Lee Allen's Blog, page 15
August 31, 2022
August Story Spotlight - Bluebell
"As the monastery swallowed the last morsel of daylight, he didn't notice the murder of magpies gathering on the roof and window ledges..."
As the countdown to Hallowe'en begins, this month's spotlight is on short story "Bluebell", a tale of present-day haunting and historical mystery.
Behind the Story
Part of the concept for "Bluebell" first came to me many years ago. I was on my way to a date and thinking of a new crime story, the title and the twist already formed, considering the idea of a date as the hook, a man trying to move on but haunted by the unsolved disappearance of his wife. As I walked, a single magpie flew past and landed ahead of me. Those elements coalesced and remained linked in my mind.
I returned to "Bluebell" several years later when working on my short story collection. I combined the original crime story with gothic horror and a historical mystery to be solved from the present day, with a streak of feminism running through the tale. Probably the most traditionally gothic story in the collection, with the crumbling presence of the monastery ever-looming, it is set on Hallowe'en night and also serves as a love letter to autumn.
"Bluebell" was the final story I wrote of the seven featured in "Whispers from the Dead of Night". I remember writing the final words and the incredible sense of achievement and excitement I felt at that moment. Perhaps due in part to this, if I had to choose my favourite or the story of which I'm most proud among those short stories, it would probably be this one.
Let the chill of autumn pull you into its embrace and get yourself a warm drink, ready to join me for mystery, romance, and an investigation into a haunted monastery...
___
"Now the monastery's secrets were for all to find, if they could decipher the clues left under the weight of years gone by."
An investigation into a haunted monastery...
During a chance meeting, Emily and David arrange their first date. Despite the chill of autumn, the hope of romance is in the air.
But David cannot escape the visions of a wraith haunting his step, while Emily's fascination with a crumbling monastery may lead her into jeopardy.
For it is Hallowe'en night, when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest, and the past and present collide...
___
Opening Scene
The decaying remnants of a life long ago lived stood at the peak of a gentle slope, descending to a field at the front and woodland at the rear. The church tower and lopsided walls framed the façade, while the ghost of the moon’s glow filtered through the cracked stonework. Stars winked through hollow windows.
The wind strummed the weeds and grass that had grown around the gravestones that lined the inner wall of the garth like soldiers. Percussive against the weathered stone, it drummed its beat along with a whistling accompaniment through the cracks in the crumbling stone.
So it had stood and played its melodies for centuries, more shrivelled year by year, but ever present. Sometimes, it sounded as if nature’s tunes were accompanied by a choir singing, the harmony not of the wind, but voices, once human but no longer. In years past, the locals steered clear of the ruins by night, still wary by day.
As the years fell away, the fear was forgotten, relegated to myth, the choir now a campfire tale. Many sought out the ruins to listen for it. Few could claim honestly to have heard it.
So it was that many a still night lit by the moon would not be greeted by music or the voices of a choir. The wind rocked against the plants, rustling tree branches, leaves floating to the ground. The moonlight shone through the broken roof and walls, lighting the windowless voids from within. In a rear window, a shadow moved, framed in the moonlight. Its shape appeared human, perhaps possessed by something that once was. But there was no one there to see it.
Want to continue reading? "Bluebell" is available as part of the original "Whispers from the Dead of Night" short story collection in ebook and paperback and the deluxe collection in ebook, paperback and hardcover.
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night"
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night - The Deluxe Collection"
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As the countdown to Hallowe'en begins, this month's spotlight is on short story "Bluebell", a tale of present-day haunting and historical mystery.
Behind the Story
Part of the concept for "Bluebell" first came to me many years ago. I was on my way to a date and thinking of a new crime story, the title and the twist already formed, considering the idea of a date as the hook, a man trying to move on but haunted by the unsolved disappearance of his wife. As I walked, a single magpie flew past and landed ahead of me. Those elements coalesced and remained linked in my mind.
I returned to "Bluebell" several years later when working on my short story collection. I combined the original crime story with gothic horror and a historical mystery to be solved from the present day, with a streak of feminism running through the tale. Probably the most traditionally gothic story in the collection, with the crumbling presence of the monastery ever-looming, it is set on Hallowe'en night and also serves as a love letter to autumn.
