STAFF, trustees and volunteers at the 12th Century Whittington Castle were thrilled to learn that it is the setting for a new murder mystery by Oswestry author Dave Andrews.

In Bolt From The Black – the second book in the Inspector Probert series – a body is found in the castle moat and the victim is a property developer who had been seeking permission to build a large estate of exclusive houses near Wat’s Dyke on the outskirts of Oswestry.

Suspicion immediately falls on outspoken opponents of the proposal and an internet troll using the pseudonym Avenger Anarchist is top of the list.

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But there are others in the frame too, including a prominent church figure and members of the deceased’s family.

"We’re really thrilled that our castle is featured in Dave’s new detective novel and that he describes the site in such a positive way,” said Jan Nowak, who works in the castle shop.

Dave explained that he chose the iconic location for the setting of his novel because it was the perfect choice for a nighttime murder.

And he added that readers of his stories that he sets in north Shropshire and around Oswestry are avid fans of the area.

He said: “I chose the castle because I’ve always enjoyed going there.

“It’s a well-known landmark and a popular destination for both locals and visitors to the area.

“It just seemed an ideal location for a nighttime murder.

‘I’ve been taken completely by surprise by sales of the first Inspector Probert novel, Each Slow Dusk.

“I’ve received a huge number of messages from readers.

“Many of them have told me how much they enjoyed reading about familiar places.

“Some even tell me that they’ve followed Inspector Probert’s route around town as he was trying to solve the case.

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“I’m sure Bolt From The Black will have a similar effect on readers who know Whittington or Oswestry.’

Dave is the established reader/writer in Residence at Oswestry library where he gives talks on various aspects of English and Welsh literature and offers advice to writers.

He is the author of 12 previous books, with his back catalogue including The Oswestry Round, Gobowen to Everest and Wilfred Owen: Poet of Oswestry, among others.