DGWGO – Featured Author – Jackie Baldwin – Dead Man’s Prayer

Dumfries Author Jackie Baldwin has set her latest crime novel ‘Dead Man’s Prayer’ in her home town. In an exclusive interview Jackie tells DGWGO all about how growing up in Dumfries inspired the story.

Jackie said “I suppose it was inevitable that The Benedictine Convent in Dumfries would feature in my debut crime novel. I attended there for thirteen years and, in various ways, it has formed the backdrop to my life. It was my primary 3 teacher, Miss Woodhouse, who was the first person to encourage me in my writing. In fact, her parting shot as I walked out the door, aged 7, was that I should be a writer when I grew up. This desire to write never left me although I had a lot to learn. My secondary English teacher deemed my melodramatic stories ‘purple prose’ as I was then of the school of thought ‘why use one adjective when ten will do?’ Don’t worry, I exercise more restraint now!“

She Continued “Years later, while I was working in a local solicitor’s office, the Convent afforded a temporary home to Dumfries Sheriff Court. The first morning that I rose to my feet in a former classroom to appear before the Sheriff seemed surreal. It was also strange going down to interview clients in the freshly installed cells. The new became superimposed upon the old until it felt like I was walking in the company of ghosts of my former self.

I then managed to pull off another Convent first by marrying that rarest of creatures, a Convent boy! You are more likely to come across a unicorn. Continuing on this theme we lived in a house backing on to the school hockey field. So, it is hardly surprising that when I set my crime novel in Dumfries, the Convent had to have a starring role!”

Jackie went on to say “My main character, former RC priest, DI Frank Farrell, lives at Kelton which is a small Hamlet on the way to Glencaple. I may not have run along the river bank at the foot of the lane as Farrell likes to do, (flat feet), but I have taken an unplanned dip in the Nith there when I toppled out of a dinghy. My first married home was down that lane and in my imagination that is exactly where Farrell now resides, sprawling on the sofa, a modest glass of whisky in his hand, looking out the round window towards the Nith, whilst the soothing sounds of Gregorian chants play in the background.

She also said “The Police Station in Dumfries is something else that has changed over the years. Back in the day there was no Cornwall Mount. In fact, I have a feeling that there may have been a donkey in a field around there. The main station in Loreburn Street was tiny by comparison and you entered it through double wooden doors on the corner. When I went to visit the station as part of my research I was surprised and not a little impressed at how sparse and functional the offices of the most senior officers were.

For those of you who are local, there will be some unfamiliar places and names in the book. If I needed a location where something unpleasant was going to happen or had something derogatory to say about a character then I would have a general area of the town in mind but make up a street name. Similarly, I made up a name for a Catholic Church as there are only two so I didn’t want to specify a particular one.

Realising that childhood ambition to be a published author took me rather a long time but perhaps tastes all the sweeter for the wait.”

Dead Man’s Prayer by Jackie Baldwin

Former RC priest, DI Frank Farrell has returned to his roots in Dumfries, only to be landed with a disturbing murder case. Even worse, Farrell knows the victim: Father Boyd, the man who forced him out of the priesthood fifteen years earlier.

With no leads, Farrell must delve into the old priest’s past, one that is inextricably linked with his own. But his attention is diverted when twin boys go missing. One twin is recovered in an abandoned church, unharmed. But where is his brother?

As Farrell investigates the two cases he can’t help but feel targeted. Is someone playing a sinister game, or is he seeing patterns that don’t exist? Either way, it’s a game Farrell needs to win before he loses his grip on his sanity, or someone else turns up dead.

For Reviews or to purchase a copy, click HERE

Follow Jackie’s Website HERE