Crime author Peter James reveals he has named his pets after serial killers

Brighton-born author Peter James has written 36 novels, including a crime thriller series featuring Detective Superintendent Roy Grace.

The series, which has sold 21 million copies worldwide, have since been turned into an ITV show.

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The first series was one of ITV’s most successful dramas with more than eight million people tuning in to watch.

During an interview on The Argus Podcast, Peter revealed he has named several of his pets after serial killers.

The 73-year-old said he previously had a herd of alpacas while living in Sussex, but had to give them away since moving to Jersey.

“We have a huge menagerie of animals – about 60 hens, 30 ducks, cats, dogs,” he said.

“We now have pigmy goats. Two are named after wine – we have Busco and Margaux.

“And two are named after serial killers – Norman and Ted.”

Ted Bundy was an American serial killer who kidnapped, raped and murdered numerous young women and girls in the 1970s.

He confessed to 30 homicides committed between 1974 and 1978, but his true victim total is unknown.

Norman Bates is a fictional character created by author Robert Bloch as the main antagonist in his 1959 thriller novel Psycho, as the serial killer Mother.

He was portrayed by Anthony Perkins in the 1960 version of Psycho directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Peter James with his pet alpaca

Peter said he keeps animals due to the nature of his writing and the world we live in today.

“I find animals incredibly calming,” he said. “I write fairly dark stuff and the world is quite dark.

“I remember waking up five, six years back and listening to the morning news and it was all about the Manchester bombing and how terrible it was.

“You think about how dark the world feels and then go out into the garden and hand feed the alpacas slices of apple.

“We had emus too and would give them grapes out the palm of your hand and you think, these beautiful creatures don’t know about all the s**t that goes on in the world.

“They’re just happy to be out in the daylight and eat their apple treats. It’s very grounding.”

The full episode of The Argus Podcast featuring Peter James is available now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts on Saturday, January 22.