The Last Word with Matt Cooper Culture Club: Marie Cassidy
Oct 15, 2025
Marie Cassidy, former Chief State Pathologist for Ireland and author, shares insights from her career and her new thriller, Deadly Evidence. She reveals how her forensic expertise enriches her fiction writing, making crime scenes feel authentic. Marie discusses her passion for ballet, the emotional pull of music by David Bowie, and the impact of films like The Way We Were. She also reminisces about the comfort of soaps and her love for live music, making for an engaging blend of crime, culture, and personal stories.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Ballet Keeps Her Fit And Supple
- Marie Cassidy has done ballet classes for many years and attends a Silver Swans class where she is the oldest apart from the teacher.
- She finds ballet intense but fun and uses it to stay moving and supple instead of gym workouts.
Fiction Draws On A Forensic Protagonist
- Deadly Evidence features forensic pathologist Terry O'Brien investigating a Garda killing and uncovering links to cold cases.
- Terry increasingly interferes in areas she shouldn't as she pieces together old cases into a connected narrative.
Realism From Experience Matters
- Marie Cassidy says her fiction's crimes are realistic because real murder is horrific and unglamorous.
- She wanted readers to feel they were dealing with someone who'd actually been there and done it.
