Detectives In The dock: Jon Richter's Chris Sigurdsson

Chris Sigurdsson is a former Detective Inspector who left the police force to start his own business as a private investigator, and is now based in London.  He suffered a tragic childhood that left him housebound and crippled by anxiety attacks as a young man, witnessing the death of his younger brother in a car accident.  Now in his forties, he has overcome these challenges not with drink or drugs, but with hard work and dedication to his profession.  He is intelligent, kind, and determined to help people – a true ‘mister nice guy’, and a counterpoint to the clichéd ‘hard-boiled detective’ stereotype.

His adventures to date have involved the mysterious and mist-shrouded Salvation Island, a sinister location that seems unwilling to relinquish its hold on him…

So, the Fields of Wheat moment… What is the most rebellious thing Sigurdsson  has ever done?

Sigurdsson is not a rebel by nature – he likes to do the right thing, which sometimes means operating ‘by the book’.  He became unpopular with his colleagues while working as a DI after he reported a fellow officer for punching a young man in custody.  Although the policeman was suspended, Sigurdsson’s career stagnated, leading ultimately to his assignment to the first Salvation Island case.

 Which 3 items would Sigurdsson bring to a desert island … and why?

Salvation isn’t a desert, but an island setting is definitely something Sigurdsson is experienced in!  His most treasured possession is his old ZX Spectrum, not only because he is a bit of a closet gaming nerd and it was his first ever machine, but also because he has fond memories of playing it with his little brother Marcus, before his untimely death.  He’d also

bring along his beloved fighting fish, Casper, and a tub of bloodworms to feed him.

The Nitty Gritty: The Big Reveal 

What or who does Sigurdsson love most? 

Sigurdsson’s cases on Salvation Island have brought him into contact with the island’s senior police officer, DI Carin Mason.  She is a tough, iron-willed young woman who does not like to show her vulnerability.  Her short crop of red hair perfectly reflects her severe and fiery demeanour – although if you call her ‘fiery’ to her face, she’s likely to punch you.  Sigurdsson would never admit it, but he has been hopelessly in love with her for years.

Is Sigurdsson  afraid of dying?  

This is Sigurdsson’s worst fear.  The sudden and tragic death of his younger brother when

he was only a teenager left him morbidly obsessed with death, with what happens to the soul after we expire… his belief that nothing awaits us except cold and endless oblivion is that the source of his debilitating anxiety attacks.  This secret terror makes his acts of selflessness and bravery all the more courageous.

Does he believe in ghosts?  
Sigurdsson is a rational man, an atheist, who believes in facts and the observable world.  He does not believe in ghosts… but his views have been challenged by what he has encountered on Salvation Island, where strange spirits seem to shift within the fog, and the dead seem unable to rest.

In five words describe…

His finest hour to date 
Outfought a psychotic professional wrestler

His physical appearance 
Healthy, lean, clean-cut and youthful

All of their favourite things …   

                              

Animal:  Casper                                           Film:  Short Circuit                                                    

Sport :  Running                                          TV programme: Batman

                                 Actor: Kevin Conroy    
                                         

Would your character rather… 

Use a gun or their bare hands:   Bare hands (like Batman).

Drink themselves to death or jog round the park: He’s endearingly wholesome so he’d always choose the run!

Hot or cold climates: He likes them cold, misty and ominous…