Paddy thought he was above and beyond politics, wine women and song, and a bit of rough and tumble, he was man’s man. Until history came calling in the shape of devastating bombs. I included this chapter in my novel Across The Water for those English readers who thought the British were always the good… Continue reading

I hope you enjoy the opening of the novel. Click the link to pre-order https://www.northodox.co.uk/product-page/before-the-storm Before The Storm Chapter One DI Cooper 12.10am, Friday, June 24th, 2016 Swirling, flashing, blue and red lights lit up the empty streets as the ambulance raced. No siren blared, but lights screamed through the darkness, waking neighbours in quiet… Continue reading

This interview with New York based podcast Irish Stew looks at the motivation for a novel set in Liverpool and Ireland in the 1970s. Click on the lick below to hear it in full. https://www.irishstewpodcast.com/JackByrneCheckIn/https://www.irishstewpodcast.com/JackByrneCheckIn/ Click on the link below to buy the book. https://www.northodox.co.uk/product-page/across-the-water-paperbackack Continue reading

Set in 2020 facing police violence and climate change a cast of young characters find they need to change themselves before they can change the world. I am revising this novel and would love to hear what you think of this opening- You can comment here or email. If you are interested in reading more… Continue reading

It was about 5 pm when I walked into Central B&B in Tipperary.Graham’s first words were, ” Will you have a cup of tea?”“I will.” And so began my stay in what I genuinely think of as the best B&B in Ireland. I hadn’t planned to stop in Tipp, but it was 5 pm dark… Continue reading

Provisional Image Before the StormComing out in May 2023 This will be the last book in the first cycle of Liverpool Mysteries, following on from the widely acclaimed Under The Bridge, and Across the Water. The Morning After finds us back in Liverpool. This book can be read as a stand alone or as the… Continue reading

Depending on the dictionary you go to, there are variations in the defintion of amnesia, but it is usually seen an involuntary lapse in memory, due to illness or trauma. It can also be a self defence mechanism. We sometimes consciously try to forget episodes we are not proud of, or behaviour we regret. The… Continue reading

I support Everton, for good or bad as people from other clubs might say, cest la vie, or que será, será, but for Evertonians ‘it is what it is’ seems to fit better. That is the approach of many supporters who have followed the club from the faintly remembered heights of the 80s through the mediocre mid-table… Continue reading

I took part in a Liverpool Literary Festival, Writing on the Wall event recently, its title was ‘Writing Across Borders’. The title was mine, I had the idea of inviting Paddy Osborne who wrote Baxter’s Boys set in Dublin with a leading Scouse character. So ‘Writing Across Borders’ was to explore my Liverpool Irish characters… Continue reading