Alice Vinten, the former police officer and author of The Real Happy Valley, the True Crime Awards-shortlisted collection of real-life stories about female police officers serving across Yorkshire, has been interviewed by Crime Monthly.

In the interview, which you can read in the latest Crime Monthly issue (1st April), Alice discusses her book, the writing process, the inspirational women whose stories she tells, her own experiences as a police officer, and why she joined and left the force.

Police Sergeant Catherine Cawood may be a fictional character, but her bravery, compassion and determination exist in real-life policewomen serving across Yorkshire today.

In The Real Happy Valley, former policewoman Alice Vinten reveals what life on the beat is really like for those protecting the cobbled streets and windswept hills of this historic county. From domestic abuse to kidnap, gang crime and murder, these women will stop at nothing to bring their criminals to justice and in the most extraordinary circumstances, they never fail to put others’ safety before their own.

Gripping, inspiring and eye-opening, The Real Happy Valley is a celebration of our finest officers’ peerless commitment to protect and serve.

The Real Happy Valley is out now. Grab your copy here or, better, via your local bookshop or Bookshop.org.

You can follow Alice on Twitter @AVintenAuthor.