Introducing Hannah Howe

Hannah Howe

Hannah Howe is the author of the Sam Smith Mystery Series. Her books are published by Goylake Publishing and are available in print, as eBooks and as audio books. Reflecting Hannah’s background, the Sam Smith novels contain a mixture of mystery, psychology, humour and romance.

A message from Hannah: Many thanks to everyone who has entered Sam’s world. As you know, Sam rarely has an easy ride, but along the way I hope that we entertain you, occasionally amuse you and demonstrate that through good people and good intentions it is possible to make the world a better place. In essence, that is what the series is all about: a person enters Sam’s life with a problem and together they seek a solution. I write from life and seek to tackle some sensitive issues while remaining true to my favourite genre, the private detective novel.

Sam’s Story

Sam was born on the 1 April 1983. She has no memory of her father or any idea who he might be. Her mother’s husband was killed in the Falklands war and the dates of conception and birth make it highly unlikely that he was Sam’s father, despite her mother’s insistence that he was. At other times, Sam’s mother would claim that Sam’s father was an American soldier based in Britain. Despite exhaustive investigations, Sam can find no evidence for this claim.

Sam’s earliest memory of her mother is of a woman slouched in a chair with an empty gin bottle in her hand. Sam’s mother was an alcoholic and from the time she could walk Sam became her carer and the ‘woman of the house’. Caring for her mother disrupted Sam’s education and she dropped out of Secondary school. Instead of a formal education, Sam would spend all her free time at the local library and educate herself through books.

Sam was in her early twenties when her mother died. At that point she went to night school and trained as a secretary-typist. She joined an agency and obtained steady employment. Then she met a journalist, Dan Hackett. Handsome and charismatic, Dan charmed Sam into a swift marriage and a week into that marriage she discovered that he too was an alcoholic and violent. Despite many black eyes, a broken jaw and a fractured skull, Sam stayed in the marriage for four years. The turning point arrived when Sam suspected Dan of having an affair. She went to a private detective who was too busy to help, but he guided Sam through the basics and she completed the case herself. Impressed with her level of skill and determination, the private detective hired Sam as a secretary-assistant. Unfortunately for Sam, he also fell in love with her, and with his wife and three children in the background, Sam thought it was best to leave.

And so she started again. Free from Dan, she returned to secretarial work and built up her savings. Missing the buzz of detective work, she put her savings into her own enquiry agency. After five years of struggle, Sam’s agency is just about making a profit.

Independent, still coming to terms with her past, but determined to look forward to a brighter future, Sam’s story continues, with Sam’s Song, Love and Bullets, The Big Chill, Ripper, The Hermit of Hisarya and Secrets and Lies (April 2016).

An Intimate Interview with Sam Smith

First, your name – Sam or Samantha, which do you prefer?

Sam: Most people call me Sam, and I’m comfortable with that.

You were born in 1983 – tell us about that.

Sam: I was born on April Fool’s Day, which I think helped to shape my personality! I can do impetuous, and dangerous, things at times; I tend to act on impulse.

Is that a trait you inherited from your mother?

Sam: No, my mother was basically a cautious person, over-cautious at times.

Your mother was an alcoholic – that must have had an impact on your childhood.

Sam: It had a major impact. As a teenager, I had to drop out of school to look after my mother. That was very difficult, seeing her so helpless at times. And the alcohol fuelled her frustration and aggression, which wasn’t nice to be around.

Your mother beat you.

Sam: When she was drunk, yes. When she was sober she was very tender and loving towards me.

How do you regard your mother now?

Sam: There were times when I felt hatred towards her, but she was my mother after all, so most of the time I loved her. Maybe I’m looking back through rose-tinted glasses, but despite all the beatings, I enjoyed a happy childhood.

Even though your father was never around?

Sam: My father walked out on me when I was born. I met him for the first time when I was in my thirties.

Your father walking out – that must have been hard on your mother.

Sam: I think it’s one of the reasons why she turned to drink. Her husband died as a soldier serving his country, she had a fling with my father and they produced me. I don’t think my mother was in a position to cope with a baby at that time, but she went through with the pregnancy, produced me then looked after me the best she could.

With your mother being so ill, it sounds as if you looked after yourself.

Sam: I guess I did. I grew up very fast and became independent at a very young age. My salvation was the local library. I would go there and lose myself in books. I’ve always had a thirst for knowledge, I guess I’m curious by nature, and books were my best friends as a child. After dropping out of school I educated myself through books.

Then the alcohol claimed your mother and you married Dan.

Sam: That was a disaster; four years of hell.

Like your mother, Dan was violent and an alcoholic.

Sam: Like my mother, he was a troubled person. He wasn’t evil, but he did have serious issues.

Why did you stay in the marriage for so long?

Sam: I guess I was trying to convince myself that I loved him, that by sticking around I could make things better. And, after my upbringing, I felt lonely and vulnerable, so I hung on, hoping that he would change and that things would be all right.

But after four years you divorced him.

Sam: Yeah, but not because of the beatings; I suspected that he was having an affair.

And you went to a private detective.

Sam: Dan was very possessive, very intense; I needed evidence to gain a divorce.

Evidence, which you largely gathered yourself.

Sam: The private detective was too busy, but he offered a guiding hand and I took it from there.

Then he offered you employment.

Sam: He was impressed with my work, yeah, so he offered me a job as his assistant.

And from there you created your own business.

Sam: It seemed the logical step. It’s been hard going for five years, but the business has established itself and I’ve won a lot of respect.

That must please you.

Sam: It does. My life has taught me that one of the greatest gifts anyone can offer a fellow human being is the gift of respect. At first, my fellow private detectives were dubious about me, but I’ve won most of them over and I am grateful for their respect.

You can purchase Hannah's books here.