A world of supernatural crime has been created in a Sittingbourne dad's conservatory.

Stacey Dighton's third novel The Hawk and the Raven was published last month just in time for Halloween.

It's about suspended Detective Inspector Luke Raven who uses the paranormal to solve five murders while battling the dark forces of the occult as it prepares to unleash the murderous cannibal The Hawk.

Stacey, 48, said: "I wrote most of the book on a laptop in the conservatory. It's very relaxing there, looking out at the garden."

He also sought inspiration from the New Forest while on holiday overlooking the Isle of Wight and has turned it into Westhampton Beach in the novel. He and his wife Jo recently returned from a break in Cornwall.

"My next book will be based there," said Stacey. "Cornwall is full of mystery with its historic connections with witchcraft. Wherever you turn, there is always something a little off kilter."

He self-published his first novel Pale Face and the Raven in 2019 and swiftly followed it up with a collection of horror, sci-fi and fantasy short stories called The Maidens of Fey and Other Dark Matter.

'I started from the end and worked backwards'

He said: “In my first novel I started from the end and worked backwards. My idea was based on the finale. The challenge was figuring out everything which led up to that moment. That voyage was really a white-knuckle ride but I loved it."

Many readers were left wanting to know what happened next so Stacey, a procurement director in his day job, created a second yarn.

He said: "I love authors like Stephen King, Dean Koontz and Lauren Beukes. What I really like is a dark thriller with a heart but also a story which takes you somewhere you couldn't predict but is still believable."

He added: "I remember sitting in a damp, cold and overly noisy classroom at primary school and reading Witches by Roald Dahl. I was completely absorbed by this fantastically obscene world created by the author, the humorous and yet slightly sinister characters and the fast-paced plot which reeled me in with every urgently delivered paragraph."

His love of literature was further boosted by his English teacher at Borden Grammar School. He recalled: "She was really inspirational and always gave me great marks for creative writing which is why I ended up taking English Literature at A-level."

He added: “My new book is a horror crime thriller but also about family, addiction and the struggle to prevent past events irrevocably shaping the future. While Luke is the centre-point, the plot is really dominated by strong female characters."

He says his hero is a "mash of conflicts" haunted by premonitions of murder and bloodshed and also desperate to get his old job back "by whatever means".

He said: “Despite the dark themes, I've tried to intersperse some humour. I want people to have fun while reading about cannibalism and torture."

There are also musical references thanks to Stacey's other pastime of singing and playing guitar in the duo The Mammals with his cousin Matt Delaware on keyboards. He said: "We play anything people will dance to from the 50s to the present day."

Gigs have included the Ypres Tavern, White Horse pub and working men's clubs.

For more details visit www.staceydightonstoryteller.com or follow Stacey on Facebook and Twitter @Stacey_Dighton.

* The Hawk and the Raven by Stacey Dighton, Cranthorpe Millner, £10.99. It is available in store and online at Waterstones and Foyles.

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