Carmarthenshire author John Nicholl is celebrating the re-release of his county-based detective books as the Carmarthen Crime Series.
His new publisher, Boldwood Books, has repackaged the four books with a strong emphasis on the Carmarthenshire setting and covers depicting locations including Carmarthen, Dryslwyn Castle and the Tywi Estuary.
The first two books, The Carmarthen Murders and The Tywi Estuary Killings, are on sale now, with the other two - The Castle Beach Murders and The Dryslwyn Castle Killings - to follow soon.
The books focus on DI Gareth Gravel, an accomplished, old-school policeman affectionately known as Grav, who feels out of step with the modern world as he approaches retirement.
“Grav is something of a legend within the West Wales Police Force, liked and respected by the rank and file but not so much by the top brass due to his sharp tongue and a willingness to bend the rules to get results,” said Nicholl, who lives in Ferryside.
“Grav is overweight, loves rugby, drinks too much, particularly since the loss of his wife, and is struggling with chronic health issues. The job matters to him, victims matter to him, and he often goes the extra mile to protect the vulnerable victims of crime, particularly women and children, who he has a strong inclination to protect.”
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The books draw on Nicholl’s own experience as a police officer and then as a child protection officer in Carmarthenshire.
He started writing fiction after his psychologist recommended it as a way to process traumas he had witnessed during his career, which left him with PTSD.
He self-published his first book and it became an online bestseller; he went on to get signed by a publisher and now has 11 bestsellers behind him.
Nicholl said his focus is on crime and the darker side of human nature, with a strong empathy for victims of abuse.
“I grew up, live and write in west Wales, and so I’m delighted my publisher has given the books a strong Welsh identity, with stunning covers featuring some of the beautiful locations I know so very well,” he said.
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