Author Alison Bruce, genius creator of the ‘Gary Goodhue’ series, released her newest book ‘Because She Looked Away’ - the first in her ‘Ronnie Blake’ series at her book launch at Downing College, Cambridge, on 3rd October 2024. 

Alison Bruce, 2013 author shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association dagger-in-the-library award, has written ten successful crime novels and two non-fiction titles.

Her skillful, dedicated novels portray the inside knowledge and workings of modern policing due to her role as a key member of the Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) Police Education Team.

Her connections to real life detectives, her Police Education qualifications and the opportunities presented to her, leave readers with authentically written novels that add something real, intense and edgy to them that other crime writers lack.

Now after a decade of writing Alison’s done it again, launching her new book ‘Because She looked Away’, and even announcing her current work-in-progress sequel ‘Crash and Burn’ at the Masters Lodge in Downing College.

Though Alison bases all her stories in Cambridge - sticking close to home and finding it ‘‘important to represent Cambridgeshire accurately’’ - that is where similarities end with her past books; Choosing to have a female protagonist ‘Ronnie’ with a different, less positive opinion of Cambridge compared to her past detective ‘Gary Goodhue’.

Cambridge is the location for all of Alison’s books but Downing College has yet to make an appearance, something Alison believes may change now.

The amazing launch was organised and hosted by ‘Bodies in the Bookshop’ an independent specialist crime fiction bookshop who recently opened in Botolph Lane, Cambridge.

Alison confidently believes they are ‘‘The best crime bookshop in the country’’ and has launched all her books with co-owner Richard Reynold and hopes to continue this with Richard and Jon Gifford in the future.

A diverse crowd of over 100 people attended, consisting of fans, those featured in the book’s acknowledgements, retired Detectives and her supportive friends and family. 

The atmosphere was charged and excitable throughout the two hours (6:30pm-8:30pm) in the decorative library - a perfect scene for a thriller.

Starting and ending with book signings and kind words with fans, which Alison seemed to enjoy the most; showing an author who clearly loves doing what she does and genuinely enjoys meeting fans and sharing her books.

And a book talk in between, where she thanked ‘Bodies in the Bookshop’ and explained how it felt right to have them host her launch as one of the owners, Richard, had been with her since the beginning and him hosting for her had become ‘‘a bit of a tradition’’.

Alison assured the crowd that she has not yet finished with the ‘Gary Goodhue’ series and is simply having a hiatus to focus on something different.

Her only book teaser was a short, snappy, and full of promise sentence; ‘’Night after Night I watched Jodi die’’.

Which, as Richard said in his follow-up speech is an excellent ‘‘taste for the future’’ and what’s to come.