Elly Griffiths talks time-travelling detectives, the Victorian era, and the scary truth of starting a new series

Listening In is a series of author interviews, featuring authors whose works have been transformed into audiobooks! The Frozen People is the latest book by Elly Griffiths, author of the best-selling Dr. Ruth Galloway Mysteries series. The Frozen People is narrated by Julie Maisey.

Please tell us more about The Frozen People! Why will we love the audiobook?

The Frozen People starts with Ali Dawson, a cold case detective, going to work in East London. The joke amongst the team is:  their cases are so cold,  they’re frozen. But  the truth is, their cases are old because they go back in time to solve them. When the story starts, Ali is asked to travel to 1850, further than she has ever ventured before. I think you’ll love the audiobook because Julie Maisey really brings Ali to life, as well as the whole cast of characters in the past and present.  

Could you please tell us about your career as an author? What first drew you to writing?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer and wrote my first murder mystery when I was 11. I love telling stories and, when I was a bit older, entertained my school friends by writing episodes of Starsky and Hutch! I wasn’t published until much later, though, and my first four books were written under my real name, Domenica de Rosa. Then I had an idea for a crime novel about an archaeologist and was advised to change to a ‘crime name’. The Crossing Places was the first Elly Griffiths book. The Frozen People is number 32!

What first drew you to the mystery genre? 

I started reading Agatha Christie when I was about 11 and I was hooked. I love the range of characters in crime novels. Murder can happen anywhere and mystery novels can take us to new and exciting places – even back in time!

Tell us about starting a new series. What does the writing process look like? 

It’s both exciting and terrifying to start a new series. I’ve written 15 books about Ruth so now I know her pretty well. It was fun to start afresh with Ali. I don’t start with a chapter plan or timeline. My notebook is full of sketches and random ideas. I just start the book and take the story from there…

Where is your favourite place to write?

I have a writing shed in the garden. Just enough room for a desk, chair and bookcase. Oh, and a more comfortable chair for my cat, Pip.

What kind of research did you need to do for The Frozen People? What was your favourite part? 

I loved doing the research for this book. I read lots of books about the Victorian era and also reread some of my favourite Dickens, Collins and Trollope novels. My favourite bit of research was finding out about the clothes. Ali has to wear so many layers, four petticoats including one made of linen mixed with horsehair (called ‘crin au lin’ it was the forerunner of the crinoline, which came into fashion later in the decade).

Any advice for emerging writers?

Don’t worry about the plot, just start writing!

What do you do when you experience writer’s block or reader’s block?

Listen to an audiobook! Sometimes you just need to relax and let someone else do the work. If I’m stuck on a book, I write a page of dialogue. Having people tell each other the story reminds me what’s happening and why. 

What is your favourite part about having your books transformed into audiobooks? 

I love people telling me stories. My mum read to me and my sisters until we were quite grown-up. I still hear her voice in some of my favourite books. For me, audiobooks are the ultimate comfort listening. It’s very special to hear my own words read by these talented voice artists. 

Julie Maisey narrates this audiobook. Can you tell us a bit about the casting process? What made Julie the right fit? 

What made Julie the right fit? My publishers gave me a shortlist of three and I picked Julie immediately. She has the perfect voice for Ali and I knew she was versatile enough to tackle a wide range of characters.

Please recommend an audiobook you absolutely adored!

I loved Mythos, written and read by Stephen Fry. It’s a retelling of the Greek myths, starting way back with the Titans. There’s something very comforting about hearing these blood-thirsty stories told with Stephen Fry’s typical wry humour. 

What are you reading (or listening to) right now?

I’m reading a proof of Janice Hallett’s new book, The Killer Question. I love her original take on the murder mystery genre. I’m listening to The Peepshow by Kate Summerscale, narrated by Nicola Walker. It’s about the Rillington Place murders and it’s riveting.