A Laois man who for many years worked as a detective Garda, has now turned his hand to crime writing.
Ray Croke’s latest book ‘Bitter Justice’ is the fourth in the Detective Kate Bowen crime thriller series.
The author-publisher grew up on the family farm at Pallas, Portlaoise. “It’s on the Ballyfin Road, a mile and a bit from the town. There were six children in our family, three boys and three girls,” said Ray.
“I went to Portlaoise CBS, primary and secondary to Leaving Certificate. Years later I returned to education through the Open University, graduating with an honours degree in European Studies. I also completed postgrad studies at Dublin City University (DCU) in community interpreting in French.
Ray worked out of Garda headquarters in the Phoenix Park for most of his service as a detective. “In 2005 I was assigned to Paris as Garda Liaison Officer for France and Monaco and retired from that posting in late 2010.
“During 2008 I assisted the team from the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains searching for the body of Seamus Ruddy, one of the disappeared from the Northern Ireland troubles.
“He was believed to have been murdered and buried in a forest near Rouen, France. I worked with French forestry service personnel to try and pinpoint the burial site and took aerial photographs with the assistance of the Gendarmerie.
“This painstaking investigation finally yielded Mr. Ruddy’s remains in 2017,” Ray said.
It wasn’t his work as a detective that inspired him to go into crime writing. “It was my love of reading that influenced my decision to write stories that people would read for pleasure.
“I was a keen reader as a child and while my interest dipped in my early teenage years, it reignited in my 20s. I read fiction for leisure and everything under the sun when it comes to research.
“I’m presently researching storylines for my next book and reading ‘Say Nothing’ by Patrick Radden Keefe, a true story of murder and memory in Northern Ireland.
“I’m listening to Emma Donoghue’s ‘Learned by Heart’ on Borrowbox and reading Karin Slaughter’s ‘Grant County’ series for leisure. I’ve always enjoyed Niamh Boyce’s writing; ‘Her Kind,’ a retelling of the Alice Kytler story is exceptional. Andrea Carter’s ‘Inishowen’ series is compelling mystery writing.”
Ray has published four books in the Detective Kate Bowen crime thriller series: ‘The Devil’s Luck’, ‘The Prize Prince’, ‘Strike Back’, and this year, ‘Bitter Justice’.
Readers can download the free series prequel tnovella, ‘The Trinity Enigma]’, on most E-Reader platforms. It’s a regular top 100 bestseller on Amazon.
“I also wrote a British crime fiction novella, ‘One Night at the Perseverance Hotel’, which is available as an e-book.”
He gets lots of feedback, through reviews posted on Goodreads, Amazon Kindle, and other platforms.
“It is the personal emails from readers that mean the most. It is a fantastic part of being a writer. When readers tell me they get lost in my books, I know I have achieved what I set out to do,” said Ray.
The Laois man has established a routine for his writing.
“Once my research is complete, I begin to write the story. Early morning works best for me and I write for two to three hours before breakfast.
“I use Scrivener which facilitates writing in discrete scenes. I am a discovery writer rather than one who plots out the story from beginning to end.
“However, I do set daily and weekly word goals to keep myself focused. Typically, I continue writing until lunchtime. I was charmed to hear Andrea Carter describe her writing routine at the recent Leaves Festival of Writing as very similar.
“Afternoons are spent checking advertising campaigns, planning new ones, and ensuring none are overspending.
“I believe strongly in the value of Continuous Professional Development and I spend many evenings joining paid webinars on various writing topics from analysing storytelling elements to revealing backstories or exploring different points of view.”
The Laois writer is currently deep into research for book five in the Detective Kate Bowen Series.
“At any given time most writers have new ideas for stories sparking in their heads and I am no different. Who knows what the future holds?”
‘Bitter Justice’ is available from Allbooks and Paddy Dowling’s newsagent and online from Amazon Kindle as paperback or ebook.
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