IG Peters’ new cyberpunk crime thriller, LOCH Thin Blue Line, was released this week, telling the continuing story of veteran detective Nathan Loch. To celebrate this release, the 4th of Peters’ LOCH novels, we thought it would be a good time to take a look at his cyberpunk universe, and talk to him about his writing, and his cyberpunk influences.
After writing and posting online for a few years, IG Peters wanted to make his stories available on a wider scale, publishing his first book in August 2024. He doesn’t work with a publishing house or promoters, working instead as a self-published independent writer focusing on the stories that he wants to tell, hoping to make your commute a little bit easier as you enjoy his writing.
How did you get into writing?
I’ve always loved reading, but it never occurred to me that I could write something until the dark times of 2020. I started writing and posted it online, people read it and enjoyed it. Once I figured out no one could stop me, things escalated quickly.
You have a very confident grasp of writing crime investigation novels, what are your influences in this genre?
I’ve been something of a true crime addict for a number of years now, books like ‘I’ll Be Gone in the Dark’ and ‘The Secret Murders’ are amongst my favourites, and were a big influence, alongside books like ‘Red Dragon’. Loch is my take on a ‘title character ‘, my answer to Luther, Reacher, Dexter, with a little Vic Mackey and Columbo thrown in for good measure.
IG Peters’ first book was a British crime thriller in a contemporary setting, Fallen Star, the first in a whole series of novels. These stories follow MI6 agents as they investigate domestic threats, in a series that offers tense espionage, political intrigue, and a black sense of humour. It wasn’t long, however, before he began writing the LOCH series concurrently. This second series has a much different, cyberpunk-style future setting.
You began writing crime investigation novels with the contemporary Fallen Star novels, what brought you into writing a cyberpunk-inspired series?
The idea with Fallen Star is to subvert the genre and expectations, so it’s a crime thriller, but it isn’t really about the crime, it’s spies, but not posh lads in fancy suits (well, one is). Loch isn’t that. This series came from me indulging in all the genre stuff I love. Grimy neon, half bright detective, hard boiled high tech low life. I write the books I want to read, which is true for all my books, but perhaps truest here.
The first LOCH novel, The Artist’s Revival, follows ex-sergeant major Nathan Loch, a hard drinking, hard boiled detective who has been enjoying retirement. When a copycat of a serial killer he caught years before starts a murder spree, he is coaxed out of retirement to help investigate. Set in 2090, the novel has a mix of futuristic cyberpunk technology and more analogue, post-war elements, in a gothic European setting that has seen a necessary rebuild after the devastation of a prolonged conflict.
Loch’s old-fashioned, ‘rules are made to be broken’ approach clashes with the more idealistic sensibilities of the younger detective he is forced to work alongside. As the story progresses, we get to see Loch’s great investigative skills, as well as some of his weaknesses. Thanks to a number of flashbacks to his time during the war, we also start to learn about some of the events that shaped the man.
There’s a colourful cast of characters from Loch’s life that he works alongside, and against, as he struggles to solve the ongoing, brutal and bloody case. The links back to Loch’s career make this a very personal endeavour, and as the story progresses, he realises he needs to find a way to work alongside his new ‘partner’ in a way that uses both of their differing strengths.
The Artist’s Revival is a riveting crime thriller with the added benefit of an interesting future setting, and the fascinating backstory that led the protagonist to his present position. The story also shows IG Peters’ skill at weaving a taut murder mystery together, with clever twists along the way.
The Loch series has a dual timeline, with the main story focused on Loch’s ‘present day’ investigations, with flashbacks to his military days interspersed. Did you have to sit and plan out both timelines before you began writing?
You say had to, I like to think I got to! I don’t really plan all that much beyond back of the cigarette packet level. There are essentially three strands, the war, the original Ethan ‘The Artist’ Kiline investigation, and the current Artist investigation. I know where they start, where they end, what people think happened, and what actually happened. What interests me is the places where they collide and the echo that creates. And because I have an unlimited budget, I can eat my cake and have it too.
Book Two, Cold Bore, sees Nathan Loch called up again to assist in the case of a sniper running rampant, seemingly killing randomly. Loch, with his army background, is able to offer unique insights into the military-style killings and weaponry, along with some of his old comrades. In joining the investigation, he is forced to work alongside a young rookie investigator. She is highly talented at the job, but their styles inevitably clash. The book continues to juxtapose the ‘current’ timeline with Loch’s past experiences during the war, and there are plenty of parallels to be seen as the investigation continues.
