There has been no shortage of takers for a book on Bermuda?s bloody and racist past and now there could be a sequel.

?Acel?Dama? (Scene of Bloodshed), the expose on the murder of Governor Sir Richard Sharples by the man who caught his killer, is nearly sold out.

The initial order of 1,500 copies is now down to 50 as author Neville T. Darrell ponders a follow-up as well as organises a re-print.

The follow-up promises to delve further into the motives of Erskine (Buck) Burrows who was hanged on December 1, 1977, for the killing the Governor, his aide-de-camp, Police Commissioner George Duckett and the owners of the Shopping Centre in Victoria Street.

Accomplice Larry Tacklyn was also found guilty of the Shopping Centre murders.

?I have started writing about the same things I was talking about in the first book. Perhaps it will be a bit more revealing about the things I alluded to.?

But don?t hold your breath waiting for the sequel. Mr. Darrell started writing the Acel?Dama in 1974 and went through four drafts before getting it into print.

It was a cathartic experience as he dealt with his own demons stirred by suffering years of perpetual racism within the force.

It saw him first being sidelined during the murder inquiry, then being brought in to catch Burrows before being immediately taken off the investigation just as he believed Burrows was about to open up to him.

He is clear that others were involved in the murders.

He told : ?I don?t think I could have caught them, perhaps I could have got more information as to who they were.

His experience has brought him a fair amount of insight into the mind of Burrows whose action he deplored.

?He was a self taught individual. He had done a lot of reading, probably in prison. He was shrewdly intelligent individual, he was very quiet spoken.

?If you knew him you could not help but like him, he always had a smile. The person least likely to be involved in such a case quite frankly.?

Initially Police overlooked the apparently friendly Burrows who, despite being an ex-con, worked at their barracks and at the private home of Duckett whom he later murdered.

One theory is that Burrows changed after being attacked by officers who suspected him of stealing at the barracks.

Mr. Darrell said: ?Two officers gave him a very severe beating. It happened a few months before.?

He believes Burrows, who was armed to the teeth with several firearms during the period, staked out at least one of his attackers but was caught off guard before shots could be fired.

He said: ?This is something which will probably come out in my next release.?

However Mr. Darrell believes a heady mix of political, racial and criminal motives were behind the killings.

?Burrows said he was the commander in chief of the anti-colonialist movement.

?I think that was a self-appointed title but that was what his mind was working on. In his mind he was the leader but I don?t think he had a great following.?

Several groups including black power movement the Black Berets were questioned about involvement but the trail grew cold.

Around five of the names of people have been changed in the book including officers he clashed with. He said: ?I am not protecting the innocent I am protecting the guilty.?

In the book Mr. Darrell confessed to plotting to murder his racist protagonist but despite his anger at his own situation and the general political scene Mr. Darrell is unequivocal in condemning Burrows? stance.

He said: ?It was totally uncalled for, it is not something I would condone in any way shape or form.?

The violence stirred up an already turbulent political scene said Mr. Darrell and did not advance progressive policies.

Acel?dama is being sold at bookshops but also at the Spinning Wheel night club in Court Street. ?I am surprised, they are moving quite well. People I would not have thought would be interested are reading it.

?I am overwhelmed by the reaction I have received from people from all walks of life. I have even got a few e-mails from overseas. I think I touched a nerve.?

One white woman had asked him if he hated all of her race but Mr. Darrell said: ?That?s clearly not the case. It was directed at particular individuals.

?One of the lessons I have learned is it?s important not to let anyone dictate our moods. That?s what happened to me to some extent.?

Another key lesson was for everybody to discuss issues of race. ?It is not something we should suppress. White people need to get involved in talks if we are to move forward.?