STOURBRIDGE teen fiction author David Massey is back with another action-packed read - just in time for World Book Day.

The award-winning novelist, who was discovered by the same publisher as JK Rowling, this week released his third and most mysterious novel to date.

Set 20 metres below the heart of Paris in a chilling labyrinth of catacombs lined with the bones of six million dead people - Bone Surfers follows 16-year-old Fellin Hunter as she becomes submerged in a world of underground cosplay parties and discovers traces of a lost community while on a school trip to France.

Things, however, take a turn for the worst when she is wrongfully arrested for murder.

The book, published by Harvington Books and available to buy on Amazon, takes readers on a roller-coaster ride into the world of motorbike chases, parkour running, manga expos and catacombs as Fellin attempts to prove her innocence.

Mr Massey, a senior film, TV and radio engineer at Birmingham City University, said he first had the idea for the book ten years ago when his step-son introduced him to the world of cosplay where people dress up as characters from books, films or video games - particularly from the Japanese genres of manga or anime.

He said he was fascinated by the idea that so many people would dress up as the same character and he added: "I thought it would be great for a murder mystery."

Inspiration also came from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, he said - adding: "There's a slight element of science fiction and fantasy."

The author, who won the Lancashire Book of the Year award in 2013 with his debut novel Torn and the Dudley Teen Book Awards 2015 with his second book Taken, has been spending this week at Pedmore Technology College and Community School in Stourbridge - holding workshops and offering top tips to aspiring writers.

And on Wednesday March 7 he will be stopping off at The Wordsley School where he is patron of reading.

A free download of his new murder mystery novel Bone Surfers is available on Amazon today (Thursday March 1) in honour of World Book Day and into tomorrow (Friday March 2).

The author is also offering one lucky reader a bundle of signed books and goodies in a competition which invites people to download the book, write a short two to three line review on Amazon or send it by email to drmasseybooks@gmail.com.

The winner will be chosen at random on Easter Sunday.

For more on the author check out davidmasseybooks.com.