Books / Jayne Chard
Multi-award-winning Bristol film and TV producer and author publishes second in her crime fiction series
Jayne Chard began writing plays when she was only eight years old, finishing her first ‘novel’ in her only teens.
Although she went on to become a successful theatre director and then a multi-award-winning film and TV producer – working on crime dramas including the hugely successful Silent Witness (BBC One) – Chard never lost her passion for writing.
The first in her Julia and Frankie mystery series, More than Murder, was published in 2025, and she is now launching the second: The Body that Floats.
She joined Bristol24/7 to discuss her multi-faceted career, the background to the new novel, and the ever-growing appeal of cosy crime.
Jayne Chard and John Hannah on the set of Silent Witness – photo: Gary Moyes
You have worked as a playwright, a director, a film and TV producer, and now an author. To what extent are the lessons learned in each of those roles applicable to the others?
“There is definitely a cross-fertilisation of the skills I’ve learnt from working across theatre, film and TV drama. Writing a play, directing or producing drama or a feature film all require storytelling skills. You need to be able to make the narrative not only clear and understandable but also exciting and engaging.
“This applies to the characters, too. They need to be different from each other and distinctive, just as we are in real life. Not only must we be able to understand their motivations, but we also need to be interested in them and care about them. This is vital. If we don’t engage with the characters, we won’t engage with the story.”
What is it about ‘cosy crime’ that lends it such great appeal to readers and viewers?
“The world outside our windows has been unrelentingly grim. A global pandemic, wars, economic uncertainty, political turbulence, and a cost-of-living crisis; after five minutes of scrolling headlines, no wonder that many of us reach for something lighter. That lightness is exactly what cosy crime offers.
“The stakes are high enough to engage us — a murder is still a murder — but the narrative promises safety. There will be no lingering trauma, no moral void. Cosy crime offers a simple contract between writer and reader or viewer. We know that everything will be alright in the end. The truth will come out, and the guilty will face consequences. The world may wobble, but it will not collapse.”
Sean Pertwee and Jayne on the set of Silent Witness – photo: Gary Moyes
Can you introduce us to The Body that Floats – where did the idea for this book originate, and how did you develop it?
“The Body that Floats is the second book in the Julia and Frankie mysteries. Julia is a retired head teacher with a fondness for order; her half-sister Frankie believes that rules are more like vague suggestions. This time they’re in Portscatho in Cornwall – a small fishing village on the Roseland Peninsula, which I visit with my partner and two dogs most years.
“One morning, I was watching the swimming club as they swam out to the floating platform, and I thought, ‘what would happen if a dead body floated to the surface?’ That is the start of the mystery – the sisters’ morning swim off Tatum’s beach is rudely interrupted by a floating corpse. The police declare the death accidental, but the sisters have other ideas.
“From there, I started to research smuggling off the Cornish coast and became very interested in the history of smuggling – a lot of which found its way into the smugglers exhibition in the book and the names of some of the characters. I had an idea of the beginning, the middle and the end but as characters appear, so the story reveals itself. The sisters are particularly chatty and often lead me to what happens next…”.
Jayne Chard – photo: courtesy of the author
How do you relate to the characters of Julia and Frankie?
“It’s really important to have strong role models for women of all ages. Our society can be very ageist and we need to recognise that life doesn’t end at 60. I wanted to write characters who are clever, witty and brave. The kind of people you’d definitely invite to a dinner party.”
Writing is a famously solitary endeavour. What most excites you about finally being able to share a completed novel with an audience?
“I really enjoy doing events and talks, and am fortunate enough to have quite a few lined up for this year. I was doing a talk recently, and a young woman came up to me and said how much she loved my book. I was surprised and really pleased because I didn’t think young people would enjoy it, but I was proved wrong.
“Another reader commented that my book really cheered them up. To get these sorts of reactions is just wonderful for a writer. My intention when I set out on this journey was to write books that people would enjoy and find amusing. I’m not expecting to be rich and famous; bringing a little happiness into people’s lives is enough for me.”
Jayne Chard, The Body that Floats – photo: Chapters Crime Press
The Body that Floats by Jayne Chard (Book 2 in the Julia and Frankie mystery series) is available from all good book retailers, published by Chapters Crime Press. Find out more at jaynechard.com or follow Jayne @jaynechard1.
Main photo: Andy Railton
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