The journey that changed me: Nadine Matheson

The journey that changed me: Nadine Matheson

Crime writer Nadine Matheson tells us why a last-minute trip to Portugal changed her life forever

Nadine Matheson is the author of The Jigsaw Man, a deliciously dark cat-and-mouse thriller that pits fiction's best new detective against a truly menacing murderer. Described as a “macabre love letter to south London,” the novel has a noirish, nightmarish quality reminiscent of hard-boiled fiction reimagined for a contemporary audience.

On the eve of publication, Nadine tells us why she chose south London as her setting, how her career as a criminal lawyer shaped her fiction and why a trip to Portugal changed her life forever.

Her debut novel is described as a “macabre love letter to South London”. What makes this a compelling setting?

alt=““>Author Nadine Matheson

I grew up in south east London and it always amused me that until a few years ago people who lived north of the river never wanted to venture across the Thames and into the "dark depths" of south London. The tube barely exists in south London and taxi drivers would tell you they “didn’t go south”.

I grew up in Deptford and still live. There was a time when people asked me, 'How could you live there?' because it was considered a loud, rough and intimidating area. I always found them ridiculous. South London is culturally diverse and has a dark and rich history.

I love the fact that, five minutes walk from my house, I can look out at St. Paul's Church, considered one of London's "finest baroque churches," or stand on the banks of the Thames and still see the remains of the first royal dockyard. I could walk around the lush green grounds of Queens House, next to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, or stand at the site where the playwright Christopher Marlowe is said to have been murdered in Deptford in 1593.

I Wei Huang/ShutterstockA view of Queens House in Greenwich Park

You are not only an author, but also a criminal defense lawyer. does that inform your fiction?

I have worked in criminal law for almost 20 years and have seen so much in terms of the cases I have worked on and the clients I have met that it would have been impossible for my work not to have influenced my fiction.

I don't base my books on a specific case, but my characters are an amalgamation of the clients I've represented. I realized very early on that there was more to my clients than the criminal charges associated with their names. My clients had full lives outside of their allegations and it was important to me that my characters were mature and didn't come across as clichés.

I have represented my clients at every stage of their case, from arrest to representation at the Old Bailey. I know how a criminal investigation works; I know the smell of the police cells and that sense of foreboding when you wait for a jury to deliver a verdict. All of these things allow me to convey a strong sense of authenticity.

Being a lawyer has also influenced my writing in very practical ways. As a lawyer, I have to tell a story, whether in a written pleading, in a legal argument, or in a closing speech to a jury, that convinces 12 people that everything I said is true.

What's a secret place in South London we should know about?

The best views are from One Tree Hill in Greenwich Park. It has spectacular panoramic views of London.

Let's venture further afield. Tell us about the journey that changed you

My mother always said that every trip should change you in some way. My parents live in Grenada and I'm usually there every year except last year for obvious reasons. However, the trip that changed me was a last minute trip to Portugal with one of my best friends in 2013.

DaLiu/ShutterstockA last-minute trip to Portugal set Nadine on a different path

The company I worked for was making layoffs and I was undecided about whether to take the severance package. My friend and I found a ridiculously cheap deal to Portugal and on the third day, as I got sunburned by the pool, I asked myself, "You've always wanted to work for yourself, so what do you have to lose if you quit?"

Three months later I was self-employed as a lawyer, but also had the space to write. It was the decision I made while on vacation in 2013 that changed my life and allowed me to focus on becoming a writer.

Which trip would you like to repeat?

My last trip to Grenada in October 2019. One of my brothers lives in Japan, so it had been more than five years since we were all together as a family. It was a fantastic reunion and I would love to do it again because we have a new addition to the family and I haven't had the chance to meet my new nephew yet because of the pandemic.

Do you still have a dream destination that you haven't seen yet?

I really want to go to Bali.

Are you a planner or a spectator?

I'm definitely a see-how-we-go type of person. The last thing I want to do is be part of a group that follows a man with a map and an umbrella. I'm definitely more of a 'let's see what happens?'

Hotel or hostel (or camping)?

Hotel.

What was your most important travel experience?

My trip to Tokyo in 2019. I had the best time with my brother and sister-in-law. We did everything from temples to Mount Fuji to taking photos with a mini Godzilla.

Structures/ShutterstockMount Fuji in Japan

After all, why travel?

Traveling gives you so much freedom. You don't have to leave the country, but it's so important to be in a different place that allows you to see the fuller picture of your life.

The Jigsaw Man is a deliciously dark cat-and-mouse thriller that pits fiction's best new detective against a truly menacing murderer. Order now and follow Nadine on Twitter and Instagram.

Main image: Jorge Argazkiak/Shutterstock

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