I do read P.D. James because she pays much more attention to character, to a particular atmosphere or setting. But most mystery writers, I think, are controlled by the plot.

In Baltimore, I was walking with a friend who was playing at a pub he kept referring to as the Horse. But when I saw the sign 'The Horse You Came In On' - I thought, 'My God.' I had no intention of ever setting a Jury novel in the U.S., but when I saw that, I thought, 'That's it.' The names are very important.

When you write the first book of a series, you do have to be careful what you put in because then you are stuck with it.

I love stories. I just enjoy telling stories and watching what these characters do - although writing continues to be just as hard as it always was.