Banking on Murder (Parker Sisters #1) by JD Whitelaw

Regular visitors to this blog will know that cosy crime is really not my  go to thing as I tend to veer towards the darker side of crime fiction. However, I was willing to take a chance on Banking on Murder because I loved Whitelaw's Hellcorp series. And do you know what? I had a blast! And look at its gorgeous cover - it's got purple on and everything! Delighted to be helping to close off the tour today with my review. Many thanks to Meggy Roussel at Red Dog Press for inviting me and for my review copy. 

The Blurb:

Martha Parker runs a small private detective agency in Glasgow with her two sisters, Helen and Geri. They specialise in catching cheating partners and those playing away from home.

The Parkers are hired by the reclusive wife of a wealthy banker she suspects is breaking their vows, but when he shows up murdered, it’s up to Martha, Helen and Geri to prove the wife's innocence in their most dangerous case yet.

Banking on Murder was published by Red Dog Press on 3rd December 2020 and you can get it direct from Red Dog Press or from Amazon.

My Review: 

Martha Parker runs Parkers Investigations in Glasgow with her younger sisters Helen and Geri. They are hired by Tracey Coulthard to find out with whom her husband is cheating but what should be a simple job turns out to be anything but and madcap mayhem ensues.

The Parker sisters are a great trio of characters. Martha is the eldest and most sensible of the three, happily married, slightly dowdy and forever worrying. I was concerned how dowdy she was for only 40 and wanted her to embrace a bit of colour and style. And her thinking is definitely middle aged, verging on elderly! Helen is all frizzy hair and sandals, an academic and science geek. Geri is the baby of the bunch at only 21 and she likes to party! They bicker a fair bit, particularly Helen and Geri, and some of the time I was surprised they actually managed to get anything done! But, somehow, they do, and whilst their methods may be a little unorthodox, at least in this case, they do get results. Martha is like a dog with a bone and can't let things lie until she's sure she's got to the truth. 

I love books set in Glasgow as it's the city I've called home for over 20 years. I didn't check if all the places mentioned in the book actually exist but there were plenty of names I recognised. The story takes the sisters to really posh houses, swanky hotel parties, glamorous penthouses, down-at-heel streets, the hospital and the morgue, so they certainly get about! 

There's a lot of gentle humour here, in both the banter between the sisters and in the telling of the story itself. It reads like a bit of a madcap caper as the girls race around trying to pinpoint their target. It's a hoot. As you would expect from a cosy crime there's not much violence but there is plenty of action and the odd perilous moment. And I didn't work out who did what o r why before it was revealed. 

Banking on Murder is a humorous crime romp featuring a great trio of protagonists. It had me smiling the whole way through, and I'll be interested to see what Whitelaw has planned for the Parker sisters in the future. 

The Author:

JD Whitelaw is an author, journalist and broadcaster. After working on the frontline of Scottish politics, he moved into journalism. Subjects he has covered have varied from breaking news, the arts, culture and sport to fashion, music and even radioactive waste - with everything in between. He's also a regular reviewer and talking head on shows for the BBC. Banking on Murder is the first of three Parker sister novels. They follow his hugely successful HellCorp series. His debut in 2015 was the critically acclaimed Morbid Relations.

The Comfort of Distance by Ryburn Dobbs

I'm delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for The Comfort of Distance, the debut novel from Ryburn Dobbs. My thanks to Kelly Lacey at Love Books Tours for inviting me and to the author for my review copy. 

The Blurb:

Sgt Hank LeGris stares down at the crushed and gaping skull in the dirt. It’s the second time in just a few weeks that human remains have been found in the Black Hills. Citizens are getting restless. Is it a rogue mountain lion, as many people suspect? Or something even more sinister?

Sebastien Grey is a brilliant forensic anthropologist with debilitating social phobia. When he is asked by his estranged brother to come to South Dakota and help identify who, or what is leaving body parts scattered across the county, he discovers much more than the cause of these strange deaths.

The Comfort of Distance was published by Dandiprat Press on 27th October 2020 and you can buy it here.

My Review:

I was really looking forward to this book - I have a soft spot for awkward guys with social anxiety! Seriously though, it's great to see a neuro diverse central character. Neuro diversity is something I have family experience of, in our case ASD, and I'm fascinated by how some brains work so differently from the majority. 

