Kildare author and former military policeman launches latest book, ‘The Devil's Relics’
Martin Malone is an award-winning writer who hails from Kildare town
An award-winning author from Kildare town has published his latest book: 'The Devil’s Relics: An Emer Harte Mystery'.
The crime novel, which published under the Owl Fella’s Press imprint, is based in south Lebanon and north Israel in 2010.
According to author Martin Malone, its origins rest in a short story produced by BBC Radio 4 and read by Conleth Hill of 'Game of Thrones' fame.
He told the Leinster Leader: "The story, 'Secret of the Furze', was never published, but this opening chapter has been revised, and the lead character now is Emer Harte, a military police officer based in Naqoura, UNIFIL Headquarters.
"Captain Harte is assigned to investigate the mysterious disappearances of two Irish UN peacekeepers who went missing while on leave with their unit’s touring party in Israel.
Author Martin Malone. File photograph
Speaking about himself, Martin said: "I’m a former military policeman with 15 titles to my credit, including 'Us', which won the 'Sunday Independent / Dr John B Keane Literary Award' and was shortlisted for the 'Kerry Ingredient Irish Fiction Award'.
"Simon & Schuster published 'The Broken Cedar', a novel, and the Moat Theatre in Naas brought 'Rosanna Nightwalker, The Wren of the Curragh' to the stage in 2011.
"I used to write people features weekly, wordage 1,600, and a column for the Leinster Leader."
He also revealed that he is set to retire from serious writing next year after the publication of 'Pike Hill: The Rath Massacre', which will be set in 1798 on the Curragh Plains and its surrounding areas.
'The Devil’s Relics: An Emer Harte Mystery' is on sale now.