ONE of Huddersfield’s former top detectives is hoping to forge a new career – as a crime writer.

Bob Bridgestock, who retired after a 30-year career littered with rapes, murders and armed robberies, is finding a new focus, along with his wife Carol.

And for the pair of them, it’s a Deadly Focus.

That’s the title of their first novel, with a second one well on the way and a third in the pipeline.

Deadly Focus, due out in July, explores the world of Senior Investigating Officer Jack Dylan. Dylan is on the hunt for a serial killer and, after he is attacked on the job, has a new and personal battle on his hands, as he tries to find a balance between his deteriorating health, his love for his partner and his passion and determination for solving the case.

Bridgestock, who led the hunt for the Birkby fire mass murderers, insists it is purely fiction – although his own life story mirrors his character.

With 45 years of police service between them, Bob, 57, and Carol, 47, drew upon their extensive knowledge and experience of police work to become fully-fledged authors.

Carol said: “You’ve probably heard the saying, ‘there’s a book in everyone’ and for years, Bob has had people both laughing and crying with all the tales he has told.

“But whenever anybody said to Bob that he should write a novel, he always said no. That’s why it was such a big surprise when he enrolled us on to a writing course at the Isle of Wight College, near our home.

“Now we work together as co-authors under RC Bridgestock. We thought it added to the conspiracy by making it look like it was one author, until you read about us inside”.

Bridgestock said: “I know that a lot of people don’t find it easy to retire. We all have different personal circumstances, some can’t leave for financial reasons and others find it difficult to let go of the responsibilities of work.

“But I had no reservations. From my early days within the Force I’d always wanted to be the man in charge of murder inquiries and that is what I achieved. I had no aspirations to climb to the higher ranks – the higher you climb the dizzier you become I believe!

“In the last three years alone I dealt with 26 murders and 23 major incidents including shootings and attempted murders plus more than 50 suspicious deaths and numerous serious sexual assaults.

“We launched into our new hobby with gusto. I obviously write like I talk and managed 120,000 words in six weeks – all in longhand! Our tutor was amazed”.

The couple, who have been married for 14 years, retired in 2004 and moved from Calderdale to their current home on the south side of the Isle of Wight.

He said: “Some people will be pleased or perhaps disappointed that the book is purely fiction.

“The book has already received glowing reviews and we have just finished writing our second called Consequences and are working on our third”.

Some of the proceeds will go to the Mountbatten Hospice on the Isle of Wight and the Overgate Hospice in Elland.