KEIGHLEY’S queen of crime writing Lesley Horton has died at the age of 79.

The former teacher, who wrote five gritty murder mysteries set in Bradford, was a founding member of Airedale Writers’ Circle.

The Circle this week paid tribute to their former chairman who had landed a deal with a major publisher after starting the group for would-be writers.

Lesley built an international following for her fictional detectives Handford and Ali but had to give up in 2014, while writing her sixth book, due to an almost-fatal stroke.

Lesley, a former Keighley News correspondent for her home community of Utley, co-founded the Writers’ Circle in 1995 after she and her friends realised there was not a local group for writers.

The Circle was launched in February 1995 with 18 members, and grew steadily over the next few years. Lesley chaired monthly meetings in town and hosted manuscript evenings in her home.

Circle spokesman Pat Farley said: “The Circle grew in membership and reputation under Lesley’s guidance and professionalism. She was the inspiration and guiding light in organising writing competitions.

“Lesley has helped other writers, and wrote a book on police procedures to help aspiring authors ‘get it right’. She had been a strong influence through many years, in bringing together people in Keighley and surrounding areas who enjoyed writing in its many forms, and is already sorely missed.”

Lesley spent a career teaching in Bradford and Keighley schools but always wanted to write novels, so she took early retirement to concentrate on writing.

Pat said: “Lesley’s crime novel ‘Snares of Guilt’ published in 2002 was such a success that it was used as a model in West Yorkshire schools partly because the story was set in the Bradford district, and her fictional characters were from differing cultures which sometimes caused conflict.

“Lesley’s experience as a teacher of children and young adults locally was invaluable, and her research into police procedures, the law and medical matters were accurately included in her books.”

Lesley’s novels Snares of Guilt, On Dangerous Ground, Devils in the Mirror, The Hollow Core and Twisted Tracks, have been published in several foreign countries.

Pat said that it was with great sadness that past and present members of the Airedale Writers’ Circle learned of Lesley’s death in the first week of November, at home with Brian and family members.