Philippa Perry's 'cosy crime' novel set in South Downs

Philippa Perry's 'cosy crime' novel set in South Downs4 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleLeanne RinneSouth East, in EastbourneLeanne Rinne/BBCTV broadcaster and psychotherapist Philippa Perry has published her first murder mystery novel Psychotherapist and TV agony aunt Philippa Perry says she is delighted to "finally join the murder mystery club" after publishing her debut crime novel. Perry, 68, chose to set her novel in the South Downs where she has lived with her husband, artist and writer Grayson Perry, for more than 25 years. She is well-known for using her experience as a psychotherapist to write non-fiction books, including bestseller The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read.Of her new release, she said: "It's a cosy crime novel for people who like to lose themselves in a book and for people who like a good page turner."Shrink Solves Murder is for everyone, she said, but particularly those who enjoy Agatha Christie and Richard Coles novels. 'Walking feeds my imagination'"I really wanted to write good characters and there's nothing like a murder to drive a plot," she added."I always wanted to set the book around Birling Gap in East Sussex because when I go for walks there it feeds my imagination. "Grayson and I chose to live here because I like the sea and swimming and he likes the hills and mountain biking and we get to enjoy both of those on our doorstep."Perry said she never "tests" her writing on friends or family."I keep them out of it because they tend to make suggestions and it's got to be my book," she said. Getty ImagesPhilippa Perry and Grayson Perry live in the South Downs, where the novel is setIn the story a body is found on a beach and is originally ruled a suicide but the main character, a psychotherapist, suspects something darker and turns detective. "There are some similarities between me and my main character but she'...