John Dean – Crime Writer

As you might expect, my crime novels receive a lot of reviews on Amazon and I find myself increasingly impressed by the way the reviewers approach the task. That is not just because they are mainly positive – they are, thank goodness – but because they tend to be honest and balanced.

I have always taken the view that everyone, even the most experienced, authors continue to learn and if a reviewer makes a valid if negative point, there may be learning in there for the author.

One of the things that strikes me is how many reviewers write about the main characters in my series as if they were old friends, impressed by their strong characteristics and disappointed when they feel let down.

As an author, I do read reviews (I know some writers don’t) but they do not influence my writing – I still pursue my own approach to the job in hand – but that does not mean I dismiss the reviewers’ comments  – they make for fascinating reading and long may my readers continue to write them!