大象传媒

Best-selling crime writer Mark Billingham has always been obsessed with the creative criminal minds of the past.

Over three hours, Mark sets out to detect the clues dropped in the 大象传媒 archives, as he brings a flavour of the magic of his favourite crime writers:

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Dame Agatha Christie
Raymond Chandler
PD James
Henning Mankell

Clues that reveal why their sleuthing creations - Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple, Philip Marlowe, Adam Dalgliesh and Kurt Wallander - are so enduring.

Having created his own flawed crime fighter, Detective Inspector Tom Thorne, Mark鈥檚 wrestled with the thorny issue of inventing a distinctive new voice amongst a myriad of detecting greats. What鈥檚 more important, devious plotting or debauched heroes, a killer in plain sight or rug-pulling twists?

In plundering the archive for answers, Mark has uncovered a hidden 大象传媒 radio detecting gem. Debuting in the late 1970s and running for a few seasons into the 1980s, it starred an actor who could be a lead in TV classic Cathy Come Home and voice an iconic children鈥檚 cartoon. It was penned by a writer that worked on TV police dramas Z Cars and Softly Softly.

All is revealed in Mark Billingham鈥檚 Rule Book of Crime.

Producer: Peter McHugh

Made for 大象传媒 Radio 4 Extra and first broadcast in March 2013.