A former regional daily journalist’s debut novel has sold more than 80,000 copies since its release.

Tim Utton, who used to work at the Nottingham Post, has written Lies, a psychological thriller which came about after a discussion with wife about how people use social media.

Tim, 46, has written the book under the pen name TM Logan.

After leaving the Post, he went on to work for the Daily Mail and is currently deputy director of external relations at the University of Nottingham.

He told the Post: “Lies is a psychological thriller with a dark edge, a gripping, pacy read that will keep you guessing right to the end.

“It’s about the things that are important to all of us – love, trust, loyalty, family – but it’s also about the darker side of human nature – betrayal, adultery, revenge and the lies that grow when obsession takes hold.

“It’s about a man trying to figure out what’s real and what’s not, after a single decision makes him question everything he thought he knew about his life.”

Of his decision to use a pseudonym, he added: “My real surname is Utton, but it’s frequently misspelled and mis-remembered, which is not good for an author.

“My agent and publisher suggested I change it, and we came up with Logan. TM are my real initials.”