A new novel set on the south coast of England has been published by Aberdeen-born author Richard Hood, focusing on wealth, identity and the possibility of personal reinvention.
Filthy Rich centres on Oliver Wright, a financier forced to leave London after a serious health scare and relocate to Shoreham-by-Sea.
The change of setting provides the backdrop for a period of reflection as he attempts to move beyond the pressures of his former career.
“This book draws on my observations of ambition, risk and the human instinct to test boundaries. After facing serious health challenges, the idea of reinvention became deeply personal. Filthy Rich explores what happens when someone is given a second chance but struggles to let go of old habits.” Said Richard.
Through its coastal setting, the novel examines the tension between appearance and reality, as well as the consequences of past choices.
As the protagonist becomes involved in the local marina community, underlying conflicts and unresolved history begin to surface.
A significant event ultimately forces him to confront the cost of secrecy and ambition.
Hood’s own background includes extensive travel from early journeys across Europe to later visits to the United States, Canada, China and the Caribbean.
He has maintained a long-standing interest in skiing, both as an instructor in Aberdeen and through alpine expeditions.
His personal history includes serious illness and a life-saving kidney transplant, as well as surviving a violent incident while living in France.
These experiences inform his perspective on recovery and personal change.
He lives with his family and previously spent more than two decades in business, including managing The Courtyard Restaurant and welcoming notable guests such as Andrew Lloyd Webber.
The release is published by UK-based Maple Publishers, a company known for supporting imaginative and engaging works in literature, with book cover design, illustrations, and book layout by White Magic Studios.
Filthy Rich is available via Amazon in Kindle, Paperback, and Hardcover editions. A book trailer can be viewed on White Magic Studio’s official channel.