A FICTIONAL detective from Brent Knoll is the star of a forthcoming crime novel - the third story in a fiction series penned by an author with firm Burnham roots.

On Friday February 28, Damien Boyd, a writer who grew up in and around the seaside town, launches Kickback, a crime thriller centred around DI Nick Dixon, the man under pressure to crack the case.

By day, author Boyd works as a private practice solicitor. But his years spent working for the Crown Prosecution Service, combined with his deep knowledge of the places he's “known and loved”, has meant he's able to give his crime series the real insider's truth.

As with his other books, his tales are peppered with recognisable Somerset scenes.

Damien told the Weekly News: “Nick Dixon's favourite curry house is the Zalshah in Burnham, which is also my favourite curry house, and that's where it all kicks off.”

In Kickback, trainee jockey Noel Woodman has been kicked to death by an aggressive stallion at a horse racing stables near Bridgwater.

“The crime itself takes place in a fictional stables in Spaxton, while the final showdown takes place on race day at Taunton Racecourse,” Damien continues.

The Bridgwater Criminal Investigation Department DI is pulled into the case at gun-point, still reeling from his last case, only to find himself fighting for his own life in pursuit of the killer.

Kickback is released on February 28 on Amazon in both paperback and e-Book formats.

Damien will be signing copies of his books from 10am to noon at GW Hurley in Burnham High Street on Saturday, March 22.