About

For more than thirty years I've travelled, lived and worked throughout Southeast Asia. What began as professional opportunities in education gradually became a lifelong fascination with the region, its people and its history.

I've spent time in cities and villages across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia. Along the way I've met teachers, monks, police officers, diplomats and market traders whose stories rarely make the headlines. Those experiences have continued to shape both my writing and the way I see the region.

My novels are crime thrillers grounded in real places and real issues. Corruption, organised crime, and political instability provide the backdrop, while the landscapes, cultures and communities of Southeast Asia bring the stories to life.

Alongside fiction, I enjoy writing about travel, history and the quieter moments that often reveal the character of a place. The Journal on this website is a collection of those reflections, drawn from years of travelling through the region.

The best stories usually begin with curiosity. I hope this site encourages a little of that, whether you’re reading one of my novels or following along on the next journey.

Whether you've come here for the Declan Finney novels, the Journal, or simply because you share an interest in Southeast Asia, I hope you find something here that makes you want to keep exploring.