WINCHESTER writer and national newspaper journalist, David Derbyshire, has co-authored a debut novel with his childhood friend, Sir Mark Rowley – the former Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations in the Metropolitan Police.

The debut, The Sleep of Reason, is a tense, compelling thriller that explores the toxic world of counter terrorism, extremist ideology and populist politicians.

It draws on the real-life experience of Sir Mark, who led the UK’s counter terrorism policing from 2014-18 – during which time the police prevented 27 Islamist and extreme right-wing plots and made 850 preventative interventions to combat radicalisation.

David, who lives in Winchester with his family, is an award-winning journalist who previously worked for The Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail, and who has written for a host of publications as a freelance writer, including The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Times.

The Sleep of Reason has won rave reviews since it was published by Legend Press earlier this month.

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David, 53, said: "It’s been an absolute joy writing with Mark, a friend since we were teenagers. His inside knowledge of policing, counter terrorism and the workings of Government is vast - and we’ve been able to draw on that to create a political thriller that’s not just exciting, but also authentic. And while this is Detective Sophie Gabriel’s story, it goes wider than the police - and explores how extremists recruit and groom vulnerable young people, and how populist politicians from across the political spectrum can fuel extremism.

"One of the challenges was keeping the story plausible, while also being gripping. At the same time we wanted to reflect the messiness and frustration of real-life police work.’

Sir Mark, 57, said: "I’ve always loved thrillers with a twist, so when David proposed we create a novel together during a birthday celebration at the Guildhall in Winchester a few years ago, I jumped at the chance.

"This is completely different from anything I’ve ever done before. We set out to create a story that’s exciting and thought provoking, but also one that’s as realistic as we could make it. Sophie Gabriel’s story isn’t just a tense thriller, it sheds light on how neo-Nazi and Islamist terrorists and extremists operate and feed off each other in the UK - and highlights the immense challenges police face keeping the public safe."

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