A journalist and author has drawn on his experience at a weekly newspaper for his new book.

Peter Bartram, pictured left, began his career on the Worthing Herald before going on to become a freelance writer and journalist, writing for national newspapers and magazines.

His latest book, Headline Murder, is the first novel in his Crampton of the Chronicle series, which was launched two years ago with a collection of five short stories on Kindle.

The novel, set in the 1960s, tells the story of a fictional young reporter, Colin Crampton of the Brighton Evening Chronicle, who stumbles upon an unsolved murder while investigating the disappearance of a seafront trader.

Peter told his former Worthing title: “I hope that Headline Murder will be the first novel of a Crampton of the Chronicle series of humorous murder mysteries. I’m already working on the second book in the series.

“I’ve drawn on a few of my own experiences in writing the book.

“But Colin Crampton, my fictional reporter, pulls some outrageous scams that I would never have thought of as he unravels the mystery.”

After beginning his career on the Worthing Herald, Peter studied for a degree at the London School of Economics and later worked in London on newspapers and magazines.

He then went freelance and has since written throusands of articles and 21 non-fiction books, including five ghostwritten titles.

Peter’s novel is published in paperback by Roundfire Books.