A Clacks author is celebrating the launch of his first crime fiction novel.
Pat McTaggart’s latest novel, Code to Murder, is the first in a series of crime fiction books.
Hailing from Clackmannan, this is not Pat’s first published novel. He previously wrote two books of poems about his family’s journey with dementia.
Pat, 63, wrote the earlier books while he was caring for his father, also named Pat, and his mother, Margaret.
Sadly, both Pat and Margaret have since passed away, but writing had been therapeutic for Pat while he cared for his parents, so he continued to write.
Speaking to the Advertiser, Pat said: “When I wrote the poetry books, it was kind of an emotional outlet.
“For the person that's got dementia, it's tough, and for the family it's tough.
“So that's how the book came about, it was just sort of an emotional outlet. Then, I had the idea of publishing it and spoke to my mum and dad and they were okay with it.
“Again, it was similar. I'd had the idea about writing a novel, a crime novel and again, at the start it was an emotional outlet.
“So just something to distract me and I started doing it. It just sort of developed from there and became real as I got more and more written.”
This latest book, the first in a series featuring DCI Ben Fitzpatrick, has an array of familiar settings for those in the Wee County, including Dollar Glen, Gartmorn Dam, the Clackmannanshire Bridge, and the Wallace Monument.
It was released today (Tuesday, May 19) and is available to purchase on Amazon or direct on the author’s website.
It follows DCI Ben Fitzpatrick and his protégé DS Julie Taylor as they are called in to investigate after a body is found in a hotel room in Stirling.
Ten percent of all author royalties from the novel will be donated to charities.
To celebrate the launch of this new detective hitting the streets of Clackmannanshire, the Alloa Advertiser is delighted to announce that it has five signed hardback copies to give away.
For you to be in with a chance of getting a copy, simply email the author at pat@patmctaggart.com including your name and suggesting any Clackmannanshire location you think would be a good location to be used in a future novel in the series.
Email in your entries by Wednesday, May 27.
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