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When I began to write seriously, 40 years ago now, my chosen form was the novel.

I think I had a particular moment when I was 15 years old. I read 'Crime and Punishment,' and that book just, I think, more than any other book made me want to be a writer, 'cause it was the first time that I hadn't just entered a book, but a book had entered me.

In everything I've written, the crime has always just been an occasion to write about other things. I don't have a picture of myself as writing crime novels. I like fairly strong narratives, but it's a way of getting a plot moving.

I wasn't that into crime novels at all, but a friend introduced me to the work of Jim Thompson - I loved all his books.

The book that convinced me I wanted to be a writer was 'Crime and Punishment'. I put the thing down after reading it in a fever over two or three days... I said, 'If this is what a book can be, then that is what I want to do.'

I have been reading crime books ever since I was a child, but I had never tried to write one.

Writing novels preserves you in a state of innocence - a lot passes you by - simply because your attention is otherwise diverted.

I don't really consider myself a novelist, it just came out purely by accident.