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J: Your latest novel, Slipknot, is the second in a series starring coroner Martha Gunn. When you wrote River Deep, did you intend Martha to have her own series, or did she develop so much in that first novel that a series seemed inevitable?

P: When I began River Deep I knew I wanted Martha Gunn to develop into a series of around five books. I didn’t foresee it as a long series because there were obvious limitations in the fact that she was a coroner. I was going to have to extend her role to give the books some meat. Luckily for me the coroner’s role has been extended in that they can now direct police investigations.

J: The work of a coroner obviously offers plenty of scope to a crime writer, but what drew you to the idea of a coroner rather than, say, a policewoman?

P: Why a coroner? Yes, the work of a coroner offers plenty of scope. Two things happened. The one was that my husband was summoned to attend a coroner’s court as a doctor and I found the experience very traumatic, shocking and dramatic. Also I already had DI Joanna Piercy as my police inspector and I didn’t want to create another policewoman (or man!). Also writing about a coroner gave me a great chance to indulge both my interests – the crime angle plus the medical interest.

J: Slipknot explores the separation of mothers and sons: Martha’s own son is leaving home to board at a football academy, Shelley Hughes has a son in custody for the stabbing of a school bully, and you make a number of references to Wilfred Owen’s separation from his mother Susan. You have two sons of your own, so how much of your own maternal feelings and anxieties are reflected in these mothers?

P: Yes, all mothers leaving a five-year-old son (or daughter) at the school gates know the pain of separation. As do mothers leaving their children at university, waving them off on a gap year and so on. How much more poignant if you were waving your son off to war? I have to say – I worry less about my boys now they both have very balanced girlfriends!

J: School bullying seems to be getting worse these days, with children being tormented even away from school via text messages and mobile-phone photos, and children stabbing and even shooting each other. Do you feel that crime fiction has a role, perhaps even a moral duty, in exploring such issues? Or is it all about whatever serves the story and creates a gripping tale?

P: I think crime fiction is a great opportunity to switch the arc lights on social ills. One of my favourite books is Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which did this so well it was a big factor in the American Civil War. However I try to remind myself that the main duty of a crime novel is to entertain. I try to skip along this tightrope.

J: Apart from Martha’s children, are there any other characters from Slipknot you’re planning on developing through the series? And how do you feel Martha’s relationships with these characters will develop?

P: As far as characters in the Martha Gunn books I intend to develop them all – from Jericho Palfreyman to Alex Randall and Mark Sullivan, the mysterious Simon Pendlebury, Sam and Sukey, Agnetha and even Finton Cley.

J: Any plans to write more books for your other two series, featuring DI Joanna Piercy and Doctor Claire Roger?

P: I had planned to bring Dr Claire Roget (A Plea of Insanity) back but Allison & Busby didn’t want me to have three series.

J: Your ongoing experience as a professional nurse must have served you well for the four standalone medical mysteries you’ve written. Have you started planning another and, if so, can you give us a taster of what it will be about?

P: I find working as a nurse is fertile country for the medical standalones and have just had another one accepted by Allison & Busby. Working title is The Silent Tongue and it covers a vulnerable male GP, a knicker stealer, Munchausen by Proxy and a seriously damaged policeman – all set in a pretty Staffordshire town. I’ve also completed a historical mystery with an antiques background. After my son’s wedding I plan to start Grave Stones, the new Joanna Piercy novel.

J: Last time we were in touch, you were about to see your Japanese translator. Can you tell us a bit about that, and any other languages into which your novels have been translated?

P: Plea of Insanity has just come out in Japan. A Fatal Cut has also been brought by the Japanese, which is very exciting for me. I’ve also had work translated into Polish and Czech. Which just leaves all the rest of the world!

For more information about Priscilla and her novels visit