Other Writing

Where to start? It’s almost an impossible task to limit yourself to just five books but, as my own scribblings focus on historical crime, mystery and adventure I suppose I should stay within this genre. So here goes with the subject matter in chronological order:

My first book is Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott, a foundational work in historical fiction. It is set in 12th-century England, during the turbulent times of the Norman conquest and follows the noble knight Wilfred of Ivanhoe as he...

We have seen it in the movies: In 1973, the Six Million Dollar man envisages a man rebuilt with bionic limbs and sensors; in 1987, RoboCop, where a police officer is reborn as a cyborg. The pace increases as the years roll by: in 1995, the Ghost in the Shell, in 1999, the Matrix and so on.

As with all science fiction, the initial idea is a matter of thinking forwards until the impossible becomes possible. But today, these visions of the future are taking seed. Much of RoboCop’s mechanical...

My Major Gask mysteries series have been likened to Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories by some because of the atmospheric period detail and my Erroll Rait and Major Gask characters. Not surprising, given my affinity with the ace of detectives!

However, I am not the first nor will I be the last, I’m sure, to find such inspiration. Here are some ideas for those who enjoy mystery adventure and historical detective fiction bursting with atmosphere and mind-engaging puzzling…

Let’s start with...

When I first began writing, I quickly realised that grounding my narratives in real historical events added a compelling layer of authenticity - for example, placing my character in London during the 'Great Stink' in 1858 provided a rich palette to build sensory depth.

The delicate balance between fact and fiction invites readers to immerse themselves in a world that feels both familiar and thrillingly unknown. Drawing from actual occurrences enriches the story’s texture, offering a vivid...

Historical fiction often begins at a desk, but for me it truly comes alive on foot. My latest novel, The Case of the Hydegild Sacrifice, set in 1865, follows Major Gask and his companion Erroll Rait from the Scottish Highlands to the heart of Washington, D.C., tracing a route shaped by one of the most consequential moments of the nineteenth century: the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

I write in the Victorian period because it remains physically present. Streets, churches, theatres, and...