Tag Archives: addicted to death

April 10, 2017 · 9:30 am

Spring Reads Guest Post – Matthew Redford

Now regular readers of my blog will be familiar with the hilarious world of Food Sapiens and our main carrot DI Wortel. Remember the case of the dead mince spy? For those of you who have no idea what I’m on about you can find out more here (Addicted to death by Matthew Redford – a review, Who killed the Mince Spy BLOG TOUR – Guest post) 

Well as part of the Spring Reads 2017 I am delighted to welcome back Matthew Redford, author of Addicted to Death, which tops the list of funniest crime novel ever in my opinion. I was keen to find out more about the food sapiens. So I’ll hand you over to Matthew.

Thank you so much for letting me write a short piece for the readers of your blog. I have been asked to write on the subject of how I came up with my characters which I think is a really interesting question, because after all, how many Food Sapiens detectives do you really know about?

I’m sensing that I may have lost you there. Food Sapiens. Walking, talking, breathing food items who are integrated and part of our society. Still not with me? Check out the Genetically Modified Food Sapiens Act 1955 and you’ll find out that Food Sapiens were finally released from captivity after initially being held by Government scientists who discovered that genetically modified food items developed their own conscious. But once the Government realised they had above average intelligence and could set up business and of course, pay taxes, then their release was inevitable.

And over the years Food Sapiens have integrated fully into everyday life, so much so that they have blended in without anyone realising. And this is why I think it’s so interesting that I am often asked by people how I came up with my characters. The honest answer is that I didn’t create them, they actually exist, and I am writing about real life events. Now for anybody that has read ‘Addicted to Death’, or ‘Who Killed the Mince Spy?’ you might that hard to believe, but I guarantee that I speak the truth. In Addicted to Death, poor Benedict and Darcy Blacktail, two eggs very much in love, were brutally murdered by a hitman with a large metal spoon, (stop sniggAddicted to Deathering at the back, it’s no yolk), while a Christmas drama unfolded in Who Killed the Mince Spy? as an MI GasMark5 secret agent was deliberately over baked and charred. That was such a difficult case for the Food Related Crime Team as the death of the mince spy, while horrific, smelt so good.

So let me take a few moments to introduce you to some of the lead Food Sapiens characters:

Detective Inspector Willie Wortel – the Head of the Food Related Crime Team and the leading Food Sapiens detective of his generation, DI Willie Wortel, carrot, leads the fight against food crime. Renowned for his sharp mind, his bravery and courage, Wortel has tackled the psychopath Sammy the Shrimp, foiled the evil MadCow McBeef and managed to find work suits that somehow complement his tall, spiky green hair.

Oranges and Lemons – two fruit officers who work with DI Wortel. I would have said they support, help and assist Wortel but that would be a lie. Probably better to use words like torment, hinder, annoy…but, and this is just my opinion, I think he quite likes having them around really. One word of warning however. If you do bump into them and start chatting, please don’t ask them who borrowed five farthings because you might never get away.

MadCow McBeef – evil genius and nemesis of Wortel. Currently incarcerated at the Farmer Giles Mental Institution, but under close surveillance at all times. Avoid at all costs. Enough said.

USA President Rump Steak – a surprise election winner who some might say should be incarcerated alongside MadCow McBeef, but who nonetheless, is under close surveillance at all times. Avoid at all costs. Enough said.

Curly Kale Minogue – one of my favourite singers also happens to be a Food Sapiens icon. With her breakthrough song ‘I should be so leeky’ and the disco classic ‘Can’t get you out of my bread’ she is often top of the charts battling it out with Ham Smith and CornFed Sheeren.

Russell Toastie – now I need to be completely professional here when describing this actor. I need to make sure that I let you know I respect his acting ability and what I am about to say has nothing to do with his good looks and physique…hubba hubba hubba…

So that is a small insight into the world of Food Sapiens, who are not made up characters, but real life people who go about their daily business just like you and me. There are good Food sapiens and those who sometimes take a criminal turn. But we can rest assured for while we have Detective Inspector Willie Wortel, we can sleep safely tonight.

Thank you very much Matthew, I am very much looking forward to reading more about Food sapiens and finding out what DI Willie Wortel is up to.

 

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June 23, 2016 · 4:27 pm

Addicted to death – Matthew Redford Q and A – Blogival Tour

I love the idea of a good festival, Glastonbury is kicking off this weekend with some great bands and I do like the idea of going for a few days. Until that is, I realise it involves camping, mud, portaloos and lots of other people. Therefore as an alternative I’m taking part in a much more civilized festival, Blogival!

For the first of two acts appearing on the ‘acrimereadersblog stage’ I’m delighted to welcome author Matthew Redford. You may remember I read his book Addicted to Death last year (my review is here) and it was one of the funniest books I’d read in a long time!

