Twister by Jane Woodham by Kay Mercer

Twister by Jane Woodham

In December 2015, Rosa Mira Books published Twister, a crime novel by local writer Jane Woodham.

Detective Senior Sergeant Leo Judd is to lead the investigation into the death of a missing schoolgirl, despite unresolved sorrow over the disappearance of his own daughter nine years earlier. Sultry weather broods over the beleaguered city as suspects are sifted and pressure mounts for Judd to solve the crime. Meanwhile his wife, Kate, tries to find the courage she needs to tell him the secrets she’s been nursing for too long – including one about the disappearance of their beloved Beth.

Described as a very Dunedin novel, Twister has been receiving some great feedback, with Graham Beattie calling it ‘a most impressive first novel…a superb piece of writing.’ 

Local writer and New Zealand Society of Authors national council delegate Gay Buckingham, asked Jane some questions about writing her first novel.


What did you think you were writing, when you started Twister?
When reading crime fiction I'm usually more interested in the detective than any convoluted plot, so my focus was always going to be the detective rather than the crime. They say create a character then torture him. Judd is investigating the case of a missing teen while his own teenage daughter remains missing. I couldn't think or anything more torturous than that.

Why so location specific?
I figured I'd have enough on my hands creating people, motives and plots without having also to create a location. And people love the fact Twister is set in Dunedin. They follow the characters down familiar streets: they wait at the traffic lights in Lower Stuart Street and inhale the scent of strawberry fondant from the Cadbury factory, they sit on a bench at St Clair watching the waves while the locals walk their dogs. They get to experience swimming at the salt water pool, even if they have never swum there themselves, they remember what a cool city Dunedin is.


Any fears someone might recognise, or think they recognise, a character?
No. Of course there are co-incidences, but I'm not worried. I know I created each of my characters from scratch.

I've seen Twister described as sui generis - a genre that goes beyond conventional borders. Would you agree with that?
Yes. The break up in Judd's marriage is equally as important to the story as the current police investigation. Twister is also political. Set in 2013, it reflects the politics of that time, specifically the gay marriage debate. I introduced a series of gay bashings and a gay detective in order to open up that debate within the story.

Who are your favourite crime writers?
PD James, Ian Rankin, Ann Cleeves.

And favourite writer, generally?
Colm Toibin. I love the humanity of his stories, the rhythm and precision of his prose, and the patience with which he reveals each of his characters.

Will your next novel be a crime novel?
It will be a mystery. There is a detective, and a dead body, but it will not be police procedural.

Set in Dunedin?
Not sure. You’ll have to wait and see.