Tell me about your latest book and why we should read it?
My debut is called Sweet Little Lies and it won the Richard & Judy Search for a Bestseller competition. It tells the story of DC Cat Kinsella, a young detective with the Met, who believes that her father might be involved in the murder she’s investigating. You should read Sweet Little Lies because Lynda La Plante and Marian Keyes told you to. Take their word, not mine!
If someone was to write your life story what would the title be?
One for the Road, simply because I’m known as ‘One-for-the-Road Frear’ based on my inability to leave a party. Actually, that’s not strictly true, I used to be known as that. I’m a total lightweight these days but as it stuck for a good fifteen years and it sounds like a good biography title, I’ll go with that!
What’s the strangest fan question or request you’ve received?
As a newbie, I’m still in the phase of thinking everything is strange (in a completely lovely way!) The idea that people are taking time to write reviews, discuss, get excited about people I completely made up is the most delightfully strange thing of all. Looking forward to my first ‘WTF?’ fan moment though!
If you could co-write with anyone in the world (alive or dead) who would it be?
Tana French, because she’s a master at everything I’m not so it’d be a great learning experience. Also, as I’m assuming I’d have to go to her as she’d be unlikely to come to me, it means I’d get to spend lots of time Dublin which would be a damn fine perk.
Tell me something nobody else knows (yet!).
I’m sat across from my husband ordering loads of stuff on ASOS while he thinks I’m browsing bathroom taps.
Finally please recommend 3 books that you have recently read and tell me why you’ve chosen these.
Rattle – Fiona Cummins. Because it just felt so fresh and so different. Can’t really think what I’d compare it to and that’s a rare thing. And because the ending had me wringing my hands (also a rare thing as the temptation to tie things up in a neat bow is all too common)
A Kind Worth Killing – Peter Swanson. Because it evokes all kind of uncomfortable emotions! Through exceptional characterisation, Peter Swanson somehow manages to make you TOTALLY root for two people planning to do a despicable thing.
Two Caravans – Marina Lewycka. I’m about five years late to the party but I absolutely loved this. I love anything that finds huge amounts of humour in quite desperate situations.
Who is Caz Frear?
Caz Frear grew up in Coventry and spent her teenage years dreaming of moving to London and writing a novel. After fulfilling her first dream, it wasn’t until she moved back to Coventry thirteen years later that the writing dream finally came true. She has a first-class degree in History & Politics, which she’s put to enormous use over the years by working as a waitress, shop assistant, retail merchandiser and, for the past twelve years, a headhunter. When she’s not agonising over snappy dialogue or incisive prose, she can be found shouting at the TV when Arsenal are playing or holding court in the pub on topics she knows nothing about.
