Canaries in the Coal Mine

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I found myself returning to Peterborough many times over the years, usually when things had gone wrong. It was on one of these occasions that I met my partner about 100 metres from my back door whilst walking a dog. Two children swiftly followed. I'm still a little stunned by the pace of it even though they're both at senior school now.

My first book, Chancer, was written after I decided to do something challenging while my knees permitted. No skydiving for me. I became a prison officer for four years at HMP Peterborough. Ironically it was the four a.m. feed which gave me the opportunity to finish the book as unable to get back to sleep I completed it in the early morning hours, then went to work in the jail!

The first Barton book, The Snow Killer hit the coveted number one spot on KOBO and AUDIBLE, with the rest of the series not far behind. It's set in various locations in the 'Boro, or the surrounding villages.

I've also written six detective books in a Norfolk series now, culminating in Death on the Norfolk Express! There have also been incidents at Cromer, Hunstanton, Bacton, Overstrand, Fakenham, Holt and Sheringham. There are three more planned, perhaps Wells or maybe one in Norwich, and at least one more Barton! My publishers kindly told me I had reached three quarters of a million sales with them in Dec 2025.

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