Burnt-out from policework, Detective Sergeant George Manolis flies from Australia to Greece for a holiday. Recently divorced and mourning the death of his father, who emigrated from the turbulent Prespes region which straddles the borders of Greece, Albania and North Macedonia, Manolis hopes to reconnect with his roots and heritage.
On arrival, Manolis learns of the disappearance of an ‘invisible’ – a local man who lives without a scrap of paperwork. The police and some locals believe the man’s disappearance was pre-planned, while others suspect foul play. Reluctantly, Manolis agrees to work undercover to find the invisible, and must navigate the complicated relationships of a tiny village where grudges run deep.
It soon becomes clear to Manolis that he may never locate a man who, for all intents and purposes, doesn’t exist. And with the clock ticking, the ghosts of the past continue to haunt the events of today as Manolis’s investigation leads him to uncover a dark and long-forgotten practice.
My thoughts: I was utterly gripped by this tale of a missing person in Northern Greece, not an area many tourists visit. The poverty and hardships faced by the villagers, the conflict that never leaves them (the Greek civil war), the way they talk about the strange traditions and culture, was all fascinating.
I know a lot about Ancient Greece but modern Greece doesn’t get a look in in terms of learning about it. I didn’t even know there was a civil war following WW2. How terrible is that.
This book, is however, far from terrible. Instead it’s utterly gripping. As Manolis searches the buildings and countryside of this border land and bonds with Roze, an Albanian who claims she just walked over the border, he delves into the old ways that small villages still honour, but also modern smuggling, secrets and the concept of being ‘invisible’ in the modern world – somehow existing without any paperwork or really being a person legally.
The twists at the end made my head spin – just as you think you understand what’s happened, you’re thrown completely off track. Highly enjoyable, intelligent crime fiction.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
He changed his identity. He moved to Hong Kong. He changed his life. But can he change who he really is?
Charles Balcombe, sophisticated, risk-taking lothario was a special investigator. He thinks that taking a PI job to find a missing boy will distract him from his killer instinct. But once a killer…
My thoughts: this was very enjoyable, gripping and intelligent. Balcombe – also known as Blackjack – is a dangerous man, but there’s some goodness in him as he frees imprisoned young women and deals with their captors during his investigation into the missing son of a banker.
In the deeply segregated world of post war Hong Kong, a white man wandering around Chinatown stands out, but somehow Balcombe avoids too much attention. Handy when a detective with the police – Munro, is suspicious of him.
I liked Albert, Balcombe’s rickshaw boy and assistant, I hope in future books there’s more of their partnership. I also liked detective Munro – promoted not just because he’s a good cop but also because they thought he was white! His relationships with Balcombe could be very interesting.
Balcombe was a bit of a mystery, I think there’s a lot more to him than so far revealed. Obviously he’s a killer on the run, having fled Malaya (now Malaysia) and changed his name. His signature moves with knives might bring the authorities down on his head if anyone connects the dots. I can’t wait to see what happens next and whether he ever crosses paths with the author’s more straightforwardly heroic Carter again…
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
We were all at the party. Which of us wanted her dead?
As the smoke from the bonfire spirals into the night sky and the cool drinks slip down our throats, none of us can take our eyes off Lacey. She dances in the dunes, her long golden hair damp from her late-night swim, her smile dazzling, her blue eyes closed.
Everyone who is close to Lacey sits by the smoky fire. Her adoring boyfriend, who holds onto her, perhaps a little too tightly. Her little sister, always in Lacey’s shadow, sifting fine soft sand through her fingers, never taking her eyes off Lacey. And me. Sad and full of rage, after an argument forced the man I love to leave the party early.
When the fire burns out, we stumble away from the beach, along the cliff path – faces burned by the wind, hearts full of secrets. But Lacey never makes it home. The next morning, her body is found in the sand dunes, a heart-shaped locket missing from around her neck.
Who would have thought our beach party could end the way it did? Close friends gathered on the last night of a long hot summer – which one of us could have killed the girl everybody loved?
An absolutely gripping psychological thriller with an ending you will NEVER see coming! Strap in for a twisty rollercoaster ride that will keep you turning pages all night long. Perfect for anyone who adored The Holiday, The Guest List or Gone Girl.
