Journalist, author and BBC Crime Correspondent Simon Hall will be entertaining people with anecdotes from his long career in Salcombe Library early next month.

Simon, who many will recognise from being on BBC Spotlight as the Home Affairs correspondent, will be giving a talk entitled ‘Reporting Crime and Writing Crime’ at Salcombe Library on Tuesday, July 4.

Familiar with the South Hams through his time reporting on the environment, crime and local politics over the years, Simon calls it the “glittering jewel in the South West’s crown” and mused abut the “glittering, beautiful coastline and fantastic countryside” of the area.

Simon started his media career as a DJ and radio reporter at independent radio stations across the Home Counties, before being picked up by the BBC as a trainee reporter in 1992, where Simon says they “turned me into a TV reporter”.

More recently, Simon has turned his hand to writing novels. The TV Detective novels, following the exploits of Detective Chief Inspector Adam Breen and his friend, TV Crime reporter Dan Groves, draw on his knowledge of TV reporting, giving a behind-the-scenes look to the reader alongside the race to solve the crime and catch the killer.

His most recent book, Justice Mirror, is his sixth, coming on the heels of The Death Pictures, Evil Valley, The Judgement Book, The TV Detective and The Balance of Guilt. Justice Mirror is set in the South Hams, centered on the village of East Prawle.

Asked whether he had visited locally-renowned The Pigs Nose Inn in East Prawle, Simon laughed, saying “it would be rude not to”.

Simon has also written a play, called An Unnecessary Murder, based on the TV Detective books, with proceeds going to a South West charity.

Simon will be talking about his career and his books, reflecting on some of the more poignant events he has reported on, including terrorist attacks, which he says are “such an important issue” currently, as well as light hearted anecdotes about “all the crazy things” that can be, and have been, thrown at a TV reporter on the job.

Simon Hall will be at Salcombe Library, Cliff House, on Tuesday, July 4, from 7pm. Tickets are available from Salcombe Tourist Information Centre, Salcombe Library, and Bonningtons Newsagents. Profits will go to Friends of Salcombe Library.

You can contact Salcombe Library on 01548 843423 or email: [email protected]. To find out more about Simon Hall and his novels, visit his website: www.thetvdetective.com