Brian McGilloway Interview

Acclaimed New Irish Crime-writer Discusses His Insp Devlin Novels

Mar 19, 2009 Robin Jarossi

McGilloway reveals how he nearly gave up trying to get his debut novel, Borderlands, published and how he created Irish border detective Inspector Ben Devlin...

April sees the publication of novels two and three in Brian McGilloway's Inspector Devlin series – Gallows Lane (paperback) and Bleed a River Deep (hardback).

They follow hard on the Irishman's debut, Borderlands, which established Devlin as McGilloway's everyday, fallible cop, trying to do his best in the murky border areas between the Republic and Northern Ireland.

The Devlin Books Have Been Optioned for Television

McGilloway was published through the Macmillan New Writing scheme in the UK after the usual drubbing of publisher and agent rejections experienced by many aspiring writers. But Borderlands was warmly reviewed and the Devlin series has now been optioned by television production company Green Park Films.

It's been quite an upheaval for the 35-year-old English teacher from Derry, and one that nearly eluded him. He almost stopped pitching Borderlands after he finally found an agent who liked it and requested revisions, only to eventually turn it down anyway.

'I decided to give up,' McGilloway says, 'and then a friend said, "Look, that's one person's opinion but doesn't mean everyone will think the same way." And I thought, that's one person's opinion and about 30 or 40 publishers all thinking the same thing.'

From Rejection to Publication

A final throw of the dice saw him send it to Macmillan New Writing, a scheme that welcomes unsolicited, un-agented submissions, and a couple of months later the novel was accepted.

'That was surreal,' he said on the phone from his home in the Borderlands, where he lives with his wife, Tanya, and sons Ben and Tom. 'It's hard to describe. It's very pleasing to discover that a publisher like Macmillan thinks enough of your writing to invest in it. I had been writing since I was quite young so it had always been a dream to get something published.'

Borderlands is an evocative, well-plotted story about Devlin's investigation into the murder of a teenager on the border. Devlin has to contend with his police counterparts to the north and various threats to his family, as the probe for the killer focuses on a ring the girl was wearing.

Scandals and Corruption in Ireland

Like a cursed charm this leads Devlin into past scandals and corruption, which may even implicate his boss. The story includes many strong characters, such as Devlin's colleagues, Sgt Caroline Williams and John Hendry of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

But it is Devlin himself that compels the reader's focus, an ordinary guy in a rough job, making the odd mistake, apologising, occasionally letting his loving wife down with foolish lechery.

Inspired by Morse and Rebus

'Morse had died,' McGilloway says, 'Rebus was near retirement, and I thought I would write the kind of story that I would like to read if all these other series ended, with a character I would find appealing. That was where the books came from, it was a fairly selfish exercise. Certainly, I didn't write it thinking I could get this published.

'I'm a crime fan and understand why so many literary detectives are divorced, heavy-drinking mavericks. But I liked the idea of Devlin being different, happily married, not a drinker and that he would try to do his job properly. Also, at the time I wrote it, my wife was heavily pregnant with our first child. I was trying to balance work and a young family and thought it would be interesting to have Devlin doing the same. HIs mission is as a policeman making his immediate area safe for his own family.'

In a taut, concise novel McGilloway puts over a rich story with a real sense of place. There is a lot sky in Borderlands – pink, purple, orange horizons – during a snowy December along the border between Lifford and Strabane.

Mistrust and Suspicion on the Border

McGilloway says, 'Between the two police forces [north and south] there would have been a level of mistrust, I suspect. For years it was the perfect way to escape from one jurisdiction by going over the border. That has changed since the end of the Troubles and the peace process began. What's happening in the border is quite a nice metaphor for what's happening in Ireland in general, as the two sides are having to work together and overcome mistrust and suspicion. That's what appealed to me.'

The quiet but solid success of Borderlands has given McGilloway the confidence to explore new themes.

Gallows Lane and Bleed a River Dry

'Borderlands is mostly about Devlin's family and although the Troubles don't feature very much, the case is about how the past decides the present in Ireland. The second [Gallows Lane] is more about corruption in the police. When you have lived in Ireland, the corruption is fairly prevalent. The third book [Bleed a River Deep] is more about environmental concerns.

'The last couple of years have been a huge learning curve, in a good way. I am enjoying it but hopefully learning with each book.'

McGilloway Will Become a Major Brand Author

Macmillan certainly seem excited by his prospects. Though still teaching, McGilloway now has an agent, Peter Straus of RCW, and a long-term contract with Pan Macmillan.

Will Atkins, McGilloway's editor, says, 'We expect Brian to become a major brand author for Pan Macmillan. He has already enjoyed considerable success critically and commercially.' And he should, Atkins adds, 'break into the mainstream in a big way.'

The copyright of the article Brian McGilloway Interview in Mystery/Crime Fiction is owned by Robin Jarossi. Permission to republish Brian McGilloway Interview in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Gallows Lane

Brian McGilloway

Bleed a River Deep