Nothing is What it Seems in Ben Crane’s Crime Noir Novel

Charlotte Readers Podcast

In this episode 367, we feature Ben Crane, and his novel, A Man of Lies. Publisher’s Weekly says “Crane’s ambitious, fast-moving debut follows a gay mobster desperate to leave the underworld behind. There’s a lot of bloodshed and a lot of plot twists here. Bold and exciting.” The book received a Library Journal starred review.
Show discussion highlights:
● Ben’s background in the film industry and living in LA
● How Ben’s experiences in the film industry influence his writing now
● Exploring major themes in A Man of Lies, not everything is what it seems
● Crafting a fast paced novel, advice for anyone trying to write a thriller
● Accurately representing queerness in crime fiction
● At the core of this story is the idea that “radical empathy changes everything”
● Writing a book from multiple viewpoints
Brief author bio: Ben Crane wanted to be an architect until he was seven years old and the carefully plotted fort in his parents' basement collapsed after ten minutes. He is a former film executive whose credits include the Jack Ryan and Equalizer franchises. He lives with his partner and their two dogs in Los Angeles, where he plays board games. In his spare time, he writes novels and comics.
Learn more about the author and their books HERE. https://bencranewrites.com
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