The DCI Spearing and DI Devlin series tells the real story of the UK in the 'swinging' 1960s through to the 1970s Glam Rock and beyond.
Our two detectives are based in New Scotland Yard within the 'new' Serious Crime Squad. They see the real effects of the free-flowing drugs, cheap booze, free love, wild parties, rapes of both boys and girls, and corruption at every level of society - Men, Women, Boys, and Girls - from the highest to the lowest in the UK society.
Not to mention the corruption of the police by gangsters and MI5/MI6 by foreign governments. MI5, in particular, was running amok, illegally killing criminals, but sometimes getting it very wrong and killing innocent people.
For many people, the 60s were their "Halcyon Days," but in reality, it was nothing like the 'All you need is Love' world, as seen through the rose-coloured spectacles of 'The Hippies' and 'The Flower People.'
In addition to all the crime and corruption etc., There were wars, including The Cold War with Russia and Vietnam and the open killing of anti-war protesters in the USA. The Civil Rights movement, the Ku Klux Klan murdering innocent coloured people, and the assassination of Presidents, Politicians, plus civil rights people like Martin Luther King.
The books are set against a backdrop of the most successful period in British pop music history, in which the Author, Paul Hughes, was involved in Scotland and London. He has used his experiences in some of the storylines.
Many storylines are set all over the UK, from 'swinging' London to the 'No Mean City' streets of Glasgow, DI Devlin's hometown.
Many stories are based on fact, although some are exaggerated, and the author uses fictional names and places.
Although the stories are based on the uglier, more complex, and more violent crime side of the 'swinging' sixties and the glam rock of the seventies, the storylines are still laced with the humour of those times.
All of the Books in the Series have recently (From January 2025 onwards!) been re-formatted, re-edited, and re-published.
The DCI Devlin and DI Devlin Book Series has been so far:
Book 1, 'Beginning to End.'
Book 2, 'Running Amok.'
Book 3, 'Revenge is Mine.'
Book 4, 'Chasing Dark Shadows.'
Book 5, 'Do It Or Die.' (To be published June 2025).