Why Worthing is such a "brilliant setting for a crime novel"

Author Colin Gunn admits that every time he visits Worthing, he thinks: “This would make a brilliant setting for a crime novel.”

The result is The Greensward Dead, independently published through Amazon (paperback £7.99, eBook £1.99), available on https://tinyurl.com/44rthscp.

Colin, aged 66, who lives in Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent, said: “I've always loved crime fiction. I'm a long-time fan of authors like James Patterson, J D Kirk and M W Craven, and they've definitely inspired me as a writer. I love the way they create memorable detectives, clever mysteries and stories that keep you turning the pages, and I wanted to try creating something that readers would enjoy in the same way.

“The real inspiration for The Greensward Dead, though, wasn't just the genre—it was the location. In 2007, my better half moved from Worthing to Stoke-on-Trent so we could be together, and my in-law still lives in Goring-by-Sea. Over the years I've visited Worthing, Lancing and the surrounding area, and every time I visited I found myself thinking ‘This would make a brilliant setting for a crime novel.’

“You've got everything there: the seafront, the South Downs, quiet residential streets, parks, nature reserves and historic landmarks. It's such a varied landscape, and yet it hasn't really had its own major fictional detective. That became the seed of the idea.

“Planning the book was great fun because I could take real places that local people know and love and weave them into a fictional murder investigation. If you're from the area, I hope you'll recognise the locations and see them in a completely different light. If you're not local, I hope the book makes you want to visit.

“On a personal level, the novel means a great deal to me because it combines two things that are important in my life: my love of crime fiction and my connection to West Sussex.

“It's also the first book in what I hope will be a long-running series. I've already got ideas mapped out for seven Dan Machin novels, so readers won't be saying goodbye to him any time soon.

“Ultimately, I hope The Greensward Dead appeals because it's first and foremost an entertaining crime thriller. There's a mystery to solve, plenty of twists and turns, and characters I hope readers will want to spend time with. But there's also a real affection for Worthing, Lancing and the surrounding area running through the book. I wanted the setting to feel like a character in its own right.

“People often associate Brighton with Roy Grace, and deservedly so. I thought it was about time Worthing had a detective of its own. Hopefully, DCI Dan Machin is that detective.

“The Greensward Dead begins with what appears to be the discovery of a body part on the Greensward at Goring-by-Sea. As DCI Dan Machin and his team begin to investigate, they soon realise the case is far more complex than it first appears. Old secrets begin to surface, the investigation takes unexpected turns, and what starts as a single murder develops into something much larger. I wanted the opening to hook readers immediately and then keep them guessing right through to the final chapters.

“My target audience is anyone who enjoys a well-plotted crime thriller with believable characters and plenty of twists. If you like police procedurals, murder mysteries and detectives who aren't perfect but are determined to get to the truth, then I hope you'll feel at home with Dan Machin. At the same time, I think local readers will particularly enjoy recognising many of the locations featured throughout the story.

“Writing the book has been an incredibly enjoyable experience. There were certainly moments where the plot tied itself in knots and needed reworking, but seeing the story gradually come together was immensely satisfying. One of the greatest pleasures was bringing familiar places to life on the page and imagining how extraordinary events could unfold in seemingly ordinary locations.

“And this is very much just the beginning. The Greensward Dead is the first novel in the DCI Dan Machin series. The initial story is planned as a five-book arc, allowing both the investigations and Dan himself to develop over time, although I already have ideas for seven novels in total. The second book, The Lancing Lines, is currently in the editing stage while the third, The Devil's Due, is well underway in its early draft. I hope readers will enjoy following Dan Machin's journey over the coming years as the series grows.”