A crime author from Oulton Broad has returned to her roots to launch her latest novel and meet some of her fans.On Saturday Jayne-Marie Barker signed copied of Distant Shadows at Lowestoft's Waterstones store.

About 25 people enjoyed the chance to meet Miss Barker and see her sign copies of her book, which is the second instalment of her Inspector Allen mysteries and features police trying to solve 'cold cases'.

Her latest novel is about a man who shoots his victim in 1935 and sees officers investigate the case more than 70 years later.

As well as Saturday's book signing session a launch party was held at the London Road North last Thursday night.

Miss Barker, 31, said: 'Thank you to everyone who popped into Waterstones on Saturday and those who came to the launch party on the Thursday evening.

'It was lovely to see a few familiar faces too. As an author it is especially nice to see people return to buy book number two.

'Special thanks to the team at Waterstones, in particular Jo, Damien and Ali for all their help and support.'

Her third novel in the series, the Dancer's Ghost, is due to released next year.

In a message to lovers of her books she added: 'I look forward to seeing you all again soon with book three!'

Miss Barker, who went to school at Dell Primary School, Elm Tree Middle School and Kirkley High School, uses a series of different timelines in her novels with chapters switching from the present day to when the crimes were committed much earlier.

Miss Barker lives in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, where she works for a tyre retailer as a personal assistant but comes back to Lowestoft once a month to see her family.