An Ickenham man has published a book filled with drama, affairs, murder and... Hayes !
Dad-of-two Neal Bircher, 51, took his decade long hobby of writing to the next level with the publication of his book Love Sex Work Murder.
Readers in the Hillingdon borough may feel a sense of deja vu while flicking through the pages, as Hayes was an inspiration for the book.
Mr Bircher said: “I read a fair bit myself and one day I thought, ‘I can do better than most of these’.
“I had a little idea, played around with it and just put it into words. The book is an office romance that leads to murder.
“It’s a couple having an affair and then the woman’s husband is murdered. You don’t know whether they’re responsible or if someone else is.
"You find out on the last page what happened.”
'Hayes was quite an inspiration'
Speaking about the local influences, the first-time-published author added: “There’s a fair bit about the Grand Union Canal and some of the pubs along it.
“I’ve renamed them, but people can work it out I think. I did name the Blue Anchor in Hayes but it’s closed down now.
“Hayes was quite an inspiration as I lived in Hillingdon and used to walk to work every day and I was composing things in my heads as I walked.”
Mr Bircher, an IT manager, thinks the book could be enjoyed by a wide audience and explains his writing style.
He said: “I get frustrated by books being unrealistic and clichéd so I avoid extreme things.
“You’ll get a book about ordinary everyday people that somehow involves a government conspiracy.
“It’s just not real, so I just kept it down to earth and added in a few little jokes involving office and pub life.”
Love Sex Work Murder is available to buy on Amazon for £7.95 in paperback edition or 99p for the Kindle.
