QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS WITH MAX MANNING

Could you briefly introduce yourself?!

am a former journalist who started as a crime reporter on local newspapers in Essex before moving on to work for several national newspapers. I always harboured an ambition to write novels but could never get around to attempting it until I stopped writing for newspapers.

What kind of thrillers do you love?

Stories that entertain, keep you guessing and make you think about human nature. When I really want to relax, I like to read historical thrillers.

What are you currently reading?

Right now, I am re-reading Brighton Rock, by Graham Greene. The first line is so sinister and powerful, I think it’s one of the best opening sentences in crime fiction.

Describe your series in three words.

Suspenseful. Absorbing. Twisty.

Who would you pick to play the main characters from your series?

James Norton, star of the TV series Grantchester, and Jasmine Jobson, who is brilliant in Top Boy.

What’s the most interesting thing you had to research for this series?

The dark side of human nature and the psychology of killers. It’s a fascinating field.