Which unlikely heroes would Steve Cavanagh take to a desert island?

What Book…  

Thriller writer Steve Cavanagh

… what book are you reading now?

I’m in the privileged position to be sent early copies of novels and I have two crackers on the go.

The first is The Good Liar by Denise Mina, which examines the problem of bad science in forensic witness testimony. The book follows a blood spatter expert who has to face up to their mistakes.

The second is The Drowning Place by Sarah Hilary, which follows a detective with survivor’s guilt as he investigates a puzzling murder in a small town.

Both novels get at the heart of human experience and how our past traumas can come back to haunt us. Look out for both in the coming months.

… what book would you take to a desert island?

It has to be The Lord Of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, which is my favourite book.

What I love about it is that it examines so many aspects of human behaviour, good and evil, and the real heroes are the most unlikely people – Hobbits.

It’s not great sword-wielding, swashbuckling wizards and warriors who are the heroes, but small, quiet creatures who enjoy two breakfasts and worry about the state of their handkerchiefs.

Ultimately, it’s a book about kindness and sacrifice, and how friendship can conquer all evils.

Early starter: Young Steve found The Silence of the Lambs light relief compared to the Troubles  

And Tolkien was an absolute master of language. Some of his sentences sing.

… what book first gave you the reading bug?

My mother gave me The Silence Of The Lambs when I was about 12 and I loved it.

This was my first crime novel, and it set me on a course of devouring everything I could in that genre. I began to develop a love for thrillers, particularly those set in America.

Some people think I may have been a bit young to read about Hannibal the Cannibal, but I grew up in Belfast in the 1980s during the Troubles – a story about hunting serial killers was light relief.

… what book left you cold?

This is a beloved book, and it is fabulously written, but The Secret History by Donna Tartt bored me to tears. I couldn’t get on with any of the characters so it didn’t matter to me whether they lived or died. I struggle with books that have unlikeable characters, so it is definitely a case of it’s not the book, it’s me.

Two Kinds Of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh is available now from the Mail Bookshop