Local Writer Publishes Novel On Theme Of Child Abduction

'Snatched' by David M Sindall, features several Chiswick landmarks

Chiswick writer David M Sindall is about to publish his latest novel, Snatched, which deals with the challenging theme of child abduction.

Snatched is David's second book, following the success of his debut novel After Alyson published in 2013.

The novel's central character is Kieran, who runs a high end ticket agency. Unofficially, his job is to steal children to order so that wealthy oligarchs can complete their family and have the son or daughter they have never been able to have. Unknown to him, Chiswick-born Thomas is set to become the latest victim as he holidays with his family on the Algarve.

Asked by chiswickw4.com why he decided to tackle such a difficult, indeed harrowing subject, David commented: "I'm intrigued by how people become self delusional and self justifying. My first novel, After Alyson was about a man driven by his lust. Snatched is about a man driven by his greed."

As the novel is based in the Algarve, it seems likely that readers might link it with the snatch of Madeleine McCann but he says that this is not intended.

" Snatched is a work of fiction. Its broader theme is the morality of money and the morality of what we do for a living. I would hope that most readers would see the idea of stealing kids to order as being morally reprehensible. Yet people make money doing all sorts of things that might, in some people's minds, be morally questionable. Look at the Labour Party leadership debate and the attacks on Owen Smith because of his previous role as a lobbyist. People cast judgements all the time on how people earn money. 'My book is littered with people who think they are making an honest living."

As David has been living in Chiswick for over ten years, ( he is originally from Birkenhead), he has used several locations in his book which will be recognisable to local readers- these include Acton Green, the High Road, and Turnham Green Terrace.

Asked what feedback he has been getting he commented: "People seem to really enjoy the novel because it is not a typical crime novel, the story is really about character flaws and motivation. I only ever set out to entertain the reader, but there are layers to the novel if you look for them.

"Lots of 'Snatched' is really drawn from my imagination. Having said that I have visited all of the places referenced in the novel, so most of the hotels that Anna stays in, whilst she is on the run, are places I know. Additionally, I have had quite a bit of contact with journalists and media so the Lisa Lagnoo storyline was relatively easy to develop."

It took him about two years to finish the book. "I started work on my second novel about 4 years ago but abandoned it because the story wasn't working. Snatched started to take shape about two years ago. I don't write full time so it takes a couple of years to write a new book. I also tend to have lots of projects running at the same time. Right now I am trying to write my 3rd novel, as well as write my first children's book and turn the abandoned second novel into a play."

Writers that inspire him include his favourite novelist Graham Greene, but he also loves Iain Banks, Philip Roth, Fay Weldon and Thomas Hardy,

When not writing, David runs his own consultancy specialising in helping businesses to become more accessible to older and disabled people. He has a hearing impairment, so deafness, and disability are a consistent theme around which he writes.

David believes the novel provides an thought-provoking insight into a world morally incomprehensible to most people. Snatched explores what happens when one snatch goes wrong and it has been described as a fast-paced novel which will appeal to fans of thrillers.

PUBLISHED 28th September 2016, by Troubadour
Retailing at £7.99.

September 10, 2016