AFTER three years of criminals and murderers at large in Aberystwyth in the global hit television series Hinterland, now a serial killer is set loose in the town in a new novel, Dead in Time by Terence Bailey.

For many years, Terence was a lecturer in script-writing at Aberystwyth University. He has used his knowledge of the town to ground his crime story in reality.

“Dead in Time is what’s known as a paranormal thriller,” Terence said.

“Its hero, Dr Sara Jones, hunts a serial killer who thinks he’s psychic. Because there are elements of the paranormal in the story, the location had be as realistic as I could make it.”

He said he chose to set the novel in Aberystwyth because the town is a “big part” of his life.

He said: “My two older children grew up here, and my youngest was born at Bronglais Hospital. So, in one sense, it’s personal. But also – and I think the makers of Hinterland see this, too - there’s so much tranquil beauty here. From a storytelling point of view, that makes it a wonderful place to set a killer loose.”

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online tomorrow