Patricia Highsmith's Gift for Killing

Here's a little feature I wrote for Virago's blog to celebrate the publication of their latest re-issues of Highsmith's novels.

Highsmith wrestled the descriptive ‘psychological’ from the broader tag of ‘crime fiction’ and for that we owe her a debt.

The new books, with beautiful new covers, are published tomorrow. The Two Faces of January is more complex and insidious than the film with Oscar Isaac. This Sweet Sickness is her most existential work. People Who Knock on the Door strips the pious veneer from suburban America.

All three are brilliant and brittle as only Highsmith's books can be. If you think heartsick unreliable narrators are a recent invention, you should and must read her.

Tweet

Someone Else's Skin FREE from iBooks UK

My debut, Someone Else's Skin, is free this Bank Holiday as part of iBooks UK 'Discover Authors' initiative. They don't pick many authors to be in these features so I'm excited to be part of it. Here's what they say:

"With competition so fierce, crime fiction can be a tough genre to crack. But British author Sarah Hilary has a gift for writing about startlingly dark subject matter with skillful subtlety. Her first three thrillers introduce us to London-based D.I. Marnie Rome: a tough, captivating protagonist. In Someone Else’s Skin, Rome investigates a women’s refuge and unearths a lurid web of violence. Soon, the detective’s own macabre backstory weaves its way into a devastating tale."

You can download Someone Else's Skin for FREE, and also get No Other Darkness for the special price of £1.99.

Click here to download. 

Tweet

Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival : Creative Thursday

This is going to great fun. With one of my favourite writers, up in Harrogate on 21st July where we'll be running a workshop about writing psychological thrillers. Part of a day of events designed to help aspiring writers. If you fit the bill, do come. Here’s the lowdown:

How To Write a WhyDunnit: The psychological thriller is nothing new, although its popularity is soaring. But what elements distinguish a “WhyDunnit” within the broad and varied world of crime fiction? And how do you go about writing a successful thriller where the focus is on drama rather than punishment, and where the culprits and victims take centre stage? Award-winning writers Sarah Hilary and Alex Marwood talk you through the basics from their very different perspectives. Expect insider secrets, and tips on getting published.

Tweet

Win CrimeFest tickets and signed copies of my Marnie Rome books

Two weekend passes plus £50 travel expenses to CrimeFest in Bristol, 19-22 May, are up for grabs over at Crime Files. Just enter your name and email to be in with a chance of winning.

Ian Rankin, Peter James, Sophie Hannah (and more) will be at CrimeFest 2016.

I'll be meeting up with the winner and signing the books in person.

Enter here

Tweet

Tastes Like Fear is Lovereading's ebook of the Month

And I'm delighted! You can read reviews, download an extract, discuss the book on Facebook and, of course, buy it. All here.

Tweet

Tastes Like Fear - read an extract on the WHS blog

Yesterday was the launch of Tastes Like Fear, and my favourite book launch yet. In the lovely Toppings in Bath, with friends and family, answering questions about Marnie and signing a mountain of books. If you're buying a copy, do buy one of the cellophane wrapped, special signed first editions in stock at Toppings now.

Thank you to everyone who came last night, and those who tweeted, and sent message of congratulations and support. It was the loveliest evening in a very long time. And today I wake up to this exclusive extract over on the WHSmith blog, complete with banner and pull-out quotes and an intro that makes me blush.

Ah, WHSmith's! The hours I spent in there as a kid, breathing in that unique paper-glue-carpet scent that still greets you whenever you step inside a Smith's store, choosing the new pencil case for the start of a new school term, buying Malory Towers books in the summer holidays ... I want to wave back down the years to my 8-year-old self and smile hugely.

Read the extract on WHS blog

Tweet

Interview for the Bath Short Story Award

It was good fun to talk about writing, Marnie Rome, short stories and more with the Bath Short Story Award crowd.

The result is a terrific chinwag with links to all sorts of other things like my interview with Ian Rankin, and my advice on writing winning short stories.

Interview here

Tweet