WILSDEN author William Coniston thinks he is finally growing up.

Over the past five years William has written and published three children’s books, and now he has released his first thriller for adults.

“People who know The M.I.C.E. Series, my three novels for children, have told me they are so scary I should write one for parents,” says William.

“So now I’ve had a go. I have a group of readers who I try out my writing on, and even those who wouldn’t normally buy a thriller say they were drawn in and had to keep reading to the end.”

The novel is called Entangled Legacy and there’s a question on the front cover: ‘What if you wake up tomorrow in a different place from where you went to bed?’

It’s a conundrum that’s central to the story. Emily and Jack, the two main characters, both from Bradford, are wary of each other after a blazing argument 10 years ago - on the most extraordinary day of their lives. When an elderly teacher dies they are forced back together to confront what happened then...a mystery buried for too long.

At once the pair are pitched into a dangerous struggle with ruthless enemies they didn’t know they had - and they have no idea why. Powerful forces of wealth and Government are against them and will go to any lengths, including murder, to protect valuable secrets.

A series of deadly twists and turns weaves through the plot, but there is also romance and humour.

Mutual friends Dil, Lucy, Bina and Donna become involved too and the dramatic climax takes place in Wilsden.

“Readers who know the area will recognise some local landmarks and perhaps even local people,” says William. “For example, one day last autumn I had written one of my characters into a tight spot and was looking out of the window wondering how to get him out of it, when someone who lives nearby walked past, and a perfect solution came to me that involved writing that person into the story to help.

“Oh and by the way,” he warns. “Don’t read it if you can’t stand suspense.”

As with William’s previous novels, the production of this book has been a family affair. “I wrote the words and my wife is an eagle-eyed proof reader,” he says. “Our daughter and her partner design the covers, this time based on a photo of our grandson taken by our son.”

William is best known for his series of children’s books centred around M.I.C.E, an ancient secret organisation protecting birds and animals from harm done by humans that dates back to Medieval times.

M.I.C.E and the Future, released in 2019, was the third in the series, which is aimed at young readers aged eight to 13.

There’s a Royal appearance in two of the books, with the Queen turning out to be one of the few humans who know of M.I.C.E. and how much the country owes to it.

The books follow the charming adventures four children - Olly and Tilly Peterson and Kiran and Daniel Akram, all Honorary Members of the M.I.C.E. Council.

The previous two novels in the series are M.I.C.E. and the Stone (published in 2016) and M.I.C.E. and the Dragon Worm (2017).

The action in all the books takes place mainly in West and North Yorkshire, with much of the focus on Scar Bay, a fictitious seaside resort near Whitby.

“It’s Robin Hoods Bay, thinly disguised,” says William. “It’s a place I love and where I often go to write. The coast is full of history and inspiration. Even the covers of the novels, by Bradford artists Matilda Downs and Carl Moore, have a common theme of the view across the bay towards Ravenscar.”

William has been writing all his life, “mainly boring legal documents”, but finds writing novels much more fun. Sales of his young people’s novels have reached America.

l Entangled Legacy by William Coniston is available from Amazon as a paperback, priced £8.99, or a Kindle ebook, priced £3.99.

It is also available from bookshops including Salts Mill in Saltaire.