A new novel by a West Sussex- based author is set to be released.
Paul Quinlan, who lives in Arundel, has penned his debut novel titled Flashover, inspired by a string of unsettling murders that took place in the 1980s in Florence.
The plot of the novel revolves around two young boys stumbling upon the bodies of a young mother and a Catholic priest in the summer of 1971.
When the police disregard crucial evidence provided by the boys, the wrong man is convicted, leading to a series of similar double murders in the following years.
As one of the boys grows up, he realises he knows the real killer.
He also falls in love with the daughter of the wrongly convicted prisoner, which makes them targets of the real killer and his accomplice.
The story unfolds against a backdrop of religious uncertainty and political change, weaving tales of murder, miscarriage of justice, political ambition and love.
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Quinlan, who has an extensive background in political science, has incorporated elements of his professional knowledge into the plot and its characters.
Flashover is loosely inspired by the series of murders attributed to 'The Monster of Florence,' which occurred between 1968 and 1985.
Quinlan, who lived near Florence from 1983 to 1986, was acutely aware of the impact these killings had on the local community.
Reflecting on the story years later, Quinlan decided to craft a fictional narrative loosely bearing the marks of the mostro story while relocating it to familiar places in his own country.
Discussing his novel, Quinlan said: "I was 'inspired,' if that is the right word, by a gruesome series of killings of courting couples that took place in rural settings around Florence between 1968 and 1985. I also decided to introduce a political dimension into the story.
"Politicians are frequently highly ambitious types, and some of them display signs of Machiavellian deviousness, narcissism, and psychopathy – the so-called 'Dark Triad' of personality traits."
Flashover is set to hit the shelves on Friday, November 28, and will be available for £10.99.
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