NEW AUTHOR PROFILE
Kate Bendelow
Adrian Magson talks to the police officer and new novelist, whose lead character is a Scene of Crime Officer, just like she is
Adrian Magson
It’s unlikely that Kate Bendelow, whose Definitely Dead is published by Bloodhound Books in May, is likely to run short of insider knowledge for her planned trilogy of crime novels. As a SOCO (scene of crime officer) in Greater Manchester, she has plenty of material with which to arm herself.
‘Many years ago,’ says Kate, ‘I had the pleasure of meeting Lynda La Plante. During a conversation she asked why I didn’t write about my day job. My husband had suggested this previously, but I always thought it was too much of a cliché. I then realised there were very few protagonists out there who were a SOCO/CSI. On the train home from London that day, Maya Barton was born. Having had the pleasure of advising so many crime writers over the years, I’ve realised how people are fascinated with what goes on behind the crime scene tape, so what a great way to give an insight into my role by creating a fictional character doing my job.’