Steps to Heaven

Sgt Major Crane #1

by Wendy Cartmell

They lost their lives... Can Crane get them justice?When a troubled soldier is found to have killed his family and then committed suicide, it is assumed to be nothing more sinister than a domestic dispute with a horrific outcome. However, Sgt Major Crane of the Military Police has his doubts and his instincts tell him the evidence points to a deliberate act of murder. He tells his boss there is something worrying about the crime, something unresolved, but is told in no uncertain terms to drop the case.When another family are found dead, Crane finds himself in conflict with his boss, his wife and his colleagues, as he continues his investigation. Digging deeper into the crimes, he unearths a sinister figure hiding in the shadows, reshaping everything Crane thought he knew about soldier's minds - and his own.When at last the shocking truth becomes clear, is Crane too late to save his soldiers and their children?This is the first in a series of procedural crime thrillers featuring Sgt Major Crane and his team of military investigators from Amazon bestselling author Wendy Cartmell. Steps to Heaven is perfect for fans of J.D Kirk, L.J Ross, J M Dalgliesh, Jack Gatland and Alex Smith among others.If you enjoyed the suspenseful thrillers of these authors, you won't be able to put down Steps to Heaven. PICK IT UP NOW before the price changes!Praise for Sgt Major Crane...

'This is genre fiction at its best, suspense that rivets and mystery that keeps you guessing.' - Goodreads review

"Join Crane in what can only be described as one of the most gripping novels I have read in a long time!" Amazon Customer

"She is on a par with the literary giants of the genre" Zen Cherry author and reviewer

"Superbly written military mystery" Hayley Sale The Kindle Book Review

"I heartily recommend Steps to Heaven to fans of crime thrillers, police procedurals and whodunnits." R R Gordon

"Crane is a charismatic leading man and is one of the more interesting new genre protagonists I've encountered in quite a while!" Chris Algernon.

"Fast paced crime thrillers for lovers of the police procedural and whodunnits!" Keith Thomas International Broadcaster

"A dark and twisted thriller" Indie Book Spot

"A roller coaster ride story." Readers Favourite.

"It's hard to fault for plot, building tension well with plenty of twists and turns." Amazon Review

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Amazon, Mystery Thriller

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 8, 2011

About the author

I was a Primary School Teacher before leaving England to settle in Spain nearly five years ago. I previously worked in Sales, Marketing and Public Relations for large and small companies. I now write crime novels featuring Sgt Major Crane a detective in the Special Investigations Branch of the British Army, based on Aldershot Garrison. My inspiration for Sergeant Major Crane was my love of crime writing and my husband’s 22 years service in the British Army.

I attend a lively Writing Group who unashamedly meet at beautiful beach side cafes on the Costa del Sol.

Reviews

[Sharon Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, but needs some closer editing - there were some spelling and tense changes, which were made more jarring because they were unexpected.

[A.R. Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Steps to Heaven”
(A Sergeant Major Crane Novel)
By Wendy Cartmell
Amazon Kindle and Paperback
352 pages

Sergeant Major Tom Crane of Aldershot has a real life, as do his colleagues. This is no simple “sketching out” in order to give the characters a little flesh. Nor are the other people who inhabit this story mere stock characters. Wendy Cartmell has obviously invested considerable time developing her protagonist. It seems she has invested emotion also. Unless I’m mistaken, her lead character means something to her. He is not just a convention used to tell her stories. That sort of investment is common among good authors, but the supporting cast doesn’t always get the careful attention to detail that Cartmell employs. We care about these people because she cares.
I know that some readers want quick reads and linear plots. That’s not what you get. There is no fast-food here. This is a meal to be relished. Sit down and get into the book. It’s worth your time. Starting with a murder-suicide, the author draws us in, intrigues us, and makes us want to keep reading in order to discover what is going on. As the climax approaches, you may be tempted to read quickly to see how it all will resolve. Don’t. Let the author lead you at her pace. This novel holds one’s attention throughout and crescendos to an intense conclusion.

