You know, that’s a good thing for a reporter and a good thing for a mystery author. I’m the most curious person there ever could be. You have to love Hercule Poirot, but he’s not very likable.
I know Inspector Morse is dour and cranky, but he’s so brilliant. Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone-talk about a powerful woman who took control of her own life. Dorothy Sayers’s characters, Harriet Vane and Lord Peter Wimsey.
I would not be here if not for having read all of the Sherlock Holmes short stories and novellas when I was a kid. You heard me just take a breath and have to think about that. Who is your favorite detective in fiction? I’m really grateful to that series for introducing me to empowered women. And she had a cool housekeeper and a dad who loved her. I loved Nancy Drew-she was smart, she was in control, and she could figure things out. And we would fill up the saddlebags with books, often Nancy Drew to begin with, and read up in the hayloft of the barn behind our house. My sister and I used to ride our ponies to the library. Were you a Nancy Drew fan when you were growing up? I argued with my mother over that name until literally the day she died, when I apologized for it and said, “Mom, you were so right.” And she said, “You were such a difficult child.” But I remember saying, “Great, wonderful-anything but Harriet.” I’ve been Hank ever since. We’ll call you Hank.” That was in 1967, and I don’t remember who that was. On my first day of college, someone saw my computer entry card and said, “You don’t look like a Harriet. And when you’re a geeky, nerdy 14-year-old, and all the cool girls are Debbie and Linda, you do not want to be Harriet. I can’t believe you’re getting me to tell you this. We sat down with her to talk about her latest book, plus Nancy Drew, the Gardner heist, and how she ended up with the name Hank.įirst of all, what is the genesis of your name? Hank, I know, is not your given name. This month, the author-who’s also a veteran investigative reporter for WHDH-debuts her newest (and 15th!) novel, The House Guest, about a friendship between two women that isn’t what it seems.
And she has an impressive collection of literary awards to show for it: five Agathas, five Anthonys, and the coveted Mary Higgins Clark. Mind you, she’s not talking literally: As a bestselling author, Ryan spins thrillers packed with mystery and suspense until the very last page. Hank Phillippi Ryan has a confession to make: She’s tried to get away with murder 14 times so far.
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