Amy Sheppard is a busy mum of two boys, living in Cornwall. Her obsession with making budget friendly family dinners, led her to writing two cookbooks. Amy creates recipes for her followers and for brands @amysheppardfood
Her debut novel is out in August 2022. A psychological thriller set in Cornwall called ‘The Beach Party’
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My thoughts: this was a really clever crime thriller, taking us into a small, tight knit community that has been shaped by a terrible crime that was never solved. The podcast Kate and Sophie are making drags a lot of things into the light, including long held secrets and painful memories. Kate grew up there and was a witness to Lacey’s murder but even she can’t guess where their investigation will lead or what she’ll learn.
Tense, gripping and with the sense of claustrophobia of all small communities, the killer is closer to home than they can guess. I was totally hooked.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
The body of a baby is found in the woods but all is not as it seems.
A twisted serial killer is targeting pregnant teenage girls.
DI Blood races against the clock to stop the most chilling murderer he’s ever hunted. His private life meanwhile threatens to distract him and derail his investigation.
Any mistakes, any hesitation on his side, could cost another innocent life …
Eileen Wharton is an Oscar winning actress, Olympic gymnast, and Influencer. She also tells lies for a living. Her first novel was published in 2011 to worldwide critical acclaim. And she’s won awards for exaggeration. It did top the Amazon humour chart so she’s officially a best-selling author. She currently has five ‘lively’ offspring ranging from thirty-three to fourteen years of age, and has no plans to procreate further, much to the relief of the local schools and police force. She lives on a council estate in County Durham. She has never eaten kangaroo testicles, is allergic to cats and has a phobia of tinned tuna. She’s retired from arguing with people on the internet.
My thoughts: I really enjoyed this book, I liked DI Blood, he felt like a real person – trying to balance his job, grim as it is, with dealing with his crazy ex-wife, his children and his crush on his best friend and former sister-in-law. The case is pretty dark, young women are being murdered and so are their unborn babies. Anything involving children is bound to be pretty terrible but this seems completely monstrous and the cops are at a loss.
Meanwhile Sue is dealing with the disappearance of a young girl, and her mother’s behaviour is very odd. Sobbing one minute and then playing video games and yelling at her other kids the next. Something is off here but Sue’s own past is colouring her vision. She’s also worried about her daughter, and looking for her long missing brother.
Blood is juggling a lot and worried about more young women being killed – he can’t figure out the connection. Is it the slightly weird church they all seem to have gone to, is it the gymnastics centre his niece attends, what connects these young women? And how does the killer know them?
There’s a lot happening in both the cases and in the detectives lives, and the pace is relentless. Racing against time, even more so when Sue and Rachel are put in danger, can Blood stop the murderer? Cracking stuff.
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*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
When too many patients die under his watch, a troubled young doctor suspects murder. But are his instincts to be trusted?
Returning to practice after a suspension for stealing opioids, a young doctor takes the only job he can find: a post as a physician at the struggling St. Luke’s Hospital in east London. Amid the maelstrom of sick patients, overworked staff and underfunded wards, a more insidious secret soon declares itself: too many patients are dying. And a murderer may be lurking in plain sight.
Drawing on his experiences as a physician, Simon Stephenson takes readers into the dark heart of life as a hospitalist to ask the question: Who are the people we gift the power of life and death, and what does it do to them?
As beautifully written and witty as it is propulsive, Sometimes People Die is an unforgettable thriller that will haunt you long after you turn the last page.
My thoughts: this was really good. Drawing on the author’s own time as a junior doctor, though hopefully in a hospital without its own resident serial killer, this complex and clever murder mystery centres on a rundown London hospital and the staff and patients therein.
Our narrator, a down on his luck and quite frankly lucky to still be a doctor, addict and slightly inept human being, is only at St Luke’s because he has literally nowhere else to go. Escaping ignominy in Scotland he winds up mopping up east London’s best and brightest in A & E and Geriatrics. But after a series of suspicious deaths brings the Met police into his life, things spiral further from his control. Events take over and after a tragedy, he decides to solve the crime himself as the police have made a terrible mistake.
