BLACK Country author Ken Preston has dug deep to raise a few eyebrows with his new horror novel Joe Coffin.

It's the latest offering from versatile Ken who can also turn his hand to the odd romantic tale when the mood takes him.

Ken, who lives in Hill Street, Stourbridge, said: "I've got different styles to suit all genres."

The writer, who in another life works as a medical photographer at Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital, completed his first novel in 2007 and hasn't looked back.

Since then he's penned four full length novels to date in addition to a string of short stories - and he has two more novels waiting in the wings.

He said: "I've been writing all my life, but I admit my latest novel is very dark and gritty. It's set in Birmingham and centres on a criminal called Joe Coffin who works for a gang called The Slaughterhouse Mob and is out to seek revenge after being released from prison."

Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of Ken's dark work, which is due out on October 31, can order online at http://www.kenpreston.co.uk/