A Chippenham author has published her debut novel.

Gigi Karagoz's 'The Fallen Persimmon' is now getting reviews on Amazon and Goodreads.

Set in 1980s Japan, it’s a suspense/romance/crime fusion that examines the guilt of loss, forbidden love, and the limits of forgiveness.

"I lived and worked in Japan in the late 1980s, and based this novel on my experiences there," said Gigi. "I moved to Chippenham after living in Turkey. I am very excited about the book which is being reviewed well."

Showing the beauty and the darker side of Japan, the reader is drawn into a world beyond the cherry blossoms.

It all starts innocently enough, with two girls teaching English in a small town, but each chapter builds suspense as the stakes are raised higher and higher.

"When people think of Japan, they usually think of Tokyo’s neon lights and mile-wide zebra crossings. Or they may think of the cobbled streets and geisha houses of Kyoto, or a temple framed by cherry blossoms, like you see featured in travel brochures," she said. "I wanted to beguile the reader with my portrayal of small town Japan; a world not often seen, or written about."

The blurb on the back says: "Money blows across a field, the notes slapping against the stubble of dry rice stalks. Mr Ito walks towards the irrigation ditch at the end of his field, his rubber boots kicking up dust. High above, cars speed along the embankment on their way to the city, and he wonders if the money was thrown from a car. He’ll take it to the police; it could be yakuza money. Standing at the ditch, he remembers the rumour; the one about the missing English woman."

‘The Fallen Persimmon’ is available on Amazon in paperback and kindle format.