Funny, dark, intelligent and not completely farfetched, it reminded me of several hospital dramas (both on screen and in books) covering the realities of life in the NHS for junior doctors and just life in London really. A bit grotty and grubby but sometimes with those bits of gold old Dick Whittington was looking for shining through.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
Annie’s sister has gone missing. Why doesn’t anyone care?
Annie feels like she’s at a good place in her life. Happily married, expecting her first child, enjoying a vacation with her extended family at their beautiful coastal home.
But then her sister, Sunday, suddenly goes missing.
Annie is immediately concerned, but the rest of the family assure her that everything’s fine, this is the kind of thing Sunday does, she’ll be back…
But Annie knows in her heart that something is very wrong. And she won’t rest until she sees her sister safe and well.
As Annie digs for the truth, she realizes that some of her family are not what they seem. And as she draws closer to uncovering their horrifying secret, Annie finally understands that she and her unborn child are in terrible danger…
Cathryn Grant writes psychological thrillers, psychological suspense, and ghost stories. She’s the author of twenty-three novels. She’s loved crime fiction all her life and is endlessly fascinated by the twists and turns, and the dark corners of the human mind.
When she’s not writing, Cathryn reads fiction, eavesdrops, and tries to play golf without hitting her ball into the sand or the water. She lives on the Central California coast with her husband and two cats.
My thoughts: the family in this book is deeply creepy in so many ways, the constant touching of Annie’s pregnant belly, the way they all adhere to their dad’s outdated and quite frankly wrong philosophies, the gaslighting that goes on when Annie tries to get them to look for her sister, the rewriting of the past. I kept wanting to shout at Annie and her slightly useless husband to get out of there, there’s something deeply weird happening!
How many red flags do you need. And obviously it gets worse and weirder the longer they’re all there in the house, feeding each other’s strange behaviour and stoking Annie’s paranoia and fear. Disturbing but compelling to read. Makes me glad my family are a bit “normal”.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
Bang. Bang. Bang. I jump as the knocks on the window crash above the roaring wind outside. Who could it be, at this late hour? I open the curtains and peer outside. ‘Hello?’ But the dark, the rain and the empty lane are all I see.
It’s been eleven years since I last saw Jonah, after his brother died that stormy summer night. And now, without warning, he’s back, living in his old house next door just like old times, on the remote Scottish island that is home. Where I used to imagine we’d stay, together, forever, sharing our lives and our secrets as we always had. But that was before.
Jonah’s not the sweet boy I once knew. His mood is changeable, his behaviour unstable, our brief conversations are forced and awkward. And then the knocks on my window begin. It can only be him, but why, and what does he want? I used to love him. Now I don’t even want to invite him in.
Because after all these years, I see our childhood secrets, the ones we swore never to reveal, in a newly terrifying light. Was his brother’s death truly an accident? Could Jonah’s secrets have been worth killing for? And how safe am I now, on this isolated island, with the man I used to love…?
A totally addictive and twisty psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist. Anyone who loves The Woman in the Window, The Wife Between Us and The Housemaid won’t beable to put Childhood Sweetheart down!
Wendy Clarke was a teacher until the small primary school where she worked closed down. Now she is a writer of psychological suspense but is also well known for her short stories and serials which regularly appear in national women’s magazines.
Wendy has two children and three step-children and lives with her husband, cat and step-dog in Sussex. When not writing, she is usually indulging in her passion for dancing, singing or watching any programme that involves food!
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My thoughts: this is a very clever book, until the twist is revealed and then it’s also very, very shocking. And then there’s some more twists that put a completely different light on events. Ailsa is an incredibly brave woman and a devoted mum, she risks her life to protect Kyle, her autistic son. Even though the person she’s protecting him from is her childhood best friend and first love, Jonah. Or is he? What really happened that night on the Loch and where did Jonah and Callum’s dad really go?
Ailsa doesn’t necessarily want all the answers but then she realises she needs them to ensure Kyle doesn’t lose his home. And she has some reckoning of her own to do too. Moira might have taken them in, but she was keeping secrets too.
Dark and creepy, this is one of those books that makes your eyes widen as it slowly unfolds and the stories people tell themselves and others unravel.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
Perfect for fans of T.J. Klune, Becky Albertalli, and David Levithan, this hilarious, big-hearted LGBTQ+ mystery follows an unlucky in love—and life—gay relationship blogger who teams up with a take-charge lesbian and a fiesty bull terrier to find a missing go-go boy and bring down an international crime ring.
