We chat with author Rebecca Philipson about How to Get Away with Murder, which follows a Scotland Yard detective trying to find the author of a self-help book that promises quite literally to teach readers how to get away with murder, which seems to have inspired London’s newest murderer.
Hi, Rebecca! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi! I’m Rebecca, a mother of two from County Durham in the North East of England. I ran a business for a lot of years, and returned to university midlife to study creative writing and fulfill the dream of writing a novel. I wrote How to Get Away With Murder at uni and the rest, as they say, is history.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I always found happiness and peace in stories. As a child, my head was always ‘in the clouds,’ and I found comfort in the characters I lived with inside my mind. Books and libraries always felt safe and welcoming to me. I read a lot, and would hide my shyness and sense of being different behind the cover of a paperback. I was sent to a convent when I was ten and it was there that I started telling stories aloud to other girls and that turned into writing stories down – I guess that’s when I became a writer.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Hollywell Stables by Samantha Alexander – I loved horses as a child.
- The one that made you want to become an author: Gone Girl.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: A Little Life.
Your debut novel, How to Get Away with Murder, is out February 24th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Dark, twisty, serial-killer thriller.
What can readers expect?
Readers can expect an to answer the question ‘what would happen if a serial killer wrote a guide to murder?’ How to Get Away With Murder is two books in one – a serial killer’s guide and the story of a police detective reading it and trying to find out if the killer is telling the truth about his crimes and potentially involved in others too. It has loads of true crime references and thematically it questions serial killer celebrity and rages against violence against women and girls. It’s full of twists and turns and early readers loved the big ending too!
Where did the inspiration for How to Get Away with Murder come from?
During the pandemic, I started writing a blog. I wrote about life in general but mainly about true crime. I became fascinated with survivor stories in particular and felt angry about the way killers are treated like celebrities. One day, a dark voice landed in my head and he would not stop talking about murder and how he’d be smart enough to get away with it. That’s when my killer character, Denver Brady, was born and I began to write How to Get Away With Murder.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I particularly enjoyed researching How Serial Killers Really Get Caught – which is the focus of one of Denver’s chapters. I found the real life data fascinating. I also enjoyed writing my detective, Sam, as she has to heal in order to do her job and catch the killer. I found her arc deeply meaningful.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I had enormous difficultly believing in myself and I struggled to feel like a ‘real’ writer. I always believed in the book and in the characters, but the imposter syndrome is a huge challenge. I relied on my family, friends, my agent and my editors for guidance, expertise and sometimes just reassurance.
With serial killers and murder aplenty, what was your search history like throughout working on the novel?
It was very varied to say the least! One minute I’d be researching facts about tea, or London underground stations and the next search would be for how to remove blood from clothing effectively. My serial killer uses the dark web, so I had to understand that and know how to use it too. Intriguing, for sure.
This is your debut novel! What was the road to becoming a published author like for you?
I’ve had a really great experience so far. I remember the moment I knew I wanted to be an author. I literally googled, ‘how do you become a published author?’ The search engine brought up a lot of writing courses and I simply applied for the best ones. I was fortunate enough to get into a great university. It was at university that I wrote How to Get Away With Murder and there that I realised I’d likely need an agent. Back to google I went, with a list of authors I love. I remember typing into the search bar ‘Who is Val McDermid’s agent?’ and that was how I found David Higham and my agent, Stephanie Glencross. I realise that it’s incredibly difficult to secure an agent, and I know I was super fortunate to receive an offer from such an amazing agency on my first try. We edited the novel and then it went to publishers.
How to Get Away With Murder was picked up in a 24hour pre-empt here in the UK, into Europe the following week and then the US. It all happened really quickly. It’s been a dream of a roller-coaster so far. That said, last year was particularly difficult for me for personal reasons, but the novel and becoming a published author has been a real point of hope during tough times.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on book two right now! I’m also reading for a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Liverpool.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
I really like Alice Feeney and I’ll definitely be reading her new book, My Husband’s Wife. Tracy Sierra’s second novel is out soon too, I loved Nightwatching and will definitely read her next one. I’ll read Adrift by Will Dean and anything by Janice Hallett. I also read everything Clare Keegan and Emilia Hart write and I recently developed a love for westerns, so I’m indulging that in 2026!
