DEAD bodies, tax evasion and extra-marital affairs are perhaps not the most obvious subjects for someone writing a book about the Vale.

Fortunately, A Corpse in the Vale by Howard Thomas is a fictional work, and while the author, who has lived in Evesham for 20 years, admits his inspiration came from his own experiences and observations, none of the characters are based on real life people.

Mr Thomas, aged 55, said: "Writing for me really goes back to when I was a kid and used to watch the early morning black and white movie shows, with cops from New Scotland Yard investigating cases. I think that is where I got an inkling - like most people you stick with what you know."

Set in the fictional Vale village of Compton, A Corpse in the Vale unfolds when the charred remains of a well-known local accountant are discovered. A framed suicide, the dead man's widow hires private investigator Gary Barker to uncover her husband's killer.

The Compton Arms, the village pub, provides the backdrop for a lot of the book's action. Mr Thomas said: "I had a little book published years ago about the pubs in the Vale and I have also done some accountancy work - they always say write about what you know."

He added: "I hopefully came up with something that people will enjoy reading. The characters in the book are an amalgamation of lots of different people I have met in life and I thought it would be quite novel to make Gary Barker a black detective because it would be slightly different."

Mr Thomas, who works full time on behalf of the local authorities, wrote A Corpse in the Vale in his spare time. He used to cover football matches for the Stroud News and Journal and has also had a number of short stories and articles published in magazines over the years.

The experienced writer said: "I think you have got to have full discipline to write a book - you have to set yourself a target of so many chapters a week. There is no way I can afford to give up my day job, although I would love to be in that position. But realistically that is not going to happen."

Mr Thomas paid to have the novel published himself: "If you are an unknown writer it is almost impossible to get a publishing deal so I paid to have the book published myself. Doing it this way you have not got a great deal of money but hopefully word of mouth will get the book around."

"I thought if I stayed with something local, people locally would be interested in the book. I am not confident that it will be a best seller but hopefully I will sell a few copies. I have got another story in mind so if this one works I will try and publish that one too."

A Corpse in the Vale is certainly something different to the usual books that are based on Vale life. Although it is fictional there are enough references to well-known sites and real-life places to make it an enjoyable read for anyone familiar to the area. And it leaves the reader wondering exactly what could be going on behind the closed doors of cottages across the Vale.

The book, priced £7.99, can be ordered from all good bookshops or via the publisher UPSO by visiting www.upso.co.uk. Copies are also available by contacting Mr Thomas directly on 01386 41027.