‘You can only challenge or break the rules of each genre when you know what they are’

How do I write in my chosen genre?

I trust my instincts when it comes to crafting layers of suspense. Where to start or end each chapter, for instance.

I also read a lot of psychological thrillers, suspense novels and police procedurals before I began writing Yesterday (a high-concept thriller about a murder which happens in a world where most people only remember yesterday, a novel that spans all three genres). I believe that you can only challenge or break the rules of each genre when you know what they are. Yet writing also involves research. Most experts are incredibly helpful and generous with their time, if you ask for advice politely. My contact in the Metropolitan Police, for example, sent back ten pages of brilliant suggestions.