Morton publishes thriller novel featuring Bond ‘successor’

Shetland-based broadcaster, author and journalist Tom Morton has published a thriller, Serpentine, which features an isles-born hero identified as a successor to the legendary 007.

Mark Murricane is an SAS soldier turned mercenary who finds himself involved in a desperate search for the mysterious Serpentine, a renegade British undercover agent turned maverick terrorist.

The action ranges from Palestine to Mull, Inverness to Turnberry and Ulster to Clydebank. On the way Murricane is shadowed by disgraced Highland detective Zander Flaws and encounters former lovers, villainous ex-RUC officers and mysterious American diplomats.

He also has to deal with a selection of very bad Land Rovers, peculiar curries and unreliable ferries.

Serpentine has been described as both a compulsive thriller and a very funny black comedy. Murricane’s background in Shetland remains an enigma, save for his violent dislike of salmon farmers.

Mr Morton said: “Much more about Murricane’s Shetland roots will be revealed in the sequel to Serpentine.  It’s called Tiger’s Eye and will see Murricane returning to his native islands as a plot involving the international oil industry – and the history of the Sullom Voe oil terminal – unfolds.”

Serpentine is published by Mainstream Publishing/Random House on 7th June, priced at £9.99.