WHILE the beautiful Lake District might not be considered to be a usual setting for a crime novel, the author of a new thriller says it’s a perfect location for his story.

Oliver E Cadam who lived in the Lake District for nearly 20 years, has recently published his third book Men on the Hill . A murder mystery based across the South Lakes including Coniston, Bowness, Grange and Kendal, Cadam says his new novel “reflects real life in the Lakes”.

The story’s protagonist, DCI David Lehrer, is near to retiring and has moved from London to a house overlooking Windermere in the hope of a simple life investigating less serious crime. However, he soon finds himself back in the world of crime and violence.

The author, who now lives in Suffolk, said he was inspired by the landscape and beauty of the Lake District, but also intrigued by what would happen if his fictional detective stumbled on a major crime story there.

He said: “Location can be a really important part of a book and in this case, poor old DCI Lehrer thinks he is getting away from it all so that he can enjoy the great outdoors and escape his past, but he’s actually walking into one of the most difficult cases of his career”

Cadam says the Lake District National Park is close to his heart and writing the book also gave him a chance to explore some very contemporary issues.

He added :“Much of the drama in the book results from social and economic turmoil, relationships between neighbours breaking down and how crime thrives on chaos.”

Cadam is hoping to bring DCI Lehrer back for another fast-paced novel. Men on the Hill is available in paperback and e-book formats.