Alex Cutts, now based in rural Norfolk, travelled to Arequipa — a striking city in the Peruvian Andes — in an attempt to uncover his biological roots.

That emotional journey became the foundation for The White City, his first published novel.

The book follows Edward, a man trapped in what Mr Cutts describes as a “prematurely middle-aged life in Norfolk”.

Author Alex Cutts has released his debut novel The White City (Image: Troubador Publishing)

As his personal world begins to unravel, he travels to Peru in search of his absent father, hoping to resolve a lifelong mystery.

Describing the trip as transformative, Mr Cutts said: “The autobiographical element of the book was my own trip to Peru to try to find my biological father.

“Some of the details of that trip are described in the novel, and that central story was my main initial inspiration.

“The story tries to illuminate my own challenges of having undefined roots, and the different influences that nature and nurture exert over one’s personality.”

Author Alex Cutts has released his debut novel The White City (Image: Troubador Publishing)

In the novel, Edward’s search evolves into something deeper than simply locating a missing parent. Immersed in a new culture and landscape, he begins to reconnect with parts of himself he never fully understood, gaining a stronger sense of identity and belonging.

A parallel storyline follows Edward’s mother, Judith, in Peru 25 years earlier, revealing how past decisions continue to shape the present.

Originally from Manchester, Mr Cutts has lived in Peru, Tanzania and Edinburgh before settling in Norfolk.

Alongside a career in finance, he has maintained a lifelong passion for creative work.

Through The White City, he hopes to show that the search for a parent can ultimately become a search for oneself, and a chance to finally feel whole.

© Eastern Daily Press