Hank Le Gris is a sergeant in South Dakota and following the discovery of some human bones local people are beginning to worry that a mountain lion is attacking residents. Hank asks Sebastien Grey, his estranged, socially awkward but scientifically gifted brother to come and act as a consultant in the hope that he can shed light on the cause of death of the owners of these bones. Although reluctant, and full of anxiety, Sebastien accepts the invitation and finds he can perhaps play an active part in the investigation, and that maybe not everyone will make fun of him. 

I liked Sebastien very much, and my heart just went out to him. He chooses his clothes based on the latest men's catalogues, can't do small talk and can talk passionately and at length (perhaps too long for many) on forensic anthropology, his chosen field. He also forgets that not everyone knows what he knows, which was a relief for me as it meant many of the scientific terms were explained. The author has experience in forensic anthropology himself and has also consulted for police departments and that expertise definitely shows through. 

Sebastien's brother Hank is nothing like him. A happily married,  sturdy, rugged man's man who takes no nonsense. It takes the two brothers a while to find their feet with each other and their dynamic is a really interesting one. All the other key players are well defined also, particularly Tiffany Reese and Kyle Corcoran. 

As you may have gathered from the above this isn't an action packed book although it has its moments. The story is of a slow burning police inquiry/forensic investigation which I found really riveting - loads of interesting science stuff. It certainly kept me turning the pages - I read it in just a couple of days. But more than that, The Comfort of Distance is one man finding himself a little bit, and maybe also finding his tribe. I'm really glad this is the first in a planned series as I'm looking forward to more of Dr Grey!

The Author:

Ryburn Dobbs taught biological anthropology and forensic anthropology at several colleges throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and spent ten years as a forensic anthropologist, working dozens of death investigations. In addition to his anthropological pursuits, Ryburn also worked as an investigative analyst specializing in homicides and unsolved cases.

The Comfort of Distance is Ryburn’s first novel and the first in the Sebastien Grey series. For more information about Ryburn, his blog, and updates on new books please visit www.ryburndobbs.com.

Wildflower Graves by Rita Herron

I'm delighted to be helping close off the Bookoutre Books-On-Tour today for Wildflower Graves by Rita Herron as I enjoyed the first book in the series, The Silent Dolls (review here), very much. Many thanks to Noelle Holten at Bookoutre for the invitation and for my review copy which I received via Netgalley.

The Blurb:

The darkness closed around her. She tried to clear her vision, but there was no light, no noise, nothing. Only the emptiness, the echoing sound of being alone. Fear pulsed through her. The man had come out of nowhere. Who was he? Blinking away tears of frustration, in the pitch black she felt the floor and walls surrounding her. Cold. Steel. Bars.

Detective Ellie Reeves heads into the wilds of the Appalachian Mountains when she wants to get lost - to forget the whispers chasing her and the past that keeps her up at night. She’s sick of having to prove herself to her small town.

But hiking in the endless miles of woods isn’t the escape she was hoping for. One night, as dusk falls, a gust of wind blows some petals on to Ellie’s path. Following the trail, she finds a golden-haired young woman dead on a bed of daffodils, with a note: Monday’s child is fair of face.

When Ellie emerges from the forest, there is a message on her phone. Someone has sent her a picture of her colleague, Officer Shondra Eastwood, with the words: Can you find her, Detective Reeves? Ellie is racked with guilt -while she was busy hiding from life a killer was on the loose, and he has taken her beloved friend.

The wilderness, and its shadows, are the perfect hunting ground for a criminal – but what does the sinister nursery rhyme mean? It soon becomes clear when another dead woman, Tuesday’s Child, is found.

Ellie is up against a serial killer who will claim a victim for every day of the week, and in the next twenty-four hours there will be another body. As this ruthless murderer closes in on her, can she save more innocent women - and Shondra – from his clutches? Or will he get to Ellie first?

An utterly gripping and completely breathless crime thriller for fans of Lisa Regan, Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh. You’ll have trouble falling asleep after this heart-pounding page-turner!


Buy Links:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B08DJCY4D7Social
Apple: http://ow.ly/YQED50AOUvs
Kobo: http://ow.ly/SVgL50AOUuJ
Googleplay: http://ow.ly/WH5C50AOUy3

My Review:

I loved The Silent Dolls so was delighted to reacquaint myself with Detective Ellie Reeves in this new thriller. Pretty much loathed by most of the residents of her small town after events in the first book and with family problems of her own Ellie is desperate to get away and heads off into the Appalachian mountains for a few days. However her getaway is cut short when she discovers the posed, obviously murdered body of a woman. And from the texts she starts receiving from the perpetrator it's clear that she may well be a target.

