AN author who used to fill the shelves at a Bolton bookshop now has his own novel joining the displays.

It took writer Joseph Knox eight years to complete his debut work, ‘noir’ crime thriller Sirens.

A crime and thriller buyer at Waterstones, Mr Knox spends his life around other people’s novels but now gets to celebrate his own.

Yesterday he visited Bolton Museum to talk about the novel following its official launch on Wednesday.

He said: “The launch was in Deansgate Manchester, which is the main store I worked at.

“I was welling up, they had done an enormous display in the window. It was unbelievable.”

Mr Knox is from Stoke-on-Trent but moved to Manchester when he was 18 to study at the University of Salford.

As a book buyer for the store he travelled around, visiting stores including Bolton’s shop.

The 30-year-old was inspired by his life in Manchester to write the novel which is set in the city and introduces the reader to disgraced young detective Aidan Waits.

The book has already received high acclaim — including from the likes of Jack Reacher creator Lee Child.

Mr Knox added: “The reaction has been mindblowing. I didn’t know if there was an audience out there. It has exceeded expectations.

“I rewrote the first bit a thousand times until I got it right. If you believe in something you will keep at it.

“I wanted to write something which was as hard, gritty and thrilling as American novels. Manchester is a great setting for it!”