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Mark Billingham has just been received the Crime Writers Association’s Diamond Dagger - perhaps the biggest prize in the genre.

In this wide-ranging interview he tells me about his a near-attack whoel walking his dog inspired his latest DS Declan Miller novel, The Shadow Step.

Mark describes why he believes humour and serious storytelling belong together, and how the irreverent detective DS Miller has given him a fresh creative freedom after more than two decades writing the Tom Thorne series.

We also discuss his journey from actor and comedian to one of Britain’s most successful crime novelists, his instinctive approach to plotting (or not plotting), the influence of real crimes on his work, and the advice he’d give to aspiring writers.

A funny, thoughtful and fascinating conversation with one of the masters of modern crime writing.

You can find out more about Mark, his new releases and his extensive back-catalogue here:

https://markbillingham.com/

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