We caught up with bestselling New Zealand authors Gareth and Louise Ward about their new book, The Bookshop Detectives.
Tell us about The Bookshop Detectives.
The story orbits the fictional bookshop of Sherlock Tomes in real-life Havelock North. Its proprietors, Garth and Eloise Sherlock are ex-UK coppers. While planning the stressful book launch of an international bestselling author, they find a package left for them, containing a plea to investigate a cold case. This leads to mayhem, danger and many comedic moments.
What draws you to the cosy crime genre?
It has all the elements of a bloody good yarn – a mystery, clues, danger and adventure – whilst keeping the worst of the nastiness off the page. It’s fabulous to write as there are so many opportunities to create entertaining characters.
How did you first come up with the idea for The Bookshop Detectives?
We like to have at least one new adventure a year, and during our 1 January 2023 planning meeting, we started throwing around ideas about something we could write together.
What do we know about? Books and policing. And The Bookshop Detectives was born.
How have your lives inspired the book?
We met at police training college in the early nineties and have been joined at the hip ever since, seeking out new experiences and living life on the hoof.
Garth and Eloise have had many of the experiences we’ve had, and owning a bookshop throws you in the way of the most wonderful, eccentric and smart people in the world. Most of the story is made up, but its heart is alive and beating in the middle of Havelock North.
What was your writing process like? How did you collaborate while writing The Bookshop Detectives?
Gareth would write from Garth’s point of view and Louise from Eloise’s. We would then offer feedback on each other’s chapters.
How much of the plot did you plan? Did let the book take you where it wanted to go, or did you know the full story before you began writing?
We’re both planners but in different ways.
We sat down to plot the story – Gareth on a spreadsheet, Louise with paper and coloured pens – and then launched in. We knew what needed to happen in each chapter, but of course, this changed as the characters developed – or when one of us had a better idea.
Where is your favourite place to write, and why?
Louise: I don’t really mind where I am. More important to me is how I am. I have to schedule a good chunk of time –several uninterrupted hours – so that I can continue with a train of thought or take a deep mental dive into what’s happening in the plot.
Gareth and Stevie: On the bed with Stevie (our lovely rescue dog) curled up beside me.
Who is your favourite fictional detective?
Louise: Tricky question! I love Michael Bennett’s Hana Westerman: conflicted, resolute and tenacious.
Gareth: I’ve just read The Tea Ladies mysteries by Amanda Hampson, and super-sleuth/tea-lady Hazel is an adorable character.
What fictional world would you want to live in, and how would you survive or thrive there?
Louise: I’m quite drawn to Cooper’s Chase from The Thursday Murder Club series even though I’m still a bit young for it. The community is close, with all the opportunities for friendship and enmity that make life worth living. Plus, the residents’ get-togethers sound like right old knees-ups. Also, Bogdan can get you whatever you want, so.
Gareth: I want to live in Terry Pratchett’s great cities of Ankh-Morpork. Obviously, I would be an exceptionally talented Wizard and would thrive at the Unseen University.
What's the weirdest talent or skill you have that not many people know about?
Louise: I’m a fiddle player in a couple of bands and have recently learnt how to fold our instrument cables in such a way so that, instead of the age-old problem of fairy light-esque tangles, they fall in a perfect slither and are ready to go whenever you need them.
Gareth: I am a hypnotist. Take a deep breath, relax, and realise now how much better your life will be when you read a copy of The Bookshop Detectives: Dead Girl Gone.
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