Mysterious thriller set at Peterborough station could be turned into a film
Platform 7 follows the story of Lisa as she tries to solve the mystery of her own death
Fiona Leishman
Peterborough may not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of the setting for a mysterious thriller, but author Louise Doughty has written an entire novel set at Peterborough rail station.
Louise, originally from Oakham, Rutland, spent much of her time waiting around at Peterborough station as she was at university in Leeds and later Norwich and so had to travel through Peterborough to get back to Oakham.
Speaking on BBC Look East, Louise explained: "I used to have this standing joke that if I had been really bad and went to purgatory when I died, I would find myself trapped on Peterborough railway station, on a cold winter's night with the cold wind blowing across the fens."
The new book, Platform 7, which came out on August 22, has already had film rights bought, so it may be coming to a screen near you in the future.
Platform 7 follows the story of Lisa as she tries to solve the story of her own death.
Lisa finds herself at Peterborough rail station as a ghost.
Louise said: "She's a young woman who's died on the station in mysterious circumstances, you don't know how or why, you don't know if she jumped or she was pushed. But crucially, she has no memory of her earlier life.
"She hears the staff and customers on the station talking about her and sets out to solve the mystery of her own death."
Louise Doughty, author of Platform 7 and Apple Tree Yard (Image: Nathalie Weatherald)
The novel also deals with issues of coercive control and manipulation in Lisa's relationship prior to her death.
Although the story opens at Peterborough station after her death, according to Louise: "there's a middle section where you go back into the past and you find out about her relationship with a junior doctor at the city hospital called Matty.
"That relationship gradually becomes darker and more and more worrying and the implication is it's going to lead up to the story about the events of her death but you don't know quite how."
Pictures show the stars of Grantchester return to Cambridge to film new series
During her time researching for the book, Louise spent a significant amount of time at the station, and apparently believes she may have spooked a few staff.
Louise described people's reactions to her reasoning for being at the station, saying: "I spent quite a lot of time there researching the book and they'd say 'so you're writing a novel set here?' and then maybe back away from me a bit alarmed.
"I think I'm going to claim it as a first. I think I am the first novelist to set a whole novel there."
Platform 7 was released August 22
"People are so generous," said Louise of her experience with staff at Peterborough, "I never get over this as a novelist, the number of people with real jobs who are really happy to indulge me.
"You can show up almost anywhere as a novelist and say 'I'm writing a book here' and people are so fantastic and so kind. And a big shout out to all the staff on the railway station, because I did spend some nights there as well.
"I went out with the British Transport Police as well, shining the flashlight around the freight depots, so I know it quite well now. "
Louise also confirmed on BBC Look East that the film rights had been bought for the book, saying: "Fingers crossed they'll make it to the screen as well, which would be terrific."
The Sunday Mirror described it as: "A quirky and emotional combination of a ghost story and a psychological thriller... this sensitive story also addresses loneliness and grief- but ultimately delivers a message of hope. A powerful book that will haunt you in the very best way."
Haunting definitely seems to be the consensus for reviewers of the book, with the Daily Express saying: "A gripping psychological thriller... a haunting read in more ways than one."
Louise is a best-selling author, who's best known book Apple Tree Yard was turned into a BBC One adaptation with Emily Watson.
She'll also be making an appearance at the Cambridge Literary Festival on Saturday November 30 at 2.30pm.