A Necessary Murder author Q&A

Critic and photographer Tina Pugh talks to Neil Bailey about A Necessary Murder

Warning: contains spoilers

Tina Pugh: Did you find it easy to write a “whodunnit” with a twist?

Neil Bailey: I wanted to write a whodunnit but didn’t want the usual genre convention of a detective - that’s been done so well by so many writers who are better than me I saw little point in me just repeating the formula. Having two warring sisters as an unlikely detective team gave it enough of a twist to make the writing feel more original.

The twist at the end was an idea I had after I realised that the planned revelation that Jack was the killer was too obvious and I needed something that nobody would see coming. My early readers are good at spotting a twist before it’s exposed but I think I surprised them with the final chapter. 

Tina: How did the story evolve from your initial idea?

Neil: This story started life as a very different book called The Ghost’s Story. It had a similar story and most of these characters but it was told by Alex’s ghost. After writing over 400 pages I realised that my attempt to infuse a whodunnit with a supernatural element wasn’t working and when a friend told me about the similarity of what I’d written to the plot of the movie Ghost (which I’d not seen) I realised I needed a different approach. The opening is the only piece left from my original effort.

Tina: There are some quirky characters in this book. Where did you get your ideas from and did you base characteristics on people you know?

Neil: For me, the story comes first then I populate it with the characters I need to tell the story.

Some character traits are from people I’ve met but I don’t think I’ve ever created a character based entirely on a real person.

Tina: How did you develop your characters?

Neil: They often develop themselves. For example, Rosie began with my realisation that Jo needed someone to talk to otherwise there was too much going on in her head. Giving her a best friend would have been an obvious answer but I liked the idea that she had a sister she didn’t get on with who is determined to ‘help’. After a few chapters I started to ask myself questions about their relationship - why don’t they get on? How did they fall out? Why does Rosie appear so keen to see Jo? Initially the story required a character, then that character fed the story’s development.

Tina: Who is your favourite character and why?

Neil: Rosie. I needed a character who would act as an emotional support for Jo and decided I could create this unlikely team with two sisters who really don’t get along. I liked the idea that Rosie would say she was helping Jo in her hour of need but actually was proving more a hindrance than a help, especially when she met up with her old flame Jack. She’s also unpredictable, which made Jo more of a reliable anchor for the story. Rosie was fun to write, too - she doesn’t say much at times but still makes her opinions obvious. She felt very real to me. 

Tina: Given that, I expect most readers will be surprised at the fate of Rosie. Were you intentionally looking for a shock element in this story?

Neil: Kind of. Ideally I wanted an ‘OMG’ moment that would keep the pages turning as the story reaches its climax, what thriller writers refer to as a ‘ticking clock’. Having Rosie’s fate unclear until the final pages hopefully works to that effect. I wrote an alternative ending but the published one works best for me, even if it might upset a few readers!

Tina: How do you determine a piece of writing is good?

Neil: I’m not the best judge of what’s good in my work. I’ve worked closer with my editor on this book than the previous ones and that’s hopefully raised my game. Feedback from readers is also critical.

Tina: Do you find it easier to start a book or conclude the story?

Neil: It’s easier to start as I can take a story and characters anywhere without having to worry too much about the consequences. But by the time I’m writing the conclusion it’s a bit like herding cats, trying to make sure all of the various plot lines are resolved and any loose ends have been successfully tied up. It all must make sense, too: that’s especially true with a whodunnit. 

Tina: If you had to describe Jo in three words, what would those three words be?

Neil: Her character evolves as the story progresses, so she starts confused, then is sad, and finally is determined. If I may add a fourth, I’d say she is terrified in the finale!

Tina: Part of the story is set in Dorset. Any reason why you chose this location?

Neil: A few years ago we were on holiday in a small Dorset village and I realised one evening that the place was completely deserted - we were there off season, it was mostly holiday lets or second homes and no-one was around. The perfect setting for a murder, I thought. Better to write one than commit one though!

Tina: Can you give us some insight into what makes Jack tick?

Neil: He’s a drunk, self-centred thug but I hope the reader has some sympathy for him by the end. I wrote an extensive backstory for Jack but most of it hasn’t made the final version as I wanted to make him unpredictable. He’s not a good guy but he’s not out-and-out bad one either, and what he ultimately does to protect his brother (and eliminate his rival in Ash’s gang) maybe casts him in a different light

Tina: Are you working on anything else at present you would like to share with your readers?

Neil: I’m writing some short stories at the moment and a few people have asked me to write another in the Barclay & MacDonald series. I have a few ideas where that might go but we’ll see.