Short sharp shock

‘Subtle, insidious, disturbingly creepy.’ That was the judges’ verdict on the work of employment lawyer Martin Edwards. And not only did they mean it as a compliment, they even let him trouser £1500 for his trouble… They were, of course, the judges of the annual Crime Writers Association short story competition, which Edwards had won for his ‘spine-tingling’ tale The Bookbinders’ Apprentice. Edwards has published 12 novels and ‘40-plus’ short stories. He denied sourcing plots from his day job as head of employment at Liverpool firm Mace & Jones, saying only that ‘it is a privilege to be able to do both law and writing’. He added that Mace & Jones has now launched its own short story competition on the theme of justice. Open to amateurs and professionals, it is part of Liverpool’s Capital of Culture celebrations. Visit: www.maceandjones.co.uk.