Ex-Blackpool town centre manager Nigel turns to crime for novel debut

Nigel Hanson intends ‘Murder Mapped Out’, which is available now, to be the first book in a series ‘The Wisstingham Mysteries’.

It introduces the fictional village of Wisstingham, with its Hall and estate, together with what Nigel says is “a cast of endearing, humorous and sometimes sinister characters who will change your ideas about tranquil country life forever”.

“It has taken many years to arrive at this stage, but I am delighted to see my first thriller novel in print,” said Nigel, who retired as Blackpool town centre manager almost 13 years ago and now lives in Fairhaven.

“Although I loved writing stories as a child, life and career took me in quite an opposite direction, varied and enjoyable though it proved to be,” he said

“It was not until I retired that the first ideas for the series began to emerge and the keyboard started to click away and alongside that, I embarked on a creative writing course.

“In hindsight, writing the book was the relatively easy part, though it certainly didn’t seem it, at the time.

“It was the repeated re-writes, edits and procession of publisher rejections that were to prove most challenging and at times demoralising.

“However, the book is now finally in print, an achievement I’m tremendously proud of, with the second novel in the series well advanced and expected to be published early in 2021.

“This journey has been an incredible experience, instructive, at times frustrating and yet so very enjoyable – and I hope people enjoy the book.”

Nigel says his novel best fits in the genre of “cosy crime”.

It features Commander Selwyn Fitzgerald, of Whisstingham Hall, who learns that buildings once existed on estate land leased to the council and his relentless search for the missing family fortune is spurred on.

However, a historian’s discovery of certain documents brings greater urgency – and all manner of intriguing developments follow.

Published as a paperback and ebook, the novel is available online and through local and national booksellers.