Take one detective with a tendency to drink too much. Add a psychic girlfriend
and a serial killer with a predilection for cannibalism. Shift the action between the
gritty streets of New York and the sweltering heat of Sydney, Australia, and you
have the makings of a pretty good thriller. Give the book a chilling title like
Slaughterman and the recipe is just about complete.
But not quite. The author needs to be the enigmatic Caroline Robinson who,
despite the fact that she’s never set foot in either Sydney or New York and
never knowingly engaged a cannibal in meaningful conversation, is in the
process of developing a cult following.
With substantial help from InBiz advisor Ken Fenton who helped Caroline
launch her writing career I managed to secure an exclusive interview her. This
was a stroke of luck, as InBiz actually helped me launch my own media
business two years ago. Caroline has never agreed to speak to the press before.
Like the dark hero of Slaughterman, Detective Guy John Shayd, Caroline
takes no one at face value. My first question was what had driven her to write
such a graphic tale in the first place.
“I’ve always had an interest in crime – true crime, you know – so I suppose
Slaughterman sprung from that.”
Caroline was born and raised in Bedlington. How could she write about New
York and Sydney with such authority if she’d never been to either?
“Imagination and observation. I saw a film set in Sydney once – that was
enough.”
Caroline gained two “O” levels at her local High School (which was two more
than this writer ever got, if you’re interested) – one in English Language and the
other in Classical Studies.
Her love of the English language shows in Slaughterrman. The novel contains
no high-faluting dialogue or deep sophistry. It is direct, blunt and bloody.
Slaughterman is Stephen King without the frills, James Herbert with an extra
shot of bourbon.
I asked Caroline what she felt gave Slaughterman its sense of realism.
“None of the characters are perfect. No human being is perfect, so why should
the characters in my book be?”
And she’s right, of course. By the second page Guy John Shayd is already
nursing a monumental hangover.
I wouldn’t dream of giving away the ending to Slaughterman. Let’s just say
that there is a successful resolution to the murders, but one that does not
preclude a sequel. In fact, Caroline is working on that sequel right now.
“The sequel concerns the same characters as Slaughterman, although they’ve
moved on a little. Apart from that I’m not giving too much away. I’m sure you’ll
understand.”
Joseph James, author of Above the Water Line, has described Slaughterman as
“edge-of-the-seat stuff” and I’d have to agree. He read Caroline’s novel in one
evening and admitted that he simply couldn’t put it down.
Caroline hopes that readers will like the sequel as much as her debut novel.
“Look, its all about avoiding stereotypes. I try to avoid them like the plague.
Avoiding stereotypes keeps your writing fresh.”
One of the things that intrigued me was the realistic way she portrays FBI
profiling techniques and character analysis. She told me that she has a
background in office administration, and I can’t help but wonder whether this
has helped Caroline as she unveils, page by gory page, the desperate struggle
the police faced to construct a realistic profile of the killer. Whatever, it works.
If you like a good bedtime yarn and don’t mind terrifying yourself into a
state of nervous paralysis, then Slaughterman may be just the ticket. Just
remember to leave the light on when you drift off to sleep.
If you can get to sleep, that is…
Slaughterman by Caroline Robinson is published by Apex
Publishing (IBSN: 1-904444-60-1) and costs just £4.99.
The book can be ordered online from Amazon or Apex Publishing website.
and a serial killer with a predilection for cannibalism. Shift the action between the
gritty streets of New York and the sweltering heat of Sydney, Australia, and you
have the makings of a pretty good thriller. Give the book a chilling title like
Slaughterman and the recipe is just about complete.
But not quite. The author needs to be the enigmatic Caroline Robinson who,
despite the fact that she’s never set foot in either Sydney or New York and
never knowingly engaged a cannibal in meaningful conversation, is in the
process of developing a cult following.
With substantial help from InBiz advisor Ken Fenton who helped Caroline
launch her writing career I managed to secure an exclusive interview her. This
was a stroke of luck, as InBiz actually helped me launch my own media
business two years ago. Caroline has never agreed to speak to the press before.
Like the dark hero of Slaughterman, Detective Guy John Shayd, Caroline
takes no one at face value. My first question was what had driven her to write
such a graphic tale in the first place.
“I’ve always had an interest in crime – true crime, you know – so I suppose
Slaughterman sprung from that.”
Caroline was born and raised in Bedlington. How could she write about New
York and Sydney with such authority if she’d never been to either?
“Imagination and observation. I saw a film set in Sydney once – that was
enough.”
Caroline gained two “O” levels at her local High School (which was two more
than this writer ever got, if you’re interested) – one in English Language and the
other in Classical Studies.
Her love of the English language shows in Slaughterrman. The novel contains
no high-
shot of bourbon.
I asked Caroline what she felt gave Slaughterman its sense of realism.
“None of the characters are perfect. No human being is perfect, so why should
the characters in my book be?”
And she’s right, of course. By the second page Guy John Shayd is already
nursing a monumental hangover.
I wouldn’t dream of giving away the ending to Slaughterman. Let’s just say
that there is a successful resolution to the murders, but one that does not
preclude a sequel. In fact, Caroline is working on that sequel right now.
“The sequel concerns the same characters as Slaughterman, although they’ve
moved on a little. Apart from that I’m not giving too much away. I’m sure you’ll
understand.”
Joseph James, author of Above the Water Line, has described Slaughterman as
“edge-
Caroline hopes that readers will like the sequel as much as her debut novel.
“Look, its all about avoiding stereotypes. I try to avoid them like the plague.
Avoiding stereotypes keeps your writing fresh.”
One of the things that intrigued me was the realistic way she portrays FBI
profiling techniques and character analysis. She told me that she has a
background in office administration, and I can’t help but wonder whether this
has helped Caroline as she unveils, page by gory page, the desperate struggle
the police faced to construct a realistic profile of the killer. Whatever, it works.
If you like a good bedtime yarn and don’t mind terrifying yourself into a
state of nervous paralysis, then Slaughterman may be just the ticket. Just
remember to leave the light on when you drift off to sleep.
If you can get to sleep, that is…
Slaughterman by Caroline Robinson is published by Apex
Publishing (IBSN: 1-
