I’m John Millard, a dual Swiss/British national who has spent more than half my life in Switzerland. My writing combines a deep fascination with European history—particularly the tumultuous period between the end of WWI and the Cold War—with a lifelong love of detective fiction, noir, and espionage stories.

After years of nurturing this passion, I’ve finally embraced my childhood dream of writing novels. My debut novel, Fall from Grace, introduces readers to Markus Steiner, a young detective navigating the complexities of 1930s Bern.

The seeds of the Steiner series were planted when a casual comment from a colleague inspired me to draft my first manuscript—a post-WWII tale featuring an older, world-weary Markus Steiner entangled in a conspiracy smuggling Nazis through Switzerland to Argentina.

Encouraged by positive feedback from early readers, I made the decision to become an independent author. Rather than beginning with that post-war story, however, I chose to start at the beginning—chronicling Steiner’s evolution from an idealistic young detective to the hardened intelligence officer he would later become.

Fall from Grace marks the first step in this journey, and Echoes of Betrayal  the second, with many more chapters of Steiner’s story waiting to be told. I invite you to join me as this compelling narrative unfolds across one of history’s most fascinating and dangerous periods.

Born to a Swiss diplomat father and English mother, Markus Steiner walks between worlds. Raised in Oxford’s refined academic circles before returning to his father’s homeland, he carries the precision of his English education and the pragmatism of his Swiss heritage.

Now a freshly promoted detective in Bern’s Kriminalpolizei, Steiner brings his analytical mind and unwavering moral compass to a profession where both will be tested. Paired with the gruff, street-smart veteran Hans Schwarz, Steiner’s idealism collides with the harsh realities of criminal investigation in a Europe teetering on the brink of transformation.

Behind his formal demeanor and slight English accent lies a man plagued by self-doubt yet driven by an uncompromising pursuit of justice. As he navigates the tangled web of Bern’s elite society—where old money, power, and secrets intertwine—Steiner discovers that truth rarely follows a straight line.

In a world increasingly painted in shades of grey, can a man determined to do right find his way without losing himself?

Fall From Grace marks only the beginning of Steiner’s journey from idealistic young detective to the hardened investigator he must become as Europe marches toward its darkest hour.