Crime author to speak in Baldivis

Dave Warner has used many cases as inspiration for his crime novels, but in a strange case of life imitating art, he was questioned by police as a suspect in the Claremont serial killings 20 years after he released a novel about serial killings in Perth.

In 1995, Warner released his first novel City of Lights, which was inspired by cases that had gripped Perth, including the Eric Edgar Cooke and Birnie murders, as well as the murder of Shirley Finn.

However, some strange coincidences — the name of the detective leading the murder case in his novel was the same as the detective who ended up investigating the Claremont killings — as well as the topics of his novels led cold-case detectives to turn up at his home in Sydney in 2015, saying he had been nominated by several people as a suspect in the murders.

Co-operating with police, Warner said it was a strange experience.

Well known for his band Dave Warner’s From The Suburbs, Warner said his love of the crime genre stemmed from a childhood in which he was captivated by Sherlock Holmes detective stories and books like The Maltese Falcon. His latest novel, River of Salt, follows Blake Saunders, a hit man for the Philadelphia mob who flees to Australia and starts over.

However, the murder of a young woman and the arrest of his friend leads Blake to hunt down the true killer.

Next week, Warner will mark his book’s launch with An Hour of Hits, Wit and Lit, when he will be joined by Tony Durant, with the two set to perform and talk about Warner’s love of crime fiction, and detail his books.

Warner will be at the Mary Davies Library and Community Centre from 4pm on Tuesday, April 2.

Entry is free but bookings are essential.

RSVP to the library by calling 9591 0800 or email mdlcccontact@ rockingham.wa.gov.au.