A FORMER Winchester journalist has released his first novel, set in Hampshire.

Author John Quinn has drawn on his experiences reporting in the city in the late 1980s for his debut book The Reporter, published by Burton Mayers Books.

John said: “The publisher said they loved the books ‘realism, grittiness and humour,’ which all comes from working as a journalist in Winchester.”

The Reporter follows Jude Devlin, a trainee journalist on a Hampshire free newspaper. Jude uncovers a career-defining story which could bring down the secretive crime family that runs the city, and the corrupt senior police officer who protects them.  

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The family decide that, if Jude can’t be bought off or scared off, he must be got rid of.

Like his main character, John worked in the late 80s on free newspapers in Hampshire including The News Extra in Winchester and The Advertiser, in Southampton. It was the start of a successful career, with John going on to win the Campaigning Journalist of the Year award whilst at the Mail on Sunday, and later owning Solent News Agency in Southampton.

John continued: “It was a different time then, more fun.

“You made ‘contacts’, took them for a beer and got to know and trust each other. They would tell you what was really happening. Now they’d be fired! These days you have to go through the police’s or council’s press office and you only get told what they want you to know. But I realise I do sound like an old dinosaur!”

John is an active member of the Winchester-based Hampshire Writers Society and he and his wife, Sheena, are keen golfers at the Royal Winchester Golf Club.

The Reporter will be available to purchase from June 16.