The Crime Writer: New prison novel explores crime & creativity
COMING SOON: Russ Litten’s new novel The Crime Writer
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
The English prison system and the personalities within it have inspired a new novel by Hull writer Russ Litten.
The Crime Writer centres around the relationship between Sam Cartwright, a writer-in-residence at a northern prison, and inmate Shaun Powell, who is serving an indeterminate sentence for violent drug-related offences.
Between them they write a book that changes both of their lives forever. The Crime Writer explores their journeys from fruitful collaboration to their disintegrating and subsequently dangerous relationship.
At its centre are ethical and moral questions that have long been relevant to the custodial part of the criminal justice system – why do we elevate criminals to the status of celebrities? Who has the right to tell their stories? And what happens when the lines between fiction and reality begin to blur?
Litten may be as well placed as anyone to consider these issues, having 15 years experience as a writer-in-residence at northern prisons.
With his signature blend of grit, realism and psychological insight, he delves into the complexities of true crime culture, media representation and the power dynamics that shape the narratives we consume. Drawing from his experience working with incarcerated writers, Litten crafts a novel that is as thought-provoking as it is page-turning.
INSIGHT: Russ Litten
Litten, 56, said: “Having worked inside prisons, I’ve seen first-hand the power of storytelling in those spaces. This book explores how we decide who gets to speak, who we listen to and why we’re so fascinated by the criminal mind.”
The Crime Writer is Litten’s sixth book and follows the novels Kingdom (Wrecking Ball Press, 2015); Swear Down (Tindal Street Press / Serpent’s Tail, 2014); Scream If You Want To Go Faster (William Heinemann, 2012); the short story collection We Know What We Are (Obliterati Press, 2018); and the poetry collection I Can See The Lights (Wildflower Press, 2020).
The Crime Writer is out on March 3 in paperback and costs £12. You can order it here.
A free launch party for The Crime Writer will be held at Union Mash Up on Princes Avenue on Wednesday, March 19, from 7.30pm when Litten will be in conversation with The Hull Story Co-Editor Simon Bristow