FORMER military man and musician Robin Jéquier has written his first novel using using a genetic illness suffered by his son as inspiration.

Mr Jéquier, 65, who lives in Potterne, near Devizes has just published The Gene Deal which is available as a Kindle version or in paperback from Devizes Books or the White Horse book shop, Marlborough

The budding author grew up in the West Midlands and studied piano and organ at The Royal Academy of Music in London before deciding to join the Army.

After retirement he settled in the Devizes area 13 years ago and became an active member of a writer's group.

Mr Jéquier, is married with three adult sons, one of whom suffers from a genetically inherited disease, an incurable condition.

He said: "It was my son's condition which first triggered my interest in genetics.

"I had always harboured an ambition to write fiction, and learning about the benefits and risks of gene therapy and gene editing inspired me to write The Gene Deal which is my first novel.

"The central character Guy Shepherd takes dangerous risks to prevent suspected abuse of genetic engineering, and rouses the anger of his boss as well as the brutal ministrations of a mentally unstable molecular biologist.

"When Guy's girlfriend goes missing in New York following the 9/11 attacks, he has to discover her fate, settle his differences with her father and work out a plan to prevent wholesale catastrophe. With a psychic element added to the mix, this is a powerful tale of science, high finance and greed. I think readers will be drawn in to the alluring plot."

After leaving the Royal Academy Mr Jéquier went to Sandhurst where he was commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. He held staff and command appointments in Northern Ireland, Germany and Cyprus.

He later worked in private client finance and then set up his own consultancy getting donors for not-for-profit organisations.

He has now started writing a second novel and is offering a free Kindle version of it once it is finished to anyone who signs up to his mailing list via www.robinjequier.com