Cara Hunter is the author of the Sunday Times bestselling crime novels Close to Home, In the Dark, No Way Out and All the Rage, all featuring DI Adam Fawley and his Oxford-based police team. Close to Home was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick, was shortlisted for Crime Book of the Year in the British Book Awards 2019 and No Way Out was selected by the Sunday Times as one of the 100 best crime novels since 1945. Cara’s novels have sold more than a million copies worldwide. Cara Hunter lives in Oxford, on a street not unlike those featured in her books.
1. Tell me about your latest book and why we should read it?
It’s called Hope to Die, and it draws on an extraordinary real-life crime from Australia. As to why you should read it, I think it may be the best Fawley yet!
2. If a film was being made about your life, who would you want to play you?
Golly that’s a tough one! Dream choice would be Cate Blanchett but she’s actually way too beautiful!
3. If I could grant you 1 wish, what would it be?
To see the books on TV!
4. When was the last time you Googled yourself and what did you find?
I never google myself….
5. If you could host a literary dinner party, which 5 authors (dead or alive) would you invite and what food would you serve?
The only living one would be AS Byatt – Still Life is one of my all-time favourite books. The others would be Lord Byron (for glamour), Samuel Taylor Coleridge (for wit), JRR Tolkien (my fangirl moment), and Agatha Christie (for shoptalk). And it would have to be lobster and champagne!
6. Finally, please recommend 3 books that you’ve recently read and tell me why you’ve chosen them.
I’ve just finished Nicci French’s new one, The Favour, which is as good as hers always are (she’s been a go-to crime writer for me ever since The Memory Game).
I also really enjoyed David Collins’ true crime book The Hunt for the Silver Killer – I’m a big true crime fan and this is fascinating and very well written.
The third is The Locked Attic, which is coming from BP Walter. A really clever and compelling domestic noir.
