WILLIAM SHAW chats to Paul about his new novel THE WILD SWIMMERS, music journalism, respecting the arts, CJ Sansom (RIP), Breen & Tozer, Alexandra Cupidi and unbridled wealth.

THE WILD SWIMMERS If only Alexandra Cupidi had turned south instead of north, she would have found the dead woman.
Instead it is her vulnerable daughter Zoë who stumbles across Mimi Greene's lifeless body on the shoreline. A regular wild swimmer with a group of close friends, it's out of character for Mimi to have been swimming alone, especially in bad weather. DS Cupidi starts to suspect this is more than just an accidental drowning.
Meanwhile, her friend and colleague Jill Ferriter receives a mysterious letter from a man who claims to be her father. Stephen Dowles has been in prison for the last twenty years, convicted of two brutal and senseless murders.
With Cupidi obsessed by the death of Mimi Greene, Ferriter must lean on Bill South to uncover the facts around Dowles' conviction, revisiting old colleagues and criminals.

William Shaw has been shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger, longlisted for the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year and nominated for a Barry Award. A regular at festivals, he organises panel talks and CWA events across the south east. His books include the acclaimed Breen & Tozer crime series set in sixties London, the newest series featuring DS Alexandra Cupidi, and the standalone bestseller The Birdwatcher. He worked as a journalist for over twenty years and lives in Brighton/Ireland.

Recommendations
CJ Sansom, Raymond Carver, George Eliot, George Simenon, Ann Cleeves, Elly Griffiths, Mick Herron. Neville Shute, Lisa Cutts
Nicholas Feeling, Guns Before Butter, Love in Amsterdam
Trevor Wood The Silent Killer (July)
AK Turner Dead Fall (July)

Paul Burke writes for Monocle Magazine, Crime Time, Crime Fiction Lover and the European Literature Network. He is also a CWA Historical Dagger Judge 2023. An Encyclopedia of  Spy Fiction will be out in 2025.

Music courtesy of  Guy Hale KILLING ME SOFTLY - MIKE ZITO featuring Kid Anderson. GUY HALE 

Produced by Junkyard Dog

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