A local author has published his second book about a private investigator solving murder cases in Penarth. 

Rob Falconer who lives in Penarth has published his seventeenth book, nine years after his first ever book was published in 2015.  

He published Merlin Protheroe, Private Investigator: Twenty Short Stories featuring the Penarth Detective earlier this year.  

It contained twenty puzzling cases about the private investigator, Merlin Protheroe.

This included death by chocolate in a honeymoon hotel, an avenging cockatoo, and a death in a charming Dylan Thomas-like Welsh village. 

His new book, More Cases for Merlin Protheroe, P.I., contains another twenty puzzling short stories about the private investigator.  

The cover features a photograph of Penarth Pier ‘to prove it is still set in Penarth,’ said the author. 

The new book includes a Murder in the Orion Espresso, which is about an actor who is killed during a murder mystery weekend.

The Bear’s Head also features in one of the new short stories with a body found at the foot of the pub.  

The other short stories include the case of a death in the middle of a Shakesperean play and a story the author is dragged into after a death at Cosmeston Lakes Country Park.  

“Readers from the area should find plenty of places they recognize in the stories,” said the author. 

The paperback is now available from Griffin Books in Penarth, which recently celebrated its 10th birthday, for £8.99. 

The author

Rob Falconer, born in Cardiff, has published several books over the years and even written for comedy shows on both BBC and ITV.  

His first book, The Return of Inspector Pirat: His First Book, because he often could not sleep, and amused himself by thinking up puzzles, which he then put into print. 

He first gained a degree in psychology from Cardiff University and joined the family coach business. 

After working for the business for nine years he became a computer programmer up until 2001.  

He has since written several short stories and won competitions with The Times, International Mensa, and the South Wales Echo.