Wildflower Graves works great as a standalone but there are a lot of references and mentions of events in The Silent Dolls. These are explained in enough detail for the new reader but, as ever with a series, you will probably get a richer reading experience by starting at the beginning. And The Silent Dolls is fab anyway so well worth the read. 

I love Ellie - she's strong, resilient and doesn't give up. She's not afraid to put herself in the way of danger, to the point of being reckless sometimes in her determination to catch the perpetrator. But we see her vulnerable side too with her confused feelings about her parents, and Special Agent Derrick Fox after previous events, her guilt over Shondra and her sadness at how she is being treated by many in the town. 

Derrick Fox comes across as a brooding ball of pent up anger, but in a good way! His anger is the righteous kind, or it's his anxiety that comes out as aggression. He has a very strong sense of right and wrong and is as just as focused on finding the perpetrator as Ellie. But occasionally, just occasionally, we see a more tender side to Derrick. The characterisation in the book is brilliant - it allowed me to picture each character in my mind, fully formed. And let me tell you, I do not like Sheriff Bryce Waters. At all! I should also mention the Appalachian Mountains as they are such an integral part of this story, this series actually, and so richly described. Somewhere I'd love to visit, but only with a guide! 

The story is packed with tension as Ellie seems to face danger at every turn. There are few dead ends and definitely some surprises along the way. Herron doesn't shy away from portraying violence, or its effects which might be a little off putting for some. There are a few heart stopping moments and more  than once I found myself holding my breath. 

Wildflower Graves is a well written, tense and exciting thriller, with an engaging, determined protagonist and a satisfyingly twisty storyline. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more by Herron. 

The Author:

USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden mystery. But she didn't think real people grew up to be writers, so she became a teacher instead. Now she writes so she doesn't have to get a real job.

With over ninety books to her credit, she's penned romantic suspense, romantic comedy, and YA novels, but she especially likes writing dark romantic suspense and crime fiction set in small southern towns.


Author Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorritaherron/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ritaherron
Website: http://www.ritaherron.com/

Body Language by AK Turner

I'm delighted to be helping (along with Jacob over at Hooked from Page One) to close off the blog tour for Body Language by AK Turner. As soon as I read the blurb for this one I was hooked and couldn't wait to get reading. You can read my thoughts below. Big thanks to Tracy Fenton at Compulsive Readers for the invitation and to the publisher for my review copy which I received via Netgalley.

The Blurb: 

For fans of Tess Gerritsen and Kathy Reichs comes a gripping debut thriller introducing Camden's most exciting new forensic investigator.

Cassie Raven believes the dead can talk. We just need to listen . . .

People think being a mortuary technician is a seriously weird job. They can't understand why I choose to cut up dead bodies for a living. But they don't know what I know:

The dead want to tell us what happened to them.

I've eviscerated thousands of bodies, but never someone I know before - someone who meant a lot to me; someone I loved.

The pathologist says that her death was an accident.

Her body is telling me differently.

Body Language was published by Zaffre on 26th November 2020. You can purchase it from Bookshop, Waterstones and Amazon or your usual bookseller. 

M Review: 

Cassie Raven's life was going nowhere until a science teacher started chatting to her as she sold the Big Issue in a street corner. Geraldine Edwards believed in Cassie and it turned the young woman's life around. So when Mrs Edwards's body turns up at Cassie's mortuary she is devastated. But determined to learn what she can about the older woman's death. 

I can't tell you how much I liked Cassie. Unconventional looking with her facial piercings and tattoos (I was reminded of the pathologist in Mark Billingham's Tom Thorne books who has a similar look) she loves her job and is very gentle  and respectful with the bodies in her care. She talks to them, asks them what happened, how they died. And sometimes they answer. I was fascinated by her from the start. Her vulnerability shines through - whilst she is fine with the dead, she struggles in relationships with the living, can't get close to people. I really wanted to give her a hug so many times! And I was willing her on as she tries to find out what happened to her much loved teacher. The only other person Cassie is close to is her Polish grandmother, who I also adored - there was one point I laughed out loud  at something she'd done and I'm sure I'm not the only person to do so. 

Whilst the story is mainly told from Cassie's point of view we also hear from DS Phyllida Flyte who is brought in to investigate a crime at the mortuary. Initially, she is not an easy woman to like but for me that changed over the course of the book. I love the attention to detail the author gives her characters - small things about their appearance or little quirks. I also liked that women play most of the central roles.

