A FORMER Thurrock town planner is continuing to carve out a new career as an author.

'Rivers of Silver' is the second book written by David Bissenden, who has a long history of interest in literature and history, and those with a long enough memory may remember writing an article for the 'Thurrock Gazette' in 1996 on the 250th anniversary of the incarceration of the Scottish prisoners at Tilbury Fort.

David published his first novel 'The French Emperors Woman' in 2021 and he has followed up with a second, entitled 'Rivers of Silver'- both published by Troubador.

These two books are heavily influenced by the landscapes of south Essex, where David lived, and also worked as a town planner for a number of years.

He says: "While the first novel was mostly set in the riverside town of Gravesend in 1871 the second book features a variety of locations: Stanford marshes, Tilbury and Isle of Grain Forts, Sheerness dockyard, Low Street, the city of London and even the pampas of Argentina!

"It is mostly set in 1878/79.

"The idea for the book came from two disparate but true pieces of history.

"The first was the unexplained death of Fountaine Hope on the Stanford marshes in November 1899.

"The second element was the use of Thames Haven station and the surrounding marshes during the 1870s for the importation, and fattening up of, livestock imported from the Argentine.

"By merging these two elements together, I had the starting point for the novel.

"The book begins in the Argentina of 1868 but swiftly moves on to the Stanford marshes in 1878 where an unexplained and tragic death of a boy is to be investigated by private detective William Reeves. The search for the potential murderer and the numerous illegal acts that he encounters in this search, are the backbone of this novel, which twists and turns and moves from location to location.

"The book will interest all those who are interested in the Thames marshes and the late Victorian world. It is packed to overflowing with history and travel. It also has a love interest.

"I believe it to be an easy and accessible read but with some sex and violence may not be suitable for under 16's. It is available in both paperback and eBook formats.

"I hope to be at the 'Thurrock local authors; book fayre' on 28th June at Grays library and would be delighted to talk anyone else attending."