"Bluebell" was the final story I wrote of the seven featured in "Whispers from the Dead of Night". I remember writing the final words and the incredible sense of achievement and excitement I felt at that moment. Perhaps due in part to this, if I had to choose my favourite or the story of which I'm most proud among those short stories, it would probably be this one.
Let the chill of autumn pull you into its embrace and get yourself a warm drink, ready to join me for mystery, romance, and an investigation into a haunted monastery...
___
"Now the monastery's secrets were for all to find, if they could decipher the clues left under the weight of years gone by."
An investigation into a haunted monastery...
During a chance meeting, Emily and David arrange their first date. Despite the chill of autumn, the hope of romance is in the air.
But David cannot escape the visions of a wraith haunting his step, while Emily's fascination with a crumbling monastery may lead her into jeopardy.
For it is Hallowe'en night, when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest, and the past and present collide...
___
Opening Scene
The decaying remnants of a life long ago lived stood at the peak of a gentle slope, descending to a field at the front and woodland at the rear. The church tower and lopsided walls framed the façade, while the ghost of the moon’s glow filtered through the cracked stonework. Stars winked through hollow windows.
The wind strummed the weeds and grass that had grown around the gravestones that lined the inner wall of the garth like soldiers. Percussive against the weathered stone, it drummed its beat along with a whistling accompaniment through the cracks in the crumbling stone.
So it had stood and played its melodies for centuries, more shrivelled year by year, but ever present. Sometimes, it sounded as if nature’s tunes were accompanied by a choir singing, the harmony not of the wind, but voices, once human but no longer. In years past, the locals steered clear of the ruins by night, still wary by day.
As the years fell away, the fear was forgotten, relegated to myth, the choir now a campfire tale. Many sought out the ruins to listen for it. Few could claim honestly to have heard it.
So it was that many a still night lit by the moon would not be greeted by music or the voices of a choir. The wind rocked against the plants, rustling tree branches, leaves floating to the ground. The moonlight shone through the broken roof and walls, lighting the windowless voids from within. In a rear window, a shadow moved, framed in the moonlight. Its shape appeared human, perhaps possessed by something that once was. But there was no one there to see it.
Want to continue reading? "Bluebell" is available as part of the original "Whispers from the Dead of Night" short story collection in ebook and paperback and the deluxe collection in ebook, paperback and hardcover.
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night"
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night - The Deluxe Collection"
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August 26, 2022
Steve Cavanagh's The Liar - Review
The Liar by Steve CavanaghMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Eddie Flynn returns for another gripping high-stakes case.
Eddie’s services are sought by Leonard Howell, whose daughter has been kidnapped and a ransom demanded for her return. Giving in to the kidnappers’ demands will land Howell in legal trouble and he wishes to be well-prepared.
But nothing could prepare any of them for the shocking revelations to come that reveal the true depth of the kidnappers’ malicious plot.
On trial for the murder of his daughter, Howell has little left to live for. Eddie is desperate to achieve justice for both his client and his daughter. But the kidnappers’ scheme is far from over.
The third in Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series, ‘The Liar’ plunges immediately into mystery and danger before we catch up with Eddie late one night in his office, on the cusp of being drawn into two new legal wrangles. Combining the suspense of legal drama with action and the labyrinthine narrative of a psychological thriller, with multiple emotional punches throughout, the plot hurtles from one twist to the next in a breathless race against time to save lives and see justice done.
Eddie continues to be an endearing, flawed and fascinating character, the story once again told from his perspective, his history and skills as a con man proving to be as crucial as his legal skills and knowledge. Eddie’s family also make brief appearances, while we delve deeper into his relationship with his mentor Judge Harry Ford, whose past comes back to haunt him through this case. Both the action sequences and the courtroom scenes are brilliantly realised, pushing the narrative onwards and keeping the high pace balanced, while multiple key characters feature throughout the ever-evolving plot as the truth is revealed layer by layer.
Once again, Steve Cavanagh has delivered a riveting thriller that you just don’t want to put down, culminating in a satisfying and emotional conclusion – one that is both thrilling and reflective. Next in the series is ‘Thirteen’, which promises to be yet another enthralling case.
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August 12, 2022
Gill D. Anderson's Hidden from View - Review
Hidden From View by Gill D. AndersonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A complex web of sex, lies and human relationships.
