Bolton fans of crime fiction were among the first to get their hands on the latest novel by an award-winning author - before it has even hit the shelves.
Crime writer Trevor Wood was the latest big name author to visit Bolton Library, this time to celebrate National Crime Month.
Trevor accepted the invitation to meet readers, something he described as one of his favourite parts of being a writer.
Previous author visits have include fellow bestselling author Jojo Moyes and Stacey Halls
Trevor held a special talk in the museum’s lecture theatre to discuss his latest edge-of-your-seat novel ‘The Inside Man’.
The thrilling novel, which is due to be formally released later in the month, is the sequel to his previous work, ‘The Silent Killer’.
"The people here have been so welcoming and it was a great turnout at the lecture theatre.
“It can definitely be disheartening in the publishing industry, particularly for those who don’t live in London. But publishers are trying to reach out, there are numerous publishers in the north such as Northodox Press.
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“I would advise any young writers or those who are just starting out to keep going, they are there and if you believe in yourself then you will find champions in the industry.”
He previously co-wrote the script for the heart-warming comedy play Dirty Dusting.
On his writing process, Trevor added: “When it comes to writing, I like to create the character first then just see what I can throw at them!
“They almost roam free in my mind, I like to see how they will react to certain situations. "That’s how they’re formed.
“The novel touches on some heavier themes, such as Jack’s diagnosis, so I did a lot of work with Alzheimer’s Research, who were able to put me in touch with scientists and volunteers so that I could keep the story as accurate as possible.
“It was important to me that I got it right as it’s something that affects so many people personally each day, including myself. I have several relatives who have been affected by the disease personally.
“Although the book touches on some darker themes, there’s also humour in there. I worked in the navy for sixteen years, during that time I had to deal with a lot of dark stuff and I learnt that it’s important to have humour about it.
“You have to really, that’s how you get through tough situations. I hope it’s something that a lot of readers will be able to relate to.”
The Canadian author is known for her page-turning thrillers which keep readers guessing until the very end.
Bolton Library was shortlisted for Library of the Year in the North England category at The British Book Awards 2025.
This recognition, revealed by The Bookseller as part of the awards’ regional and country shortlists, celebrates libraries that demonstrate innovation, community engagement, and a bold vision for the future of library services.
Numerous well-known authors have also graced the building. In 2024, Bolton's very own Matt Cain MBE returned to his hometown to give a special talk on his work ‘One Love’.
And she chose Bolton Library as one of just a handful of venues in the UK to launch her new book —which she describes as a ‘love letter to libraries’ across the UK.
As part of the month there will be a behind-the-scenes tour of Bolton's archives to discover the intriguing darker chapters of our town's history on Tuesday 24th June 11am, 1pm and 6pm
Tickets are free tickets but booking essential on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/national-crime-reading-month-in-bolton-4353863 or on 01204 332853
Bolton Council's Executive Cabinet Member for Culture Nadeem Ayub said: "We have had wonderful authors here to visit Bolton in celebration of National Crime Month.
"Author events are great for learning about history and heritage and bring prosperity to Bolton's local economy."
There are plans for more author visits to take place in Bolton.
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