Grieving John Heron only picked up the pen as a way of coping with the loss of his grandfather. Now the 25-year-old new author from Piperhill, near Ayr has finally seen his gripping first novel published to critical acclaim.

John has used the crime films and television series he adores for inspiration in producing the slick and thrilling ‘Why’.

He explained: “I began writing after my granddad’s passing as I was full of emotion and needed a place to channel my thoughts.

“I learned a lot from the TV shows that l have watched for years on how to build a plot and I also borrowed a few ideas from books I enjoy.

“I now write whenever my brain kicks into gear - l have been known not to finish writing until around three in the morning. Although I have now finished Why, and it is out there, I will continue to write - I need to write.”

Why is a stunning whodunnit debut that follows the fortunes of Detective Inspector Jimmy Raven.

Not only does the intrepid DI have to solve routine day-to-day cases, he’s also on the hunt for the man who killed the father he never knew. John’s first published work is a rollercoaster of twists and turns as Raven is regularly frustrated by inept colleagues and suspected cover-ups.

Fans of hit BBC television crime show Line of Duty will certainly enjoy the complex and highly engaging Why.

John, who lists the likes of James Patterson and Stephanie Meyer among his favourite authors, added: “Why focusses on two cases which, which seem normal enough but are troubling Jimmy Raven as he quickly identifies a trend of evidence and information being either removed or tampered with.”

“Behind his everyday work, though, he still harbours a need to solve the murder of his detective father, who was killed on duty.

“Jimmy Raven hadn’t known his father until they met shortly before his death.

“The story will bring several threads together as DI Raven attempts to expose what is really going on in the police.”

Since the death of his grandfather, John has created a writing office in his Ayr home to concentrate on producing more gripping novels. Paperback and Amazon Kindle versions of Why are both available.