A Different Kind of Mystery: The ‘Who Saved It’

Most noir stories start with a body and a question: Who did it? While The Phantom Mask has its share of shadows and secrets, I’m approaching this draft from a slightly different angle.

The Premise: The city of London is a place that has learned to look away. Especially after The Battle of London at the end of One Epic Year. But when a high-profile target is pulled from the brink of a meticulously planned execution, the mystery isn’t just about the killer’s identity. It’s about the intervention.

Instead of a traditional whodunnit, I’m exploring a ‘who saved it.’

The Inspiration: I’ve always been fascinated by the The Batman and Dexter—stories where the protagonist exists in that grey space between law and lawlessness. But in this book, I wanted to flip the script. In a world where everyone has a motive to kill, what kind of person has a motive to protect? And what is the cost of that protection?

The Reality: Writing this while balancing the day job and the fitness prep hasn’t been easy. Noir requires a lot of mental heavy lifting to get the atmosphere right without it feeling like a cliché.

Stay tuned for more snippets as the draft grows.