Tag: detective

#TuesdayBookBlog For the Hell of It (Crimes of Inhumanity Book 2) by John Dolan (@JohnDolanAuthor)

Post author By olganm
Post date December 31, 2024
23 Comments on #TuesdayBookBlog For the Hell of It (Crimes of Inhumanity Book 2) by John Dolan (@JohnDolanAuthor)

Hi, all:

I bring you the latest book by an author I’ve been following for many years and whose work I rate very highly. I can’t recommend it enough.

For the Hell of It (Crimes of Inhumanity Book 2) by John Dolan

“Apologies for all the deaths. But in my defense, I was really, really bored.”

James Fosse – psychopath and all-round bad egg – has been declared officially dead.
But he’s not enjoying his afterlife in the Philippines, where so many people around him are having fun committing crimes and getting away with it.
Perhaps it’s time he started killing again?
https://www.amazon.com/Hell-Crimes-Inhumanity-Book-ebook/dp/B0DJX2YN31/

About the author:

“Makes a living by travelling, talking a lot and sometimes writing stuff down. Galericulate author, polymath and occasional smarty-pants.”

John Dolan hails from a small town in the North-East of England. Before turning to writing, his career encompassed law and finance. He has run businesses in Europe, South and Central America, Africa and Asia. He and his wife Fiona currently divide their time between Thailand and the UK.

He is the author of the ‘Time, Blood and Karma’ mystery series and the ‘Children of Karma’ mystery trilogy.

My review:

I have read and reviewed most (probably all, but I’d need to check to make sure I haven’t missed anything) of John Dolan’s books, and he is one of the authors whose books I’m happy to read without even checking the plot or what they are about. He is that good (in my opinion), and he hits all the right notes for me.

He is best known for his two (now three) detective series (that interconnect in interesting ways) set mostly, but not exclusively, in Thailand, although he has written such varied books as a mock-dictionary and another where mythology plays a big part.

He has a very dry and sometimes dark sense of humour, very British as well (in the best sense); his love for the written language and his finesse lift his stories well above standard detective fair, and he also has a penchant for creating memorable characters, and not only his protagonists (David Braddock, his detective/philosopher/therapist is the main one) but also many very distinctive secondary characters his readers love and want to keep meeting, book after book.

Oh, and let’s not forget some fabulous baddies. The main one is Jim Fosse, who takes centre stage in this novel and whom I must admit to have a soft spot for: he is very intelligent, unapologetic and also has a pretty dry and dark sense of humour. We find ourselves smiling at some of his comments, thoughts, and wit, and immediately feel bad and guilty about it, because he is perverse.

One of the most interesting points of this novel, and the series as a whole, is that David Braddock (the protagonist) and Jim Fosse (his antagonist) share more than a few characteristics, as one of the secondary characters remarks during a meeting with Braddock. It is a bit like Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde as if Jim Fosse was the embodiment of Braddock’s dark side. But other characters seem to mirror each other throughout the novel, on the good and the bad side, and there are all kinds of grey tonalities thrown in too.

The way the story is told is interesting in its own right, as we have access to the diaries (written in the first person, as is to be expected) of both, Fosse and Braddock, and we also find chapters narrated in the third-person, which move the plot along and allow us to appreciate what is happening from a certain distance and be able to make our own minds up as to the actions and motivations of the characters.

The novel takes us around the world and shows us the breadth and depth of the author’s knowledge about politics and society in countries as varied as the Philippines, Thailand, or the UK, with many others making brief appearances as well.

I don’t want to go into too much detail (because it is difficult not to reveal any spoilers) but I will just mention some of the themes and events that make an appearance on its pages (and those so inclined will discover many references, literary and otherwise): assassination plots, drug cartels, widespread corruption, international finances, and fraud, hired assassins, strange phobias, multicultural family life and its complications, Sherlock Holmes, psychopathic killers (in plural), CIA agents and their investigations, fake passports and identities, arson attacks, desecration of tombs, complex revenge schemes, destructive Buddhas, Karma, old monks, dementia, terminal illnesses, grief, torture, threats, and ultimatums…

I kept highlighting paragraphs but realised that most of them gave too much of the plot away, so my advice to readers wondering if this novel will suit their taste is to check a sample of the book, as I don’t dare to share any quotes for fear of revealing too much.

The novel offers information about the background of the story. It brings up some of the connections and events that got the characters to this point, so I am convinced that somebody who’s never read any books in the previous two series (or even book 1 in the current series) would be able to follow the action and enjoy the plot. However, they would miss some of the complexities and beauty of how the threads come together in the end. And, if they do, they can always go back and catch up with the rest.

And those who read the books in the three series long ago needn’t worry; there are sufficient reminders to refresh their memories.

I enjoyed the ending and found it beautifully symmetric, as it restores order to the chaos, but do not be misled. This is not a happy book. There is much loss and heartache for all the characters involved, and also for the readers.

John Dolan is a truly original voice, and I don’t hesitate to recommend this novel unreservedly. It is fantastic, as is the rest of his work.

Thanks to the author (whom I had the pleasure to finally meet a while back) for another fantastic book about David Braddock, thanks to all of you for reading, commenting, liking, sharing, and clicking, and please, remember to keep smiling this year 2025. Fingers crossed it is a good one!

Tags Dark humour, David Braddock, detective, John Dolan, series, Sherlock Holmes, Thailand, The Philippines

Reviews

Review of ‘Hungry Ghosts’ by John Dolan.

