Crime novelist Simon Mason looks right at home in Brown’s Cafe in the Covered Market, surrounded by an eclectic mix of Oxford’s town and gown tucking into their fry-ups.
After all, it’s Oxford’s populace that he has always tuned into for his DI Ryan Wilkins Mystery detective series, the latest of which, Lost And Never Found, is due to be published next week.
Lost and Never Found is an adrenaline fuelled page-turner from the word go
For those of you yet to come cross the maverick, tracksuit-clad, downtrodden and unlikely DI Ryan Wilkins, you’re in for a treat.
Because Lost and Never Found is an adrenaline-fuelled page turner from the word go, DI Ryan Wilkins heading up the investigation into a socialite’s death, her Rolls Royce Phantom crashed into a car park in central Oxford. Ryan’s suave, Oxford-educated partner DI Ray Wilkins, galloping along with him at break-neck speed to catch the murderer, as bodies start piling up around them. The chase is on!
‘I write about people I know or meet all the time, which could get me in a lot of trouble’
And yet the mild-mannered, former RLF Fellow at Exeter College, is remarkably unfazed by the current media furore surrounding his books, or the numerous TV companies competing to bring the DI Ryan Wilkins Mysteries to our screens. In fact, Simon is much more interested in people watching than discussing himself.
“I don’t like to be the centre of attention,” he says reticently. Which is why he said no to a book launch (‘I would have nothing to do’), until famous crime writer, friend and fellow Oxford resident Mick Herron suggested a Q&A event in Daunt Books in Summertown instead (this Thursday), which immediately sold out.
If you didn’t get an invite, fear not, because Simon he is also appearing at Oxford Literary Festival in March, alongside fellow crime writer Jane Corry. BOOK HERE In short, everyone wants to know about Simon Mason. Who is he? Where does he come from? And how can he be so prolific while producing such addictive and well written crime novels?
ask where Simon came up with the plot and his inspiration is as pacy as his dialogue
“I’m glad you like them,” Simon laughs, when I ask, “and the recognition helps build your confidence when you’re writing.”
In terms of the TV interest, Simon has had three offers, all completely different, but is biding his time before choosing the right option. “We will see,” he says enigmatically, “but if a TV series does get the go ahead it will be because of the relationship between DI Ryan Wilkins and DI Ray Wilkins.”
There’s no doubt about that, the pair’s endlessly frustrating relationship only fuelling the suspense. Ryan, who grew up on an Oxford caravan park, has little regard for protocol, rules or bureaucracy, and is the perfect foil for the sharp-suited, corporate, ambitious Ray. Yet the unlikely duo have to find a way to work hand-in-hand by pooling their impressive crime-solving abilities and resources, to get to the murderer first.
And yet ask where Simon came up with the plot and his inspiration is as pacy as his dialogue. From being chased on his bike in a road rage accident, to being verbally abused by a passing teenager, it’s all mettle for his little black book.
“I was cycling down Abingdon Road when this car started hooting and following me. I cycled as fast as I could and turned off down a cul-de-sac with a pathway at the end, and as I raced there with the car following me, I wondered how I could use the scenario in a book,” he says.
“So instead of being scared I was just daydreaming, while swerving from side-to-side in case they shot at me. As if,” he laughs. Did he escape? “Yes,” he says non-plussed. So who were they? “I have no idea. They must have thought I was someone else.”
“But then I write about people I know or meet all the time. I must stop doing that, because it could get me in a lot of trouble,” he smiles, “but they do say write about what you know…..”
And while terribly prolific; the DI Ryan Wilkins Mystery series includes A Killing in November (2022) and The Broken Afternoon READ ABOUT IT HERE (2023), Simon has also written the Quigleys children’s books, award-winning Garvie Smith Mysteries for teens, as well as four novels (the first of which, The Great English Nude, was a Betty Trask Award Best First Novel nominee) and The Rough Guide to Classic Novels.
And while Simon has already finished the next DI Ryan Wilkins Mystery, he has somehow also not only signed up for two ‘missing person’ novels, but written both The Finder books already, which are being published together in September.
“The Finder novels are written in a very different style, more like the Maigret books, where The Finder goes round and talks to lots of different people to build up a picture of the missing person. So while they are mysteries and there is a solution, they are completely different to the DI Ryan Wilkins series,” he promises.
So where does Simon find the time to write so much? “Publishers always want you to write crime novels in quick succession to maintain the interest. But for me it’s all about the characters and keeping up the momentum, because stories create empathy and give readers insight into people from all over the world.
“My biggest fear however is losing some of the quality, so I’m working hard to make sure that doesn’t happen,” he says, placing down his knife and fork and preparing to get back to work. Let’s hope he doesn’t get chased home!
Lost and Never Found is published by riverrun on January 18 and is available from all good bookshops and online.
Simon Mason will be interviewed at Oxford Literary Festival at The Bodleian Divinity School with Jane Corry, chaired by Triona Adams on Wednesday, 20 March at 10am. BOOK HERE
