Why do readers like to be frightened?

Why do readers like to be frightened? by Alex North   They say a good series detective needs a town, a city, a beat for them to walk. Rebus has Edinburgh, Morse has Oxford, and so on. But another way of looking at it might be that every place needs a detective. Bradford is an […]

What’s the scariest thing that happened to Ruth Ware?

What’s the scariest thing that happened to Ruth Ware? by Alex North     Ruth Ware began her writing career with a series of young adult fantasy novels, before moving on to the gripping, uneasy psychological thrillers that have made her an international bestseller. Her ingenious plots frequently play out in closed and claustrophobic settings, […]

Why So Much Suspicion of Psychology in Thrillers?

“Were You Scared of the Dark?”

“Were You Scared of the Dark?” Alex North Explores the pathology of fear with Steve Cavanagh   Anybody who’s met Steve Cavanagh will tell you the same: it’s difficult to imagine him being frightened of anything. Steve has worked both as a bouncer in Belfast and as a highly-respected human rights lawyer, and he’s the […]