A leading mental health specialist has been inspired by his academic interests and his own personal experiences to write a ‘dark’ psychological thriller.
Professor Paul Crawford, who lives in Clifton Village, is the founder and world’s first professor in the field of Health Humanities, which seeks to enhance people’s well-being through creative practices.
His book, The Wonders of Doctor Bent, is a “twisted literary thriller” which delves into criminal accountability and mental health.
“As someone who has suffered from depression and seriously contemplated suicide, I know how dark things can get, ” said Professor Crawford.
He draws upon concepts such as social prescribing, which he has explored as part of his research at the University of Nottingham, to demonstrate the positive impact of the arts on physical and mental health.
His book brings together two unlikely companions, Dr Bent, a forensic psychiatrist, and Dr Hemp, an English lecturer whose brother has recently been murdered in mysterious circumstances, each suffering from their own forms of psychological trauma.
The book follows their journey to uncover the truth in a complex of murder, revenge and abandonment.
The Wonders of Doctor Bent will be published by Cranthorpe Millner on February 25 in paperback costing £12 99. It will also be published in Kindle format.