What is the title of your latest release?
I’M NOT THE ONLY MURDERER IN MY RETIREMENT HOME
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
Carol Quinn, a retired serial killer, is released from prison and decides to live her final years in a luxury retirement home. When a resident is murdered, everyone assumes she did it. Now she has to find the real killer and clear her name. What makes that all the trickier, is that every other resident seems to be a retired investigator of some sort.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
I wanted to take a quintessentially cozy mystery location, chuck a serial killer into the mix, and see what happens. A luxury retirement home felt like a good fit.
Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
I think Carol Quinn would be great fun to hang out with. That said: I wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of her.
What are three words that describe your hero?
Oddly likeable murderer
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
I’ve always loved to make people laugh, but with this book, I learned how rewarding it is to dig deeper into who the characters really are. I also learned that if you’re feeling a little sleepy after lunch, a Twix and a Dr Pepper will give you the boost you need to write another 1000 words.
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I tend to tinker a lot, just fiddling with the odd sentence from the previous day, but I save big scary structural things for draft two.
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
When it comes to indulgence, I’m a dessert man. I’ll happily/shamefully dive into anything, but right now I’m picturing a big plate of profiteroles.
Describe your writing space/office!
It’s a pretty amateur set up. While my girlfriend does her real job upstairs, I sit at our dining table. I plant my laptop on top of two perfectly sized hardbacks, to get it to the correct height, and start writing. In the morning, I’ll have a coffee by my side. In the afternoon I move onto tea.
Who is an author you admire?
There are so many but the first to blow my mind was John Steinbeck.
Is there a book that changed your life?
I’ll give you two: I didn’t read through most of my teens but when I was about 19, East of Eden by John Steinbeck turned me into a book lover and taught me how much words on a page could do. Much later on, Kill Your Friends by John Niven taught me how funny a book could be and triggered the thought that maybe, one day, writing a novel might be something I’d like to try.
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published). Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
For this particular book, I think I was in the queue at the supermarket when I got the email with the official offer. I may have added a bottle of wine to my basket but I don’t remember. I never quite believe that books are actually happening until they’re out, so I tend to be pretty restrained in my celebrations. A couple of decades in the brutal entertainment industry has taught me to be careful when it comes to counting chickens.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
I’m very promiscuous when it comes to book genres. If I want a guaranteed good time, I’ll reach for a John Niven comic thriller. I love Michael Lewis’s non-fiction books, the lighter end of literary fiction and – of course – a good whodunnit.
What’s your favorite movie?
Insanely difficult question. Would it be terribly boring of me to say It’s A Wonderful Life? Probably the film I’ve watched more than any other. To make my answer more interesting, I’ll add that I think Enough Said is the most underrated film.
What is your favorite season?
They all have their merits, but when we have a good one, a London summer is the best.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
Endless towers of profiteroles.
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
I’m typically years behind on everything, but I really enjoyed the British comedy writer Ben Elton’s recent memoir WHAT HAVE I DONE?.
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
Ask me on another day and my answer could be different but today I think Indian food is at the top of my rankings.
What do you do when you have free time?
I’m pretty obsessive about sport. Newcastle United, the Toronto Blue Jays and the England cricket team will all keep me rooted to the couch for hours if I can get away with it. Beyond that, I do love a good, long walk that ends at a nice pub.
What can readers expect from you next?
In writing I’M NOT THE ONLY MURDERER IN MY RETIREMENT HOME, I met a bunch of characters I really love. I don’t think their story is over. Someone described my book as “cracked cozy”, which is a great term for it. I think I have a good few more cracked cozy mysteries left in me.
I’M NOT THE ONLY MURDERER IN MY RETIREMENT HOME by Fergus Craig
Narrator: Joan Walker
After a decades-long stint in prison, former serial killer Carol is looking to kick back and relax in her new retirement home…until a fellow resident drops dead and Carol has to prove she actually didn’t do it this time….
Carol is delighted to be leaving her tiny prison cell behind to take her place in a luxury retirement home. She’s hoping her past as a serial killer won’t come to light so she can make a few friends and find some murder-free hobbies. But it’s not long before a fellow resident—who happens to be a former police commissioner—drops dead, and Carol’s true identity is leaked—making catching up over daily activities of bingo and baking rather awkward.
Just her luck, Carol soon realizes that the victim wasn’t the only former law enforcement officer at Sheldon Oaks—it’s filled to the brim with former cops, barristers, and government representatives, her newfound friends included. And everyone thinks Carol’s guilt is a no-brainer, but she is ready to prove them dead wrong…without killing anyone, for once.
Humor | Mystery Amateur Sleuth [ Berkley, On Sale: February 17, 2026, Hardcover / e-Book / audiobook, ISBN: 9798217189052 / eISBN: 9798217189069 ]
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About Fergus Craig
As well as an author, Fergus is a multi-award-winning actor, comedian and writer for television. I’m Not The Only Murderer In My Retirement Home is his third novel. He lives in London.
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