A JOURNALIST and writer from Shipston has launched his first novel which, though set in the Cotswolds, draws on his experience of living in Buenos Aires.

James Marrison, whose parents live in Shipston, moved to Argentina after completing a Masters in history and specialising in American Secret Intelligence at the University of Edinburgh.

He got his first break in journalism by writing features for the Buenos Aires Herald. He worked primarily as a freelancer and correspondent for newspapers and magazines in the UK and used to be a regular contributor to Bizarre magazine in the UK where he specialised in true crime.

There he interviewed some of the most eminent psychologists, criminologists and crime scene investigators in their field and wrote extensively about some of the world's most notorious killers.

These experiences provided material for The World's Most Bizarre Murders which was published in the UK and translated into Dutch and French.

His first novel, The Drowning Ground, was published in August by Michael Joseph. It is a chilling fiction featuring a half Argentine half English DCI, Guillermo Downes. Downes investigates the death of a wealthy landowner and recluse. He realises he knows the victim, a former suspect, though cleared, in the disappearance of two girls. His pursuit of the case reveals a dreadful darkness.

Marrison, 42, is now focusing entirely on writing. He has just completed a novella which tells the story of how DCI Guillermo Downes was hunted by Argentina’s military junta during the dictatorship and escaped to England and he is now working on the second Downes novel called The Sleepless Ones which will also take place in the Cotswolds.

James first became interested in detective fiction having watched Murder my Sweet with Dick Powell when he was 'skiving' off school. This passion for film noir and 'hard-boiled' fiction grew when he was lucky enough to study film noir at Amherst College whilst an undergraduate exchange student at The University of Massachusetts. He is married to Clarisa who is a fashion stylist and producer.

The Drowning Ground, hardback, is priced at £16.99 and is available from all good book shops.

A book signing will be taking place at Waterstone, Stratford, on October 8 at 11am.