Suffering abuse at the hands of her uncle Tommy throughout her childhood, Rita continues to be scarred by her traumatic past. Meanwhile, her husband Lewis’ affair with his work colleague Tamika is building in intensity, something his Sergeant Lynn has her own reasons to exploit.
Lewis’ mother Suzanne makes it her mission to meddle in the lives of her children, both Lewis and his sister Cassie struggling with her interference. Cassie values her independence, living her life on her terms alongside her close group of friends, who each have their own struggles to contend with.
As the sins of the past impact the present, justice may be about to catch up with some, while others may finally find an escape from the shackles of their pain.
‘Hidden from View’ is Gill D. Anderson’s debut novel, a tale of drama, trauma and deviance set primarily in South Australia. This is the third of Gill's books I’ve read and, though it’s a close call between the three, it may just be my favourite so far. With elements of family saga, psychological suspense, erotica and police procedural moulded within the character-driven plot, it delves into themes of abuse and misogyny, taboos and a touch of voodoo.
The story is narrated through the perspectives of the multiple characters, featuring many anecdotes and inner monologues which give each of their tales an authentic feel, so much so that it wouldn’t surprise me if some were inspired by real events (if indeed they are purely fictional, it is testament to Gill’s skill in her character creation). More than once the structure of the novel reminded me of films like ‘Magnolia’, a multi-faceted approach to storytelling with human drama and emotion at its centre, also with some comical elements to balance the novel’s darker moments.
The antagonists often prove themselves to be particularly vile – there are references to child abuse, sexual violence and animal cruelty that some readers may find triggering or simply more than they are comfortable with. Nevertheless, these subjects are dealt with delicately and with a determination that we must strive for change. Perhaps, one day, we will finally achieve it.
Fast-paced and engrossing, ‘Hidden from View’ is a psychological portrait in shades of dark and light that explores the far-reaching consequences of our actions.
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July 31, 2022
Lee Child's Without Fail - Review
Without Fail by Lee ChildMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Jack Reacher receives a plea to thwart an assassination plot.
Reacher is approached by Secret Service team leader Froelich - her responsibility to protect the Vice President Elect - requesting he undertake an independent assessment of their procedures.
Reacher finds himself persuaded to help, but the situation is far more severe than he is initially led to believe - threats have been made against the incoming Vice President that the Service have reason to take seriously.
Becoming evermore embroiled in an increasingly dangerous situation, Reacher experiences lines blurring as the mission grows more complex. Perhaps, this time, the enemy may prove the victor.
'Without Fail' is Lee Child's sixth novel featuring ex-US Army Major Jack Reacher, now a wanderer with no fixed abode, journeying from place to place having left his life behind, often becoming embroiled in trouble along the way and attempting to right injustices. In this installment, we delve a little more into his past and his relationship with his brother, Joe, who died several years earlier.
With a high-octane plot and ever-increasing stakes, the novel presents as a political thriller entwined with a heavy dose of action, mystery and a touch of romance. We are plunged immediately into the unfolding drama, the Secret Service tracking Reacher down shortly after Election Day, disturbing his anonymity. From the corridors of power to unforgiving rural terrain, against the backdrop of harsh winter, we hurtle onwards to an intense climax, Lee Child once again delivering a gripping, suspenseful and action-packed adventure.
Like many action thriller series, there is something oddly comforting about the Reacher novels, despite its violence, imposing threat and military themes. Partly formulaic, while also exploring different sub-genres in a different setting in each novel, you have confidence that Reacher will always successfully stop the villains in their tracks, by whatever means necessary. He works outside the law, outside society, to his own moral code, an antihero not averse to a touch of vigilantism or all-out vengeance if the need arises.
Engrossing and fast-paced, 'Without Fail' is another solid chapter in the Reacher series, leaving you anticipating where the next step in his journey will take him.
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July 30, 2022
July Story Spotlight - Run
"Our world is cruel and deteriorating. I hardly recognise it anymore. But has it changed, or was it you or I that changed?"
Exploring the everyday darkness of struggles with mental health, this month the spotlight is on short story 'Run', a tale of psychological horror.
Behind the Story
The opening of 'Run' was the first passage I wrote following my decision that my next project would be a short story collection. It was late September, 2018, and I'd travelled to Cornwall for a few days away in the wake of a relationship break-up. I spent the next few months plotting, refining and researching for each of the stories - revisiting the first three I had already planned, unearthing 'I Killed Dorian' from the past, and pulling on the threads to craft the final three. 'Run' then became the sixth that I wrote during drafting, though I always knew it would be the finale to the collection.
