FORMER Stroud News and Journal editor Michael Purton will be signing copies of his new crime novel set in Stroud at a town centre book shop.

Michael will be at Stroud Bookshop in the High Street from 11am to 12.30pm on Saturday, October 13, to sign copies of his new crime drama Flickering Lights.

The novel tells the story of a 17-year-old boy trying to unravel the mystery surrounding the death of his adoptive father.

Published by Ink Hills, the book is Michael’s second novel following the release of Silhouettes in 2016.

Paperback editions of Flickering Lights will be available to buy at Stroud Bookshop on the day, or readers can bring along their own copy for Michael to sign.

Michael, 34, who was editor of the SNJ from 2015 to 2017 and is now editor of the Worcester News, said: “The novel is a dark, atmospheric story about characters driven by grief.

“Although it’s fiction, I was inspired by cases I covered as a reporter, especially some of the trials I covered at the Old Bailey when I started out as a reporter in London.

"Two of the key characters are a magistrate and a former taxi company boss, and they were partly inspired by various people I've met while working as a journalist."

On the setting of the book, Michael added: "The location is never mentioned in Flickering Lights but I was inspired by Stroud and locals will recognise descriptions of landmarks in the town.”

Flickering Lights is available now in paperback, e-book and audiobook, on Amazon, iTunes and in other book shops.