Tell me about your latest book and why we should read it?
29 Seconds is an addictive psychological thriller in the style of my debut, Lies, which came out last year and was the no.3 fiction bestseller on Amazon for 2017. The story follows Sarah Haywood, who finds herself in an impossible situation at work: sexually harassed and bullied by her boss, he makes it quite clear that he can destroy her career – unless she gives him what he wants. She’s trapped. But all that changes when she receives an offer that could turn her life around and make her problems disappear. An offer of help from a powerful stranger – no consequences, no comeback. No chance of being found out. All it takes is one phone call…
If someone was to write your life story what would the title be?
‘Just Get On With It.’ (I’m a bit of a procrastinator, hence not being able to get published until my mid-40s)
What’s the strangest fan question or request you’ve received?
I had quite a strange one recently – a handwritten letter with a blank self-addressed Christmas card inside it, redirected to me via my publisher. The letter was two pages of spidery handwriting, and initially I thought I had my first stalker. But it turned out to be from an elderly lady who lives in my town – she had read Lies and loved it, and wanted a signed copy to put in her daughter’s Christmas stocking. And could I also send her a Christmas card? It was actually quite sweet. But also a bit strange at the time.
If you could co-write with anyone in the world (alive or dead) who would it be?
Harlan Coben – king of the standalone thriller. I remember reading him for the first time – Tell No-One – and it absolutely blew me away. Can I have more than one? OK then also Gillian Flynn, who is just brilliant. Or Tana French, because I’m just in awe of her ability. And Stephen King, of course.
Tell me something nobody else knows about you (yet!).
I’m the youngest of three boys and was my mum’s last go at having a girl, and consequently there are family photos of me at three months or so wearing a dress. Fortunately my brothers never ribbed me mercilessly about this. Oh no. Not at all (only for the first 25 years or so).
Finally please recommend 3 books that you have recently read and tell me why you’ve chosen these.
The Dry by Jane Harper – because it’s as good as everyone says it is. Fantastic prose, brilliant setting, great mystery. Deserves every award it gets.
Her Every Fear by Peter Swanson – because it’s creepy, claustrophobic and downright compelling (his previous two are also fab). Can’t wait to see what he does next.
Defender by GX Todd – because I can’t remember reading a book as fast as this one. Great, gripping, dystopian thriller with characters that jump off the page.
Who is TM Logan? TM Logan was born in Berkshire to an English father and a German mother. He studied at Queen Mary and Cardiff universities before becoming a national newspaper journalist. He currently works in communications and lives in Nottinghamshire with his wife and two children. LIES is his first novel – published by Bonnier Zaffre in January 2017. His next thriller, 29 SECONDS, came out in January 2018.