Seven years ago, I found myself on submission, the phrase that strikes fear into every writer’s heart. I had written a crime novel with a detective called Clare Mackay and had managed to secure an agent who was busy sending my book to prospective publishers. It was an exciting but anxious time as I waited for news, so I distracted myself by writing a second book with the same detective, handy to have if a publisher asked, ‘have you written anything else?’ At the time I hoped these books might become a two, or even a three-book series.
Fast forward seven years and the tenth book, Watch Them Fall, is about to be published. How on earth did that happen? If I’d hoped for overnight success, I would be disappointed. I’d read stories of writers who’d had enthusiastic replies from publishers within an hour of reading their submission, making me believe it could happen to me. (Reader: it did not!) But I was thrilled to be offered a contract with digital first publisher, Canelo and my first book, See Them Run, came out in October 2019. There were no fireworks, no best seller chart appearances but slowly it gained traction.
As the months went on, I dreamed of bookshop and library appearances, of signing events and of, one day, seeing people read my book on trains and planes (still waiting for that one!) In February 2020 I made a trip to London to meet with my agent and publisher where I signed copies of my soon-to-be- published second book. Little did I know that was the last time I’d be promoting my books in person for quite some time. One month later we were in lockdown. Being shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year 2020 was both a thrill and a let-down. I was so happy that See Them Run had been shortlisted for a major prize but sad that the festival was unlikely to take place, in person, at least. I would miss the awards ceremony and the chance to meet so many writers who, over the years, had inspired me. The festival team did everything they could to make up for this with online activities, a short story jointly written by the shortlisted authors and festival appearances the following year, by which stage my third book, Lies to Tell, had also been published.
More contracts followed and this week I finished the first draft of book 11, to be published in 2027. It’s a privilege and a joy to be able to write what is becoming a long-running series. But let’s be honest here. There are days when the joy can be in short supply. Let me explain.
St Andrews, the setting for my books, is a beautiful university town that plays host to some ten thousand students, plus a large influx of tourists and golfers all year round. It’s a diverse population with the potential for a variety of crimes. So far, so good. But it’s also a fairly small town, geographically. Putting it frankly, I’m running out of places to leave bodies!
For the planned three-book series, this wouldn’t have been a problem. But as I wrap up book eleven and my thoughts turn to book twelve, I start to wonder where the next lot of crimes could take place. Where will my victims live? Where will the clues be found? And then there's the murders themselves. When you’ve shot, stabbed, garrotted, poisoned and bludgeoned victims to death, there’s little left in a murderer’s armoury.
The starting point is usually what do I want to write about? When I was planning Watch Them Fall, I knew I wanted to explore the problem of housing in an expensive town like St Andrews. Sound riveting, eh?! But throw in a body floating in the harbour, a protest march that threatens to get out of hand and a burglary where nothing is taken, and Clare is pushed to the very limit of her powers.
And what of Clare? And Chris, her Wagon Wheel-loving sergeant? Over the course of ten books, they’ve become old friends to me as they progress in their personal and professional lives. Clare has acquired one dog, given two boyfriends the boot and (so far) has settled happily with the third. She continues to drink too much red wine, is domestically challenged (putting it politely) but remains fiercely loyal to her team and to the town that has become her adopted home. My affection for the detectives is undimmed but my favourite character – the only one I guarantee never to kill – is Clare’s badly-behaved dog, Benjy. He even has his own page on my website where you can see what he’s been up to. For the record, many of Benjy’s exploits are based on those of our family dog who takes ‘interesting behaviour’ to a whole new level.
What I love most of all is the way readers have taken Clare & co to their hearts. Last week a lady told me she’d made a traybake mentioned in one of the books and it’s now her favourite thing to bake. Some tell me they know exactly where Clare lives, what she looks like while others speculate about her having a baby. For readers to be so engaged, ten books on, is all the thanks I need to keep writing the series, and I hope to keep Clare busy with murder and mayhem for many years to come.
Watch Them Fall by Marion Todd (Canelo) Out Now
DI Clare Mackay is looking for danger in the wrong places. A body is hauled out of St Andrews harbour. This was no accident – DI Clare Mackay and her team have a murder investigation on their hands. Superintendent Penny Meakin is more focused on a break in at the salubrious home of local property developers. Many residents of the town oppose their plans for a new housing estate, and Penny insists that this controversy was a motive for the crime. Clare sees no evidence of this, but what is she overlooking? When another death occurs and links are found to the first victim, the intensity on all sides ramps up. Stretched to the absolute limit, how much strain can Clare’s officers take before something breaks, never to be repaired…
More information on Marion Todd and her books can e found on her website. She can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and TikTok @mariontoddwriter and on X @MarionETodd
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