In the end, it was a marriage of old crime and new, driven by deep-seated issues of injustice and unfairness, that turned my self-doubt into a passion for murder mystery writing.
"It’s like a breath of fresh air to discover a lead character who is neither a disillusioned police officer or a downbeat private eye. Kent is a modern creation for a new breed of thrillers!" Susan Corcoran 9th September 2017.
From hygiene to high drama
In a crowded crime fiction market, it’s difficult to stand out.
You want to create something to grip readers from the opening paragraphs to the final chapter.
In an era where DNA profiling and CCTV dominate murder investigations, you want an ordinary person to solve complex murders.
You ponder these murderous thoughts while driving through your tranquil South Downs district. You’re on your way to a village tearoom for your second food hygiene inspection of the morning when an idea stops you in your tracks.
What if an ordinary person like you, an environment health officer, stumbled across a murder? A perfect murder, which the police believe to be an accident.
From these thoughts on a sunny morning in the tranquil South Downs, where the chink of bone China mingles with convivial conversation, a murderous plot was hatched.
“Robert Crouch has the skill of being able to make the reader a part of the story.” Beyond the Books, 24 May 2023.
A classic whodunit. A contemporary sleuth. An original investigation.
My love of Lieutenant Columbo, Inspector Morse and Miss Marple places me firmly at the cosier end of the crime fiction market.
But cosy doesn’t mean twee.
It means no graphic violence. No foul language. And no sex, as you’ll discover in this blog post.
There’s plenty of sexual tension and humour though. My sleuth, Kent Fisher, struggles with his hormones as well as some of the most twisting, complex murder mysteries I can create.
Like me, he's had a difficult childhood. Unfairness and injustice have become regular themes in the Downland Murder Mystery series, driving him to make sure good always triumphs over evil.
In the end, it was a marriage of old crime and new, driven by deep-seated issues of injustice and unfairness, that turned my self-doubt into a passion for murder mystery writing.
“The characters are what make the book so good. They are all very believable, and I instantly found myself engrossed in them and the story. It flows well, and builds nicely, with the wonderful characters interacting well to produce an Agatha Christie style ending that made me want more.” Captain David Burton, 25 August 2020.
The first novel, No Accident, was released in June 2016 by US publisher, Penmore Press.
It started a series that has now reached ten novels.
Readers and reviewers love the characters and backstory, which continue to evolve, providing a familiar and constant presence. They add another layer of conflict and challenge to the stories, along with some heart-warming, and occasional heart-stopping moments.
If you’d like to learn more, please take a look at the books.
“Robert Crouch brings these characters and the story to life with humour and warmth, frustrations and heart in your mouth moments.” Susan Hampson, January 2020.