The author has obviously done a great deal of research into what happens in a mortuary, effects of drugs and police procedure and it has paid off. It feels authentic . The story is part detective investigation, part forensic examination and it kept me turning the pages - I read it over two days. 

Body Language is a really interesting thriller packed with detail and featuring an original, engaging protagonist. It's full of dead ends and surprises with a couple of sub plots intertwined with the main storyline. Really enjoyable. 

The Author: 

AK Turner's first foray into crime fiction was a detective thriller trilogy, written under the pen name Anya Lipska, following the adventures of Janusz Kiszka, a fixer to London's Polish community. All three books won critical acclaim and were twice optioned as a possible TV series. In her other life as a TV producer and writer, AK makes documentaries and drama-docs on subjects as diverse as the Mutiny on the Bounty, the sex lives of Neanderthals, and Monty Don's Italian Gardens.

Solo: A Down to Earth Guide for Travelling the World Alone by Aaron Hodges

We're packing our bags and heading off travelling with today's blog blitz post for Solo by Aaron Hodge. Thanks to Rachel Gilbey at Rachel's Random Resources for the invitation and to the author for my review copy. 

The Blurb:

Feeling alone? Trapped? Lost?

Time for an adventure!

The bad times won't last forever, and for more than five years, Aaron Hodges has journeyed the globe alone, visiting everywhere from Istanbul to Argentina. Honest and insightful, SOLO is packed with his personal travel tips and humorous stories. Learn about the ups and downs, the triumphs and the pitfalls of venturing off the beaten path. Follow his guidelines for exploring the world alone and be inspired to take the trip you’ve always dreamed of. Discover the world of solo travel.

Go Solo!

Solo: A Down to Earth Guide for Travelling Alone was published last December by The National Library of New Zealand.


Purchase Links:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082P8W1BD/
books2read.com/u/meBM8g

My Review:

I have reached a fair age and never been travelling or even on holiday on my own, not even in this country. I've gone to the odd book festival alone but always known others at my destination. In fact, this year was the first time I had even eaten out alone (apart from on business trips). Until relatively recently I had someone to go away with but now I'm single it's much more likely that I'll go away on my own. And frankly the thought terrifies me for all sorts of reasons. But I had pulled on my big girl pants and started planning a short break to Barcelona this year, somewhere I've always wanted to go, to mark a big birthday. But we all know what happened to plans for 2020...

Aaron Hodges is a man who has travelled, is still travelling, a lot - this book was written in Buenos Aires - so he's the ideal guide for a newbie solo traveller. 

Whilst the author mentions travellers of all ages, I think I'm older than the target audience for this book, which includes all the best places for  canyoning, white water rafting (which I wouldn't mind trying, actually), diving with hammerhead sharks and volcano surfing! You can do the last one in Nicaragua, if anyone's interested... It's also aimed at the long term travellers, people planning to head off for several months, not me with my pathetic mini break to Barcelona! 😂 But there was plenty for me to learn here, and lots for me to enjoy. 

Hodges provides plenty of practical advice about everything - starting with asking yourself why you want to travel. Are  you running away from something? But once you've sorted that out, this wee book is full of advice on booking flights, packing - don't over pack (guilty!), finances, where to stay, security of valuables, personal safety and lots more. But it's never dull or dry - the writing is punchy, full of humour and the chapters are short. Hodges mentions websites for all manner of helpful things, for do downloading city maps in case you find yourself with no internet access, for example, which I could see being very useful.  Also how to find the best hostels - some have their own private beaches! 

The author includes the best places to visit, in his opinion based experience, in South East Asia, Mexico, Central America and South America. I was delighted to see it included Vietnam as I'm hoping to go there in 2022, although I won't be going it alone on that occasion. But after reading this book, I also want to go to the Galapagos Islands, the Iguazu Falls in Argentina, Costa Rica, where monkeys and sloths are so common you can see them at the side of the road, and Iguana Plaza in Ecuador, where iguanas just hang out! I had to laugh at the author's comments about Vientiane in Thailand (I have condensed them slightly): '...not the biggest hub for travellers under 50. Don't stay long .' Given my age that should probably be my first port of call! 

I loved reading about Hodges' travel adventures, and disasters, and hearing about the people he's met on the way. Because in the end this is all about meeting new people, having new experiences and learning a little bit more about yourself. All in all, Solo is a fab wee book chock full of good advice from a seasoned traveller, advice that even someone like me can use, all presented in a friendly, often humorous way. Would recommend for anyone considering any kind of adventure, big or small. And who knows, I might end up being one of them!

