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One of the highlights of this years’ Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, was attending the launch of Alex Hawley’s first book: Two Writers, One Story. My Life Through Crime, co-written with Rob Parker.
Full disclosure. I have known Alex for several years and consider him a friend. We’ve socialised at Harrogate for years, he has reviewed all of the audio versions of my DCI Warren Jones novels, and he has interviewed me several times, both alone and alongside my audiobook narrator, Malk Williams.
However, like all the books featured on this page, it has earned its place through merit.
This book is unique. In many ways a memoir of Alex’s remarkable life, it is so much more. The book is divided into several sections, each tackling a different theme. Each section has an author interview, followed by an interview of Alex by his co-writer Rob Parker, and is then concluded by some of Alex’s original short fiction.
First the author interviews. Alex has interviewed literally hundreds of writers, from some of the biggest in the business to relative unknowns. A prolific reviewer of audiobooks (see his website), his video interviews with the UK Crime Book Club Facebook group have given him access to countless writers. Most of the interviews in this book were done via Zoom (many during the first UK Covid lockdown) and transcribed by Rob Parker, himself a writer and cohost of the Blood Brothers podcast. They are presented pretty much ‘raw’ with minor bloopers included and even redactions for information that is embargoed or potentially libellous! Being familiar with both Alex and many of his interviewees, I could ‘hear’ the conversations in my head.
For this book he has chosen interviews that touch upon the themes that he and Rob talk about in the chapter immediately after. Authors featured include Elly Griffiths, Jeffrey Deaver, Sarah Hilary, Mari Hannah, Martin Edwards, Lisa Hall, Steve Cavanagh and more.
Alex is an engaging and insightful interviewer (something I have experienced first-hand) and his questions are probing and original. The conversations are open and free-flowing.
Now the interviews between Rob and Alex. For me, this was the most interesting part. Although I’ve spent plenty of time chatting with Alex over the years, I was keen to get to know more about him as a person. Like most people, I’m too polite to ask what may be seen as impertinent or rude questions about people’s private lives and this section is frank about the challenges and experiences that have shaped Alex and which he faces day-to-day.
For those unfamiliar with Alex, he lives with Cerebral Palsy and uses a powered wheelchair to get around. He has problems with fine motor control and requires the help of carers for day-to-day tasks (one of his former carers still comes to Harrogate with him each year, and my wife and I always look forward to meeting her again). He also has, I recently discovered, dyslexia. For this reason, his preferred format is audiobook and this gives him a different perspective when reviewing books.
In these interviews, again conversations via Zoom transcribed by Rob, the topics are wide-ranging. We learn about Alex’s degree in Criminology and the challenges he has faced to use it professionally. We hear about his voluntary work supporting vulnerable witnesses through the court process, and again how his efforts are stymied by poor access and outdated attitudes.
Alex is frank about his relationships, demonstrating remarkably honest introspection. He also provides an insight into how society – in particular the benefits system – seems designed to discourage ambition or success or even the formation of long-term intimate relationships. Any hint that he might be successful brings the very real threat of having his benefits withdrawn, with no guarantee that they will be properly reinstated in future. Relationships with another disabled person incur the risk that they will both have their benefits cut, or will lose their independence by having one of their vehicles taken away. Relationships with an able-bodied person can mean that the state decides that the new partner should take over caring duties, with the allowance cut accordingly.
Parts of these sections had me swearing out loud.
Parts also had me laughing out loud. Despite the frustrations and indignities that Alex and people like him have to put up with, he will often find the humour in the situation, something I have witnessed firsthand.
Finally, each section is rounded off by a piece of Alex’s own fiction.
These vary enormously. Some are little more than vignettes – short scenes that perhaps could lead to a bigger story. Others are longer and tell a complete tale. Crime is a predominant theme, but other genres are touched upon also.
All-in-all, this was an absorbing, fascinating, insightful, frustrating and humorous read. Alex has more books planned (one of which I might be in 🫢) and I look forward to reading them. Definitely a #RecommendedRead.