Man who solved the area’s biggest crimes pens novel based in Humberside

HE’S DRAWN ON OWN EXPERIENCES TO WRITE FICTIONAL TALE

Quentin Dowse, a former Detective Superintendent, with his fictional crime thriller set in Humberside during the 1990s.

A FORMER Humberside Detective Superintendent has used his experience and knowledge of the force to write a fictional crime novel based in the region.

Quentin Dowse, who was born in Scunthorpe, has released his novel, ‘A Duty of Revenge’, which is based in Humberside during the 1990s.

The story is told through several different angles, but particularly through the eyes of a retired Detective Superintendent, Matt Darnley, who decides to tell the truth about his most hardest investigations which took place in 1998.

Also, there is a part of the story which is told through the eyes of a journalist at the Hull Daily Mail, the wife of the villain and many more.

Does the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth get revealed in this story?

Quentin said: “I’ve always loved reading. My life and experiences have demonstrated that life on the force was definitely a page turner: you never knew what was going to happen.

“It could be dull, exciting, scary. I always wanted to write a book and I’ve never had the chance to write one until now. But I’ve used my background knowledge on processes and systems within the police, as well as my own experience, to help me write this novel. I wrote about what I knew to bring it that edge of truth.”

Quentin describes why he chose the time period he had in the novel.

He said: “Back in the 1990s, I was initially a Senior Investigating Officer and then Detective Superintendent in Humberside Police. I investigated major crimes and murders in Humberside. So I wrote about what I knew, which made it easier to write when thinking back then.

“I do want to stress the novel isn’t true - it’s an element I’ve managed to bring to the writing process.”

Having been born and bred in Scunthorpe, he initially joined Lincolnshire l hi Police P li as a cadet d f for three h months, was posted to Cleethorpes as a police officer and then shortly joined Humberside Police after its formation in 1974.

He goes on to suggest that a career in the force was recommended, rather than chosen for him.

He said: “I was no older than 19, and my careers master at John Leggott College told me I’d like to be a policeman.

“I found myself within the force around 10 days later.”

Quentin now lives in the East Riding of Yorkshire area and still has a close connection to the south Humber bank.

He adds: “My parents had numerous shops in Scunthorpe. They owned a shop on Westerdale Road, just off Grange Lane South as well as in Ashby. My dad, Les Dowse, had a thing of never having a name on the shop tops. They were completely blank. I remember going to play at what we called the ‘valleys’ near the steelworks.”

And Quentin adds that his father would be tremendously proud of him.

The former Detective Superintendent said: “He would be over the moon. He was so proud of me when I made it up the ranks in the police. I put my success down to him.

Quentin describes how people are still fascinated with crime today.

“I’ve detailed some of the most famous cases which still get talked about today - including the cases of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, as well as Fred and Rose West.

“It’s plastered all over the television even now. People are endlessly fascinated by the missing bits of information and how they see the finer details. I hope my fictional crime novel will intrigue people’s imaginations just the same.”

■If you would like to purchase Quentin’s novel, you can do so at Waterstones, Blackwells, Foyles and Amazon.