As you probably know, I mainly write thriller books about a hard-living Aussie journalist.
My latest book is Blurline which is set in London's Fleet Street, in the early 1990's.
Blurline has been inspired by recent and real events
occurring in the media world, particularly in London. You may have read about
the phone hacking scandal in the United Kingdom. Phone hacking is only part of the dark arts of
news gathering.
Would you be surprised that newspapers have employed private
detectives, paid bribes to members of the police force and public officials,
and even had journalists go in disguise?
It’s ruthless and merciless. No
prisoners here. Members of the public are fair game.
All this was a revelation to me. In fact, it made me unwell.
You’d think a press council would have power to stop it?
It would have teeth? Not so. Where are the ethics, you’re thinking?
As an infamous English editor once said, ‘ Ethics?’ Isn’t
that a county east of London?
The line between being ethical and unethical are blurred.
Thus the title, Blurline.
