J.K. Rowling Working on Crime Novel

Posted on August 20, 2007

J.K. Rowling hasn't skipped a beat after the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: she's already hard at work on her next book, a detective novel. Bestselling crime novelist Ian Rankin told a journalist about his neighbor's literary activities.

J.K. Rowling has been spotted at cafes in Scotland working on a detective novel, a British newspaper reported Saturday. The Sunday Times newspaper quoted Ian Rankin, a fellow author and neighbor of Rowling's, as saying the creator of the "Harry Potter" books is turning to crime fiction.
"My wife spotted her writing her Edinburgh criminal detective novel," the newspaper, which was available late Saturday, quoted Rankin as telling a reporter at an Edinburgh literary festival. "It is great that she has not abandoned writing or Edinburgh cafes," said Rankin, who is known for his own police novels set in the historic Scottish city.

Presumably, Jo doesn't mind Ian's idly chatting away to a journalist about her new novel. Or perhaps he'll receive a sharply-worded email from her if she is suddenly approached by fans who've been scouring the cafes in Edinburgh looking for the famous author at work. We're certainly glad he spoke up, of course. A crime novel...how interesting.