pastiche for an American magazine, and the introductions to a couple of CWA anthologies.

Ayo: What do you enjoy doing the most when you are not writing?
Martin: Apart from time spent with family and friends, I’m keen on music, films and theatre, cricket and soccer. And – of course – reading and collecting books.

Ayo: Is there any chance that we might see any of the Harry Devlin stories on television?
Martin: The books have been optioned for television several times. I now possess scripts for radio, television and even a feature film based on Harry Devlin. All written by specialist scriptwriters, all of them as yet unmade. A frustrating but typical scenario. Currently I’m in negotiation with an actor whose company wants to buy the books. A few days ago I saw him at the theatre in a play that he’s touring– the first time I’ve seen him acting live. I think he’d make a good Harry Devlin – but I’ve learned that so much with TV depends on the luck of the draw.

Ayo: If you were allowed to invite 10 people around for dinner, which 5 crime writers (dead or alive) would you invite and which characters would you invite and why?
Martin: Reg Hill, Robert Barnard and Peter Lovesey for their wit, erudition and friendship. Agatha Christie because she was a modest genius. Dorothy L. Sayers because she was so complex and fascinating. Sherlock Holmes because he knew everything (except for the composition of the Solar System, if Watson is to be believed). Harriet Vane because she was the sexy version of Sayers. Inspector Morse because it would be interesting to see him chatting up Harriet. Cordelia Gray because she’s so nice. And Sarah Caudwell’s Julia Larwood, because a ‘nubile tax barrister’ really cannot be overlooked. But - if you ask me again tomorrow, I guess I’ll give you 10 completely different names!

Our thanks to Matin for taking the time out to talk to us.

Selected Books by Martin Edwards

All The Lonely People
I Remember You
Yesterday’s Papers
Eve of Destruction
The Devil in Disguise
First Cut is the Deepest
Take my Breathe Away. (Non- Harry Delvin)