Tariq Ashkanani writes a dark tale on a serial killer in his latest novel, The Midnight King. We asked him to recommend other novels on serial killers that he considers vital reading.

The Midnight King
By Tariq Ashkanani
Published by Viper

Red Dragon

The biggie. Probably the book that had the biggest influence on me as a writer – it made me realise how dark and creepy stories could really be. At its heart it’s a pretty simple story of a detective hunting a killer, but the time spent fleshing out Frances Dolarhyde elevates his character wonderfully. Plus, Hannibal Lector!

American Psycho

Another excellent jaunt inside the mind of a deranged killer. In part a black comedy, a commentary on consumerism and filled with gruesome imagery, this isn’t your typical crime novel. The reader sees the world so completely through the unreliable eyes of Patrick Bateman that as the novel progresses, it becomes harder and harder to untangle what is fact and what is fiction.

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark

This account of the hunt for the Golden State Killer is an absolutely riveting read, and made even more so by the fact that it’s a true story. Michelle McNamara’s tireless investigation makes for fascinating reading – albeit a bittersweet one at times; McNamara sadly passed away before the book was released, and just shortly before the Golden State Killer was caught.

The Five

Another factual book, The Five explores the legacy of the infamous Jack the Ripper – but focuses exclusively on his victims rather than the killer himself. It makes for a refreshing take, and I certainly found that almost all of my preconceptions about the victims were wrong in one way or another. It also discusses society’s fascination with serial killers, and whether this is ultimately a good thing or not.

Sharp Objects

Whilst Gone Girl is the title that always comes up whenever people talk about Gillian Flynn, for me Sharp Objects is the better book. A journalist returns home to cover a series of murders and becomes embroiled with her family, the detective working the case and her own past. It’s an absolutely brilliant novel that keeps you guessing the whole way through.

Tell us about The Midnight King.

When it came to writing The Midnight King, I knew I wanted to write something dark and scary. What scares us changes as we grow older, however. I have two young children now, which I didn’t when I first started writing, and I realised that something happening to either of them was a new fear that I had unlocked. Exploring that felt like an obvious route to go down!

I also wanted to focus less on the traditional serial killer story and instead look at the legacy that a killer leaves behind. How it impacts on those around them – their family, their friends. What happens to those people once the killer is gone, and are their victims restricted only to the dead?

The Midnight King by Tariq Ashkanani is published by Viper, priced £16.99.