Accused of pushing a boy to his death, DCI Doug Stirling watches
helplessly as an incompetent officer bent on destroying him
investigates.
A man is found savagely murdered. Short of experienced
investigators, ACC Steph Tanner risks her own career by appointing
Stirling to lead the investigation. But, haunted by the boy's smile as
he let go of his hand, does Stirling still have what it takes?
INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR
So, who is Ray
Britain?
A fair question. I
was a police officer in the United Kingdom with a varied career in
both uniform and detective roles and completed my career in a high
rank, but the investigation of crime and the camaraderie amongst
detectives always remained my preference. As a Senior Investigating
Officer (SIO) I led complex crime investigations, some of which
engaged discreet national capabilities and for many years I was also
police Negotiator.
Okay, so why the
pen name?
For reasons of
personal and family security I use a pen name because, over the
years, I locked up many criminals, some violent. However, not all of
them understood it was their actions that led to their imprisonment!
Also, in my senior ranks I was increasingly involved in discreet,
national law enforcement capabilities which I can’t discuss as the
Official Secrets Act still applies.
You were a police
hostage negotiator?
Yes, for fourteen
years. The full title is Hostage & Crisis Intervention Negotiator
and in the UK it’s a voluntary role, over and above the ‘day job’
- one’s day to day responsibilities - which frequently means being
‘called out’ of a warm bed to go and assist police colleagues
faced with a variety of difficult situations.
For example?
That’s one of the
attractions of the role, you never know what your next deployment
might be. Often, it’s negotiating with someone to surrender
peacefully to armed officers and so avoid being killed or harmed
themselves. But more often it was to negotiate with people intent on
taking their own lives, usually highly distressed and unable to think
or act rationally, and bring them back to safety. Sometimes, it was
to negotiate the release of hostages being held at gunpoint or other
weapons. It should be remembered that in the UK, except for a
relatively small number of exceptionally highly trained specialist
firearms officers, police officers perform their duties unarmed. One
of the few countries in the world still to do so.
How long were you
in the police for, and where?
For over thirty years
in the Midlands region of the UK - Police services are typically
based on traditional county lines. The Last Thread is set in and
around the city of Worcester and future books are likely to be set
either within the county or in neighbouring areas, as the storyline
requires.
Why did you write
‘The
Last Thread’?
I’ve always wanted
to write a book and the common advice is to stick with what you know.
There were other reasons too. As a professional investigator, I’m
often frustrated by the inaccurate and improbable representation of
crime investigation in the many television dramas that enter our
homes each evening. Whatever the complexity of the crime, they are
almost always solved within impossible time frames and with the most
sophisticated technology immediately available. It provides
entertainment, of course, but it’s far from the reality of everyday
investigations. Consequently, it raises public expectation beyond
what is always achievable. Like all aspects of the public sector, the
police service is cash strapped and must operate within tight, and
tightening budgets.
How accurate is
your story to real investigations?
Very! From the need
to work with limited resources, often with dated equipment and in
accommodation that’s often cramped, inadequate or well past it’s
‘best by’ date, right down to aspects of internal and external
political pressures that any SIO can expect to work with in leading
his or her investigation.
What was the best
and worst part of writing?
The best part is
getting the story out of my head and onto the page, plotting its
twists and turns and the red herrings to make it interesting for the
reader. The worst bit is editing and proof reading! However, it does
lead to a better story and allows me to strip out irrelevant stuff
and, I hope, make for a better read.
How did you
approach the cover design?
I wanted something
that was a bit moody and hinted at the underlying sinister theme of
the story line and subsequent investigation. I found a local
photographer I could work with and, together, we constructed the
image you see. I hope you like it as much as I do.
What do you read
for pleasure?
I like good crime
fiction that reflects real world and is grounded in reality. Some
plots are so fantastical that I don't complete the book. I like
biographies too. Other people's lives interest me.
What is your
e-reading device of choice?
Kindle.
What's the story
behind your latest book?
Everything I've
written is drawn from my professional experience, or as observed
through the investigations of colleagues. Apart from drawing on
memories of my Father, my characters are all fictitious but they are
informed by some of the people I've had the privilege to work
alongside over the years.
Where can I buy
your book?
I plan to publish
‘The
Last Thread’
as an eBook on Sunday
1st
October
on Amazon (ISBN 978-1-9998122-0-1)
and, hopefully, there will be a paperback version too. I’m also
looking at publishing on Smashwords but there’s a lot to learn
about the Indie author process!
What are you
working on next?
I have several story
lines and plots mind-mapped and will resume writing once I’ve got
‘The
Last Thread’
out to market. As an Indie author, I’ve found there’s a lot of
work involved in getting your work published to market and then in
marketing your brand. Having said that, I’m finding it a
fascinating experience.
Describe your desk
An organised mess!
What motivated you
to become an indie author?
The ease of getting
your work out there, rather than writing off to mainstream
publishers. But, there's a hell of a lot of work after that in
getting yourself noticed!
If
you could work with any other author, who would it be and why?
Hmm,
that’s a tough one. I’m not sure. I admire the work of Sebastian
Faulks very much and have read a lot of his work. He has an
insightful mind and builds his characters extremely well.
What
would be a typical working day for you? When and where do you write?
Having
led a very ‘structured’ working life I get fidgety if I’ve
nothing to do. Consequently, I treat writing, to a point, as my
‘job’. I start early(ish) in the morning and keep going until
I’ve had enough, or my eyes demand a break. Usually to go to the
gym where I can ease off cramped muscles, think, and keep mortality
at bay!
What
am I reading now?
I’m reading a travelogue style book, ‘Why
the Dutch are Different’ by
Ben Coates. It’s a slightly sideways look at the Dutch, their
history and culture and is interesting. I love history.
Website: http://www.raybritain.com/
Twitter: @ray_britain
Facebook: Facebook profile
