GILLINGHAM-based author Steve Wilkinson is celebrating the arrival of his latest novel, a murder mystery set in and around the Blackmore Vale.

Over the course of three weeks, three unusual murders – none of them obviously linked – are committed across the Blackmore Vale, Salisbury, and Yeovil.

Steve Wilkinson’s “why done it”, The Greater Good, is a mystery written partly in homage to the southwest.

Your NBVM caught up with Steve to find out more…

“As I have lived in this region all my live, I have written several books that are sometimes based in the southwest. I write with no fixed genre, but I like to challenge the reader on their ideas and beliefs.

“I live in Gillingham with my wife and two wonderful daughters. After my favourite author, the late David Gemmell, sadly passed away in 2006, his words inspired me to start writing as a tribute. My wonderfully patient wife kept nagging me to try publishing my stories. I took her up on the challenge, and surprisingly the publisher said yes!

“To date, I have written 18 novels. My first three novels were historical fantasy, which I self-published. Since then, I have never really stuck to a genre, trying my hand at sci-fi, mystery and my latest book, which I would class as a ‘why done it’!

“The Greater Good is my first fully published novel. It is set on the outskirts of the Blackmore Vale, because it’s good to write what you know. The inspiration came from several sources; I wanted to test how far a person would go when their faith is not only tested but given a darker direction. The three murder locations are all fictional, but anyone who knows this amazing area will recognise the places instantly.

“The novel investigates three painless murders across the southwest in just three weeks, none appearing to be linked or with any motive.

“I have another fully published novel coming out later this year called Primary Echoes, which is largely set in the village of Tisbury. This is a supernatural thriller, in which a local man investigates children under 13 who all experience the same strange phenomena.

Released by Olympia Publishing this year, The Greater Good is available in paperback from Amazon and Waterstones.