Alarm bells went off for me at the introduction of a religious theme. I have always been leery of injecting political and religious observations myself, because no one reads a book to be offended, and nowadays, that is not difficult to do. Not to worry. Cartmell handles it deftly. Nothing “preachy” creeps into her narrative. It is difficult to review a mystery without providing spoilers, so I’ll give no more hints of the plot.

This is genre fiction at its best, suspense that rivets and a mystery that keeps you guessing. If you read one of the Sergeant Major Crane stories, you are sure to want more, as do I. Fortunately, there are four more. Here are the novels in order: Steps to Heaven (#1), 40 Days 40 Nights (#2), Honour Bound (#3), Cordon of Lies (#4), and Regenerate (#5).

[Marcia Carrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story concerns Sergeant Major Crane, a Special Investigations Branch Detective in the British Army, and follows both the Major's private, and working life. Crane is on the case of a soldier, who, after having returned from Afghanistan, murders both his young son, and wife. Several similar murders of soldiers and their families occur soon afterwards, and Crane begins to believe that these incidents may be linked to a local church. Is this really the case or, is something else more sinister at work?

This is a crisp, engrossing page-turner which handles its sensitive subject matter with dignity and precision, and makes the reader feel for its characters, and, most importantly, interested in the lead character's trials and travails. The contrast between Crane's tumultuous, dangerous, and at times mentally gruelling working life, and, his domestic situation, is also well handled by the author, and balanced throughout the book. The attention to detail, especially in the investigation of the murders, is also commendable, and realistic. There is never a moment where the book becomes predictable or stagnant, and the narrative flows well.

[Flick Merauld · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad I looked at this book. I saw it on twitter and thought the idea was original, so read the blurb and decided to give it a try. I was gripped all the way through. Part of this was the familiarity of the services background (I was brought up on RAF bases) but that was a small part of my reason for enjoying the book. It's written in a no nonsense style which is, none the less, descriptive enough to set the various scenes and portray the characters well. At first I found the use of the present tense strange for the genre, but i soon adapted and found myself caught up in the storyline and the twists and turns of the plot. A thoroughly enjoyable piece of writing with a tough but sensitive hero and a wealth of depth and excitement. I'm thrilled it's part of a series.

[Wendy Cartmell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review by Zen Cherry The author doesn’t give the reader room for a breath, the book beginning with a double homicide/suicide and continuing into the investigation smoothly.It becomes apparent quickly that though it may seem on the surface that the young soldier had a domestic dispute gone horribly wrong, that there may be something much more sinister afoot.Enter Sgt Major Crane, an observant, intellectual investigator that digs further into what everyone is willing to write off, (at first), as an open and shut case.A very well written book. I am impressed with the author’s ability and am convinced that she is on par with the literary giants of this genre.

[Delta]

Free 09-08-15 (Thriller)

http://www.amazon.com/Steps-Heaven-Ma...

[Val · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Sgt Major Crane mystery.  Crane gets involved in what seems to a domestic with devastating results. However, for Crane, something about the alleged murder suicide does not sit right. He is told to leave well alone, but when another family are found dead, he finds himself in dispute with everyone around him as he continues his investigations, eventually uncovering a sinister truth.  It is a bit different to a lot of police books, being set around the military police.  The change of tense is slightly irritating though!

[J Barkess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started off ok

I was interested in this book because I served with the British Army myself.
It seemed an original plot but the characters were bland, lifeless and unconvincing.
The first half of the book was quite gripping but it gradually deteriorated until I found it totally boring but I ploughed on to the end although the last couple of chapters were ludicrous.
The two stars I have given it are more than generous ! !

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book especially as I lived in Aldershot from 1969 until Jan 1984, it's a book you don't want to put down, but at times don't want to carry on reading for fear of what is happening, when a soldier is found to have killed his family.

[Mr Kenneth L Mullen]

Another great story

Another great story in the Sergeant Major Crane series.Very well written with a story line that moved at a fast pace and a surprising ending. Looking forward to reading more in the series.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner

Interesting and different storyline.
It was also quite shocking how biblical words could be twisted.
I read the book in a day - I just couldn’t put it down.
I liked the hero, Crane. He wasn’t perfect but he was a believable character.

