The UK Through the Eyes of a Crime Writer: An Interview with Gillian McAllister

Can you tell us how the location in your new book contributes to the atmosphere and mystery of the plot?

Definitely – I had in mind that this book began with a big breaking news story, and I always wanted that to be in Central London, in all its bold and newsworthy glory. Some of my novels are more remote, and some are more city-ish, and I love the different vibes of diving into each of them.

Are there any specific places in the UK that helped shape the settings or mood in this novel or your previous works?

Famous Last Words is set almost entirely in London, though there are two scenes in Dungeness. I love the eeriness of that seascape, the futuristic power plant and the harsh dry environment. My previous novel, Just Another Missing Person, is set in a little beach-side house in Portishead that collects sand its windowsills, and I loved that one too.

The UK is known for its countryside, coastlines and cityscapes – do you have a favourite type of setting to use in your novels?

Variety is everything for me! I’ve never used the exact same setting twice. I’m particularly interested in people’s houses; they make up our every day, and I always try to make them interesting.

Which UK cities or towns do you think would make perfect settings for a future crime novel and why?

I’m brewing up a novel idea at the moment, and I’m thinking of a very remote setting! The isolated island is very in fashion in crime fiction right now, and I can see why. 

Many of your books feature suburban or small-town settings. How do you think the isolation or close-knit nature of smaller UK communities impacts your writing?

I think people are naturally curious about who they’re spending their time with, especially unintentionally; their colleagues, their neighbours, people they pass by on the street… I’m always drawn to these stories that exist right on the edge of where we’re comfortable.

How much research do you do into the locations you write about? 

I mostly just visit, and try to talk to locals. I often make friends with someone from there and email them constantly throughout the year that I’m writing. But really just breathing in the air, seeing the sights and smells, the things they do differently from where I live; that’s the stuff that makes it into the book.

Do you have any favourite UK locations that you like to visit for relaxation or inspiration?

I honeymooned in Dungeness, so it will always have a special place in my heart!