Was He A Perfect Gentleman?, by Pat Backley - The RV Book Fair 2025

One dead bank manager.

A long list of people who held grudges against him.

But did any of them hate him enough to kill him?

To discover the truth, step into 1988, in a small seaside town in the South East of England.

"He's a nasty bit of work alright. Dresses up in that fancy suit and bow tie, but underneath it all he's rotten to the core."

"Although they attended his funeral, neither Paul or Dave King were particularly sorry to hear that he had died."

"Being a cop means people often loosen their tongues, particularly if they're trying to even old scores."

Pat Backley is an Auckland-based author passionate about social history and storytelling, with a focus on the lives of ordinary people. Born in England, she moved to New Zealand at 59, bringing a lifetime of rich experiences that inspire her writing.

She began her literary journey later in life, publishing her first novel, Daisy, in 2020, just before her 70th birthday. Her works include memoirs like From There To Here, With An Awful Lot In Between (2021) and Seventy Years Worth of Travel (2022), as well as novels exploring ancestry, such as Valentine George, Lou and Eustace, and Dot & Ben. She also co-authored The Warrior Women Project, highlighting immigrant women’s stories, and ventured into mystery with Was He A Perfect Gentleman?

Pat continues to write actively, with new titles planned for 2025 and 2026, and is available for speaking, consulting, and virtual engagements.

More about her work can be found at patbackley.com.

Article published in The Relatable Voice Magazine - December 2025 as part of The RV Book Fair 2025. Downolad the full magazine at https://www.relatable-media.com/the-relatable-voice-magazine