The celebrated author lists three Cs in his code for writing a thriller — crucible, contract and clock. But there’s a fourth C that he uses to great effect in his best books.

A new website this year has collated the rankings of the greatest books ever. How do you think crime novels have performed in the rankings?

When I was 20, I hitchhiked twice to San Francisco and was captivated by Haight-Ashbury. Some graffiti I read in a coffee shop washroom sealed the deal.

Well, it was about my grandmother’s second husband’s father. No, I never met the guy, but I’ll still claim the connection.

Strange to set a crime series in Haight-Ashbury in the 1960s? Fact is the neighborhood’s lore has always been steeped in cops and criminals.