MARK LALBEHARRY'S book, THE
SIMIAN CURVE, 
was published in
December 2006 by Robert Hale.
Winning the Harry Bowling Prize gave me a chance to meet other authors, editors and literary agents. I also had the chance to meet Edna Bowling, Harry's late wife, who was a very warm and positive person. It was fascinating to listen to all these people, and to get a glimpse of the publishing industry from the inside out.
Winning the prize validated my work, and it was reassuring to know that industry professionals liked what I was doing and felt it worthy of representation. The Simian Curve only existed as a couple of chapters when I won, but it has since grown into a full-length novel. I am now represented by a literary agent, and have a publisher, and will soon see the book in print.
Writing a novel is certainly not easy, but to all those who really want to do it, go for it! Take your time, study the work of others, and, when it happens, learn by the mistakes you make.
No one produces a good book just like that, but with time, dedication and revision you can get there in the end. That's how the professionals do it!
Mark Lalbeharry
Synopsis
A headless corpse is found in the garage belonging to Thomas Tranmore, a maverick scientist who worked for the Ministry of Defence. His house has been stripped of all furniture and possessions and his bank account emptied. There is no family, few friends and colleagues are reticent in talking about him. DCI Diane Cresson and her team are assigned to the case. They soon discover that some very high-up people seem to know quite a lot about Tranmore's recent activities and prove reluctant to share that information. Then another body is found in a nearby lake ...
The Simian Curve marks the arrival of a powerful new thriller writer who has created an utterly absorbing and chilling tale of murder and deception.