[George Rodger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steps to Heaven

A good story that rolls along at a good pace. Looking forward to reading more in the series. Can't wait.

[Denny · Rating 5 out of 5]

KINDLE #1

[Carole Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Suspense is really good.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Once it got started, it pulled you in, needs a little more suspense to grab you and pull you in.

[Mohammed Malik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Rather enjoyed reading this novel. Police procedure into the blender with the military way of life, my sort of entertainment

[Chrissy (The Every Free Chance Reader) · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars

Did I enjoy this book: Not much.

I have to give Mrs. Cartmell credit for creating a unique story. I know that’s not easy and a great first step for a truly outstanding novel. Unfortunately, it unfolded in a dry, lackluster, linear fashion.

First, this story lacks character development. I didn’t feel any connection to anyone in the book. I couldn’t feel bad for the victims or cheer for the protagonist because they didn’t feel like real people with backgrounds, intimate thoughts, relationships to living characters, etc.

Secondly, this story lacked side line story development. There were two sideline stories. But one opened and shut in a brief time seeming unnecessary and irrelevant to the plot.

The second side story could’ve been the silver bullet opportunity to touch the reader’s heart. The main character and his wife have an ongoing discussion about whether or not to have a baby. They do this in part by going over the family budget. This made me laugh because if people really decided whether or not to have a family based on the budget, the human race would’ve become extinct generations ago. But in terms of story development, family budgets don’t stir emotions. This was a blown opportunity to make some part of this story come alive.

Overall, the novel was emotionally flat and redundant.

Would I recommend it: No.

Will I read it again: No.

As reviewed by Belinda at Every Free Chance Book Reviews.

(I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)

http://everyfreechance.com/2013/12/re...

[Roy Murry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Wendy Cartmell’s
STEPS TO HEAVEN

Reviewed by Author Roy Murry


Ms. Carmell’s writing kept me involved with the events of the first in her series: A Sgt. Major Crane novel. It would seem to some that the novel was a military war story, but it isn’t.

This novel is an after the war entanglement where a military police detective, Crane, has to unravel a deadly problem - the physiological effects of soldiers returning from war in a state of vulnerability. ‘Not a whodunit, but a why did they do it,’ is the premise of Crane’s investigation.

When one soldier murders in an unorthodox way, Crane wants to follow after the why, but his Commanding Officer delays the investigation. It happens again and then another time at other military posts. Crane is now given the go ahead to find out the reason why a veteran could do what he did to another family member.

This is a detective story with a military background and red tape influences of both the military and civilian authorizes. Sgt. Major Crane, a hard nose senior investigator, wants to get the religious manipulator who he thinks provoked the crimes against veterans; and dam the rules that are slowing up his investigation. His mindset, not others, rules the day in the end at a high cost.

Ms. Cartwell’s novel is a plausible contemporary murder entanglement that detective lovers will enjoy. Her characters come across as humans not super intelligent spoofs. They have lives interwoven into the story that military police officers have to contend with. This novel has a thrilling ending to boot.

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful police procedural mystery, only this time the procedure is done by Sgt. Major Crane, of the British army.

It starts off gorily (is that a word?) enough, with a soldier, newly returned from a tour in Afghanistan, slitting his wife's throat, then that of his 5 year old son, and then his own. Eeeuuuu. Imagine the blood everywhere.

The head dude of the garrison is prepared to write it off as a murder/suicide, probably due to the rigors of the soldier's duty in that war torn country. But Sgt. Major Crane isn't so sure. He want to know why. What would cause a young husband and father to do such a thing? His investigation turns up some pamphlets from a local evangelical church which seem incongruous for this soldier.

But without anything else to go on, it looks like case closed until another incident -- a solder burned to death in his home. And then another slasher murder/suicide at another garrison. Crane takes a run up to that garrison to see what he can find out, to discover there more evangelical pamphlets in that soldier's home.

The whole time I was reading this, I kept hearing Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' in my mind. Funny how music stays with us, isn't it.

There is a lot more to this excellent mystery, but if I tell you any more, it will diminish the pleasure of you finding it all out for yourself.

