The Likely Suspects team member Bethan reveals what's top of her TBR stack and why she'd make a great detective...

What are you reading?

The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman. Catherine often gets compared to Hitchcock mainly, I think, because of her ability to subtly lay the groundwork for unique, believable, but difficult to guess, twists and how masterfully she unsettles the reader. She is an exceptional author and I am loving her latest thriller. It plays with your expectations of what is real and what is not as the heroine, Mia, navigates the glittering world of LA during pilot season. This is unfamiliar terrain for Mia, making it impossible for her to know who she can trust. Having read all of Catherine’s previous books, I know that this is a staple of her thrillers – pulling everyday people into extreme situations and seeing how they will react, how much they can take. This novel also feels timely, touching on the power imbalance that has historically existed in the acting world and how hopeful, vulnerable women can so easily and horrifically be taken advantage of. There is a cinematic quality to Catherine’s writing that forces her characters to leap off the page – and this book is blistering, twisty and immediate. I would highly recommend.

Favourite TV detective?
 

Hank Schrader. Technically not a detective, he’s a DEA agent… But Breaking Bad is one of my all-time favourite shows. I love Hank’s character arc, how you start the series actively disliking him and routing for Walter just for that to be completely flipped on its head as the show progresses. It’s quite remarkable how the creators, writers and directors were able to take that show through five series and make each of those series even stronger and more brilliant than the last. There is not one dud episode. It has such clever writing and plotting – and I ended the series a little in love with Hank!

Favourite sidekick (TV/Book/Movie)?
 

Is it a cop out to say Jesse Pinkman?! Assuming that it is, I would say Jim Hopper from Stranger Things. You could argue that he isn’t a sidekick and that show definitely isn’t crime – but who doesn’t love Hop?!

If you were a character, would you be more likely to be the detective or the criminal?
 

I read and watch so much crime, I often think I would make a pretty great detective (I’m sure real life detectives will be rolling their eyes if they’re reading this), but the elements that make someone skilled at investigating crimes would also make you skilled at committing them. You’d know what the police would be looking for. On balance, I think I’d definitely want to be solving crimes, though. I’m very clumsy which I think would be my downfall if I became a criminal. I’d be knocking things over and leaving my prints everywhere. And I reckon I’m pretty good at telling when someone is lying which would be helpful when grilling suspects. 

Book you’d kill to get back if it was stolen?
 

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. What an unbelievable book that is! Such a unique take on the crime/thriller mystery and it is executed so beautifully – I couldn’t read that book fast enough.

Which crime/thriller character would you most like to have a drink with?
 

Lisbeth Salander because she is interesting – she is so cool and aloof, part of me aspires to be like her. Although I feel like she might not be that up for socialising so I would invite Kate Fleming along, too, to lighten things up.