VAL PENNY
Best selling author of The DI Hunter Wilson Thrillers
Detective Sergeant Jane Renwick is one of the main female characters in my DI Hunter Wilson Crime Thriller series of novels. It is, therefore fitting that she should be the main protagonist in her own series of books.
Readers first meet Jane early in Hunter’s Chase, the first of DI Hunter Wilson Crime Thrillers when DI Hunter Wilson describes her
Hunter stopped concentrating on Mackay's summary; he let him witter on while he glanced around the room. He noted Rachael had moved to stand near the most elegant DS that Hunter had ever worked with: Jane Renwick. They stood at the far side of the room, whispering quietly together, glancing in his direction. Rachael did look tired and stressed, probably due to the early start and putting up with him. He didn't blame her. Hunter knew he was sharp when things did not go according to his plans.
In contrast, as always, Jane Renwick was immaculately turned out, with faultless hair, nails and make-up. Hunter would have given his eye teeth to know how the woman could constantly look so spruce. He felt more like DC Colin Reid and DC John Hamilton looked: unshaven and dishevelled. Reid and Hamilton both caught his eye and Hunter nodded acknowledgements. Hamilton brushed the crumbs of his breakfast off his face with the back of his hand as Mackay continued talking.
Jane, however, is not just an elegant woman, but as we learn later in that book, she is also a capable detective sergeant. Again, Hunter explains this to the reader.
Hunter knelt, surrounded by people but completely alone. It felt like an eternity before he heard Jane Renwick's clear voice.
“I need you all to move back. Come on now, move back. Everybody move back now and make room. Bear, Mel, move everybody back at least ten feet. Now!”
Bear used his body mass and began waving everybody back, while DC Mel Grant went to get Tesco staff to help. She instructed them to form a cordon of shopping trolleys to keep the inquisitive public at bay. This was probably the most interesting thing the trolley collector had done all week, Hunter thought. The lad looked so proud and took photos of his work, presumably to share later on Facebook and Instagram. Tesco also supplied staff so that potential witnesses did not leave.
When I was creating DS Jane Renwick, I wanted a short recognisable first name that was neither exotic nor fashionable this would contrast with her outward attire. She is always smart and well-dressed. The surname had to be more unusual, because that is not her birth name, for Jane had a difficult start in life and grew up in the care system.
The character is not based on any real-life person, but is a figment of my imagination, created to fill an important role in the police team that investigates The Jane Renwick Crime Thrillers.
Jane is able, likeable, dependable but severely affected by her unfortunate start in life. She feels that this left her alone in the world, unloved and unlovable. That shadow casts a deep shade on her throughout her first book, The First Cut. However, she found her life partner, Rachael Anderson, amongst the members of Hunter’s team in Hunter’s Chase and in her, she has found her rock.
Is it any wonder that Jane moved to the Major Incident Team where she will go forward around Scotland in her own series of books?