The plot represents a psychological odyssey, perhaps of discovery or realisation, certainly of emotion, narrated by the main character in that sometimes jumbled, irrational and illogical stream of thinking that comes with suffering anxiety, depression and other mental health problems.
'Run' remains one of my most fantastical stories as well as one of my most personal. Stylistically and thematically, it's a companion to 'A Deathly Shade of Pale' - together book-ending the stories of 'Whispers from the Dead of Night'.
We all want to break free at times, to release ourselves from our struggles, our heartache and pain, and the pressure and horror of the world around us. Self-care is important. Without it, we sometimes fail to see the beauty in the world. It gives us hope. It gives us faith in love. Reading and writing have formed a huge part of my self-care for longer than my memory can reach. Nature has too - for there is nothing that brings me peace like the beauty of the ocean or the sound of the rain.
Come with me, on a night-time escape through the forest…
___
"I've been running for a very long time. There are times when I've run until I can no longer breathe, staggering, falling to my knees and dragging myself on. But I can never stop."
A night-time escape through the forest…
Pursued by his memories and his demons, a man seeks solace within the forest in the darkness of the night.
Yet his pursuers prove relentless, chasing him through the storm, ever present on his heels. Perhaps somewhere in this pursuit of freedom, he can find sanctuary.
But the shackles that ensnare him may prove too tight, the burden he carries too heavy. For there is only so far and so long you can run...
___
Opening Scene
It is often the things we don’t say which warrant the loudest voice. Sometimes the deepest silences ought to be broken, disturbed from beneath the headstones. That’s easy for me to think now. It’s easy to think of the things which you should have said, all of the things you wanted to say, those things you weren’t brave enough to, when you’re alone. In these lonely moments, I lie in the dark and listen to the rain pattering above, my eyes closed.
You followed me, didn’t you? As you always follow me, day and night, from when I wake in the morning, through the lit hours of the day at a steady pace, a safe distance away, gaining on me as the dark yawned and stretched and slowly ate the light for its breakfast. When it has swallowed its last morsel, licking its lips with a glutton’s satisfaction, I can feel you close, never quite sure how you managed to close the gap so quickly, reaching out a hand to touch my shoulder. It is then that I run, and you chase me through my dreams until morning, when we begin our Danse Macabre once again.
But I always knew the night would come when you would catch up with me.
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly where it began. Everything seems so jumbled, both of us so intertwined you could have been beside me on the day I was born. Of course, how could I remember if you were? Would you even remember?
When I try to look back, everything is so foggy. Strange, how our memory seems to develop at a slower rate than our brains do. As if they’re separate, not truly connected at all. I suppose most people can only look back so far with clarity, back further still with less clarity, details beginning to merge or become clouded, further back again where entire events mould, parts of them confused, chunks missing or simply not true recollections.
I wonder, does the fog advance through your life as you do, some distance behind but a constant presence, clouding memories, leaving decay in its wake?
___
Available as part of the original "Whispers from the Dead of Night" short story collection in ebook and paperback and the deluxe collection in ebook, paperback and hardcover.
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night"
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night - The Deluxe Collection"
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
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Exploring the everyday darkness of struggles with mental health, this month the spotlight is on short story 'Run', a tale of psychological horror.
Behind the Story
The opening of 'Run' was the first passage I wrote following my decision that my next project would be a short story collection. It was late September, 2018, and I'd travelled to Cornwall for a few days away in the wake of a relationship break-up. I spent the next few months plotting, refining and researching for each of the stories - revisiting the first three I had already planned, unearthing 'I Killed Dorian' from the past, and pulling on the threads to craft the final three. 'Run' then became the sixth that I wrote during drafting, though I always knew it would be the finale to the collection.
The plot represents a psychological odyssey, perhaps of discovery or realisation, certainly of emotion, narrated by the main character in that sometimes jumbled, irrational and illogical stream of thinking that comes with suffering anxiety, depression and other mental health problems.
'Run' remains one of my most fantastical stories as well as one of my most personal. Stylistically and thematically, it's a companion to 'A Deathly Shade of Pale' - together book-ending the stories of 'Whispers from the Dead of Night'.
