Former Huddersfield detective turns author

Jun 3 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

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.