Imran Mahmood, a criminal defence lawyer with three decades of experience, talks about his career as a crime writer. He shares how his work in law influences his storytelling, particularly in persuading a jury, and why he dedicates his precious free time to writing. The discussion delves into the evolving attention spans of modern audiences and the challenges of emotional storytelling, especially around themes of grief. Additionally, he explores how being a barrister enhances his ability to meet writing deadlines while balancing family life.
52:14
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Workspace Items
Imran Mahmood's study, converted during lockdown, houses proofs, a Shard picture, and a clapperboard.
A model chopper bike, gifted by Sarah Hillary, sits on his whiskey-colored walnut desk.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Writing Tools
Use post-it notes for plot points, discarding them once addressed.
Primarily use a laptop for writing, with minimal other tools.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Font Choice
Imran Mahmood appreciates font science but sticks to whichever font opens when he starts writing.
He uses Georgia because it's the house font of a solicitor he drafts letters for.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
The story follows Xander Shute, a former wealthy banker now living on the streets, who witnesses a murder in an empty Mayfair flat. Despite his clear account, the police do not believe him, leading Xander to investigate the truth himself. As he delves deeper, he must confront his fractured memories and a troubled past involving his family and a past relationship. The book is a character-driven thriller that explores themes of trauma, unreliable memories, and the struggle for justice.
1984
None
George Orwell
Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.
Dracula
Bram Stoker
The novel tells the story of Count Dracula, a vampire who moves from Transylvania to England to spread terror and create more vampires. The story begins with Jonathan Harker, an English solicitor, who travels to Transylvania to finalize the sale of a property to Count Dracula. Upon discovering Dracula's true nature, Harker barely escapes with his life. Dracula then travels to England, where he targets Harker's fiancée, Mina, and her friend Lucy. A group of characters, including Professor Van Helsing, Dr. John Seward, and Quincey Morris, band together to hunt down and destroy Dracula. The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, modernity vs. tradition, and the fears and anxieties of the Victorian era, including immigration, sexual desire, and the role of women in society.
Imran Mahmood has 30 years experience as a criminal defence lawyer, working on all manner of high-profile cases. He's taken that knowledge and forged a successful 2nd career as a crime writer. His debut, 'You Don't Know Me', was presented as a closing argument to a jury. It was long-listed for the Theakston Crime Novel of the year, the CWA Gold Dagger in 2017, and was a BBC Radio 2 Book Club Choice. It's been adapted for a BBC/ Netflix Crime Drama.
He followed that up with 'I Know What I Saw', which was a Sunday Times Crime Novel of the Month, and is now back with 'Finding Sophie'. It's about Harry and Zara, parents struggling to come to terms with their daughter who is missing. The police are unable to find any leads and they're growing ever more frantic and obsessed with their supicious neighbour who won't answer the door.
We discuss his busy life as a barrister with a young family, and why he's chosen to spend what little free time he has writing novels. You can hear how both jobs have affected each other, why talking to a jury has helped novel writing, and why he thinks his greatest skill is simply getting words down.
This week's episode is supported by Scribe Shadow, a game-changing tool for writers trying to reach international readers. Find out more at app.scribeschadow.com
Get a copy of Imran's book at uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine
Writer's Routine 
