A NEW novel is imaging what could happen if Russian forces infiltrated the North Cornwall coast.

Bude-born author, Richard Peirce, is set to release his next book, exploring a world in which Putin’s Russia targets his hometown in their effort for world domination.

Richard Peirce is a prolific author, award-winning filmmaker, broadcaster, journalist and wildlife campaigner. He was educated at St. Petroc’s School in Bude and then Blundell’s in Tiverton. Richard and his wife Jacqui split their time between Africa, Europe and the UK, and when in the UK the Westcountry is home.

Ahead of The Game is his second novel which tells the story of a Russian plot to attack the GCHQ satellite station near Morwenstow north of Bude and blow up the Google Transatlantic cable which heads to America from underneath one of Bude’s beaches. The action is fast and furious and takes the reader all over the Westcountry before in the last third of the book settling in North Cornwall where the action comes to a page-turning climax.

Though only being his second novel, Richard is no stranger to writing, having written seventeen other titles, with this one following his ‘black book’ series which is six local interest books sold all over the Westcountry. In addition, he has published six narrative nature books in Africa for Penguin and a further four books on sharks in British seas. He has been published all over southern Africa, and in the UK and the Penguin books have sold all over the world.

Speaking about the upcoming release, Richard said: “Ahead of The Game could not be more current in today’s climate of increased tension between Russia and the West. Indeed, there have already been attacks on undersea cables which although denied by the Kremlin were almost certainly carried out by Russian special forces or proxies. We believe this is the first such spy novel set in the Westcountry.”

Richard also believes this to be the first spy novel in which much of the action is centred in and around Bude.

With growing excitement surrounding the books release, readers are set to enjoy a spy-themed launch event only moments from the novel’s setting, giving them the opportunity to channel their inner MI6 agent.

The occasion will see people come together at the Crooklets Beach Café at 6.00pm on Thursday, June 5, to officially mark Ahead of The Game’s release.

Richard added: “The book is creating considerable local excitement, and the spy themed launch evening promises to be a well-attended fun event, which is appropriately sited because the café is only yards away from Crooklets beach where the cable passes under the sand, and is slightly to the south of the satellite spy dishes which dominate the clifftops to the north of Bude.”

Finally, Richard will also be giving attendees a sneak peek at some of the Cornish action, with a brief reading.

Those interested in attending can get in touch via: [email protected]