The Author:

Aaron Hodges was born in 1989 in the small town of Whakatane, New Zealand. He studied for five years at the University of Auckland, completing a Bachelors of Science in Biology and Geography, and a Masters of Environmental Engineering. After working as an environmental consultant for two years, he grew tired of office work and decided to quit his job in 2014 and see the world. One year later, he published his first novel - Stormwielder - while in Guatemala. Since then, he has honed his skills while travelling through parts of SE Asia, India, North and South America, Turkey and Europe, and now has over a dozen works to his name. Today, his adventures continue...


Author Social Media Links: 

https://instagram.com/aaronhodgesauthor
https://www.facebook.com/aaronhodgesauthor/

The Liar's Promise by Mark Tilbury

I'm delighted to be helping open the blog blitz for The Liar's Promise by Mark Tilbury which is re-published today, complete with a snazzy new cover by Emmy Ellis. The Liar's Promise was one of the earliest books to feature on this blog way back in April 2018 and I'm re-sharing my review from then today. I mention at the end of my review that I'm looking forward to reading more books by Mark. I have since read several more and have not been disappointed. 

The Blurb:

How does a mother protect her child from the unknown?

During a visit to a local theatre, four-year-old Chloe Hollis becomes hysterical. But her mother, Mel, doesn’t realise that this is just the beginning of the nightmare. In the coming weeks, Chloe talks of The Tall Man - Of death.

At her wit's end, Mel confides in Charles Honeywell, the headmaster at the school where she works. But what Mel doesn’t know is that Honeywell is linked to what is happening to her daughter.

Will Mel learn the terrible truth? And can she overcome her own tragic past and save her daughter before it’s too late?

The Liar’s Promise is a story of past lives and future torment.

My Review:

OMG! What a book!

I wasn't sure about getting this book as my To Be Read list was so huge, but it really appealed to me. And, gosh, I am so pleased I did - I was hooked from beginning to end!

Four year old Chloe has a fit and refuses to watch the pantomime at the local theatre. She starts talking about the threat of the 'Tall Man' and other strange things.

Desperate, her mother confides in the headmaster of the school she teaches in. But is he the right man to talk to?

I thought this was a very original story - certainly not like anything else I've read. The characters and situations are richly described. It features a Shakespeare fanatic, colour coded freezers and a horrific, deadly game. I can't really say much more without revealing spoilers!

There was nothing I didn't like about this book - an absolutely cracking read. A word of warning though - it is quite gruesome in parts, and thus not for the faint hearted. But I loved it and can't wait to read more by this author.

The Liar's Promise is published today by Tilbury Publishing and is available on Amazon UK and Amazon US. 

The Author:

Mark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised.

After being widowed and raising his two daughters, Mark finally took the plunge and self-published two books on Amazon, The Revelation Room and The Eyes of the Accused.

He's always had a keen interest in writing, and is extremely proud to have had seven novels published by Bloodhound Books. His latest novel, The Last One To See Her will be published 4th June 2020.

When he's not writing, Mark can be found playing guitar, reading and walking.

All Down The Line by Andrew Field

Today I'm helping to open the blog blitz for All Down The Line by Andrew Field with a mini review. Thanks to Emma Welton at damppebbles tours for the invitation and to the publisher for my review copy.

The Blurb:

MANCHESTER: Cain Bell thought he had closure over the hit and run death of his daughter. Ted Blake had confessed he was the behind the wheel just before he died. Twenty years on and Cain’s world is thrown upside down when his fiancé claims the driver was lying. Before she says more, a savage attack leaves her in a coma fighting for her life. To find out why Cain must uncover why four friends swore blind to never tell the truth about his daughter’s death. Now, he must persuade Manchester’s most terrifying gangster to reveal the secrets that kept hidden for two decades. And Billy McGinty is in no mood to break his own wall of silence. Unless Cain can persuade him to talk, even if it means putting his own life on the line.

All Down The Line is published by Boomslang Books on 7th December 2020 and is available to pre-order now on Amazon UK and Amazon US. 

My Mini Review:

PR man Cain Bell publicly proposed to girlfriend April Sands who accepts but whispers she must share secrets before they can marry. Secrets he won't like. But before she gets a chance to tell him, something happens to change their lives forever. Cain has already experienced one tragedy in his life - the death of his daughter, and he thought he knew what happened. But April has made him question everything he thought he knew. 

