Roughly Oddbins O'Reilly is a Detective Inspector with the Colwyn Bay force. Dr Heinz Pumpernickel is his mysterious writing professor. Roughly produces stories for his writing course that include a description of life on a Cornish lighthouse, the truth about President Obama's dog and an alternative history of the world.

The Wonderful World of Jane and Oliver Bloke is a cabinet of curiosities and a Russian doll of a novel.

Rorie Smith is a former journalist. He is the author of four novels: Tombola; Counterpart; One Million Euro; Bordeaux, and Private Eye (all published by Tan Tan Books). He lives in Bordeaux, France but also calls the Rame Peninsular in Cornwall home.