David Peace: Crime fiction should be inspired by real world
11th February 2010
Novelist David Peace does not understand why crime authors have to turn to their imagination when writing crime fiction.
In an interview with US publishing website GalleyCat, the Red Riding author explained that he is often drawn to works which are based on historical crimes, rather than the products of a flight of fancy.
'To me there's just so much that happens in real life that we don't understand and we can't even fathom. I don't really see the point of making up crimes,' he explained.
Peace, whose works include The Damned United, told the website that the genre is the 'perfect tool' for authors and readers to safely explore why crime takes place and what motivates people to harm others.
The author also lauded US crime writer James Ellroy for pushing the boundaries of the genre and said he motivates himself by trying to craft better novels than his hero.
Last month, thriller writer Kathy Reichs maintained that her novel Devil Bones did not inspire the murder of Khusbu Shah, while giving expert advice in the trial of convicted killer Roshan Dantis at Glasgow's High Court.