BookBuzz’s new interview with award-winning historical fiction author Malcolm Havard offers an inside look at the research, inspiration, and writing process behind his upcoming novel, The Adler Legacy. Havard discusses the true postwar Nazi ratlines that sparked the story, his interest in twentieth-century history, and the challenge of blending carefully researched facts with an engaging espionage thriller. Readers will also learn about his approach to outlining, the authors who have influenced his work, and the tools he uses to bring his historical novels to life.
Malcolm Havard is an award-winning historical fiction author who writes stories from the World Wars to the Cold War. He has spent a lifetime gathering stories, living and working in Australia and the Middle East before returning to the UK. Today, he weaves that global experience into gripping historical novels that explore the intersection of crime, war, and espionage.
The Manchester Noir Series: Gritty 1990s crime with a unique twist (The Honey Talker, The Fatal Formula).
The Aviation Collection: High-octane tales of courage and dogfights in WWI and WWII (LMF, The Way Back, Leviathan).
The Lisbon Series : Follow ex-cop Dinis Lopes through the treacherous, “neutral” streets of 1940s Portugal.
Cold War Espionage: Revisit the 1950s with the fast-paced adventures of Contrail and Czechmate.
When he isn’t uncovering the secrets of the 20th century, Malcolm lives and writes in Cheshire, England.
Author Q&A
What inspired you to write your first book?
There’s a long answer and a short answer! Twenty years ago, my day job was in academia, although sadly not in history. My first three books were non-fiction business and academic textbooks, and at the same time I was completing my PhD thesis. By the time the books had been published and the thesis submitted and defended, I’d written something like a million words in three years. To fit it all around work, I’d fallen into the habit of writing before breakfast and editing in the evening. When everything was finished, I still had the writing habit but nothing left to write, so I turned to fiction and asked myself, ‘How hard could it be?’ Some seventeen years and twenty novels later, I think I’ve found out!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Although I love Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams for their humour, the author I have returned to most consistently over the years is Robert Harris. His ability to tell thrilling stories within convincing historical settings is something I have tried to emulate, particularly in my wartime Lisbon series, the Inspector Lopes books; The Gambler’s Daughter series, about SOE and SIS operations in occupied France; and my new series set against the Nazi ratlines in post-war Europe. I will never match Harris’s historical range, but I am very happy to follow in his footsteps. I also grew up reading Frederick Forsyth—I adore The Day of the Jackal—and John le Carré, both of whom have undoubtedly influenced my writing.
Read the full interview at https://bookbuzz.net/interview-with-malcolm-havard-about-his-upcoming-historical-novel-the-adler-legacy/
The Adler Legacy will be released on November 17, 2026, and is available now for pre-order on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0HKJRZXLH
To learn more about Malcolm Havard and his books, visit https://malcolmhavard.com or follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/people/Malcolm-Havard-Historical-Novelist/100056951479358 and X at https://x.com/MalHavardWriter.