I enjoyed Field's writing, he has a great turn of phrase. The characterisation is really good, and it's a very colourful cast. He puts protagonist Cain through the emotional wringer in this book as things around him fall apart. The action takes place over a short period of time giving the whole thing a sense of immediacy. The author clearly has a love for Manchester, where the story is set, and that shines though the writing. The same goes for the music coming out of Manchester. It's footballing fame is also acknowledged. 

This was a quick and easy read for me, one I could fit into my week easily. All Down The Line is a characterful thriller featuring a fair few larger than life characters and more than one dirty secret. 

The Author:

Andrew Field has spent most of his working life as a PR consultant raising the profiles of others. Now the roles are reversed as he steps into the spotlight with All Down The Line (published in 2020). 

He handled Boddingtons Bitter during its “Cream of Manchester” heyday, developing innovative sports and cultural partnerships with TV and media platforms. Clients have also included a convicted armed bank robber and another who did eighteen months prison time for blackmail, although he didn’t know about their colourful backstories at the time. “I’d quizzed them more about their experiences. After all, hard-boiled grimness all adds to the mix, even if it is anecdotal.”

“Authors are by definition are relatively introverted. They work in isolation and inhabit imaginary world of their own creation. They can spend years staring at a computer screen bringing their characters to life. Then they have to become a different person to promote their work and market themselves.”  

“Fiction is a great way to write about how you feel personally about this great thing we do called living. We disguise it by calling it crime fiction, but behind the genre there is a world view being expressed. In my eyes, the memorable books, films and music, good or bad, are the ones you’re still thinking about 24 or 48 hours after you finished reading, watching or listening.”

What can readers expect from Andrew’s work? “If you’re into noir from the likes of James Lee Burke, James Cain, James Ellroy, Dennis Lehane, Elmore Leonard, Ted Lewis, Ed McBain and Jim Thompson, you’ll see where I am coming from.”

Andrew lives, works and plays in Northumberland, England, Europe, with his wife Catherine. A novella, Wicked Games was published in 2014. Without Rules in 2018 by Boomslang. All Down The Line will be published in December 2020. 

Social Media Links for Boomslang Books:

Website: https://boomslangbooks.org/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Boomslangbooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boomslangbooks/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BoomslangBooks 

Lucky Larry by Pat Feehan

I'm delighted to be shining a wee spotlight on Lucky Larry by Pat Feehan which is officially out today. Pat's debut novel, Snap Judgement (available here), was a choice of my real life book group early last year and everyone really enjoyed it. Pat came to speak to us about all things writing and had us all thoroughly entertained. I had the pleasure of beta reading Lucky Larry and had a lot of fun doing so - you're in for a treat. I'll be reviewing it in the new year but in the meantime you can find out all the details below. And the cover is just perfect for the story!

 

The Blurb:

SOME PEOPLE HAVE ALL THE LUCK!

Larry McAllister has never had much luck. He can’t hold down a job, he’s been in trouble with the cops - and long-suffering wife, Sharon, is constantly on his case.

So he cuts corners and bends the rules – nothing serious, just enough to get some extra cash and keep Sharon happy.

But he’s taken too many chances and been caught too many times – so Sharon’s put him on a final warning – divorce with no access to the kids. Now he’s stuck in a job from hell, in a pet shop owned by Sharon’s brother. Larry hates animals - and he’s not too keen on the brother-in-law either.

Things get worse when Larry becomes a reluctant witness in a murder enquiry. While the cops put the squeeze on him to testify, the criminals threaten his family.

As the stakes mount and Larry’s options are whittled away, he’s faced with an impossible choice. Can he make the right decision? Can Larry finally get lucky?

Lucky Larry is out now and you can buy it here.


The Author:

Pat Feehan is a native of Glasgow. He was an editor at Collins Publishers before joining HMRC as an investigator and senior manager until retiring a few years ago.

He reads all sorts but these days it’s mainly crime. Favourite authors include Michael Connelly, Thomas Harris, Elmore Leonard and Mark Billingham.

A few years ago he took a Creative Writing class at Strathclyde University and later joined two writing groups, all of which have been a great help with his writing.

‘Lucky Larry’ is his second novel. He published his first, ‘Snap Judgement’, two years ago. He also enjoys writing short fiction. His story, ‘The Kill’, appears in the Scottish Arts Trust anthology ‘Life on the Margins and Other Stories’.