So thanks for joining me Matthew. I loved your novel, what inspired you to write about Food-sapiens?

I want to be the champion for the Food-Sapiens community who, in my eyes, are under-represented in the crime fiction world. After all, little old ladies have Miss Marple and Hetty Wainthropp, even the nation of Belgium has two notable crime exports in Poirot and TinTin, and the poor Food-Sapiens have been once again overlooked. So I wanted to raise their profile and make people realise that Food-Sapiens play an important part in today’s society.  Just ask yourself whether the world we live in would be diminished without the likes of the Eurovision stars of the past such as Brotherhood of Yam and Sandwich Shaw? I think we know the answer…

What is your typical working day like?

The dreaded morning alarm erupts at 5:30am and after some early morning cursing and a few uses of the snooze button, I am up and about just after 6am. A quick coffee and a bite to eat at home before I hotfoot it to the train station. I’m in work for 9am where I work my fingers to the bone (naturally) before the evening train calls. Home just after 7pm, prep dinner, stick some music on (type depends on the mood) and either catch-up with friends, read or just slump on the sofa…And then it all begins again in the morning. Roll on the weekend!

What is your ideal afternoon off work?

So many things to do, such little time. I would start off by having a nice light lunch, supplemented by a glass of rose (just one of course). I would like to have planned the afternoon so that I was either meeting friends or catching up with my parents perhaps, and we would find a nice quiet corner of a coffee shop and spend a good few hours gossiping. Afterwards we would go for a walk through one of London’s parks or maybe along the embankment, before heading into town and picking up tickets for a night at the theatre (something musical). 

Do you read a lot yourself and if so who are your favourite authors?

I do try to read as much as possible and I find few train journey home a good way of fitting in some reading. I’m currently reading the British Library Classic range – a real treat for how crime mysteries were once written. 

Do you have a ‘day job’ or are you a full time writer?

I have a full time job working for a healthcare regulator which I genuinely love. I work with a great group of people and that makes such a difference. Would I like to be a full time writer? If it paid the bills and kept a roof over my head, then yes, I would love to give it a try. 

And so finally, what are you working on next?

Ah, the follow up novel – “Know your onions” is the working title. And just for you a little spoiler. DI Wortel is going to have delve into the world of vinegar fracking, which you might not know, is one of the UK’s biggest exports and a fundamental factor underpinning our economic success… 

I can’t wait to read that, and to catch up with the food-sapiens again.

Addicted to Death is currently available on amazon

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October 4, 2015 · 7:57 pm

Addicted to death by Matthew Redford – a review

I was sent a copy of Addicted to Death to review a while ago so it’s been sat on my kindle unread. On a train recently I’d just finished a book and this was at the top of the unread books list so I clicked on it without really remembering what it was about. I had a vague recollection it was about a food related crime.
The book starts as any good crime book does with a murder. The savage beating of two eggs – yes, you read that right. Two eggs. The story tells of a world where Homo-sapiens live side by side with Food-sapiens. These are food items created by GM processes that now walk and talk. Think the Garden Gang meets adult story time.
DI Wortel (a carrot) is in charge of investigating the murder, which he has to do alongside other food related crimes including death threats that have been received by celebrity chefs, and the murder of Professor Perry Partridge (a pear) He is assisted by new recruits Oranges and Lemons (who are obsessed with owing someone five farthings)
If I’m honest had I realised this book included talking fruit and vegetables I would probably have given it a miss. However I’m very glad I didn’t, this was bizarre but excellent. I can honestly say that some bits were hilarious. There was one paragraph involving a rabbit, a bunch of grapes and some origami that actually made me laugh out loud (thereby ensuring the empty train seat next to me remained that way for the rest of the journey)
The story itself was good and kept you interested. The ending was certainly a surprise that I didn’t see coming. Yet the real appeal of this book was the humour. Surely you have to love a story that includes references to TV duo Ant and Duck (one a man, one a duck who always stands on the right so people don’t get confused) and celebrity footballer Wayne Rooster who plays for Breadenham Hotspuds.
It was a testament to the writing of the fruit and veg characters (there’s a sentence I never thought I’d write on a crime blog!) that you almost forget they are not people. As much as it’s possible to care about a cookie you really start to worry about them. The different personalities of the chefs in the story worked well. Clearly based on real life TV celebrities their portrayal is very funny and give an additional element of humour to the whole novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and haven’t laughed so much at a book for ages. I think this was Matthew Redford’s debut novel and I hope it leads to more. If you fancy a light hearted crime ‘caper’ and were a Garden Gang fan as a child then this is definitely for you.

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