I am the author of the award-winning Inspector Stark series of gritty crime thrillers, as well as being a retired CID detective of 25 years dealing with serious and major crimes from murder downwards. I like to think I know what makes detectives tick and indeed criminals of all types. Better than that, I am lucky enough to be able to articulate this on the written page, which can be the tricky bit. My stories are driven by characters and some procedure, but I don't get hung up on that because I believe that writers and readers have something in common across the board-we are interested in people and their lives. The characters make the book in so many ways once they have decided how they will change your plot! The primary aims of books are to entertain and be thought-provoking, too, in my view.
I have published a free 10-part podcast series to help new and aspiring writers called 'Murder Ink - The art of writing crime.' It is practical advice and encouragement about writing novels that I wish someone had told me about when I first started writing. It is useful across all genres, not just crime and mystery writing.
Awards: 'One Oblique One' - shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association best debut crime novel / 'Fair Means Or Foul' -Distinguished Favorite - New York City Big Book Awards / 'Murder Me Tomorrow' - Winner of the Independent Press Award for best crime novel.
I have also published a short story anthology 'Killing Dad and other crime short stories.'
I have been a co-opted contributor to other short story anthologies - Crime Writers Association Perfectly Criminal edited by Martin Edwards / City of Crime edited by David Belbin / To Serve, Protect and Write edited by Andrew Patterson.
I have had various articles and stories published notably in New York's 'Mystery Tribune' crime collection.
I have previously appeared on the main panel of the International Mystery Convention - Boucher con, alongside other authors such as Ian Rankin and Peter Robinson.
Away from writing crime fiction, I have written four non-fiction books about the COVID-19 pandemic 'Coronavirus 2020 Vision - The Road To Freedom Day - the complete diary and events of the COVID-19 pandemic. Parts 1 to 4'
Several of my books are available on Audible and ITunes.
