Deal has a strong connection to detectives and crimes in popular culture, something about our pebbled front and delightful little seaside town seems to inspire and stir something sinister up in creative types.
Deal has been the location of all sorts of fictional crimes for detectives to solve from Baptiste to Poirot. The latest creative to utilise Deal as a setting for his detective-led vision is Richard Hernaman Allen, in his book The Body in the Marine Buildings. Richard tells CommunityAd “it seems to me that Deal has a character all of its own”.
Richard, what’s your relationship with the town?
Vanessa and I bought a flat in Deal about 15 years ago and visit as often as we can. Our permanent address is in Petts Wood. Our flat is in the “Marine Buildings”, which was known as Sandown Terrace at one time. We love the direct view of the beach and the sea and particularly enjoy being able to hear the sound of the waves. We’ve tried to find out as much about the history of Deal as we can and collected pictures, etchings, old photographs and charts for our flat.
So, Richard, tell our readers a little about the book?
I’ve written about 30 books about Nick Storey’s career in HM Customs & Excise, where he is helped by his wife Rosemary who works in the Metropolitan Police. I decided to follow them into their retirement. I try as far as possible to write about things where I have some degree of knowledge. When we first moved to Deal, the man above our flat was renovating his flat from the original brick. That gave me the idea of a book based on the discovery of a 100-year-old body walled up in the attic. As my wife is a keen genealogist, I thought I could use her knowledge to see how much Nick and Rosemary could discover about the dead man. In order that it shouldn’t be a dry account of researches in old censuses and newspapers, I decided that their activities should encourage someone in the present to attempt to deter them. Following up who has been threatening them enables Nick and Rosemary to work out who the murdered man was, who killed him and why.
What about Deal inspired it?
The curious nature of the “Marine Buildings”, which are early 19th century, according to the deeds. The relationship with Customs & Excise and the rather spotty reputation of “North Deal” with both the Downs and the Goodwins. I was also able to use several of the many buildings in Deal which I find so interesting.
It’s an incredible achievement and one that should not be scoffed at. How long did the writing process take?
Most of my books take about three months to write, unless I get hung up on where to go next. The writing of this book was quite smooth, as ideas for how the story should develop came when I needed them.
You’ve had some charming reviews that must make for pleasant reading?
I’m always happy if someone enjoys reading one of my books. I enjoy writing them so much, that I hope I can give anyone who reads them something like the same pleasure.
Why should readers of CommunityAd consider becoming readers of The Body in the Marine Buildings?
It’s a story largely based in Deal. It is in many ways a traditional English detective story. If you enjoy a book that is fast-paced with lots of action, this isn’t for you. The crime is uncovered through traditional detective methods, and develops through the eyes of the detective. I write in a particular format and style, which I accept isn’t for everyone.
Any plans for more Deal-inspired literature?
Not at the moment. I’ve included Deal in two novels which are as yet unpublished. But as I’ve been writing a few detective stories set in the middle 17th century, I may well come back to Deal for one of them.