In an exclusive interview with The Argus, a bestselling Sussex crime writer has discussed the strong female lead in her latest crime novel - and why she won’t write “weak women”.
With a background as a criminal barrister, working for both prosecution and the defence, Helen Fields has in-depth knowledge of the field.
She has already written eleven crime fiction novels and has been twice long listed for the McIllvanney Scottish Crime Book of the Year.
Helen is also an international number one best-selling author published in 22 countries.
Her novels draw on her professional experience, from court martials to care proceedings, coroner courts to the crown court.
Her latest novel The Institution follows her much-loved female lead forensic profile Dr Connie Woolwine, who first appeared in The Shadow Man, released in 2021.
The book begins with her profiling a nurse’s body she has found.
Helen said she was keen to avoid sensationalising and instead creates an intimate account of the profiling.
“Connie talks directly to the corpse,” Helen told The Argus.
“She talks directly to the nurse as she goes through the process.
“Rather than gory, it is sympathetic and gentle. Connie promises to do her best and get justice for the nurse.”
As well as her lead, her books are dominated by female characters.
She said: “Women police officers rarely feature in fiction. They are tough, cool and ambitious and they have a hard job in a male-dominated world. I wanted to reflect that in my novels.”
Helen has had a varied career, first as a criminal barrister and more recently working with her husband in media and marketing.
“In my career, I have never met the weak women stereotypes we see in fiction and on our screens.
“Not in law, media or publishing. I won’t write ‘weak’ women because they do not exist in my life.”
Helen has loved reading and writing since she was a child, and says she feels very lucky to do what she does.
She takes care not to sensationalise crime, always writing from the victim’s perspective.
“It is a difficult balance but I always bear in mind the real victims of crime.
“My novels aren’t just mutilated bodies or action scenes. I present it in a real way that is in no way glamorous.
“Crime is not something you ca write about without understanding that somewhere right now somebody is a victim, whether that is of domestic violence or another kind of abuse.”
Helen spent part of lockdown in Sussex, and now lives in Arundel.
“Sussex in lockdown was about as good as it gets. The countryside is beautiful and I love living here,” she said.
While Sussex has not yet featured in one of her novels, she told readers to look out for it.
“Sussex will 100 per cent feature. It’s going to be in books I’m writing now and into the future.”
The Institution was released on March 2 and is now available online and in bookstores.
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