We chat with author Robert Holtom about A Queer Case, which is a gripping 1920s-set whodunnit featuring a queer sleuth who must solve a murder in a mansion on London’s Hampstead Heath without revealing his sexuality, lest he be arrested as a criminal.
Hi, Robert! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’m a writer based in London. I write plays and novels, and I run workshops in communication skills, storytelling and creative writing. I’m pretty obsessed with murder mysteries and I also love swimming – especially in ponds, rivers and the sea. I’m queer and non-binary, and am passionate about bringing queer history (and queer present / futures) to life on the page.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
When I was a kid I used to love writing short plays to act in with my friends. I also directed them. I was pretty bossy.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Bit of a mind blank but can vividly remember The Haunted Mask by R. L. Stine (and even where I was reading it).
- The one that made you want to become an author: Probably Descartes’ Meditations as my first novel was about the philosophy of mind.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Tehanu by Ursula Le Guin, autumn in a book.
Your debut novel, A Queer Case, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Queer, murderous, sassy, sexy, twisty.
What can readers expect?
They can expect all the trappings of a classic Golden Age whodunnit with red herrings, clues, bodies and accusations aplenty. They can also expect the trials and tribulations of trying to survive and thrive as a queer person in the late 1920s. All this will be narrated from the POV of budding amateur sleuth, Selby Bigge, who turns detective despite having so many of his own secrets to hide.
Where did the inspiration for A Queer Case come from?
Agatha Christie – the true Queen of Crime – an author I have loved throughout my life, including her plays and short stories. I even directed a version of Go Back For Murder back in 2009. The other biggest inspiration was Queer London by Matt Houlbrook, an academic book that opened my eyes to the queer world of the interwar years.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved creating the River Styx – the queer club that Selby likes to frequent upon occasion. It’s inspired by the very real Caravan Club, that no longer exists but has its own brilliant history. As for characters, I like them all equally (I say in case they’re listening) but inventing Octavia Stubbs the embittered crime writer and her back catalogue of murder mysteries was a lot of fun. And Selby – of course – a character who has been with me for fifteen years. It’s been a joy for me to develop him and finally find him a home in a novel.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
My biggest challenge was how in keeping with the attitudes of the time I needed to be – for example, should Selby express the sexism that was so prevalent then? To overcome this I reminded myself that I want readers to like Selby and not feel alienated by his prejudices. Nevertheless, if he does express prejudices I try to have them challenged within the novel – he certainly has one or two critical views on Octavia. I also wanted to offer a portrayal of a queer character who isn’t defined by shame, self-loathing and trauma. While these are all completely valid I wanted to lean into and celebrate queer joy and resistance.
What’s next for you?
Selby Number 2! I have a two book deal with Titan Books and the sequel comes out next year. Selby finds himself solving another murder after attending Lady Malcolm’s Servants’ Ball at the Royal Albert Hall – a very real event that often attracted queer folks of different classes, even though Lady Malcolm was very annoyed by this. Naturally, Selby attends to have a gay old time only for a murderer to strike.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?
I reread the Tales from the Wyrd Museum trilogy by Robin Jarvis and was blown away – I think it’s a stunning series of books full of magic, the macabre and wonderful characters. Enemy Feminisms by Sophie Lewis was a non-fiction blast, full of ideas for future Selby Bigge mysteries. I can’t wait to read Janice Hallett’s next books – A Box Full of Murders and The Killer Question.
