A psychological thriller published this week explores how surveillance can becomes its own addiction as the narrator of this novel attempts to possess, control and spy on his partner when she’s unaware he’s watching.

Investigating Mr Wakefield by acclaimed writer Rob Gittins, follows Jack Connolly, a war photographer whose career went into freefall after he manipulated the image of a dead soldier to make it appear the soldier died a hero’s death. The deception cost him his job, the trust of his peers and his career. It taught Jack an all-important lesson, only one thing matters and that’s truth. No matter how unpalatable.

He soon becomes obsessed by a nineteenth-century short story, Wakefield by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Wakefield tells the story of a man who, one day - and in Hawthorne’s own words - decides to absent himself from his wife. He hopes to assess how much she loves him by gauging the extent of her desperation at his apparent disappearance.

Jack attempts to recreate in fact the events of this fiction and gradually infiltrates the private spaces of his  partner’s life by the use of surveillance technology attempting to capture her private conversations and record her emotional responses to the tests he puts her through. His obsession inevitably spirals out of control, inexorably leading to the destruction of his relationship and his life.

Unsettling and culturally significant, Investigating Mr Wakefield digs into issues of trust and loss at the most intimate and disturbing of levels.

‘While the hero of Investigating Mr Wakefield clearly takes matters to an extreme, the theme of the novel can resonate with almost anyone.’ explained Rob Gittins.

‘Many people, at one time or another, have probably wondered what a wife, husband or partner are like when they’re not watching.  This novel explores the dangers waiting to ensnare those who try to find out.’ he added.

This is Rob Gittins’ fourth novel. His previous novels received high critical acclaim, including The Poet and the Private Eye (2014) which was praised as a ‘compelling novel that values truth above what is simply true – at the same time as declaring that death really does have no dominion.’ by T. James Jones, former Archdruid and translator of Under Milk Wood, and Gimme Shelter (2013), commended as ‘Visceral, strongly visual and beautifully structured’ by Andrew Taylor, Crime Writers’ Association Cartier Diamond Dagger Winner.

Rob Gittins is the longest serving scriptwriter on EastEnders having written over 250 episodes of the programme. In recognition of his work on EastEnders, Rob received an Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2015 British Soap Awards. He has also scripted for Casualty, The Bill, Emmerdale, Soldier, Soldier and Heartbeat and has won many other awards for his work including the Gold Drama Medal at the New York International Radio Festival.

Rob was Script Executive and Writer on Stella starring Ruth Jones (Gavin and Stacey) and was executive Producer and co-lead writer on Crash, a drama series for BBC Wales.  Rob has written over twenty original radio plays for BBC Radio 4 and over one hundred episodes of The Archers.

Rob’s short film Sacrifice, was released theatrically and Rob’s feature film, Blue Monday has just completed principal photography.

Investigating Mr Wakefield by Rob Gittins (£8.99, Y Lolfa) is out now.