Most crime fiction plots are not ambitious enough for me. I want something really labyrinthine with clues and puzzles that will reward careful attention. Sophie Hannah ambitiousattentioncareful Change image and share on social
My favourite Friday treat is to drive out of the centre of Cambridge, where we live, and go for a swim at the health club I've just joined out in the countryside at Quy. It's a lovely pool, inside a converted barn. Usually it's just me and a couple of other swimmers there. Sophie Hannah barncambridgecentre share on social
In West Yorkshire, I'd have to drive three quarters of an hour to go shopping. Sophie Hannah drivehourquarter Change image and share on social
No one has been buried at Mill Road Cemetery in Cambridge, England, for many years, and so the place has a shady, overgrown magic about it. Sophie Hannah burycambridgecemetery Change image and share on social
The brilliant thing about swimming is that, while you're doing it, there's nothing else you could be getting on with, like the ironing or sorting out the children. My mind goes into free-float mode; some of the best ideas for plots come into my head while I'm ploughing up and down the pool. Sophie Hannah brilliantchildfloat share on social
Everything is personal - the poems and the crime novels. I have never been involved in any murders, but there are strong autobiographical elements in each. Sophie Hannah autobiographicalcrimeelement Change image and share on social
Nobody has ever written as many enjoyable, fun-to-read crime novels as Agatha Christie. It's all about the storytelling and the pleasure of the reader. She doesn't want to be deep or highbrow. Sophie Hannah agathachristiecrime Change image and share on social
No highbrow literary type would ever say 'Moby Dick' is good but it's just about a whale, or a Jane Austen would be important if she wasn't just writing about romantic relationships. Sophie Hannah austendickgood Change image and share on social
With me, even if my life depended on it, I wouldn't be able to cry. Not with somebody there. Because even if I'm talking about bad and upsetting things, if there is somebody else in the room, I am trying to entertain them. If there is somebody there, I am in performance mode. I can only cry if I am on my own. Sophie Hannah badcrydepend share on social