The second crime novel by Castle Douglas writer David L Haigh has been published with the third in the series to be available in November (2025).
Hooked By The Past, the second book in the series, is published by Ingle-Haigh and follows David’s debut crime novel Land Kill, which came out in February 2024. Ingle-Haigh will publish A Fruitless Revenge, the third in the series, in the week beginning November 10.
Again drawing heavily on the Northumbrian countryside, as did Land Kill, Hooked by The Past begins when the estranged wife of criminal Barry Klaxon is found dead by local journalist Colin Jakeman.
Jakeman sets out to investigate the Klaxon Gang after the death of his brother, and also investigating the events is DCI Jeff Spencer and his team. The longer the investigation continues, the more it unearths evidence of extortion, murder and grievous bodily harm.
David, a member of the Stewartry Writers group, who came to live in Dumfries and Galloway in 2019, had not envisaged embarking on a career as a crime writer but all that changed when he attended a writing workshop run for the group.
Inspiration struck during the workshop run by John Dean, the crime writer who lives near Castle Douglas and has twenty six titles to his name, and who has continued to support David.
David, who appeared at last year’s Kirkcudbright Book Week, said: ”That workshop planted the idea in my brain and John has remained a guiding light with his encouragement and advice.
“Land Kill was my first venture into crime fiction. In the beginning, I had no intention of it being anything more than a one-off but by the end of the novel thoughts of a follow-on saga for DCI Jeff Spencer and his team began to sprout.
“Hooked By The Past grew into the second book in the series. A Fruitless Revenge is the latest.”
John Dean said: “David is the perfect example of an author who becomes inspired by the potential for storytelling offered by crime fiction. I am impressed at the way the ideas have kept coming and the way David has continued to hone his writing skills.”
David said that other support has included editing by Claire Cronshaw, of Cherry Edits, and proof-reading by freelance book editor Laura Dean. The cover designs were produced by Bespoke Author, who also carried out the formatting for sale on Amazon.
Kirkcudbright Book Week 