When Hayden McCall’s new crush suddenly disappears, the twenty-something gay ginger relationship blogger and middle-school teacher teams up with a take charge butch lesbian, a gentle giant, and a feisty bull terrier to find the missing guy.
Driven by a belief that the police won’t take the crime seriously, the improbable crime fighters prove that friendship — fueled by a lot of caffeine — has the power to bring down a diabolic international crime ring.
Prior to Devil’s Chew Toy, Rob Osler’s short story, Analogue, which was published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, won the Mystery Writers of America Robert L Fish Award as part of the 2022 Annual Edgar Awards. Rob lives in California with his long-time partner and a tall gray cat.
As DEVIL’S CHEW TOY is a contemporary novel set in a city I’m extremely familiar with, there was not a heavy research task. Also, because the two main characters are VERY amateur sleuths, I could avoid needing to get a lot of police procedure right—though there is some police interaction. That said, it’s amazing how many little questions arise in every chapter that require a pause and some desk research.
Which was the hardest character to write? The easiest?
The hardest character to write was Hollister—not that she was too challenging. I strove to be respectful of Hollister’s identity as a Black lesbian in America without going so deeply into her character that hers became a story that wasn’t mine to tell.
The easiest character to write was Hayden McCall. Why? Because there’s a whole lot of me in him. We are both naturally shy and smaller of stature (though he’s shorter and slighter). I took Hayden on the type of adventure—with a bolder, stronger, and more courageous friend—that I would love to go on.
There are many cozy mysteries out there….What makes yours different?
My story features two extremely amateur sleuths, one mild-mannered gay ginger and one butch lesbian. I’ve heard from some reviewers and readers that while pairing a gay and a lesbian as the main protagonists is not unprecedented it is uncommon. Also, I intentionally wrote a story in which the queer characters are neither the villains nor the tragic victims.
What advice would you give budding writers?
Understand that whatever amount of patience you have will be depleted and then some. Publishing moves in increments of months. It takes a long time—and a lot of collaborators—to bring a book to market.
Your book is set in Seattle. Have you ever been there?
I set the book in Seattle because it’s my “Spirit City.” I lived there for nearly twenty years and loved it. Given as much time as it takes to write a book, I wanted to return to Seattle and its neighborhoods and hills and waterways during the long writing process.
Do you have another profession besides writing?
I have been a marketing and branding strategist for many decades, both at agency/consultancies and at technology corporations. I think the general mind set of prioritizing activities that matter most has helped me with all aspects of writing and the navigating the publishing process.
How long have you been writing?
I actually started my professional career as advertising copywriter writing television commercials for Kellogg’s and Tropicana and Procter & Gamble. Fiction writing also uses words to communicate but that’s about the only commonality I’ve found! It’s the difference between landing one memorable message versus telling a compelling, captivating story over three hundred-plus pages. Trust me, a novel is way harder.
Do you ever get writer’s block? What helps you overcome it?
You know, I really never do. But then I’m not much of a procrastinator either—not that they’re the same thing. My biggest challenge is going off on a tangent with a character or a scene that needlessly complicates the story and “writes me into a corner.” I do a lot revisions.
What is your next project?
I have recently sold my second short story to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. It features a fifty-something cross-dressing whacky amateur sleuth named Perry Winkle who solves a murder at his Palm Springs condo community.
What genre do you write and why?
I write traditional mysteries because that has been the genre I have always most loved to read. And I feature LGBTQ+ main characters because I am gay and we need more books—of all genres—that represent the great and glorious rainbow of humanity.
What is the last great book you’ve read?
Two spring to mind. The first: THE SAVAGE KIND by John Copenhaver, who also happens to be a very nice human being. This novel—no surprise—won the Lambda Literary Award for best mystery this year. The second: DEAD LETTERS FROM PARADISE by Ann McMan is sheer delight. Both books are truly terrific.
What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
“I can’t wait to read the next one!”
How are you similar to or different from your lead character?
Both Hayden and I are gay, mild-mannered, quiet, but good for an occasionally humorous one-liner. We both play tennis and enjoy big personalities. As Hayden says, “we balance each other out.”
If your book were made into a movie, who would star in the leading roles?
The characters are so distinct in my head, I can’t picture a known movie star playing either Hayden, Hollister or Burley. However, I can see Della Rupert, the oddball proprietress of Barkingham Palace, played superbly by Melissa McCarthy.
If your book were made into a movie, what songs would be on the soundtrack?
Stanley Kellogg’s “Falling Hard,” of course! This song, which was made up along with the new country star himself, reoccurs throughout the story. Fun fact! After the book was published, a good friend, Ben Davis, and I completed the lyrics and Ben wrote the music and produced the track. It’s on my website. Check it out!
What were the biggest rewards with writing your book?
Hearing from readers that they enjoyed it.
In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like?
Long.
What is one piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?
Every time you are certain you’re done working on a book, know that you aren’t.
Which authors inspired you to write?
Agatha Christie and Armistead Maupin.
What is something you had to cut from your book that you wish you could have kept?
There’s a line that 91-year-old Jerry delivers in reply to Hayden’s question: “How did you get to be so wise old man?” Over the whistle of the kettle, Jerry replies, “I managed to live a long damn time.” That “damn” was an Eff-bomb until the final edit. It was the only strong swear word in the book. By removing it the book avoided an R rating, if you will. But I still love the idea of Jerry saying the line with more gusto!
On rituals:
Do you snack while writing? Favorite snack?
No snacking. But I do try to drink plenty of water.
Where do you write?
I have a home office. I’ve never been able to do the coffee shop thing. I am too easily distracted.
Do you write every day?
Not every day. But I do write most days.
What is your writing schedule?
I usually write in two- to three-hour spurts. In a mystery, context and pacing is so important I am not skilled enough to dipping in and out.
Is there a specific ritualistic thing you do during your writing time?
Nope. I just plop my butt down and starting tap, tap, tapping. I will say I find it very difficult to stop writing before I finish a chapter, even in the roughest draft form.
In today’s tech savvy world, most writers use a computer or laptop. Have you ever written parts of your book on paper?
No. But I do use notebook paper to scribble plot ideas before I write.
Fun stuff:
If you could go back in time, where would you go?
The seventies. The music was awesome. Though I’m still wary of bell bottom pants.
Favorite travel spot?
Switzerland.
Favorite dessert?
Raspberry rhubarb pie
If you were stuck on a deserted island, which 3 books would you want with you?
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
Tales of the City
All the Light We Cannot See
What’s the most courageous thing you’ve ever done?
I set off for Alaska to work on fish processing barge after my sophomore year at college. If fish were running, the shift was 16 hours, every day until all the fish were processed. I still don’t know why I did it, but I returned two more summers.
Any hobbies? or Name a quirky thing you like to do.
I have been life-long tennis player and watcher. I can usually name the top twenty men players—and often in order!
If there is one thing you want readers to remember about you, what would it be?
Rob Osler writes traditional mysteries featuring LGBTQ+ main characters.
What is something you’ve learned about yourself during the pandemic?
We are social creatures who need human interaction.
What TV series are you currently binge watching?
Inventing Anna by Shonda Rhimes on Netflix.
What is your theme song?
“Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits.
What song is currently playing on a loop in your head?
“The Seaside” by The Lazy Eyes
What is something that made you laugh recently?
Jinx Monsoon’s roast performance on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Hi-lar-ious.
What is your go-to breakfast item?
Toast and yogurt with berries.
What is the oldest item of clothing you own?
I have a green argyle sweater I bought in Seattle thrift store about forty years ago.
Tell us about your longest friendship.
Twin girls, Kelly and Shelly. I grew up with them. We went to elementary, middle school, high school and then to the same out-of-state college! Just a few months back, I did a book event at the wonderful Boise bookshop Rediscovered Books. Guess who was in the front row?
Who was your childhood celebrity crush?
Willy Ames who played the role of Tommy on Eight is Enough.
My thoughts: this is a very funny book. I loved Hayden and Hollister, the world’s most ridiculous PIs, in their very recognisable car, hunting for their missing friend, ably assisted by the excellent Burley (who bakes, this book made me hungry!)
