Points: 0
'I'm an accidental author - I never intended for my work to be published'
Where did the inspiration for The Stranger at the Wedding come from?
Without wishing to give too much away, many years ago I stumbled across a thoroughly harrowing Guardian Long Read about a true crime case that had haunted Germany. The image of the victim's traumatic demise stayed with me, and inspired the finale of The Stranger... Once I had that initial brainwave, I worked backwards, then forwards again, until I had some semblance of a novel. Weddings are events of such heightened tension - harried brides, nervous groomsmen and emotional guests - that it struck me as the perfect setting for a thriller.
Revisiting? Don't forget to sign in!
'One of my many theories about short stories is that their titles and first lines ought to be memorable, because if not memorable they will not be remembered, and if not remembered the stories will not be reprinted (because no one can find them).'