Post author By olganm
Post date February 18, 2014
2 Comments on Review of ‘Hungry Ghosts’ by John Dolan.

Today I bring you another review. A few months ago I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing the first book in the ‘Time, Karma and Blood Series’ by John Dolan, ‘Everyone Burns’. And I could not pass the opportunity to read and comment the second one. I leave you my five stars review, a link to the book in e-format and paperback and a link to my review of the previous book, just in case you missed it.

Hungry Ghosts, 'Time, Blood and Karma' Book 2 by John Dolan — Hungry Ghosts, ‘Time, Blood and Karma’ Book 2 by John Dolan

Hungry Ghosts (Time, Karma and Blood Series Book 2) by John Dolan. Family secrets, family feuds, betrayals and ghosts.

‘The spirits of the dead are all around us, but it is we, the living, that are the true hungry ghosts.’ I could not agree more with the reflections of David Braddock, the detective-cum-philosopher and therapist who is the protagonist of Hungry Ghosts, the second book in the ‘Time, Karma and Blood Series’ by John Dolan. I read the first book in the series Everyone Burns and when I reviewed it I mentioned that I thought this would be a five star series but the first book left me wanting more and with too many questions pending. Be reassured, Hungry Ghosts delivers on all the promises of the first and more, and although, of course this being a series everything could not be resolved, the novel answers many of the questions, whilst opening new avenues for inquiry and intriguing plots.

‘Sometimes I come across as superficial. Of this I am aware. However, you may be confident that inside my head I am forever plumbing new shallows, finding novel ways to express the obvious, reheating old jokes.’

David Braddock, one of the most peculiar detectives I’ve met in fiction (and I am aware all famous detectives have quirks and characteristics that make them memorable) is back with a vengeance. Or rather, he is the intended victim of a revenge attempt. Vending the rules, although it appears to be the standard MO in Thailand, does not come without consequences even there. People die, lives are destroyed, and strange alliances are made and broken. Not your standard day at the office.

If Braddock still retains many of the characteristics we’ve come to expect of most males detectives (he has an array of love interests, two of them married, one related to him by first marriage…), we get to see more of his soft/emotional side. His strange relationship with his first wife (now dead), his daughter (away in England), his housekeeper (not his maid, as he insists throughout the whole book. She is clearly much more than a housekeeper, as signaled by the fact that they have never had sex), his mother-in-law, and crucially, his father. Family secrets abound, not only those of the Braddock family, but also of other families. Fathers and sons with troubled relationships are mirrored on both sides of the law (although the lines are very fine and there is no black and white here, rather different shades of grey), and even Braddock’s Zen master, the Old Monk, has sons who are on opposite sides of the law.

The author shows his talent by using a variety of points of view throughout the novel that allow us to understand better the events and the motivations behind the actions of the characters. We share in the murderer’s frame of mind, the Chief of Police of Samui and his wife (and Braddock’s lover), the detective’s sister in law, the gangsters… We might side with Braddock but we are privy to the thoughts and feelings of others and are a step ahead. That is why the twist at the end is even more effective. We should have seen it coming but we were too taken by the action and the story, and rooting for the flawed hero to realise that…

John Dolan treads carefully and manages to recap enough information to allow somebody who has not read the first novel to enjoy and make sense of this one, whilst at the same time not boring somebody who has recently read ‘Everyone Burns’, and just nudging their memory (especially with the unfamiliar names) along.

David Braddock is fast becoming one of my favourite detectives. Although an amateur at both detective work and psychology (or therapeutic interventions), he has a natural flair for both. I couldn’t help but think that he might make an interesting team with Mary, the psychiatrist who gets involved in all sorts of crimes in my stories. It’s a thought.

Hungry Ghosts has gang-warfare, police corruption, revenge, murders and violence, secrets and revelations, honey traps and meddling employees, witty repartees and reflections (‘I need to simplify my life so far as women are concerned. Maybe I should get castrated and have done with it.’), ghosts and padrinos (Thai style). I, for one, can’t wait to see what happens next and what will come of the sudden epiphany Braddock experiences in this book. As he observes: ‘We are the artisans of avoidance, the fabricators of falsehoods. We sell ourselves snake-oil and we call it medicine.’ I’m sure there will be more revelations to come and I suspect the author might take us in unsuspected directions. I am getting a ticket for the next trip. Are you?

Links:

e-version:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ENZAURQ/

Paperback:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0957325622/

Here I leave you a link to my previous post about ‘Everyone Burns’.

https://olganm.wordpress.com/2013/08/20/review-everyone-burns-time-blood-and-karma-book-one-by-john-dolan-counselling-politics-and-detection-in-thailand/

Thanks for reading, and you know the drill, if you’ve enjoyed it, like, share, comment, and don’t forget to CLICK!

Tags Blood and Karma Series, corruption, counsellor, detective, Everyone Burns, gang warfare, ghosts, John Dolan, Murder, philosophy, Thailand, thriller, Time, Women

Autores Invitados

Autora Invitada Carmen Amato.

Post author By olganm
Post date January 18, 2013

Hoy les presento otra de las autoras a las que conocí a través de Twitter y que accedió a aparecer en mi blog para hablarles de sus novelas, y también de lo que los lectores consideran la esencia de las novelas de misterio. A ver si están de acuerdo. