New Month, New Moon, New Title

It’s the first of March. The New Moon is at eight o’clock (GMT) this morning, and the new STAC Mystery is with Crooked Cat, scheduled for publication on April 1st.

I’ve been scribbling for about 50 years now, ever since I was a teenager. I’ve been writing seriously for about 30 years and knocking out novels for the last 20. But even after all this time, there’s no bigger thrill than seeing a new title hit the bookstands, even if they are virtual bookstands.

In keeping with all STAC Mysteries, STAC #11, Death in Distribution is a standalone title. You don’t need to read the other ten to make sense of it. It’s useful, since there’s a lot of character development in those earlier titles, but it’s not vital.

But STAC #11 is different in that the backstory paves the way for a plot that will only be resolved in book #13. The foundation of STAC #13 is established in Death in Distribution. It will be developed a little further in #12 and finally resolved (so we hope) in #13. Even so, it will not be necessary to read #11 and #12 to make sense of #13.

I’m saying no more than that… mainly because I’m too confused to say more.

So what is this backstory? You’ll have to read Death in Distribution to find out.

In the meantime, here’s another snippet from the book just to whet your appetite.

***

Detective Chief Inspector Burrows has warned Joe to keep away from his murder investigation, but Joe has been pressured by Ballantyne Distribution to investigate. During breakfast the following morning, Burrows, who has now been ordered to work with Joe, arrives to vent his anger.

“We don’t object to help,” Burrows said. “We object to amateur bloody Poirots shoving their oar in.”

“I am not an amateur bloody Poirot,” Joe retorted. “Do you know anything about me?”

“Enough to be able to count the number of police officers you’ve made fools of.”

“With the best will in the world, Chief Inspector, Joe has never made a fool of anyone,” Sheila pointed out. “The police hold him in high regard in many areas of the North and Midlands.”

“And he has never failed to bring them up to date on any of his investigations,” Brenda added.

While addressing the two women, Burrows pointed an accusing finger at Joe. “He shoved his nose into a murder on a North Sea Ferry despite the police’s insistence that he be arrested on suspicion of that same crime.”

“But you conveniently forget to mention that I was innocent.” Joe retorted. “And if Captain Hagen hadn’t allowed me to look into it, the real killers would have been half way to Middlesbrough while Talbot was trying to prove me guilty.”

Burrows carried on talking to Sheila as if Joe had not spoken. “And forgive me, but are you the same Sheila Riley who put a chief superintendent away?”

“I am,” Sheila said defiantly. “And I don’t apologise for it. He murdered one of his colleagues. And, Chief Inspector, if you do your homework properly, you’ll know that my late husband was a police officer. Inspector Peter Riley served for many years, and never once stepped out of line.”

“Could we keep our voices down, please?” Brenda gestured around. “Right now, we’re more popular than last night’s disco.”

Joe, too, looked around, and learned that they were, indeed the centre of attention. “It’s all right, people. I’m not under arrest.”

“Wait while they search your room, Joe,” Alec Staines called out. “You can’t keep hiding these body parts all over the country.”

***

Will Joe make a fool of Burrows? Which one will get to the answer first? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

So chalk it up on your calendar.  Death in Distribution released by Crooked Cat on April 1st.