My first editor described Rosary Road as the best police procedural he’d ever read. Praise indeed, but I was surprised, as I never intended the novel to fall into that category. I’ve read the police manuals, and if I followed the proper approach, the outcome would be the most boring tale ever. A cast of hundreds would race down a score of blind alleys investigating then dismissing potential leads. DCI Devlin wouldn’t be allowed to abdicate responsibility to DI Ross as he does. Senior Investigating Officers seldom carry out interviews in the early part of a major case, this the responsibility of a platoon of detective constables. Mavericks who break the rules are setting up open goals for defence lawyers.
But the crime-reading public needs a hero figure who’s going to hit the streets and put his life and career on the line to ensnare the villains. So please don’t criticise us writers if we get it wrong. After all, this stuff happens in a parallel universe.
Robert Chandler 