Peter Lovesey
For me as for many other crime-writers a shadow fell across the day last Friday when I heard that Peter Lovesey had died. He was a giant among crime-writers and won every award going, sometimes more than once. But that is not why he is so much mourned in the crime-writing community. It is difficult to write about him without seeming gushing or insincere, but he really was one of the nicest, kindest and most generous people I have ever met and was so unassuming in spite of his great success.
I first met Peter at the CWA Hereford conference in 2003 when I found myself sitting next to him at dinner. My first book had come out only the year before. I was in awe of him, but luckily I had just read one of his books and was able to talk to him about that. Even all these years later, I can recall our conversation and how he soon put me at my ease. As time went on I kept meeting Peter and his wife Jax at CWA events and they became friends. A few years ago Peter told me he had enjoyed a novel of mine. Encouraged by this, I asked if he would read and endorse the next one. He did and gave me a lovely recommendation. Nothing very unusual in that, you might think, a lot of writers are generous in that way, but Peter also emailed me to say that there was something not quite right with the first few pages. He was sure I could do better – and thanks to him I did. I know that I was just one of many, many writers that Peter encouraged and supported in all sorts of ways. How he found time to do that as well as writing so much to such a high standard, I have no idea. All these years later, I am still in awe.
Against the Grain, his last novel, came out last November and was also, fittingly, the last in his long-running Peter Diamond series.
6 Comments
Margot Kinberg
April 15, 2025This is a lovely tribute, Christine. I’m so glad you had the opportunity to meet Peter Lovesey in person. His passing is a great loss, and he will be sorely missed.
Christine Poulson
April 15, 2025Thank you, Margot. Yes, he will be much missed, but he has left us a great body of work. As well as reading the most recent novel, I intend to reread The False Inspector Dew.
Sarah's Bill
April 22, 2025In the same vein as Peter’s response to your request for him to read your book, when he did the same for one of my wife’s books he wrote to say that he’d expected to identify with a particular character (who was an author), but was surprised to find that he identified most with another. Rather on the lines of Sarah’s first American editor, who always told her three things she liked about the story, which at least proved she’d read it before sending it to the copy-editor!
Christine Poulson
April 22, 2025Thanks, Bill! He was such a lovely man, who did so much for other writers.
Moira@Clothes in Books
April 28, 2025I met him once very casually, and he was charming, but it is telling that everyone who knew him says what a kind nice person he was, no-one has a bad word for him. I enjoyed many of his books – I think Inspector Dew was my favourite.
Christine Poulson
April 28, 2025Yes, he was a great supporter and encourager of new writers. I was fond of him. I must dig out my copy of Inspector Dew.