We all want to break free at times, to release ourselves from our struggles, our heartache and pain, and the pressure and horror of the world around us. Self-care is important. Without it, we sometimes fail to see the beauty in the world. It gives us hope. It gives us faith in love. Reading and writing have formed a huge part of my self-care for longer than my memory can reach. Nature has too - for there is nothing that brings me peace like the beauty of the ocean or the sound of the rain.
Come with me, on a night-time escape through the forest…
___
"I've been running for a very long time. There are times when I've run until I can no longer breathe, staggering, falling to my knees and dragging myself on. But I can never stop."
A night-time escape through the forest…
Pursued by his memories and his demons, a man seeks solace within the forest in the darkness of the night.
Yet his pursuers prove relentless, chasing him through the storm, ever present on his heels. Perhaps somewhere in this pursuit of freedom, he can find sanctuary.
But the shackles that ensnare him may prove too tight, the burden he carries too heavy. For there is only so far and so long you can run...
___
Opening Scene
It is often the things we don’t say which warrant the loudest voice. Sometimes the deepest silences ought to be broken, disturbed from beneath the headstones. That’s easy for me to think now. It’s easy to think of the things which you should have said, all of the things you wanted to say, those things you weren’t brave enough to, when you’re alone. In these lonely moments, I lie in the dark and listen to the rain pattering above, my eyes closed.
You followed me, didn’t you? As you always follow me, day and night, from when I wake in the morning, through the lit hours of the day at a steady pace, a safe distance away, gaining on me as the dark yawned and stretched and slowly ate the light for its breakfast. When it has swallowed its last morsel, licking its lips with a glutton’s satisfaction, I can feel you close, never quite sure how you managed to close the gap so quickly, reaching out a hand to touch my shoulder. It is then that I run, and you chase me through my dreams until morning, when we begin our Danse Macabre once again.
But I always knew the night would come when you would catch up with me.
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly where it began. Everything seems so jumbled, both of us so intertwined you could have been beside me on the day I was born. Of course, how could I remember if you were? Would you even remember?
When I try to look back, everything is so foggy. Strange, how our memory seems to develop at a slower rate than our brains do. As if they’re separate, not truly connected at all. I suppose most people can only look back so far with clarity, back further still with less clarity, details beginning to merge or become clouded, further back again where entire events mould, parts of them confused, chunks missing or simply not true recollections.
I wonder, does the fog advance through your life as you do, some distance behind but a constant presence, clouding memories, leaving decay in its wake?
___
Available as part of the original "Whispers from the Dead of Night" short story collection in ebook and paperback and the deluxe collection in ebook, paperback and hardcover.
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night"
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night - The Deluxe Collection"
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July 21, 2022
Pierre Lemaitre's Rosy & John - Review
Rosy & John by Pierre LemaitreMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A short, sharp thriller with a delicious twist.
A bomb is detonated on a Paris street, luckily resulting in no fatalities and only minor injuries.
The bomber hands himself in to the police, claiming there are six more bombs planted around the city. He says he will cooperate, but with one stipulation - he will only talk to Camille Verhœven.
Temporarily assigned the case, Verhœven listens to the bomber's demands. With the clock ticking down to the next detonation, Camille and the team find themselves trapped in a race against time to prevent further calamity.
'Rosy and John', a companion novella to Pierre Lemaitre’s trilogy of novels featuring Commandant Camille Verhœven, is an intense, fast-paced thriller, told from the dual perspectives of the police investigating the case and the bomber himself – packing elements of both police procedural and psychological thriller into a tightly woven narrative, events spread across a period of only three days.
I loved ‘Irène’, ‘Alex’ and ‘Camille’, and ‘Rosy and John’ is a thrilling addition to the trilogy. Set between the events in the second and third novels - 'Alex' and 'Camille' - the novella is intensely plot-driven, capitalising on the series’ earlier character development to focus on events, building the suspense as the clock counts down to the final revelation. Including spoilers for the first two novels and also subtlely foreshadowing the third novel, I would recommend reading them in either publication or chronological order and to avoid starting with this story.
Thoroughly gripping and entertaining, ‘Rosy and John’ is a relentless police thriller and a welcome return to the world of Camille Verhœven.
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July 17, 2022
Introducing...The Ghost Legends
Inspired by classic fairytales, mythology and literature, I am delighted to announce my brand new series of stories for children - 'The Ghost Legends'.
The first in the series will be released this October, just in time for Hallowe'en, and I'm already working on books two and three. More details coming soon!
The wheels are in motion... 👻
🎃
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The first in the series will be released this October, just in time for Hallowe'en, and I'm already working on books two and three. More details coming soon!
The wheels are in motion... 👻
🎃
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July 15, 2022
Anne Rice's The Witching Hour - Review
The Witching Hour by Anne RiceMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A bewitching gothic family saga crafted with history, horror and romance.
Dr Rowan Mayfair, adopted at a young age, is unaware of the legacy she stands to inherit when her birth mother, Deirdre, reaches the end of her life.
Michael Curry, after being rescued from drowning and a near death experience, finds himself with newfound psychic abilities, while his memories from the other side convince him he has a mission to fulfill.
Rowan and Michael are drawn to each other with a passion and emotion that envelopes and enslaves them, setting them on a path to discover the truth of the Mayfair dynasty and unravel the mysteries at its heart.
'The Witching Hour' is the first novel in Anne Rice's 'Lives of the Mayfair Witches' trilogy, a sublime work of gothic fiction, laced with philosophy, romance, eroticism and horror. Rice's rich and evocative gothic prose is almost lyrical and poetic, sublimely conjuring time and place in each scene and breathing life into the characters through their actions, thoughts and emotions. Dark and atmospheric, with a pervasive evil lurking behind every twist and turn, it lures you in from the beginning and then refuses to relent its grip.
Through a vast cast of characters, each impeccably developed and contributing to moving the narrative forward, we witness the history of the Mayfair family from the very beginning - with the persecution and witch trials in Scotland in the 17th century, travelling to France and Saint Domingue and New Orleans, through to the present day remnants of their legacy of witchcraft; a tale fraught with power, corruption, incest and tragedy.
Through the ages, there is one constant - an entity that is at once dangerous and destructive, charming and seductive. Lasher lurks forever in the shadows, perhaps a faithful familiar, perhaps something demonic with his own malignant motives, a constant companion and lover to the Mayfair Witches. This mystery stretches through the centuries, ever present through the trauma, drama and tragedy experienced by the family.
Deeply immersive, endlessly fascinating and provocative, the novel perfectly evokes the passing expanse of the centuries and the complex web of the characters' lives, culminating in a brutal and disturbing climax. With bursts of graphic imagery and raw emotion, squalour and desperation juxtaposed with glamour and indulgence, marinated in sin and debauchery, moulded with history and spiritualism, magic and science, while forever shrouded in a haunting and gothic atmosphere, this saga has everything you could wish for and more. I'm very excited to read the first sequel, 'Lasher', and also highly anticipating the upcoming TV adaptation.
Spellbinding and suspenseful, 'The Witching Hour' is a chilling and seductive masterpiece that takes you on an epic journey that leaves you exhilarated, fulfilled and gasping for more.
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July 8, 2022
Peter James' Dead Like You - Review
Dead Like You by Peter JamesMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Roy Grace hunts a serial rapist and murderer in this gripping police thriller.
After a New Year's Eve celebration, a woman is raped as she returns to her hotel room. Shortly afterwards, another woman is attacked, evidence suggesting that serial rapist the Shoe Man is once again operating.
Over a decade has passed since the Shoe Man abruptly ceased offending, following the disappearance on Christmas Eve of a young woman believed to be his final victim. No trace of her has ever been found.
Detective Superintendent Roy Grace leads the inquiry into the new series of attacks, determined to finally bring the prolific sexual predator to justice and prevent him harming any more women before he once again vanishes without a trace.
'Dead Like You' is the sixth novel in Peter James' Roy Grace series, once again delivering an intense thriller that arrests you from the opening chapter. With relentless and gripping plotting, forensic and procedural attention to detail coupled with exploring the psychology of both victims and offenders, this continues to be amongst my favourite police procedural series, always well-written with a gritty realism, maintaining its pace through every chapter.
With flashbacks exploring the original series of crimes and the investigation that the then Detective Sergeant Grace was involved in, as well as glimpses into Grace's strained home life with Sandy, the novel juggles the multiple narratives between the time periods. Over a decade later, the case continues to haunt Grace, having become one of the many cold case files sharing space in his office, rarely reaching the top of competing priorities due to the volume of live inquiries requiring immediate and urgent attention.
