Dissection of a Murder: The Inspiration by Jo Murray

When I left my job as a criminal barrister, there was no regret, no mourning period and no desire to go back. It was right for me and my family, and I was happy with my decision. Fifteen years later, when I started writing a legal courtroom thriller called DISSECTION OF A MURDER, I was propelled back into the world I’d left behind, and I found myself facing the same issues around northern identity I had back then. Only this time, it wasn’t only in relation to the law, but also in the world of publishing.

Both professions are traditionally centred in our capital. As barristers, our Inns of Court are in London and, for a long time, it was the only place you could sit the Bar exams. As an author, most of the publishing houses are located there, and it’s certainly where most books are launched and events occur. We may be well-connected via trains and the internet, but the frequency still vibrates: ‘this is where it all happens’.

Well, perhaps…but that doesn’t mean we can’t build a northern alliance to be proud of.

One thing I was sure about when I started writing DISSECTION OF A MURDER, was that it would not be set at the Old Bailey, or in London at all. There is a misconception that all big murder trials must be heard at this court and I wanted to banish this belief. I wanted to highlight the phenomenal advocacy and legal hubs that exist in the provinces. Murder trials don’t only happen in the flashy courts near Fleet Street like something you’d see in a BBC drama. They happen at courts near you, in your local towns, and they deserve some recognition.

I grew up in Teesside, in the North East of England. We lived in social housing on a rough estate. Ambition wasn’t encouraged but I was the first person in my family to go to university. I had this ridiculous idea to become a barrister and, because I was stubborn and had a desire to irritate everyone who told me I wouldn’t achieve it, I succeeded. I went to Newcastle University and couldn’t believe how friendly it was, despite the size.

I knew from the second I created Leila Reynolds – the protagonist in DISSECTION OF A MURDER – that she, too, would be from the North East. Leila’s heritage is integral to her character. The grit, determination and humour she displays in the novel is inherently northern; without it, she wouldn’t be the same person, and her journey would be very different.

I also knew that the novel would be set in Durham and Newcastle. They are cities I know well, and I have appeared in these crown courts many times over the years. They serve as appropriate backdrops for the action in the novel. Durham was particularly appropriate for the primary setting, mirroring the historic and archaic traditions of the Bar that Leila finds herself in, yet there is a mysterious undercurrent of darkness running through the cobbled streets at nightfall.

One of my favourite parts of the launch build-up has been doing the proof drops around the UK. This is where I take lots of early copies of the book around the country to both chain and independent bookshops and chat to booksellers ahead of publication. I loved doing all of them, but the trips to Durham and Newcastle were special. It was lovely to visit shops in the places where the book is set. I even managed to get to an independent bookshop in Whitley Bay, which also gets a mention in the book. There was an enormous sense of pride, empowerment and support between all of us, knowing that we may be hundreds of miles away from the publishing juggernaut of London (and the Old Bailey!) but the northern literary hive is buzzing and thriving. There are so many incredible northern writers, across all genres, and I am proud to be one of them.

It makes me feel so unbelievably proud to know that our little corner of the world will be showcased in this novel. DISSECTION OF A MURDER has now sold in twenty-one territories, and to think that people on the other side of the world will read about our towns and landmarks is phenomenal. To know that people will watch the Apple TV adaptation and perhaps then be directed to the novel and read about Durham Cathedral or Newcastle Quayside, is incredible.

London may continue to be the heart of publishing, but it is a lot healthier if regional writers and booksellers fill it with endless supply of creativity, passion