Thetown’s thestarfor Neil’slatest thrillride

The historic buildings and cobbled streets of Stirling’s imposing old town is the perfect setting to dump a body, according to crime writer Neil Broadfoot.

His latest novel No Man’s Land opens with the grim discovery of a mutilated corpse at Cowane’s Hospital in the heart of the city. The savagery of the murder prompts DCI Malcolm Ford to hunt down the culprit before he strikes again as the thriller takes off against a backdrop of Stirling’s most familiar landmarks.

In contrast, it was during a rest from a football match when Neil first realised he was amidst the perfect crime scene.

“It was 20016 and I’d been playing in the annual Bloody Scotland writers match in the old town when I sat at the side to watch,“he said.

“The atmosphere drew me in and I pictured a body being found at Cowane’s Hospital. The idea grew and I went for a wander round the streets and kept getting inspired by the architecture. By the time I saw my publisher later that day, I had the beginnings of the book in my head.”

The writer of three best-selling crime novels in the Doug McGregor series is talking at this year’s Bloody Scotland on the importance of location in crime writing.

“My first book was set in Edinburgh. There have been some great stories set there and in Glasgow – think of Denise Mina or Ian Rankin – but why not try another city, somewhere new?” he said .

“Stirling’s bloody history and the fantastic historic buildings make it ideal. There’s a unique atmosphere here. I’ve used landmarks like the university and the Wallace Monument in the book as well as some of the outlying areas. My character Connor Fraser lives in Park Avenue.” Neil, who lives in Dunfermline and has previously been on the Dundee International Prize shortlist and a Bloody Scotland book of the year nominee, plans more novels featuring Connor.

“There will be a series,”he adds. “There are plenty more murders to be had in this city.”