Автор детективов Дэвид Эванс представил четвертую книгу серии, действие которой разворачивается в Эссексе в 1979 году

A CLACTON crime author is preparing to launch the latest instalment in his historical detective series. David Evans is releasing Discontent, the fourth book in the series, which is set in Tendring. The series is set in 1970s Essex and features detectives DS Cyril Claydon and DI John ‘Dick’ Barton. Taking place in January 1979 during the Winter of Discontent, the story begins with the disappearance of hospital porter and talented photographer Paul Thompson. Days later, Thompson’s body is found beneath a pile of rubbish at Clacton Hospital, and the investigation soon uncovers a web of secrets captured in his photographs, including affairs, suspicious payments, police misconduct and domestic abuse. David said: "I began writing seriously when I signed up for creative writing night classes in Clacton back in the 90s. "Eventually about six of us realised we were actually critiquing our own work, so formed a writing group on our own. "We met over the next two years during which time I wrote the first draft of what was to become Trophies, the first in my Wakefield Series." David drew on his experiences living and working in the north of England during the Yorkshire Ripper enquiry for his early work. After publishing three novels in his Wakefield series, he turned his attention to stories set closer to home in Essex. He said: "After three Wakefield books I had the idea of a light aircraft crashing with the pilot dead but another body found in the wreckage that had been deceased for at least a couple of days. "Originally I planned to give it to Strong and Souter but decided I needed to write something more locally – hence Disposal was born." The series is rooted in old-fashioned detective work, free from modern technology like DNA, CCTV, or mobile phones. Discontent took around two years to complete. David will be signing copies of all eight of his books at The Nose Bookshop in Walton from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday, September 19, as part of the Frinton Arts Festival. Read more He said: "I would also like to sincerely thank Eleanor Brown from The Nose for facilitating this and her unending support for writers and creative people in the district. "It really is an oasis." Discontent will be published on Thursday, September 17.