Harrow crime writer triumphs with second book and award shortlist (From Harrow Times)

Harrow crime writer triumphs with second book and award shortlist

11:08am Tuesday 24th August 2010 in

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Crime writing is a highly competitive genre, so having your debut book shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association New Blood Dagger Award for Best First Novel is something of an achievement. Now Harrow author Leigh Russell is on to her second book and has already gleaned favourable reviews in The Times, which calls it ‘well-written, soundly plotted and psychologically acute’ and The New York Journal of Books says it’s ‘a gripping, fast-paced read, pulling you in from the very first tense page and keeping you captivated right to the end with its refreshingly compelling and original narrative’.

I am privileged enough to have read both Cut Short and its sequel Road Closed and was struck from the start by how Leigh’s prose flows effortlessly and how well-drawn her characters are. I wouldn’t even say crime fiction is my number one genre but there’s something compelling about her work.

Leigh has lived in Harrow for the past 20 years and has spent 17 of these teaching English to secondary school students at Aldenham School. As well as teaching, Leigh is a regular visitor to Watford Writers Circle and she puts in plenty of hours at book groups and libraries and is “passionate about supporting bookshops”.

For Leigh it’s not just about promoting her books but giving something back to the reader.

I worry we’re losing a lot of this face to face contact. Chatting to authors is something readers can’t get online

Leigh Russell

“It’s so important to get out and meet people,” says Leigh. “I worry we’re losing a lot of this face to face contact. Chatting to authors is something readers can’t get online.”

A fast writer, Leigh has already finished, book three, Dead End, and she has many future titles in mind, all featuring her uncompromising heroine, Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel.

“A lot of authors plot the story arc of their main characters and know the journey they’re going on, but when I wrote Cut Short I didn’t know it was going to be part of a series. I’m not quite sure where Geraldine is going to go to. I’ve got lots of ideas and have the final scene of book 20 in my mind but as for the journey, we’re going on that with her.”

Road Closed is a little more brutal than the first book, I ask Leigh if she’s looking to make her stories darker?

“The characters are perhaps a bit more brutal but I’m not inspired by scenes of violence. Modern crime fiction is verging on horror with authors vying with each other to be more brutal and violent, but I’m not interested in that route, I’m interested in the characters and what motivates them.”

Leigh will be at Waterstone’s in Hemel Hempstead on September 25 and Watford on October 6 and is appearing at the Chorleywood Festival on November 18. Details: www.noexit.co.uk/roadclosed