My Life In Books ~ talking to author Sarah Hilary

My Life In Books is an occasional feature on Random Things Through My Letterbox

I've invited authors to share with us a list of books that are special to them and have made a lasting impression on their life.

I'm delighted to welcome Sarah Hilary to join me for My Life in Books on Random Things today. Someone Else's Skin (August 2014); No Other Darkness (July 2015) and Tastes Like Fear which is published today, 7 April 2016.

Sarah is the author of the DI Marnie Rome series;

I'm a huge fan of Sarah Hilary's writing and DI Rome is a real favourite of mine. I reviewed Tastes Like Fear at the end of March, here's a snippet from my review:

"Tastes Like Fear buzzes with tension, it is the sort of book that makes your jaw ache as you grind your teeth in nervous anticipation."

My Life in Books - Sarah Hilary

These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer   A gift from my mother when I was ten, I've re-read this more than any other book. 

It's sharp and funny, and was my first experience of a story with a terrific twist.

Oh, and it has cross-dressing. You can't go wrong with cross-dressing.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov   Lolita changed my life. I fell in love with its conceit and slyness.

So many people have a bad opinion of it - most particularly those who've never read it - that defending its brilliance made me realise how powerful books can be.

The Collector by John Fowles  Creepy, creepy, creepy. A masterclass in writing about the destructive power of mediocrity.

Its monster is so human; the kind of man you might every day.

It taught me that nothing beats the horror of mundanity.

Talking To The Dead by Helen Dunmore  Lyrical, disturbing, evocative - everything I want my own writing to be.

An unbeatable psychological thriller about sisters and secrets and loss.

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris  Clarice Starling is one of my favourite characters of all time.

She exemplifies the heroic - flawed and vulnerable, and so brave she makes my teeth ache.

Marnie Rome owes a big debt to my early reading of Clarice.

The Chalk Circle Man by Fred Vargas  Jean-Baptiste Adamsberg is unlike any other fictional detective. A true original, possibly the best since Sherlock Holmes.

And it's wonderful how Vargas weaves history and legend into her stories.

She reminds me how much I loved the Greek myths as a girl.

Sarah Hilary ~ April 2016

Sarah Hilary lives in Bath with her daughter, where she writes quirky copy for a well-known travel publisher. 

She's also worked as a bookseller, and with the Royal Navy. An award-winning short story writer, Sarah won the Cheshire Prize for Literature in 2012.

Find out more about Sarah Hilary by visiting her website www.sarahhilary.com

Find her Author page on Facebook

Follow her on Twitter @sarah_hilary

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