Several people have asked about the inspiration for my books, and many are queuing up to create movie trailers. The answer is very simple, although it may be controversial. I have watched so many TV dramas and thrillers in recent years that, to be honest, they left me wondering why I bothered. On many occasions, after the first episode of the latest heavily promoted thriller, either my late partner or I would turn to the other and say, “Do you have any idea what is going on?” and by the end of the series, we would be left wondering why we had bothered. I hate depressing, dreary, overly complicated stories, where every character has more hang-ups than my wardrobe, and half the story revolves around the characters’ domestic travails instead of propelling the story forward.

            So The Shadow of the Albatross was born. I have enjoyed a lifelong passion for films of all genres, which is where much of my direct inspiration comes from, along with a love of music. Those who know me know that I am a massive James Bond fan, so it will come as no surprise that the shadow of Ian Fleming and his most famous character is often at the back of my mind when I am writing. There can be no greater compliment than to read comments like

            “This book has a James Bond-like quality. It moves between Poole and Wimbledon in a fast-paced story. The author does a fantastic job of creating a complex character you can easily see with your imagination.”

            “This Bond-style thriller set in Poole and Wimbledon is an exciting blend of espionage and action.”

            “It was like being dropped into a James Bond movie, and you could easily imagine it being just that!”

Greg Travers is not James Bond, nor is he Jack Reacher. Those ships have sailed. Looking at Amazon book reviews, novels featuring inferior Reacher clones are two a penny. My Protagonist had to be an ordinary man, a relatable man, not ex-special forces or military who can defeat a platoon of heavies single-handedly. Travers is very human, with human frailties, who has to grow and evolve with the narrative, overcoming his physical fears and insecurities as he rises to face the challenges in front of him. Supporting him is Alicia Downes, a highly professional Intelligence officer, not afraid to get her hands dirty when required. Alicia is intelligent, courageous, witty and assigned to keep Travers alive after he is targeted. Finally, the backstop, the redoubtable John Deery, a MET Detective Chief Inspector, a gruff and rough diamond, politically incorrect and prepared to bend the rules to get the job done.

            For my antagonist, the question was straightforward: how to make my villain different. True, they come in all shapes and sizes, but they tend to be male, with the very occasional female, usually a young femme fatale thrown in for good measure. Watching interviews from film festivals and awards over the years, the question most asked was why older actresses never had leading roles, and the answer was always the same: they were not being written. So was born Olga Devereux. Approaching 60, she was a successful woman of great beauty and charisma who discovered from a very early age how easy it was to influence people, and as she got older, influence turned to manipulation, blackmail and murder. With an intriguing and rich backstory, Olga has been described as a unique villain, and one that will stand out from the crowd.

            They say you always remember your first time. The Shadow of the Albatross was my debut novel and something that I am very proud of. It is fast-paced with an international flavour and features many famous and well-known locations in Wimbledon Village, London, Portsmouth and the millionaire’s playground of Sandbanks and Poole, with a finale on the cliffs at Durdle Door. When you get to the last page, you will be left wanting more, and the good news is, there is…

The Cerberus File.