A former Midlands journalist has won an award for his latest book, a crime novel set in Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Tony Bassett came first in the Murder and Suspense (police procedurals) category of the 2024 American Fiction Awards.

His book, Heir To Murder, was published in December last year by The Book Folks, a publisher specialising in crime fiction. It is mainly set in the villages around Stratford-upon-Avon

Tony, who currently lives in Bexley, Kent, said: “I entered for the awards several months ago, never expecting to win as there are so many crime novels being produced every day and I was up against some stiff competition from across the world.

“I was totally astonished when the organisers said I had won in the police procedurals category.”

Heir To Murder is the fifth book in a series set in the West Midlands featuring DCI Gavin Roscoe, an experienced detective and family man, and his sergeant, law graduate and resourceful problem-solver Sunita Roy.

The novel begins when a long-suffering neighbour of loud music fan Miles Kenworth bursts into his flat to complain. He is shocked to find the peer of the realm’s son lying in a pool of blood.

Since the furious neighbour is found standing over the body, police think they have an open and shut case. But astute Detective Sergeant Sunita Roy refuses to accept the obvious and probes more deeply to reveal the truth.

Jeffrey Keen, president of sponsors American Book Fest in Los Angeles, said: “ Winners and finalists were announced in over seventy genre-specific categories. Awards were presented for titles published in 2022 to 2024. Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists for their much-deserved recognition.”

Tony’s book is available as an ebook or paperback through Amazon. The sixth book in his Midlands crime series is due to be published shortly.

As yet untitled, it concerns a robbery at the mansion home of a Premier League footballer.

He has also written a published thriller set in London called Seat 97, in which a Greenwich journalist investigates a murder at the Royal Albert Hall, and two novels set in Kent have also been released.

Tony first developed a love of writing at the age of nine when he produced a magazine at his junior school in Sevenoaks, Kent. A few years later, his local vicar in Tunbridge Wells staged his play based on the Biblical story of Naboth’s Vineyard. At Hull University, Tony was judged Time-Life Magazine student journalist of the year in 1971.

A former Worcester News journalist has just had his fifth book published, which is based in Worcestershire.

Tony Bassett is known for his series of novels based in the county, and his most recent – ‘Heir To Murder’ – was published on Monday, December 4.

The novel follows the story of a viscount’s younger son who rebels against his family, drawing enemies due to his love of loud music.

Enraged by the noise, a long-suffering neighbour bursts into the viscount’s son’s flat, discovering him lying in a pool of blood.

However, Detective Sergeant Sunita Roy refuses to accept the simple narrative, believing there is more to the murder than meets the eye.

In the novel Mr Bassett paints a picture of the detective’s determination to uncover the truth – a journey which has her delving into the viscount’s family history and a mysterious disappearance two years prior.

His book is particularly geared towards Worcestershire audiences, as it incorporates the familiar area of Redditch, as well as Stratford-upon-Avon.

Published by London-based The Book Folks, ‘Heir To Murder’ is now available for purchase on Amazon as an ebook, paperback or hardback.

Prior books in the series include ‘Murder On Oxford Lane’, ‘The Crossbow Stalker’, ‘Murder Of A Doctor’, and ‘Out for Revenge’.

Speaking of his fondness for the region, Mr Bassett said: “It seemed to me the Worcestershire and Warwickshire area was the obvious place to set a series of novels because you have the beauty of the Malvern Hills and the Cotswolds; the charm of Worcester and Stratford-upon-Avon; the picturesque country villages; and the intrigue and fascination of Birmingham’s urban landscape.”

Mr Bassett previously worked at Worcester News in the 1970s, with his career going on to include roles at several national newspapers, primarily the Sunday People, reporting on crime, show business, human interest and consumer topics.

Now a Life Member of the National Union of Journalists, he currently resides in South-East London.