Doug Sinclair explains how he chooses names for his characters

A West Lothian crime writer has assured Celtic football fans that the name of one of his characters is not a joke at their expense.

Author Doug Sinclair, who grew up in Edinburgh and now lives in Armadale, features a PC Terry Munro in his acclaimed debut novel Blood Runs Deep, which was long-listed for the McIlvanney Prize for Scotland’s crime book of 2024.

It was only after the book was published that it was pointed out the name has connections to Scotland’s fiercest football rivalry.

The name Terry Munro has been used by Rangers fans since 2021 to mock rival Celtic fans as it sounds similar to “ten in a row”.

They even wrote a prank obituary to “Terry” after Celtic failed to achieve the holy grail of a record tenth league title in succession in season 2020/21.

Sinclair, 58, who appeared at the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival in Stirling recently, said: “I had no idea about the significance of the name until someone asked me if it was a joke.

“I’m not a football fan so I didn’t have a clue. The name is a pure coincidence. I’m not a Rangers or a Celtic fan. I’m not even a football fan.”

The name is said to have first raised a laugh after an overconfident Celtic fan drunk on holiday abroad in 2017 asked a tattoo artist for the slogan “ten in a row” on his chest, only to wake up the following morning with the name Terry Munro inked on his body.

The name was later used by Rangers fans to mock their rivals after Steven Gerrard’s team pipped Celtic to the title and broke their nine-year-run in 2020/21.

Blood Runs Deep is the first in a series of thrillers starring DS Malkie McCulloch, the “brilliantly complex detective who will risk everything to protect the innocent”.

Sinclair told how he had longed to become a crime writer ever since he penned a murder mystery in primary school, but for nearly 50 years a crippling lack of confidence had prevented him from pursuing his dream.

He finally completed his first thriller thanks to support and encouragement from his Belgian wife Maaike.

Published to widespread acclaim, Blood Runs Deep was long-listed for the prestigious McIlvanney Prize alongside the latest works by the likes of Val McDermid and eventual winner Chris Brookmyre.

Sinclair has already published a follow up, “Last To Die”, and is now working on a third instalment.