I've spent the last few weeks immersing myself in crime. Fiction that is, not real life. I haven't suddenly changed careers (although perhaps crime would pay a little better).

I'd already read practically every Agatha Christie novel but not a lot of other crime fiction, which is what I've been immersing myself in. I've learned I've been missing out. There are so many great books out there.

I've realised though that crime novels aren't so different from other genres. There are plots, characters, twists and so many ways to tell the story, whether it's from a detailed police procedural perspective or from a private detective's viewpoint or even an untrained person who's in the wrong place at the wrong time and has to turn detective as well.

It's given me confidence in my own private detective story that I'm currently planning out. I have a main character and his family and 'sidekick' who will be the key players and I have ideas for a couple of stories.

Although I'm trying to concentrate on the crime side of things, all I keep doing is thinking of funny lines/situations the characters will find themselves in so there will definitely be humour in the story as well. I just need to ensure I get the balance right.

At the moment my main character doesn't have a name so I keep referring to him as MC. That doesn't really help conjure up an image. All I see is a Master of Ceremonies in a red tailcoat, announcing people at a function.

I was at a 'Do' once where there was an MC. I was there with a group of friends and found myself at the front of the queue. The MC said he had to announce me so I gave him my name. He then asked who I was with.
"Oh, just some friends," I told him.
Then I realised he meant a partner.
"No, I'm single," I said, "Do you really have to announce that to the room?"

I wish now I'd given him one of those funny names to announce instead.
"I'm Joseph King, but everyone calls me Joe."
Or perhaps we could have heard him announce to the whole room in his great, booming voice,
"Ladies and Gentlemen; Ivor Biggen."

Anyway, back to the book; I've been considering the setting; wondering if I should use my fictional county of Tenhamshire from my first two novels or perhaps using a real place. I've decided on real. That way I can keep my purely humorous novels separate in Tenhamshire and my crime ones probably set around the East London and Essex area; places I know and can therefore describe well.

Oh well, back to it then; time to start thinking like a killer. Perhaps I shouldn't answer the front door to anyone this afternoon.