Bognor boy Christian D Johannson promises a gripping crime thriller with the book Leopard, his debut novel set in and around his hometown.

Christian’s book explores, he says, the “chilling descent of a man into serial murder, shaped by the traumas of his past.”

Published by Kindle Direct Publishing, Leopard is now available.

“Leopard draws on real locations to ground its disturbing tale in chilling authenticity,” Christian says. “With an immersive narrative structure, the story unfolds through the eyes of four central characters, offering shifting perspectives and deep psychological insight, punctuated by vivid flashbacks that reveal the roots of the killer’s twisted psyche.

placeholder image — Christian D Johannson (contributed pic)

“The story is dark, yes, but it’s believable. What makes it frightening is how close it feels to real life. These things could happen, and that’s what I wanted to explore.”

The plot moves with a confident, measured pace, building suspense through subtle twists and emotionally resonant moments, he says.

“Though macabre in tone, the novel never veers into the implausible, instead drawing readers into a world that feels all too real. The climax is powerful, and the ending leaves enough unanswered questions to pave the way for a sequel, which is already in the works.

“I’ve wanted to write a novel ever since I was a child. I had a real passion for storytelling and would write short stories about my friends and read them out in school assemblies. In primary school I read just about anything I could, from Enid Blyton’s Famous Five through to Tolstoy’s War and Peace.

“Books inspired me to write my own stories. Growing up, I never stopped thinking about writing a novel, but family life simply took over. I’m 60 now and although I still work full-time, I am able to spend at least an hour a day writing. It’s definitely my time now.”

Christian brings a unique perspective to his writing, having joined the army at just sixteen. Some of his own life experiences influence the tale.

In the book, in a quiet town in West Sussex, a string of chilling murders has rocked the community. The press call him The Leopard, but no one knows his true identity.

“Detective Inspector Joe Parks is smart, ambitious, and determined to solve the case that could make his career. But balancing the pressures of the investigation with a new relationship is tougher than he expected, especially when Paige, his new girlfriend, starts uncovering her own clues in the search for her missing sister.

“Leopard is a gripping psychological crime thriller about the damage of buried trauma, the cost of revenge and the monsters that wear ordinary faces.”

Christian was born and raised in West Sussex and now lives in Bognor Regis. A proud father of three grown-up children, Christian went to school in Felpham, where his passion for English was nurtured by his teacher, the now-renowned author Beryl Kingston. Another of Christian’s school teachers turned successful author, GJ Minett, also provided encouragement.

Leopard is published by Kindle Direct Publishing and can be ordered from Amazon and all good bookshops. ISBN 9798249684983.