Please introduce yourself…
My name is Michael Gallagher; I was born in New Zealand. I moved to London in my early twenties. and it's now my home. Until quite recently I was a teacher by profession, but I have since retired to write full time. I used to be an avid reader but, with my writing now taking precedence, I'm lucky if I manage to read one book per month—usually for the Canada Water Crimes & Thrillers reading group that I attend.
You're a writer of historical fiction and more especially of cozy thrillers. Tell us about Gooseberry, the main character in your Send for Octavius Guy series.
Gooseberry (whose real name is Octavius Guy) first saw light of day in Wilkie Collins’s The Moonstone. He was Mr Bruff the solicitor’s errand boy, who played a pivotal role in tracking down the real culprit who stole the gem. He was nicknamed Gooseberry on account of his bulging eyes. Collins never gives us his age, but I’d estimate he was about ten. By the time I take up his story, the year is 1852. He’s now fourteen, possibly a little skinnier but not that much taller. He’s still working as Mr Bruff’s errand boy yet he hankers for more; in his mind’s eye, he sees himself as a detective.
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