[A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sergeant Major Tom Crane is in the British Army working as a detective in the Special Investigations Branch and stationed, for the moment, at Aldershot Garrison. When he has to investigate a case of a soldier murdering his wife and small son then committing suicide with the same knife he doesn’t think it’s a clear-cut open-and-shut case. Something doesn’t seem right, but with his Commanding Officer telling him to wind it up he does so reluctantly. Until six weeks later when another very similar case turns up on another Garrison. Crane goes to investigate and as the pieces slowly start to fall into place and yet another murder-suicide occurs he races to find the reason before more people die.

I think this is the first time I’ve ever read a story in 3rd person present tense. It was strange and a bit awkward at first, but as the story pulled me in it became easier to read. The plot moved at a good clip and I liked the characters. The mystery remained a mystery until the end. I look forward to riding along in future stories as Sgt Major Crane solves more crimes.

*Book source ~ Many thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.

[Bec’s Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the Steps to Heaven: A Sgt Major Crane Novel that I read recently.

This book wasn't an easy read and did take me a while to read since I only read it in little sections whenever I got the chance. It wasn't one of those books you had to re-read to find your place though, I definitely remembered where I was at when I next picked it up! It had pieces that would draw me in and want to read more. I think I enjoyed this book so much since it's similiar to the types of books I used to read when I was younger and it is also relevant to me now. It's completely different than the New Adult and Adult books I've been reading over the last few months. Sometimes it's nice to get away from the intense romance books and back into the mystery books.

You can read my full entry at Bec's Book Blog

What drew me to this ebook was the author Wendy Cartmell contacting me on twitter @WendyCartmell saying she had a new book out. Since it was only $0.99 I thought I would give it a go and she wrote back & said she hoped I enjoyed Sgt Crane. I do like interacting with the authors and spending a few hours reading books that have heart & soul.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Badly edited.

A friend suggested I might like to give this book a read as it is based in Aldershot, where he lives, and he was also in the Army. I also live in the area and am quite familiar with the area so thought I would take a look. The description of the story sounded interesting, so I purchased the book and started to read. As I progressed through the book I started to struggle in a few places as there is a lot of muddling up of people’s names, calling “Brown” “Barnes” and in once place calling “Crane” “Jones” which became a tad confusing and I found myself having to go back a paragraph to check who was actually involved in the conversation. However, it was the story that kept me reading it as that was extremely well thought out and held my interest far after I realised that the editing did not seem to be the high point of this novel. Several sentences were muddled and at times didn’t read correctly or make a lot of sense, which was a shame because it was clear that a lot of thinking had gone into the plot.

Would I read another in the series? I don’t know, it certainly looks like the next one moves swiftly on from the first and I am sure that the story would make a good read, however I regret to say I am not rushing.

[Diana Hockley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wendy Cartmell has triumphed in this top notch thriller. Opening with a horrific scene, she inviegles the reader into the intricate investigation led by Sgt Major Tom Crane and his staff, Billy and Kim. Someone is luring young fathers into killing their families and in spite of the army hierarchy announcing that the first episode is a domestic argument gone too far, Tom has reason to think otherwise. Things go downhill from there.

As the army investigators and police dig deeper, more tragedies occur, giving the army a problem with keeping the details out of the media's reach.

Sgt Major Tom Crane is a new character amid the hundreds of fictional sleuths available to the avid reader. Ms Cartmell has created a team of likeable characters with their own private problems and insecurities, which in Tom's case, threatens to impinge on the investigation. The fact that Sgt Major Crane is not a six foot plus hunk and gorgeous is a refreshing change!

I am particularly partial to English thrillers and this has to come at the top of the list. A truly terrific read and I for one, am going to be buying the two next novels featuring Tom and his team.

[Julie Ramsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steps to Heaven


Steps to Heaven


Sgt. Major Crane is a special investigator for the British Army intelligence. One afternoon the Sgt Major gets a call about a murder that will change his life forever and lead him and his colleagues down a dark and dangerous path with a religious fanatic who believes that only "he" knows the true path to god. With time running out and a colleague who seems to have taken the wrong path, Sgt. Major Crane finds this murderous religious fanatic and save his colleague from making a terrible mistake.


