A sad marking of the publication of SOME UNHOLY WAR today is the death of film- maker Bryan Forbes at the age of 86.

I loved his movies, famously Stepford Wives and Whistle Down the Wind. My favourite was King Rat, an adaptation of James Clavell’s novel. When Forbes bought film-rights to a book he tried to stick with it and not change everything. Unusual for a movie- maker!

But for me, it was as a novelist that Brian Forbes truly excelled. He was one of my favourite few authors. He didn’t write many, but do treat yourself if you haven’t tried any of them before. I especially loved The Rewrite Man.

A very British talent sadly missed.