In a sleepy northern seaside resort, The Eastborough Police Force is shocked into action when a heavily mutilated body is found in a quiet suburb. Murder rarely happens in these parts. Within a short space of time, the body count begins to rise rapidly, as a serial killer runs amok. DI Will Scott is tasked with finding the killer. In doing he treads paths he never expected to traverse and uncovers a web of deceit that leads to a world where no one can be trusted. The killer relentlessly continues to strike terror across the community. Then without warning, the killing ground changes. Where will the killer strike next …?
Guest post
Today I am happy to share a guest post with you written by the author. Enjoy!
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My first novel, Chasing Monsters (Urbane Books) is quite unique in that it is partly based on real life experiences from my own childhood and those of thousands of others. It comes from different perspectives, a genuine victim, a genuine crime fighter and from a mish-mash of genuine deviant offenders and serial killers. I won’t give too much away, but it’s an exciting and fast paced police procedural with countless twists and turns that will hopefully keep the reader turning the page.
Location for the first two books in the DI Will Scott series was important, since I wanted it to be set a realistic environment, which is often regarded as safe and fun filled. So, Bridlington in East Yorkshire is the very real setting for the two initial books, for political reasons I had to change the name of the police force, so the force is known as Eastborough Police and I should add, bears no similarity to the force policing real life Bridlington or any other business in the area. Albeit crime scene and other locations are genuine so readers who know the area, will recognise the geography of the region.
A big reader of crime fiction myself, I wanted to write a book that was not only different in its plot line, but incorporated the highs and lows of a police murder investigation, including the politics. From that point of view, the details and intricacies of the police investigation are as realistic as they can be. The detectives get stressed but don’t turn to alcohol or drugs as a crutch, they do what happens in the real world, they deal with it, relying on each others and the support of family members.
I spent a small part of my childhood in Bridlington and still hold fond memories of the town as an archetypal British seaside resort, a close knit community who for seven months of the year are infiltrated by a transient population of holiday makers who use and abuse the town and it facilities for their own rewards. It takes the reader into the seedier world of crime a place where the fun and frolics of fairgrounds, sun, sea and sand don’t equate to quality family holidays. This is a place where deviants and evil live together in harmony, a place where darkness and light become one. Suddenly, from nowhere, the town has a serial killer on the loose, a killer with a difference.
I believe its important for the reader (and writer) to feel connected by characters and location and all importantly to the rules of engagement surrounding police investigations. Keeping the flow of the book realistic and believable with engaging and abhorrent characters. Chasing Monsters, has countless twists and turns and while this is a stand alone book I recommend readers look out for the second book in the DI Will Scott series ‘Scissors’ coming out next Spring (2019) as it will enhance the journey.
I want to say thank you for giving me the opportunity of appearing in your awesome blog. Also to the readers who have been so supportive of me writing this novel. Finally a huge thank you to Urbane Books for believing in me.
Best wishes
Paul
Thank you, Paul Harrison and LoveBooksGroup.
About the author
Paul Harrison has spent much of his professional life working within the UK’s criminal justice system, primarily as a police officer. Working closely with the now defunct FBI Behavioural Science Unit in Quantico, he gained a unique and remarkable insight into the minds of some of the world’s most violent criminals. His conversation portfolio reads like a Who’s Who of murderers. As an author, he’s penned thirty-three traditionally published books (mainly true crime) and completed his first novel last year. A seasoned event speaker, Paul is popular across the entire crime genre (fiction and non-fiction). He’s in discussion with several TV production companies across the globe for future Crime related television series. Paul currently lives in Leeds.
B for Bookreview 