Home is…
Edinburgh, which is where I studied as a student and where I met my wife. My two sons have grown up and live elsewhere in the city, but we’re all about a 20-minute walk from each other.
Which shops do you rely on?
I usually go to record shops and comic shops because those are two of my big hobbies. I’ll head into Soho for Sister Ray and Reckless Records and I’ll go to Forbidden Planet. I’m always on the lookout for rare second-hand vinyl, things I lusted after when I was a teenager but could never quite afford and probably still won’t shell out for now.
Best meal you’ve had?
Recently, Amazon — which is publishing my next work — took me to Claridge’s and we got the chef’s table. We had an asparagus salad, smoked salmon, a fillet of beef and the pièce de résistance: a melted chocolate dome. I’ve got to say, I do have a sweet tooth.
What is your earliest memory of London?
I would have been about 12. I had an uncle and aunt who lived near Windsor and they had a bright orange VW Beetle. My uncle drove me into London to see Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament.
What was your first flat like?
My wife left university and got a job as a civil servant in London. We got married and I moved down to London so she didn’t have to leave her job. We lived in Tottenham because that’s all we could afford and we lived there happily for four years.
Where do you go to let your hair down?
I go to watch Spurs. Having lived in Tottenham I became a fan and if I’m in London I definitely try to see them.
Who is the most iconic Londoner?
You know what, the Rolling Stones launched a new album recently and I’m a huge fan, so I’ve got to say Jagger and Richards. Technically speaking they’re not from London, but the band really got going here.
Have you ever had a run-in with a London police officer?
One time we had a break-in at our flat and because I was writing crime fiction, when the police turned up I said, ‘Look, they obviously broke in here, they went through the back garden and over the fence in that direction.’ The cops were kind of staring at me.
Where would you recommend for a first date?
St James’s Park. You’re surrounded by greenery, there are deck chairs if you want to sit, and there are cafés. You can sit and watch the water all day — it’s a very romantic, peaceful spot.
Where would you most like to be buried in the city?
It’s got to be Highgate Cemetery. Just next to Karl Marx would do me just fine.
If you could buy any building and live there, which would it be?
Possibly Ronnie Scott’s. I’d keep it as a jazz club so I can listen to music every night and I’d have a little apartment upstairs.
What’s your biggest extravagance?
I still buy the things I bought when I was an impoverished student, but I do like a good wine, so when I’m in London I’ll go to Berry Bros & Rudd in St James’s. A friend of mine took me there and there is a little alleyway to the side and you come to this tiny courtyard where the final duel in London was fought.
What’s your London secret?
When I lived in Tottenham we used to walk along to Walthamstow by the marshes and the Lee Valley reservoir, which is a beautiful spot for bird watching.
