Canoe case cop has two novels coming out soon

Now former murder squad chief Tony Hutchinson has got readers in his sights as he launches a new career as a crime-writing novelist.

Tony’s gripping debut is Be My Girl, a fast-paced police procedural that follows Detective Chief Inspector Sam Parker’s pursuit of a serial rapist who counts on perfect planning to keep him one step ahead.

FAMOUS FACE: Cleveland Police's Detective Superindentent Tony Hutchinson holds a newly issued photo of John Darwin at a press conference on December 10, 2007

Det Ch Insp Parker’s second outing - Comply Or Die -sees her lead her murder team into the chilling world of honour-based violence.

Both novels have been released on digital formats, and paperback versions will be available from Friday, September 7. They are published by Cheshire Cat Books.

Tony, who rose through the ranks to become a Detective Superintendent with Cleveland Police in 1999, has brought 30 years of real-life experience to the pages of his fiction.

He said: "I understand investigations and have tried to bring that element of police procedure strongly into my books.

"It’s important to me that they are authentic and give a genuine feel for how an inquiry is run."

Tony, who was born in Newcastle and moved to Hartlepool as a young boy, headed Cleveland’s Murder Investigation Team from its inception in 2001 until he retired in 2008.

He also worked on homicide inquiries in Copenhagen and Amsterdam where UK citizens had been murdered, liaising with the Danish and Dutch police.

And in 2007, he was the senior investigating officer on the ‘canoe man’ John Darwin inquiry, a sensational case that became one of the biggest global media stories of the year when he and his wife Anne faked his death in an accident off the coast of Hartlepool.

After success and acclaim as a high-profile detective, Tony admits launching his new career as an author is thrilling and scary at the same time.

He said: "I enjoy the whole writing experience, but writing for pleasure and keeping your brain active is one thing, writing for publication is a different ball game altogether.

"Butterflies in the stomach doesn’t come near to describing how I feel.

"I try to take the readers beyond the investigating officer. It is very much a case of trying to take the reader into that world.

"I am not a writer. I still call myself a retired police officer. If you were to ask me in a year's time, there might be a different answer.

"All I ever wanted to do when I joined the police was to become a detective, then began to rise through the ranks. I've been very lucky. To be appointed the the senior investigating officer on the murder team was incredible.

"I love walking on the coast, the Northumberland coast and North Yorkshire coast, and my ideas come then.

"But I'm a fair-weather walker and needed something to do in the winter."

Tony was born in Newcastle and moved to Hartlepool when he was nine, and studied at Hartlepool Grammar School for Boys and Brinkburn Comprehensive.

He joined Cleveland Police in 1978, and spent 25 years as a detective before retiring ten years ago.

He has lectured on homicide and behavioural sciences, and been invited to address conferences in the UK, Canada, and the USA, speaking on a variety of investigative topics.

Among his other achievements are having written and delivered investigation training across the UK and Ireland, and to the Royal Bahraini Police.

He has also written and delivered training in honour-based violence and forced marriage across the UK.

Now living back in Newcastle, Tony is a St James' Park season-ticket holder and life-long supporter