Our Suburban Boy Dave Warner has just produced his 13th crime novel, When It Rains, a thrilling page turner set in WA’s far north.
He chats to The Starfish:
In a nutshell, what’s it about?
My Broome-based detective Dan Clement is bored with small town police work and wondering if he should head back to Perth where he was the best in the business. He also has a new woman in his life and is unsure where that might lead. Never wish for anything, you might get it – that’s what happens to Dan with a deluge of crime in the Kimberley. Then when body parts are found in Kununurra tied to a post, he realises somebody was left there to be attacked by crocodiles. Dan has to establish who the victim is, who the killer might be (apart from the croc), and who could be next in line. Each time he thinks he has an answer it turns out to be wrong, leaving Dan to contemplate if he still has it.
For readers not familiar with this character, what kind of a fellow is Dan?
He’s a fairly serious character, very good at his job but like many men approaching 50,wondering where his life is headed. He was deeply in love with his wife who called it quits on him and after trying unsuccessfully to win her back, he has finally got her out of his system. He is no lothario but finds himself now with a younger woman who rides a motorcycle and has a tattoo. It’s all a bit of a challenge. But Dan is not a quitter, and he will see things through as best he can.
Are there elements of Dave Warner in Dan Clement? And if so, what in particular?
We share typical male insecurities and have some similar musical tastes though Dan runs a bit more modern than me. He’s more sensitive too – but not as smart and is always two steps behind me on a case.
The book features some surprising twists and turns, keeping us guessing. When you’re writing a crime thriller, do you already know how it will end, or do you even surprise yourself as you go along?
I always begin with an ending in mind but that ending can shift as the story grows organically. It is not uncommon for me to change my mind about who the killer is well into the book, but I still know pretty much how it’s going to end. If I feel the plot is too easy or a bit of a cliché, I might work hard to find a better solution that will baffle the reader but still prove satisfying.
You consulted a police officer to help make some of the police detective work sound authentic: how, in particular, did this help?
Writing a contemporary police-procedural crime novel is very tricky without genuine police input. Cosy crime and historically set crime novels don’t need to have too much in the way of `inside knowledge’ but in this novel for example, I had a lot of questions on telecommunications in the outback. Just how and what could police track? How would they travel? Can police crack a phone like you see in TV shows? Robert Kirby, my adviser, was fantastic. We would run scenarios together so that I could find the right situation I needed to deliver a credible outcome.
Does this kind of research give you more appreciation of the work cops have to do to solve crimes?
I think the main thing that I get from working with Rob is just how imperfect the crime-solving thing is. There are many, many holes for bad guys to slip through. Not only are the police themselves fallible but there are technical issues and legal ramifications that make investigations difficult. And I never lose sight of the fact that at any time police might find themselves in a life-threatening situation.
Without giving too much away, crocodiles play a part in the story. Was there an incident or experience that gave you the idea to include these creatures in the book?
From my first Dan Clement novel, ‘Before it Breaks’, I’d set out to create a series where the location was as big a character as any human. I think I was the first writer in the new wave of `outback crime’, my idea being that solving crime in a place where there was desert, crocodiles and killer sharks, was unique and exotic, and presented specific challenges to those enforcing the law. So, crocs featured from day one in the series. A couple of years back I was lucky to be invited to the Kununurra Writer’s Festival which was a hoot, and an eye-opener, and which also gave me the opportunity to be up close and personal to crocs in their territory. Crocodiles are so prehistoric, fascinating and scary that I just wanted to make them integral to my story and so in `When it Rains’ death by crocodile is foregrounded. A fabulous cover helps get the message across too!
Though you’ve lived in Sydney for decades, you still return to WA frequently and many of your books are set here; does this reflect your abiding love for the West?
I will always be a West Australian. My whole personality was formed in WA and I’ve tried to reflect my experiences of that in all my music and writing. Not every book I write will have WA as its focus, but it is completely a part of me: Children’s Channel 7, Peter Loader at the WACA, Rigby in the Daily News, Fremantle derbies, countless gigs at the Shenton Park, Raffles and Charles and that bloody January heat. It really is unique, and it will always be home – by the way, to prove the point my next musical release is Perth’s very own, unique Christmas song. Jamie Mercanti, Nicole my wife, and I, banded together with Martin Cilia to create `Rottnest Christmas’ by the Quokkaz. I hope you will all be sick of hearing it by the time you are opening your pressies.
You recently returned for the funeral of your close friend Dave Zampatti, with whom you embarked on many creative projects in earlier times. What did he mean to you, David?
David Zampatti and I first met in 1976 when I returned to Perth after a year overseas writing songs and defining a new musical direction, suburban rock. We instantly got on, began working together on various live music projects, formed our own little music agency, and tried to create fun events for our generation of Perth people. That kind of loose partnership continued for years as we created The Sensational Sixties; one of the very first big tribute shows; worked comedy revues and started what we believe were the world’s first `murder weekends.’ David was a huge part of my life, like the late Johnny Leopard so it’s devastating to lose him.
You’re back here in Perth for a few days, doing what?
This is exciting. I’m here forthe lead up to the famous Hungerford Awards held annually by my publisher Fremantle Press. This year the awards are slotted for Thursday evening October 24 where I will be contributing a small musical presence – exactly what must remain a mystery for now.
On Wednesday October 23 at 1.30pm you will find me ‘in conversation’ at the Boya Library in Mundaring. These are always terrific events so please book and come along if you are free.
No doubt, you’re already working on your next novel; what can you tell us about it?
Novel number 14 Of Sound Mind and Dead Body is a very big change in pace from When it Rains. It is a classic golden-age Agatha Christie style whodunnit, set in Devon in 1929. While set in England it features an Australian detective, Fred Willets, who flew in the war (WW1) and has recently been in the gold squad in Kalgoorlie. I’ve tried to make it as true to Agatha as I can, so it is not a modern re-working. The plot come from the very first murder weekend that David Zampatti and I staged and the book will be dedicated to him. It is scheduled for release around April 2025 with Fremantle Press.
I’m also working on a new `Snowy Lane’ novel, a second instalment of my characters from my 2000 book `Exxxpresso’, and a thriller. And of course, plenty of music, especially Rottnest Christmas.
What do you love most about writing thrillers, and does it get easier with each new book?
I love that crime books have an exciting plot but that the characters can be human and complex too. They can allow you the chance for satire (Exxxpresso), social commentary (City of Light) or history (Of Sound Mind and Dead Body)
While I still read literary novels and enjoy them, I can get a bit impatient with them. On the other hand, there is such an inundation of crime books – particularly Australian – that it can be difficult to come up with something new and unique, but as long as people enjoy my books I will attempt to keep writing them.
When It Rains (Fremantle Press) is out now.
