Interview with Michael K Foster, Author of The Poacher’s Pocket

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Poacher’s Pocket?

The main reason for writing the new book was panic. I hadn’t written a full-scale novel since before lockdown in 2019. Apart from a novella involving Jack Mason’s early life in London’s East End, which was released in 2020. I needed another book out there, and fast.

In 2017 four men were arrested in Spain in connection with a massive diamond heist which had taken place at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport in 2005. I was a magistrate at the time and remember the case well. It happened in February 2005 when armed robbers dressed as KLM staff hijacked an armed car in a secure area. Driving up to a Lufthansa jet the gang stole $72M’s worth of uncut diamonds. Only part of the haul has ever been recovered, and even today $43M is still missing. After the gang’s mastermind died before he was brought to trial, I felt there was a story there.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Poacher’s Pocket, what would they be?

Jack Mason always hates listening to piped religious music at funerals. He thought they invaded his privacy. He’d often wondered what kind of music they’d play at his final send-off. Something livelier, he hoped. Maybe Iron Maiden or Guns N’ Roses.

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

Crime thrillers.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

The Dark Remains by Ian Rankin.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

A fellow police officer has gone missing. Fearing the officer has fallen foul to a dangerous diamond smuggling organization, Mason and the team must enter the dark criminal underbelly of Amsterdam’s notorious red light district.

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

Waking up in the middle of the night and writing down my ideas.

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

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.

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

They enjoyed the ride.

Michael K Foster is the author of the new book The Poacher’s Pocket

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