Bryan Blears' I Will Follow You to hit stores in August

Last year, Bryan Blears released his debut novel, These Walls Were Never Really Here, which drew upon his experiences living on the streets.

Now, the Bolton-based author is venturing into the thriller genre with his second novel, I Will Follow You.

The novel follows Poppy Taylor as her ex-partner and famous influencer, Elliot Gardner, who introduced her to a life of holiday villas, designer handbags, and first-class plane tickets, is put on trial for murder. 

But Poppy knows all about the real Elliot, the gas-lighting and the abuse.

And she knows that he'll do anything to walk free.

To stop him, she'll have to confront her past - and the memories she's been running from - to relive it all- from first falling for Elliot's charming advances, to discovering his darker side, and the breakdown of a relationship which left her reputation and her life in pieces.

Bryan Blears (Image: Bryan Blears)

Bryan said: "It is quite a departure from my first book, it is a crime/thriller book, it is a bit more commercial.

"I really enjoyed the process of writing my first book. That was quite a deeply personal novel first time around.

"The response going through that process to getting published has been really inspiring.

"What I want to do is become a proper author full-time.

"This second book is more about influencers and wealthy people in society and the feeling they can get away from things." 

He added: "It follows a murder trial. The accused is a successful influencer.

"It is told from the perspective of his ex-girlfriend, Poppy, who has seen this darker site to him before, and there are mysterious circumstances around how they broke up.

The cover for Bryan's new book (Image: Goodreads)

"He is accused of murdering a young girl in a London apartment and she (Poppy) gets involved to make sure justice is served and he is found guilty."

Bryan added: "I work for the NHS at Lancashire Hospitals as a project manager. It is completely different really, but I have read from a very early age and always did well in English Literature at school.

"I am 33, it has taken me all that time to realise that this is something I really want to do.

The process of writing your first novel is really daunting, but once you get over that hurdle it is amazing.

"Anyone out there thinking about doing it, you really can do it, do the work and pursue that passion."

I Will Follow You is currently out for pre-sale on Amazon Kindle and in paperback form, and will be released on August 8.

To pre-order the book, visit: https://bryanblears.co.uk/books