Wigan author releases his gripping new historical thriller
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
A Wigan author has released the second instalment of his gripping historical thriller series.
John McKay, 57, author and military historian from Hindley Green, published Codename Greyman, the second book of his World War Two France trilogy, this month.
The atmospheric thriller follows the story of a British soldier, Frank Graham, whose life is shattered by the death of his brother at Dunkirk.
He is then recruited into the Special Operations Executive (SOE), stripped of his uniform, and given a codename to be parachuted into the depths of Nazi-occupied France.
Frank navigates fragile alliances, a volatile romance, and the constant threat of betrayal. He discovers that every victory comes at a cost
John said: “Codename Greyman is about the war that nobody really knows much about: the shadowy world of spies and the SOE.
“It also features the uprising in the Vercors area of France by the French by the French Resistence following D-Day, a story I only learned of when researching for another book.
“The second series is set in France during World War Two, but it can also be read as a standalone novel.”
Before writing, John served seven years in the Royal Air Force, then pursued a career in the Fire and Rescue Service as a watch manager for Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
The award-winning author has since published 13 books, ranging from historical fiction to non-fiction, and lives with his wife, Dawn, their two daughters and granddaughters.
He added: “I started writing mainly for fun some years ago, around the time I left the Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service.
“I have a huge interest in both world wars, so my writing is generally based around them, although I have done a contemporary dark comedy too."
His fiction has been endorsed by leading historians and bestselling authors, including Damien Lewis, author of SAS The Great Train Raid, and Saul David, author of Tunisgrad.
The third instalment of the trilogy is scheduled for release in the near future, continuing McKay’s exploration of the men and women who fought the war in the shadows.
Codename Greyman is available on Amazon and Waterstones in March.