Crime fiction and why we keep coming back: The repeat protagonist

Detectives, tea ladies, journos, psychologists – what's the appeal of the crime series and repeat protagonist? Kate Evans with crime writers Michael Robotham, Tim Ayliffe and Amanda Hampson onstage at the BAD Sydney Crime Festival. GUESTS Michael Robotham, internationally bestselling crime writer, whose books include the Joe O'Loughlin series and the Cyrus Haven series. His latest is Storm Child. Tim Ayliffe, journalist and novelist, whose central character is also a media man. John Bailey is his name – and the latest book in that series is The Wrong Man. Amanda Hampson is an author of many novels, whose crime novels, set in the 1960s, feature tea ladies. Her latest is The Cryptic Clue. CRIME SERIES MENTIONED IN THE DISCUSSION Ian Rankin, Rebus series Michael Connelly, Bosch and McEvoy series Anne Cleeves, Vera series Janet Evanovitch, Stephanie Plum series Kerry Greenwood, Phryne Fischer series Stieg Larsson, Lisbeth Salander series Peter Høeg, Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow Stephen King's Holly Gibney series Patricia Cornwall's Kay Scarpetta series Mick Herron's Slow Horses Tom Clancy, works Peter Temple's Jack Irish series John Le Carre, works Jack Beaumont, Frenchman series Walter Mosley, Easy Rawlins series Adrian McKinty, Sean Duffy series Sulari Gentill, Rowland Sinclair series Candice Fox, works Sujata Massey, Perveen Mistry series Chris Hammer, works Candice Fox, works Don Winslow, works Presenter: Kate Evans Producer: Kate Evans + Sarah Corbett Sound engineers: John Jacobs + Tegan Nicholls Executive Producer: Rhiannon Brown