Meanwhile, Roy is finally beginning to move on and accept the lack of resolution following the disappearance of his wife, Sandy, almost a decade ago - thanks to his relationship with new partner Cleo, who is pregnant with their first child. I love the serialised nature of this series and how the character's personal lives weave around the investigations - with the continuing sub-plot of the mystery surrounding Sandy, the reflection on cases in the previous novels and foreshadowing of future directions for the series, and primarily the continuing and evolving relationships at the heart of the main characters' stories. Peter James balances this perfectly with the core investigation and developing the new characters in each novel connected with each new case.
Absorbing, satisfying and thought-provoking, 'Dead Like You' continues a superlative police procedural series, leaving you eager to dive straight in to the next book.
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June 30, 2022
June Story Spotlight - I Killed Dorian
"A little gift, Det. Fiennes, for old time's sake. Yours, Dorian."
This month the spotlight is on "I Killed Dorian", a slasher police procedural thriller.
Behind the Story
When I decided to make 'Whispers from the Dead of Night' an independent short story collection rather than an omnibus, it of course needed more stories than the original three I conceived.
'I Killed Dorian' is perhaps the story with the oldest roots. I first began writing it around a decade ago, a gritty crime thriller with elements of horror and erotic fiction. After only a few scenes, I put it aside in favour of another project.
Yet that nugget of an idea remained and I decided to see where it may lead, resurrected as a slasher with a mystery at its heart, wrapped in a police procedural shell. Now, the plot fell neatly into place and I felt excited about it.
'I Killed Dorian' was the first of the seven short stories that I wrote as I began the long process of the first draft, during the Christmas break in 2018. In finishing the story I was able to prove something to myself - that I could still do this. It was a breakthrough and an achievement, driving me to complete the following six stories over the course of the next thirteen months.
In the best of the slasher sub-genre, the killer's origins are very human, transcending to something almost supernatural, some in more subtle ways than others. I wanted to create something with that spirit, where the solution may or may not present as unexplainable.
Online dating has increased in popularity to the point it almost feels unusual to connect with anyone in the flesh without first doing so online - from casual hook-ups to marriages. Yet it's not without its horror stories. Though communicating via a screen seems to present an illusion of safety, doesn't it? So swipe away, but be warned - you may be just one match closer to a killer who preys on the lonely...
___
"The second killings had proved as seamless as the first. But tonight would take more finesse."
A killer who preys on the lonely…
Detective Fiennes is called to the scene of a brutal murder, a message addressed to him scrawled in the victim’s blood.
As the killer continues their campaign of terror, it becomes ever more apparent the detective is being taunted.
But can Fiennes identify his connection to the killer and avert more bloodshed before their endgame reaches its bloodthirsty conclusion?
___
Opening Scene
Ed lay on the bedcovers, quietly dozing, a contented smile on his face. It had been good sex – no, great sex, probably the best he’d had with a stranger yet. It was the thrill of the unknown, the excitement of a new body to explore, that gave him his pleasures with a stranger. But a stranger did not know what he liked, the best spots to touch, how his body worked. If he was lucky, they’d make a good guess, while the more conscientious lover would put effort into working it out.
Unfortunately, in his experience, the majority of strangers were in it for themselves. But he had hit the jackpot on his lucky dip tonight.
He had been surprised by how much he enjoyed the conversation, too. #613 had insisted on dinner, which they’d decided to consist of a takeout and a bottle of wine. They’d got on really well, much laughter preceding the moment when they found themselves kissing, shortly followed by the sex for which they had arranged to meet. He supposed it may have been due to the weeks they’d spent messaging, known only to each other as #972 and #613, but it felt as if they knew each other. He had never ‘made love’ to a stranger before. At that thought, he scolded himself with a frown.
He listened to the humming drifting through the wall, masked by the thundering of the shower. The flow of water abruptly switched off; he heard the shower door being pulled back, his lover exiting the shower cubicle. In the silence, he imagined him wiping the condensation from the mirror with the flat of his palm, combing his dark hair back from his face, pummelling himself dry with a towel.
The silence continued. Ed wondered if he had now become bashful, so different to the man he was when desire coursed through his body. Rising from the bed, Ed shrugged on one of the white fluffy robes provided by the hotel and passed the easy chair beside the wall, rounding the corner and walking the short distance to the bathroom door. He knocked.
