Werribee author Pauline Toohey wasn’t short of ideas when she sat down to write her latest novel.
The former police officer drew on experiences from her 25-year career with Victoria Police to write the book, which she describes as contemporary crime.
The novel is a significant change from her first two books, which were historical fiction.
Ms Toohey’s new book, My Rickety Metronome, is based on fictional characters who work for Victoria Police, including Detective Sergeant Anna Murdoch.
“It’s a look at the black humour we use as police to cope with the horrible experiences we encounter,” she said. “This time, there was no research needed.”
Ms Toohey (below) made the transition to writing after a chance encounter with author Kerry Greenwood, who told her how difficult it was to get police to share their thoughts and experiences about the job.
“I whipped this one out quite quickly; the information was at my fingertips,” she said.
“I really did think back to my own experiences, [particularly] the relationships between coppers and the way we blend our work business with our private lives.
“I think readers will get more out of seeing that than the murder that’s in the first story.”
While it’s been almost five years since Ms Toohey left the police, she still misses the job.
“I miss the people, the work and the ups and downs,” she said. “But life is much slower now.
“I can be more selfish and spend time with my family. Before, I couldn’t do that.”
My Rickety Metronome is available at Dymocks and Readings, as well as Wyndham libraries.
