A BURNHAM-on-Sea author's latest crime novel will soon be hitting shop shelves.

Damien Boyd, bestselling author of the DI Nick Dixon crime series, is releasing the seventh novel in the series, Heads or Tails.

The book, which will be on shop shelves on September 14, follows the exploits Nick Dixon, a detective inspector in the Avon & Somerset Police, based at the new police centre at Express Park, Bridgwater.

The popular series has sold more than 1 million copies worldwide.

“I have to pinch myself when I think how many people are out there, reading my books,” Damien said.

“Nick is on the trail of some serious villains in Heads or Tails and I’d particularly like to thank BARB Search and Rescue, who were extraordinarily generous with their time during the research stage for the book; Burnham-on-Sea RNLI too.

"I can’t say any more now, without giving away too much.”

“A man has been mutilated and left to drown on the incoming tide, handcuffed in his van.

"With the murder bearing a striking resemblance to a string of sadistic killings carried out with surgical precision in 1990's gangland Manchester, it can mean only one thing: the killer is back."

In advance of the publication of the seventh instalment, Damien will be signing copies of Heads or Tails at an exclusive pre-launch event at GW Hurley in Burnham-on-Sea at 10 am on Saturday September 9.

Heads or Tails will be officially released on September 14 and will be available in ebook, paperback and audio formats.