A look back at my talks and book signings in 2016

I've met some lovely and fascinating people throughout 2016 when giving my talks. It's been a pleasure to entertain so many people with the exploits of my crime busting heroes, DI Andy Horton and Art Marvik, and to reveal the secrets of successful crime writing to audiences. Here is a round up of all the talks I have given throughout the year. My thanks to everyone who invited me to speak, who listened to me, who asked so many intriguing questions and who bought my books. Here's looking forward to entertaining many more readers in 2017.  


On the 10 February 2016 I was thrilled to be at
Poole Central Library, Dorset talking to readers about  how I plot, research and write my crime novels. The DI Andy Horton series is set in the Solent and features Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight while in the Art Marvik marine based mystery series, Silent Running and Dangerous Cargo, Marvik takes his boat into marinas and harbours on the Dorset coast on deadly and dangerous missions.



Also in February 2016 I entertained the members of Ems Valley U3A.  Over a hundred and thirty people listened enthralled as I spoke about my crime busting heroes, the flawed and rugged sailing detective  DI Andy Horton. who features in twelve crime novels and my new hero, former Royal Marine Commando, Art Marvik   in Silent Running and Dangerous Cargo.

Read more and see the photographs

Watch me in action on video talking about my hero DI Andy Horton


On Saturday 5 March 2016 it was time for the sixth CSI Portsmouth event which I have had the pleasure of organizing in conjunction with Portsmouth City Library service for the Portsmouth BookFest.

I have also appeared at each CSI Portsmouth and have had the delightful task of being the moderator. This year it took place at the  Pyramids Centre, Southsea and I shared the stage with fellow crime author Elly Griffiths and two crime experts, Simon Mound, a crime scene investigator with Hampshire Police’s Scientific Services Department with expertise in the recovery of firearms and the  examination of firearm related crime scenes, and Jonathan Smith, a forensic scientist with expertise in the examination of blood and body fluids, hairs, fibres, botany and wood fragment identification and adviser to many UK Police forces.

Read more about CSI Portsmouth and view the photographs.



On the 14 March 2016 I was guest speaker at Fugelmere Probus Club (Fleet) Lunch. The audience were hooked on crime of the fictional type I'm glad to say as they listened intently to my talk on how I write my crime novels.

Membership of the Probus Club is open to men aged 60 or over, or who have partially or fully retired from professional or business activities.  There are many Probus clubs around the UK and I have had the pleasure at speaking to quite a few.  On this occasion the men were joined by their wives, partners and widows of previous members and it was lovely to see so many people there.

Read more


On the 4 May 2016 Odiham in Hampshire beckoned and I was again entertaining members of the University of the Third Age, (U3A) this time Odiham U3A.
Over seventy members of Odiham U3A got the taste for murder on a bright sunny May day.

Read more and see the photographs




Another U3A talk this time in July 2016 and at Bookham in Surrey. Over  a hundred and twenty people attended.  They were a great crowd and I was delighted to talk to them and sign copies of my novels after my talk.

"Thank you so much for coming along to our meeting and giving us some insight into how you tackle writing your books. I've had a huge amount of feedback saying how much people loved your talk."

Read more and see the photographs

You can also watch me in action on a video taken of my talk at Bookham U3A


Also in July I was delighted to be invited to talk to readers  about the secrets of successful crime writing at Stubbington Library, Hampshire. Many DI Andy Horton fans were there to learn more about their hero detective who lives on a small yacht in Southsea Marina and rides a Harley Davidson.






The flawed and rugged Portsmouth detective DI Andy Horton  features in twelve crime novels. Fatal Catch, the twelfth in the Horton crime series, was published in 2015 with number thirteen due to be published by Severn House in February 2017.






Also in September I entertained members of Alton Probus in Hampshire.  My talk was followed by a very lively Q & A session and a book signing.   It was great  to meet so many DI Andy Horton fans and to introduce my new crime busting hero, Art Marvik to so many eager listeners and readers. My thanks to Alton Probus for inviting me to talk to them.

Read more and see the photographs

It was the turn of the ladies to be entertained in October when I was guest speaker at the Ladies Lunch at Esseborne Manor Hotel, Andover. Murder and mystery was on the menu on Monday 31 October when I regaled the ladies at lunch with tales of my fictional detective, the enigmatic DI Andy Horton and of the dangerous missions for former Royal Marine Commando, Art Marvik who is working as an undercover investigator for the UK's National Intelligence Marine Squad. (NIMS).

Read more and see the photographs

In November I met up with fans of my crime novels at Portchester Library, Hampshire, where I was giving a talk as part of the Portchester Literary Festival.

I explained how I create my characters,  draw up my plots and  research and write my crime novels.  I was really pleased to sign copies of my crime novels for  so many DI Andy Horton and Art Marvik fans and impressed by the fact that my readers seemed to know more about my heroes than I did!


My final engagement for 2016 was in Bournemouth in Dorset for Poole Probus. It seemed rather fitting that I started the year in Dorset at Poole Library and ended it in Dorset for Poole Probus.

My thanks to the gentlemen of Poole Probus for inviting me to speak and indeed my thanks to everyone who has asked me to entertain them in 2016, to all the lovely people who attended my talks, to those who bought my novels and to my readers.

There are many more talks booked in for 2017. Click here to see my programme of events for 2017

To enquire about me as a speaker, to book me for a talk, for media and other enquiries please contact us.