Book Three, Old Scores, sees Loch consulting on a baffling bank robbery, alongside his former Major Crimes partner. It appears to be the perfect heist, with no surveillance footage, no clues, and seemingly no hope of solving it. The cynical detective is not easily ruffled, but the frustration of a dead end investigation challenges even this most dogged of investigators. As the story progresses, Loch encounters familiar faces on both sides of the law who at times both help and hinder the investigation. Having Loch work alongside his former partner allows for plenty of witty banter, which is a strength of the series overall.
The latest release, Book Four, Thin Blue Line, jumps back to an earlier timeline, a post-war 2062. Loch wakes up in a hospital bed, with a newly implanted cybernetic arm, with the war finally over. With a new city being built from the ashes of the war torn gothic landscape, there are new challenges to be overcome. Having spent so much of his life as a soldier, Loch takes the only job open to him that will utilize some of his hard-won skills, the police force. After several books telling the story of his time after retirement, interspersed with glimpses at his military career, it is interesting to visit that time in-between the two, and the difficult adjustment period for Nathan Loch as he transitions into a new career, one that his ex-army buddies are not a part of.
Book four begins to bridge the gap between the two timelines, was this always planned, or did you just find this period of his life nagging at you to be written?
Ultimately, this is a crime series, a detective story, but at no point is Loch an actual detective (he’s an administrative assistant). Going back to the post war years wasn’t planned. The original idea was book three (Old Scores) would be largely devoted to the end of the war, but the war was only the first step of the fall into the bleak, cheap, disposable culture that the books exist in. Going back to the post war years also gives me chance to explore why things went the way they did, and not just for Loch. Daz’s rise to power as a criminal boss, Blake Technical’s corporate ascension, and how the next industrial revolution plays out on the streets.
The war flashbacks, naturally, lend themselves to more action. It was a lot of fun to take the old Loch and drop him back into the thick of it.
Loch V Brimstone, is a continuation of this idea, with the bulk of the book focusing on Loch’s investigation into the Brimstone Club, and its charismatic host, Constantine Morningstar. Which also means the next one will be too, breaking the series into two trilogies.
Do you remember how you were first exposed to cyberpunk?
I still own (somewhere) the first 2000AD comic I ever bought (2000AD 745, I promise it’s worth looking up the cover). I remember watching The Terminator, Robocop, and Blade Runner on telly. About 10 years later, I got to see Blade Runner at the pictures. Seeing it on the big screen flipped a switch in my head like a frakking toaster. The scale, the detail, the world that existed beyond the case and the descent into madness of it. Also Channel 4 showing things like Akira, Ghost in the Shell, which were huge for me.
Cyberpunk is many different things to many different people, what is it to you?
A warning. This is a world where life, the person, is cheap. For me, the bad guys won, years ago, and all the plucky teenagers were the first ones sent over the top. A new world built on the old, shiny and bright to mask the rot. (I assure you, my books aren’t….well they are that bleak, but it’s funny)
What are your favourite pieces of cyberpunk media?
2077, Altered Carbon, Afro Samurai, Judge Dredd, I could go on. Battlestar Galactica.
IG Peters’ first Fallen Star novel was released in August 2024. Since then, he has written four more novels in the series, The Circus, Regime Change, God Save the King, and Defector. Book 6, Shadow Fleet, is scheduled for release on October 30th. Up til now, there were three LOCH novels, The Artist’s Revival, Cold Bore, and Old Scores. This new LOCH novel, Book 4, Thin Blue Line, brings the total to 10 books written in the space of just two years.
You’re a very prolific writer, with ten novels written within a couple of years, what drives you to keep writing at that pace?
Yeah, thanks, not 100% sure how that happened myself. I guess a lot of it comes down to the idea. Loch is a detective story, there’s always the temptation of doing ‘my version’ of all the things I love. So I got to do a techno thriller with Loch 2, a ‘perfect’ bank job in book 3. Fallen Star is based on the news, which gives me more than enough to work with.
I really love it, and I’m good at it, at least the writing parts (marketing and social media, not so much).
What are your interests outside of writing (if you have time, that is)?
I love to read, I’m obsessed with movies and tv, and a huge gamer. I’m also trying to up my graphic design skill set, too.
What are you currently working on?
Nothing! I’m taking a break, I did redesign all four covers and started researching cults for Loch V Brimstone (it’s grim stuff, and basically the same con every single time) but I really am taking a break, although the G20 is coming to Manchester, which would make an interesting opening to Fallen Star 7…
I’d like to thank everyone for reading and hope they enjoyed the books.
You can find IG Peters’ LOCH series of novels here, including the newly released LOCH Thin Blue Line, in both digital and paperback formats with recently updated book covers. We heartily recommend checking them out – https://mybook.to/noktopI
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