Coal in blood ofdebut novelist

Geoff Green, 68, hopes to keep readers guessing right until the end as the thriller In Coal Blood, published by Matador, hits the shelves.

The story follows a small community on the Derbyshire/Notts border, which becomes the centre of a fascinating whodunit when a miner “accidentally” dies underground.

Geoff, whose father and grandfather were also miners, said: “I was pretty much illiterate in my early days, but a wonderful education at Ilkeston Grammar School improved my English and brought out some spark of literary appreciation and capability.”

Born at Bridge Street, Cotmanhay, in 1945, Geoff started work with a pit pony at Moorgreen Colliery, moving to the coalface at the age of 18.

Now retired and living in Chester, Geoff’s novel should strike a chord with local folk, with lots of familiar locations around Ilkeston, Cossall, Strelley and Kimberley.

He worked as a safety consultant in the UK, South Africa, Turkey, Finland and Sardinia.

Geoff attended Bennerley Infants School, Granby Junior School and Ilkeston Grammar School. He is married with three children and eight grandchildren.

In Coal Blood is available as a paperback or an e-book from Amazon or www.troubador.co.uk.