The characters are great fun, the plot completely bonkers at times and there’s an adorable dog in the mix too. It reminded me of How I Paid For College by Marc Acito (one of my favourite books) and several other highly entertaining capers I’ve read. I really want more of Hayden and Hollister solving crimes and getting in way too deep with things that are maybe best left to actual law enforcement.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
When an attempted murder is linked to a string of unsolved sexual attacks, Detective Chief Inspector Whitney Walker is incensed. All those women who still have sleepless nights because the man who terrorises their dreams is still on the loose.
Calling on forensic psychologist Dr Georgina Cavendish to help, they follow the clues and are alarmed to discover the victims all had one thing in common. Their birthdays were on the 29th February. The same date as a female officer on Whitney’s team.
As the clock ticks down and they’re no nearer to finding the truth, can they stop the villain before he makes sure his next victim will never scream again.
Broken Screams is the twelfth book in the acclaimed Cavendish & Walker series and is perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Helen H Durrant and Rachel McClean.
Sally Rigby was born in Northampton, in the UK. She has always had the travel bug, and after living in both Manchester and London, eventually moved overseas. From 2001 she has lived with her family in New Zealand (apart from five years in Australia), which she considers to be the most beautiful place in the world.
After writing young adult fiction for many years, under a pen name, Sally decided to move into crime fiction. Her Cavendish & Walker series brings together two headstrong, and very different, women – DCI Whitney Walker, and forensic psychologist Dr Georgina Cavendish. Sally has a background in education, and has always loved crime fiction books, films and TV programmes. She has a particular fascination with the psychology of serial killers.
My thoughts: Walker and Cavendish are back. This is easily one of my favourite series around and it’s all because of the excellent writing, the great characterisation and the way the crimes are handled, sensitively but not squeamishly.
A series of horrific rapes and an attempted murder come to Walker’s attention and her team uncover a strange connection between the victims – they’re all leap year babies – born on the 29th February. And then a woman is murdered – another leap year birthday. Is this the thing that the killer targets? And if so how does he know so much about his victims, stalking them till he gets them alone.
There’s a few false starts in finding the suspect – including one man who appears to have been set up, or is he the killer? Some forensic evidence points his way, but more points elsewhere. Would a sting operation help them or simply put an officer in danger?
Elsewhere Cavendish’s personal life takes centre stage and Walker has to make an important decision about her relationship with Martin. Lots to consider.
Another enjoyable case in Lenchester – a thankfully fictional town as I think the body count would put me off!
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*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
When wealthy divorcee Stephanie Kuler asked a private detective to investigate a murder, he told her to go to the police instead.
But when she told the rest of the story, he took the case.
There was no body, no reason to kill and no name for her supposed victim, but she knew she was the murderer.
Solving the mystery meant jail for her and a headache for him. Premonition, false memories, déjà vu…the mind playing tricks or reality distorted through time?
The unmissable new thriller from David Roy explores the dark side of memory and its impact on us all.
David Roy was born in Bangor, Northern Ireland in the mid ’60s. After a number of years in the army he left a life in uniform to read for a degree, ultimately qualifying as a secondary school teacher.
He is the author of many books, the first written in 1994 as an account of his service in the first Gulf War. His book ‘The Lost Man’, the first of his Ted Dexter adventures, featured on ITV ‘The Alan Titchmarsh Show’; where it was shortlisted in The People’s Novelist competition.
As well as being a soldier, David has been a dishwasher, a teacher, a civil servant, a security guard, a welfare assistant and an ambulance crew member. He is married and now lives in the north of England with his wife and two daughters.
My thoughts: this was a very clever and slightly strange tale. A woman insists she’s killed someone but doesn’t know who, when, how or why. The police aren’t interested, this is too silly for them but the narrator – a private investigator, agrees to try to solve this. He’s also got several other cases on the go so puts his best man – the rather peculiar Billy, on the case.
There’s absolutely no evidence to go on, the client barely exists online, she’s given them almost nothing to work with so it’s time for some rather unorthodox approaches, like hypnotism. It’s all twists and turns as they try to piece the truth together. Does the answer lie in Steph’s past? In the family she never knew or the care home she was raised in? How deep will they have to dig? And why does she seem so determined to send herself to prison? Answers will be revealed. (But not by me!)
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.