Despite a painful disorder, Tara Moss brings her feisty female private investigator back in her latest book The Italian Secret.
By Ara Jansen
Never one to armchair the writing of a book, Tara Moss explored the ancient tunnels under the Italian city of Naples and stayed at a famous hotel for her latest read.
In The Italian Secret, the bestselling author delivers the third instalment of her Billie Walker mystery and historical crime series. Set in 1948 post-war Sydney and then moving to Naples, the feisty and fiercely independent private investigator discovers a forgotten box in her late father’s office. Curiosity draws her into a mystery which spans continents and decades.
“This book felt such a beautiful and challenging experience to write because of everything going on in my personal life,” Tara says of her 15th book. “On the other hand, writing was a useful escape into another world, but I also needed to have the mental peace to do this work.”
While she is in remission now, Tara was diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) following a hip injury around eight years ago. The severe pain (for which she needed a wheelchair or cane for periods) combined with symptoms like brain fog made it hard for Tara to write. She had to grab the periods when she felt clear.
Conversely, the character of Billie Walker has never been a struggle to write. She apparently arrived quite fully formed.
“It’s like a character I was already living with before I started to write her. I like spending time with her and being in her world. I just keep writing her story, as being published is never assured, but every time it happens, I consider it a privilege.”
The author says one of the aspects of the post-war era she finds fascinating and compelling is the adaptability and bravery of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
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“Billie has a sense of that and she’s a representation of a certain type of woman of her time. It’s a tough world, but why not do good while you are there.
“One reason I felt like she would make such an unusual character is because the work she does is part of what birthed an industry of women as investigators. They were also outnumbered by their male colleagues. There’s not been a lot written about that.
“Billie does it her way. She’s good but tough in her own way, as evidenced by the free sessions she does offering advice, and how the women share information. She’s by no means an angel but she has her own compassion and I like that about her.”
As a certified private investigator and an expert researcher, Tara Moss has explored all sorts of avenues from shooting a gun, to touring the FBI Academy and spending time in morgues. She’s even been choked unconscious and set on fire, all in the name of book research.
For The Italian Secret she visited the World War II tunnels under Naples, which are part of a larger network called Napoli Sotterranea (Underground Naples) and the Bourbon Tunnel (Galleria Borbonica). She also stayed at the famed Excelsior Hotel in the city, as did her characters. Famous hotel guests have included Billie Holiday, Alfred Hitchcock and Humphrey Bogart.
Not only is Tara an author, but she has also been a long-standing UNICEF ambassador and is an outspoken advocate for human rights and the rights of women, children, people living with pain and people with disability. This focus informs much of her work.
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Additionally, she is a holistic practitioner – working with runes and reiki – as well as being a life celebrant and funeral officiant. More and more, she is being called to speak at funerals or end of life celebrations.
“My work in end of life, grief and funerals is not so removed from my work as a writer and public speaker. It’s combining those skills and being able to distil information, stories and history into something that families find difficult to put together or speak in front of a group.
“I can do that in a home, in a temple or a church. I feel comfortable holding that space. It’s still a form of storytelling. I’m interested in people and their stories and their experiences.”
Tara headlines the UN Women Australia’s International Women’s Day lunch on March 4 at Optus Stadium. Tickets can be found here.
The Italian Secret is out now.
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