Anna Legat is a British author known for her crime thrillers and murder mysteries. She is best known for the DI Gillian Marsh detective series and her legal thriller trilogy, Goode's Law. Most recently, she gained attention for her novel Broken (2022), a domestic noir suspense thriller published by SpellBound Books.
Anna Legat studied law and history at the University of South Africa and the University of Warsaw and later qualified as a teacher in New Zealand. Her career has been as varied as her writing, encompassing roles as a lawyer, teacher, librarian and even a silver service waitress.
Her life has taken her to different corners of the world, and she says her experiences inspired the characters and stories in her work. "I enjoy people-watching and collecting life experiences," she once explained, reflecting on her travels.
In Broken, Legat explores themes of destiny and faith, creating a gripping tale of psychological suspense. The novel follows Camilla Bramley-Jones, whose life is upended when her son is imprisoned, and Father Joseph, a Catholic priest struggling with his conscience after a psychopath confesses to heinous crimes.
Their separate struggles collide, forcing each to confront moral dilemmas and personal demons. Legat has described the book as an exploration of how "two people's lives are thrown together by the mysterious intervention of fate", challenging her characters to navigate each other's chaos.
In an interview, Legat revealed her fascination with the randomness of life, saying, "It is pure chance whether we end up as orphans in a war-torn country or next in line to the throne.
She also noted the importance of creating multi-dimensional characters that combine traits observed in real people. "My husband often recognises himself in my characters, sometimes to my amazement," she remarked humorously.
Legat is a Crime Writers' Association member and continues to explore different genres, including historical fiction and dystopian tales.
Anna Legat lives in Wiltshire.
Photo credit: X @LegatWriter