Robert N Crathorne is the author of darkly atmospheric 20th Century historical crime thrillers; children’s stories; and musical comedy plays.
Neil, as he prefers to be known, was a plumber and heating engineer in Keighley, West Yorkshire before joining HM Prison Service. He retired as a Governor after a 38 year career, and has lived in North Yorkshire since 1988. He started writing children’s fiction in 2018, and published his first adult novel in 2025.
In addition to writing, Neil also gives talks on writing, imprisonment, the two World Wars and Flemish 20th Century history, and his Visserskaai series, initially set in Flanders in 1938.
The Visserskaai Series
Book one: The Visserskaai Murders A series of murders with its origins in the brooding docklands of pre-war Ostend. With Europe on the brink of war the protagonist, a police captain with a career in the doldrums, must solve the murders whilst also dealing with police corruption
Book two: Visserskaai: Pursuit Into Nazi Germany where impending war is already impacting on sections of society, and a fleeing suspect believes he is safe.
Book three: Visserskaai: Retribution World War 2: Occupation, resistance, and finally vindication. The story takes the villain and his pursuers throughout Europe, and overseas.
Book four: Visserskaai: Aftermath Peacetime and change but a vicious murderer remains at large, and a new dedicated police unit is commissioned to find and eliminate him.
#crimedrama #murderpursuit #perioddrama #wartimecrime #escapepursuit
Plays
The Strawberry Birthmark. A two act musical comedy set in 19th Century North Yorkshire. Slackwater Manor, and the venal machinations of wicked Lady Backdraft, threaten the future of putative heiress, Virginia Slackwater. Will the dastardly Captain Sydney Vile prevail, or will the world’s most famous detective, Milton Keynes, save the day.
Peter Pan. A two act updated version of the famous JM Barrie play. Set in Easingwold, North Yorkshire, the down-at-heel Darling family are an unruly bunch of gamblers, drinkers and thugs. Along with their strange baby sitter, Florabundi Flowersnip, the children are whisked off to Neverland to meet Captain Hook, the Lost Boys, Tiger Lily and, of course, a certain crocodile.
Original scripts available from the author.
The unpublished illustrated adventures of Pedro, the world’s strongest mouse, and his best friend Douglas, a cricket playing Indian elephant.
In Search of the Ulper. Pedro meets Douglas but ultimately lets him down.
The Great Escape. Pedro redeems himself by saving Douglas’ life, Handbag to India. With Pedro’s help, Douglas returns to his parents half way across the world.
