Blinded by the Dark was undertaken to provide an original contribution to knowledge within the crime genre. Primarily, though, it seeks to represent experiences of complex mental-health issues whilst focusing on the police procedural wing of the genre. The reason for undertaking this study was influenced by my appetite for the crime novel and first-hand awareness of mental health’s effect on the individual. The originality of the project lies in its unique juxtaposition of these two elements. My approach was to set my story in familiar surroundings over a limited time. Most of the action takes place in Harrogate, North Yorkshire in over less than a two-week period in late May/early June 2016. Focus is on a murder enquiry and unrelated material concerning County Lines. Both involve matters relating to the mental health of certain individuals, and the subplot - evolving around the antagonist’s daughter – acts as a pivotal link: her tragic loss of life removes her father from the action and allows the protagonist to complete key aspects of his job more effectively. Research shows that mental-health issues are never straightforward, highlighting that the novel is not seeking to find a solution. Instead, the aim is to emphasize how such issues, almost surreptitiously, seep into everyday life.
| Date of Award | 13 Jan 2026 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Supervisor | Stephen Ely (Main Supervisor) |
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