Shona is a lecturer at the University of North Norfolk and one of Ruth’s closest friends. They met when they both participated in the henge dig in 1997. On the face of it, Shona seems an unlikely friend for Ruth – she’s outgoing and stunningly beautiful for a start – but the two women share a sense of humour and an interest in books, films and travel. They also have a lot of history together.
Surprising fact about Shona: as a child she won several Irish dancing competitions.
David Clough
Profession: Detective Sergeant
Likes: food, football, beer, his job
Dislikes: political correctness, graduate police officers
David Clough (‘Cloughie’ to Nelson) was born in Norfolk and joined the force at eighteen. As a youngster he almost followed his elder brother into petty crime, but a chance meeting with a sympathetic policeman led him into a surprisingly successful police career. Clough is a tough, dedicated officer but not without imagination. He admires Nelson, his boss, but has a rather competitive relationship with Sergeant Judy Johnson.
Surprising fact about Clough: He can quote the ‘you come to me on my daughter’s wedding day’ scene from The Godfather off by heart.
Judy Johnson
Profession: Detective Sergeant
Likes: horses, driving, her job
Dislikes: girls’ nights out, sexism, being patronised
Judy Johnson was born in Norfolk to Irish Catholic parents. She was academic at school but opted to join the police force at eighteen rather than go to university. Judy can seem cautious and steady – she married her boyfriend from school, for example – but she is actually fiercely ambitious. She resents any hint of condescension or sexism which can lead to some fiery exchanges with Clough.
Surprising fact about Judy: she’s a keen card player and once won an inter-force poker competition.
Phil Trent
Profession: professor of Archaeology
Likes: money, being on television, technology
Dislikes: new age archaeologists, anonymity, being out of the loop
Phil is Ruth’s head of department at the University of North Norfolk. He’s ambitious and outwardly charming, determined to put the university (and himself) on the map. He thinks of Ruth as plodding and old-fashioned so is slightly put out when she begins to make a name for herself as an advisor to the police. On one hand, it’s good for the image of UNN; on the other, it should have been him.
Surprising fact about Phil: at his all boys school, he once played Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.
DS Harbinder Kaur returns in
The Postscript Murders
Coming autumn 2020
Order The Postscript Murders now
The Lantern Men Page 29