“You okay in there?”
No answer. He knocked again.
“Everything okay?” He pushed open the door, greeted by a cloud of steam.
Stepping in, he slipped on the treacherous tiles...
___
Available as part of the original "Whispers from the Dead of Night" short story collection in ebook and paperback and the deluxe collection in ebook, paperback and hardcover.
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night"
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night - The Deluxe Collection"
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This month the spotlight is on "I Killed Dorian", a slasher police procedural thriller.
Behind the Story
When I decided to make 'Whispers from the Dead of Night' an independent short story collection rather than an omnibus, it of course needed more stories than the original three I conceived.
'I Killed Dorian' is perhaps the story with the oldest roots. I first began writing it around a decade ago, a gritty crime thriller with elements of horror and erotic fiction. After only a few scenes, I put it aside in favour of another project.
Yet that nugget of an idea remained and I decided to see where it may lead, resurrected as a slasher with a mystery at its heart, wrapped in a police procedural shell. Now, the plot fell neatly into place and I felt excited about it.
'I Killed Dorian' was the first of the seven short stories that I wrote as I began the long process of the first draft, during the Christmas break in 2018. In finishing the story I was able to prove something to myself - that I could still do this. It was a breakthrough and an achievement, driving me to complete the following six stories over the course of the next thirteen months.
In the best of the slasher sub-genre, the killer's origins are very human, transcending to something almost supernatural, some in more subtle ways than others. I wanted to create something with that spirit, where the solution may or may not present as unexplainable.
Online dating has increased in popularity to the point it almost feels unusual to connect with anyone in the flesh without first doing so online - from casual hook-ups to marriages. Yet it's not without its horror stories. Though communicating via a screen seems to present an illusion of safety, doesn't it? So swipe away, but be warned - you may be just one match closer to a killer who preys on the lonely...
___
"The second killings had proved as seamless as the first. But tonight would take more finesse."
A killer who preys on the lonely…
Detective Fiennes is called to the scene of a brutal murder, a message addressed to him scrawled in the victim’s blood.
As the killer continues their campaign of terror, it becomes ever more apparent the detective is being taunted.
But can Fiennes identify his connection to the killer and avert more bloodshed before their endgame reaches its bloodthirsty conclusion?
___
Opening Scene
Ed lay on the bedcovers, quietly dozing, a contented smile on his face. It had been good sex – no, great sex, probably the best he’d had with a stranger yet. It was the thrill of the unknown, the excitement of a new body to explore, that gave him his pleasures with a stranger. But a stranger did not know what he liked, the best spots to touch, how his body worked. If he was lucky, they’d make a good guess, while the more conscientious lover would put effort into working it out.
Unfortunately, in his experience, the majority of strangers were in it for themselves. But he had hit the jackpot on his lucky dip tonight.
He had been surprised by how much he enjoyed the conversation, too. #613 had insisted on dinner, which they’d decided to consist of a takeout and a bottle of wine. They’d got on really well, much laughter preceding the moment when they found themselves kissing, shortly followed by the sex for which they had arranged to meet. He supposed it may have been due to the weeks they’d spent messaging, known only to each other as #972 and #613, but it felt as if they knew each other. He had never ‘made love’ to a stranger before. At that thought, he scolded himself with a frown.
He listened to the humming drifting through the wall, masked by the thundering of the shower. The flow of water abruptly switched off; he heard the shower door being pulled back, his lover exiting the shower cubicle. In the silence, he imagined him wiping the condensation from the mirror with the flat of his palm, combing his dark hair back from his face, pummelling himself dry with a towel.
The silence continued. Ed wondered if he had now become bashful, so different to the man he was when desire coursed through his body. Rising from the bed, Ed shrugged on one of the white fluffy robes provided by the hotel and passed the easy chair beside the wall, rounding the corner and walking the short distance to the bathroom door. He knocked.
“You okay in there?”
No answer. He knocked again.
“Everything okay?” He pushed open the door, greeted by a cloud of steam.
Stepping in, he slipped on the treacherous tiles...
___
Available as part of the original "Whispers from the Dead of Night" short story collection in ebook and paperback and the deluxe collection in ebook, paperback and hardcover.
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night"
Order "Whispers from the Dead of Night - The Deluxe Collection"
Visit me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on Instagram
