Interview with Drew Augustine, Author of The Twenty Murders

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Twenty Murders?

I’ve been deeply concerned about the silencing of women, especially here in Scotland where our First Minister’s career ended partly as a result of the issue I surface in the book. It may also end a future UK Prime Minister’s career if his party continues to refuse to listen.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Twenty Murders, what would they be?

For Morven it would have to be “Respect” by Aretha Franklin; for Dave, “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World” by James Brown, and for Kerry, “Just a Girl” by No Doubt.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Romantic suspense is my guilty pleasure but I do enjoy a grisly crime thriller.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Val McDermid’s ‘Tartan Noir’ books, Peter May’s ‘Lewis Trilogy’, and Mo Hayder’s ‘The Treatment’.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

When Morven attends Police Scotland’s Hate Crime training session. I could just picture the seasoned officers trying to make sense of what is a deeply flawed piece of legislation.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I describe my two retrievers as my muses. The younger dog is a bloodthirsty little critter and I blame her for the gruesome murder and postmortem scenes.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

As a student, I had a Voltaire-inspired quote pinned to the wall above my desk: “I may disagree with you, but I defend to the death your right to say it.”

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

The murders, characters and location may be fictitious but the rest is based on fact, and this is the most shocking aspect of the story.

Drew Augustine is the author of the new book The Twenty Murders

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