Paul Barrell's Blog

Behind the shadows of my supernatural crime novels lie raw, real stories that shaped every twist and chilling detail you love. Pull back the curtain on the gritty truths and personal battles that fuel the dark worlds of Paul Barrell novels, revealing crime thriller insights that cut deeper than fiction. Ready to meet the ghosts of my past and the sparks that ignite these pages?

Every tale I weave comes with its own dark origin, drawn from the depths of real crime and personal experience. The streets of South London are more than just a backdrop; they echo with true events that have left their mark on my soul. These stories aren’t just fiction—they’re a glimpse into the chaos of real lives. As you roam these pages, remember that each character and twist is born from truth.

Discover how these tales become more than stories in the next section.

Incorporating the supernatural into true crime narratives brings a unique tension that grips readers. Here, the unseen forces twist reality, mirroring the unpredictable nature of crime itself. By blending ghostly elements and hard-hitting crime, my novels invite you into a world where anything can happen. This mix of the real and unreal keeps the pages turning and your heart racing.

Let me introduce you to the inspirations behind these larger-than-life characters.

Meet Marc Madison, a hero shaped by his own demons—flawed yet compelling. His battles with addiction and the criminal underworld are inspired by real people who’ve walked similar paths. Each character’s complexity echoes the struggles and victories of those who’ve lived these truths. My goal is for readers to form a connection that lasts beyond the final page.

Ready to dive deeper into these intense worlds? Let’s keep exploring together.

Uncover more of these thrilling stories by sharing with fellow fans or joining the conversation.

P.S. Stay tuned for more tales that blend the real with the supernatural, keeping you on the edge of your seat!

With a new Director on board Dominic Erskine we are planning to film in June 2026. Our goal is to premiere at film festivals in Oct 2026 like Grimfest and Fright fest Glasgow .

Watch out for casting requests in 2026. For now its planning, planning , planning, but the script is tight we have a DOP and a super scary location

Podcast, Vlog and book coming late 2026

The Screaming Woods (The Dering Wood Massacre)

 by Paul Barrell

Logline:

When rebellious journalist Jake Lang  decides to investigate the death of a journalist he unearths a tapestry/trail of supernatural  events and unexplained disappearances that stretch back to The Dering Woods Massacre,in the 1940’s,  an event that the authorities will do anything to keep hidden. 

Synopsis

In the quaint village of Pluckley, where life seems ordinary, Jake Lang, a rebellious young journalist, is reluctantly confined to mundane assignments by his editor, Anna Cuthburtson, at the Marsden Herald. Yearning for more meaningful stories, Jake remembers, as a child,  walking with his grandfather in the local woods, a fleeting memory of a man in a pin-striped suit  and bowler hat burying something  in a hurry.

Intrigued by the folklore surrounding the Dering Woods, known for its paranormal occurrences and unexplained disappearances, Jake has always been fascinated by the village’s past, and a rich  tapestry of supernatural events dating back to the 18th century and beyond that left the Woods with the moniker, The Screaming Woods. 

Undeterred by a mysterious message, detailing the mysterious death of a P .I.  Robert Collins in 1964, someone  who investigated the  Dering Woods Massacre  at the end of World War II , Jake becomes determined to unravel the truth.

As Jake  delves deeper into the events surrounding the Dering Woods Massacre  he senses that both  the Police and  the Ministry of Defence  might be  involved in a massive cover up and he finds himself entangled in a web of deceit and secrecy. 

Haunted by the ghosts of the past, Jake must navigate a dangerous path, risking his life to expose the truth behind the Dering  Woods and the unimaginable events that transpired during that dark period.  Along the way, he encounters enigmatic figures, unearths long-buried secrets, and faces the consequences of digging too deep into the shadows that have enveloped Pluckley for centuries.

As the layers of the mystery unravel, Jake becomes both a target and a beacon of hope for those seeking justice from beyond the grave. The Screaming Woods holds the key to a dark chapter in history, and Jake  is determined to reveal the chilling secrets hidden within its haunted depths.

THE BLEED IS OUT ON KINDLE NOW

The crime thriller is set in London in 2018. This novel takes no prisoners. Buckle up for an adrenaline fueled, fast paced high octane ride. Duplicitous Cops, Drug gangs and Doublecrosses.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221240614-the-bleed-a-high-octane-pedal-to-the-metal-crime-thriller-that-takes

POSTED ON MARCH 13, 2023 BY PAULBARRELLAUTHOR

After getting close to securing a director and cinematographer for my first novel ‘Postcards from Pimlico’ i am pleased to announce that we are progressing with the film project for my 4th novel a ghost/horror’Eighteen’

We have a Director, and editor and a script has been written for a 10 min film short. The plan is to have this wrapped by end of the year so we can promote at film festivals in 2024. It has helped that i have managed to network by working within the industry.

My sixth novel a supernatural thriller set in south London is a work in progress and i hope to go to Macon in France later in the year and record a vlog for the rest of the novel. Its currently only 15,000 words.

After getting close to securing a director and cinematographer for my first novel ‘Postcards from Pimlico’ i am pleased to announce that we are progressing with the film project for my 4th novel a ghost/horror’Eighteen’

We have a Director, and editor and a script has been written for a 10 min film short. The plan is to have this wrapped by end of the year so we can promote at film festivals in 2024. It has helped that i have managed to network by working within the industry.

My sixth novel a supernatural thriller set in south London is a work in progress and i hope to go to Macon in France later in the year and record a vlog for the rest of the novel. Its currently only 15,000 words.

Hi Readers

Even though I’ve traveled to Grenada and Rio and pursued my film work during the Summer i feel the last few months have been frustrating. I started my 6th book, in a very positive state of mind giving it a title, planning the story line and characters, and toying with a cover. So far so good.

But 2 chapters in ‘The Bleed ‘ has stalled. No writers block , just a general lack of enthusiasm for the writing process. I have never forced myself to write when I do not feel the vibe. So, for the first time I am contemplating a change of scenery. We moved back to Surrey 6 years ago, having written book after book in the Peak District, however here in a smaller property i have felt a little cramped and distracted. In fact i haven’t written a book here. I have only edited and finished projects at The Lodge. Maybe for the first time in my career I am contemplating a move to a different location , maybe France or Spain, as friends have offered me a new writing space. Anyway watch this space, i’m not panicking I can still meet the deadline . If it’s not ready for summer 2023 then Christmas will do. It’s a story I’m still passionate about and you are going to love its pace, its twists and turns and high octane story line.

On a more positive note I have forged a great partnership with an audio narrator in Kent called Chase Langley. This year he has recorded the audio books of ‘Eighteen’ and now ‘The Girl in the White Dress’ with an introduction by little old me. Not only does Chase have professional narration skills he is also a creative genius and I am looking forward to working with him on future projects where he can bring his creative content to the fore as we try and take on the big boys. I also managed to publish my ‘Tips for Amazing Authors ‘Facebook blog as an e book so i haven’t been a total slouch . I wrote this during lock down so the majority of the hard work had already been done. If it helps one person navigate the quagmire of the self publishing process I will be happy.

Watch out for the audio book links on my socials and i’ll update you soon on the progress of ‘The Bleed.’

Best
Paul x

Thank you to Chase Langley my audio book narrator, for 3 months of hard graft. The project is nearly ready to be released on Audible . The other bit of exciting news is that all my books will now come with an exclusive introduction written and read by me, explaining why I wrote the novels , and how much of the story is actually based on real events. Watch out for the release date.

After 2 months of hard work by Chase Langley my narrator Eighteen is finally released by ACX on Audible,Amazon Prime and i tunes.