Steps to Heaven is fast and easy. With easy to follow characters and a twisting and turning plot right up to the very end. This is one book you won't want to put done once started. As a side note, the author of this book pulls from her husbands many years of service with the British Army intelligence to enhance character development and add to the ever twisting ploys. Steps to Heaven will not disappoint for those who love mystery, deceit, and mur

come check out this review and more on juliesbookreview.blogspot.com

[Daniel Woodward · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through the Goodreads giveaways and overall I did enjoy this book but there are good and bad points for it. I enjoyed the lead character and thought that having him as a military police detective made for a change from being a normal police inspector and the story was different and easy to read. However despite enjoying the book overall and would probably read more of this authors work, I do have to say that I thought the front cover picture looks very amateurish and the fonts look poor and there are spelling mistakes in the book and on the back cover which didn't bode well at first because I had spotted this before I had even begun to eat the book which is never a good start! Quite a good twist at the end so would recommend this title if some of the issues could be rectified?

[Samantha Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where to start, this book was for me conflicting, throughout I wanted to see more of the main characters, their thoughts and feelings, I wanted to be drawn into his story just a little more. I had to remind myself that this is a crime novel, and one I really enjoyed. The story was interesting and informative; I enjoyed getting to know the characters and understood the story line. The twists in the story were captivating and kept me trying to answer that age old question, 'who done it", I did work it out, but not until I was three quarters of the way forward. I would read more in this serious as i did enjoy this, if I had to offer constructive criticism it would be for the author to add more depth to the characters.
Therefore I would rate this a 4/5.

[Rebecca Isles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this debut book from Wendy Cartmell. I liked the fact it was set in the military setting and that the main characters investigate crimes within the military, they work for a special investigation branch. You have to like the main characters Sergeant Major Tom Crane and Billy one of his staff members. We get a look into their own lives as well as the investigation of a soldier who murders his wife and young son not long after returning from Afghanistan. Crane learns of several similar murders of soldiers and their families and believe they are linked by a local church.

Once I started reading I couldn't put this book down as I needed to know the truth! Will look up the next one in the series.

A good read, would recommend

http://whatrebeccasread.blogspot.co.uk

[Lynn Hallbrooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another one of those books that once you get into the story you want to keep reading for as long as you can.

This is a combination of British Military, Police Procedural, and Mystery/Thriller.

Sergeant Major Tom Crane is in charge of a investigation related to a murder/suicide on his base. The reason for this only becomes clearer after two more similar incidents are committed on other bases. Will he catch the person orchestrating these events before it becomes too late for some one close to him?

This story kept me wondering who was the mystery person all the way until the reveal. I'm looking forward to reading the most recent book in the Sgt Major Crane series.

Warning: This book is for Mature Adults due to moderately graphic violence plus adult situations and language.

[Jane Blanchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shortly after Solomon returns to Aldershot Garrison, he murders his wife and son, and then commits suicide. To solve the crime, Sgt. Major Crane teams up with Inspector Anderson—the military working with the local police.

Solomon's murder-suicide is followed by two more murders at two different garrisons. What is going on? The story unfolds slowly (perhaps reflecting the speed of real investigations), but with enough twists to keep the reader's interest.

I found the "let's have a child" debate between Crane and his wife Tina distractive, the dialogue not working for me. I guessed that she was pregnant and wondered how such a brilliant investigator could be so obtuse.

Overall, Steps to Heaven is a good light read.

[Yvonne Crowe]

Now that I have discovered Wendy Cartmell’s books I am a big fan. Her writing is crisp and well paced, her characters well developed, the inter-action between them flows well, and her storylines interesting.
Sgt Major Crane of the Aldershot Military Police Special Investigations is a cantankerous old cat who gets his teeth into an investigation and gets the job done every time. Even if it means going against the norm. Considering the crimes he’s investigating are generally anything but normal, it is a testament for Wendy’s writing skills that she brings them off credibly.
This author’s books are ones that will be read, enjoyed and then read again some time in the future. They have that ‘come back to me again’ lure.