A YORKSHIRE born author has written a new crime novel set against the backdrop of the North York Moors Railway.

Ray Clark's cross genre novel Seven Secrets, published by Damnation Books in America, has now been released and is available to buy online.

The book begins in the 19th century when a schooner full of Russian prisoners run aground in Whitby Harbour before it comes back to the present day where North Yorkshire Moors Railway passengers are being abducted and butchered and discovered in strange locations.

The police are baffled when they fail to find any clues, evidence or witnesses and the investigation then takes a sinister turn when the only connection they can uncover is that of an 1835 shipwreck.

Ray, who is originally from Hull, has written several books which have been nominated for awards including Purple Rain by The Writer's Digest for best short story of 2007.

The writer said that like all of this other books the story began with extensive research before a team of people helped him to develop the plot and the characters.

He said: "As with all of my books the journey starts with the research. Seven Secrets was no exception.

"It took six months to build the characters and the plot with the help of quite a number of people. They know who they are and I would like to offer my sincerest thanks."

Seven Secrets is available in all E-Book formats including Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and E-Reader from leading wholesalers including Amazon and Barnes and Noble, as well as a print version from leading bookshops, Amazon, and the Damnation website.