Matthew J Evans – Author

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  • Detective Inspector Angelis

    Detective Inspector Angelis

    Detective Inspector Angelis Crime Thriller Series by Matthew J Evans. There’s more to this world than our eyes can perceive. Available on Amazon. The character of Detective Inspector David Angelis heads a Major Crimes team in Chichester, West Sussex, based in a fictional investigations centre next to the old Custody Centre and Chichester Police Station…

  • Being a Sussex Crime Writer

    Being a Sussex Crime Writer

    West Sussex author Matthew J Evans talks about writing his crime novels. I am proud to say that I’m a crime author and have published two novels in the Detective Inspector Angelis series: ‘Chasing Shadows’ and ‘Hide Her Away’. I’m thrilled that both have been well received. They fall within the genre of police procedural…

  • Special Constables

    Special Constables

    I’ve had a couple of friends asking me about my role as a Special Constable, so this may be of interest. Special Constables – A Quick History The Statute of Winchester (1285) was the first known legislation that created part-time Parish Constables (Sussex term: ‘Bozzlers’) from the local community to keep the law. In 1673…

  • Reviews and Self-Promotion

    Reviews and Self-Promotion

    I appreciate the time people take to write views of my books. Reviews are very important for writers, not just for vanity, but they help others gauge if it is a book they may want to read, and they help promote the book on Amazon. Entrepreneurs Self-publishing isn’t just about writing the story. Much of…

  • Police Procedure In Fiction – As Seen on TV

    Police Procedure In Fiction – As Seen on TV

    Suspending Disbelief Writing crime fiction is a balancing act. We have to keep the reader gripped with fast-moving, gripping action keeping within a framework of believable police procedure. A large proportion of police work is dull in real life. For instance, we rarely see on TV the hours of ‘paperwork’ that need to be done…

  • Police Terms Glossary

    Police Terms Glossary

    These are a few notes explaining police terms and abbreviations found in my books, often used by police officers.  ABH Actual Bodily Harm. Assault causing a physical injury. ANPR – Automatic Number Plate Recognition. Either fixed or mobile cameras that pick up and record the number plates of passing vehicles and look them up on…

  • Chichester Cathedral

    Chichester Cathedral

    Chichester Cathedral is an important setting in Chasing Shadows. Angelis takes himself here when he is troubled and often sees things here he cannot easily explain. Also, the cathedral is where he learns something about a significant event that turned his life around two years previously. Chichester Cathedral  – over 900 Years of History The…

  • Scenes in Chasing Shadows – Bosham

    Scenes in Chasing Shadows – Bosham

    Bosham is a village on the south coast, a few miles west of Chichester. Locally we call it Old Bosham. The New Bosham (officially Broadbridge)  is on the north side of the A259 roundabout. The Quay dates around Roman times, when it was, along with Fishbourne, an important local port. According to legend, the 11th-century…

  • Scenes in Chasing Shadows – Kingley Vale

    Scenes in Chasing Shadows – Kingley Vale

    Kingley Vale is a nature reserve, which sits in the South Downs National Park. Managed by Natural England, it boasts one of the oldest yew tree forests in the UK, with some of the trees being over 2000 years old. The trees climb up Bow Hill, where four iron-age barrows rest on the top, also…

  • Scenes in Chasing Shadows – Brandy Hole Copse

    Scenes in Chasing Shadows – Brandy Hole Copse

    One of my favourite dog walking places is Brandy Hole Copse, a  local nature reserve off Brandy Hole Lane in Chichester. You can find it on Broyle Road when heading towards Funtington from Chichester, down Brandy Hole Lane. Chichester District Council own the copse, and it is a scheduled monument, meaning it is of particular…