Creating my detective Louis Mortimer


Detectives aren’t made, they’re grown. 


That was the starting point for creating my detective Louis Mortimer, the protagonist in my crime fiction series (Care & Control and The Voodoo Room).

Louis has occupied space in my head for the last decade, a bundle of energy and feelings, sometimes male, sometimes female, never fully formed. It was only when I committed myself to writing my first novel that I began to focus that amorphous figure into a man named Louis Mortimer.


I wanted a good cop.


With the media full of stories about police corruption, racism and misogyny, I wasn’t interested in creating my detective with a shaky moral compass or a bullish hyper-masculine arrogance; nor did I want a perfect little boy scout.


I remember being sat on my sofa one lunchtime in March 2023, beginning to build the roster of characters for Care & Control. Naturally, Louis was one of the first. I decided that he’d be half-Mauritian (his father’s side) and half-English (his mother’s side). I worried that his heritage might make the story seem autobiographical. I was even more hesitant about writing a gay protagonist. However, authenticity mattered more. I’m keen to add to the diversity of UK crime fiction. I certainly feel that Louis has done that.


I chose his name as a nod to the Creole/ Catholic community of Mauritius. The island is a real melting pot of cultures and religions. I envisaged his dad being from that community, giving Louis his brown skin and curly black hair.


Creating his backstory felt surprisingly natural. I wanted him to understand and empathise with adversity, hence his experience of domestic abuse as a child and as an adult. His feelings about his time in care, the instability of his mum’s mental health and the violence between his parents showcase that very human sensitivity and complexity. It would’ve been easy to write about how he’d forgiven everyone and went for Sunday Dinner each week, but how realistic would that have been? Indeed, his fractured childhood helps him build a rapport with Connor McAllen and develop trust where others had failed.


The relatable thing about Louis is how he often lurches between self-doubt and self-confidence. Given too much time, he agonises over whether he’s doing the right thing and whether he deserves a place at the table. I think this stems from his childhood, trying to keep a low profile and never quite knowing where the safe ground lay. In the heat of the moment, though, his courage and integrity shine through.


Louis’ traits and interests started to form organically. He’s a runner, choosing solitude over Park Runs to clear his head and keep his body strong. This is actually the gift Louis has given me – I took up running to see what he liked about it and it’s now my go-to for fitness and stress-busting. He’s not much of a cook: picture him on his rest-days batch-cooking chill con carne and the like to stick in the freezer ready for the coming week.  His music taste is somewhat eclectic - 90s dance, a bit of RnB, pop and reggae. You probably wouldn't find him at a heavy metal gig.


He needed to have a pet, something he could interact with in those quiet, reflective moments at home by himself. I also think there’s something endearing and reassuring about people who treat animals well. A cat was the natural choice given that he’s by himself and working shifts (and cats are ace!). Perhaps it’s also a nod to the fact that we find Louis at a time in his life when he truly has some stability: his own home, a career, free from an abusive relationship.


There’s so much more to develop for Louis. Writing The Voodoo Room has allowed me to delve into Louis’ character further, exploring his whys and wherefores as I expand on his history. His interactions with the people in his life and the experiences he has through policing will continue to shape him, as they would any other person. I always knew I’d be creating a detective series with Louis, which gives me the space to let him grow and develop texture organically.

Where I think we’ll really see his vulnerability and wonderfully-human imperfections is within his romantic relationship. Both books hint at how insecurities from his past bleed into the present. I anticipate that you’ll read future books and groan in horror as he makes bad choices borne out past scars.

I also think the job will change him. How could it not? He’ll see the worst humanity has to offer. Demand will increase, resources will become stretched. He’ll get tired, burnt out. He’ll wrestle with ethical dilemmas. I feel strongly that he won’t cross into corruption though. At his core, Louis is as stubborn as he is brave. He’ll do the right thing.


Detectives aren’t made, they’re grown. I've created my detective Louis Mortimer but his journey is just beginning. Will you join me as he grows from a newly-minted PC to a fully-fledged detective?

PS - Don't forget to book your ticket for the virtual launch of The Voodoo Room on 18 October 2025 18:30. Click here to book your ticket.