Books are the best teachers. Some key influences include:

• Patricia Highsmith – Known for her psychological thrillers and complex characters, Highsmith’s work inspired my exploration of moral ambiguity and psychological depth. And my favourite film is ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’.
• Gillian Flynn – With her dark, intense narratives and unreliable narrators, Flynn’s style resonates with my approach to storytelling, my favourite of her books is ‘Sharp Objects’.
• Ruth Rendell – As a master of psychological crime fiction, Rendell’s influence is evident in my focus on the psychological aspects of crime and character motivations, but also the Suffolk landscape. Rendell had a house in Polstead, and like me was fascinated by the Red Barn murder.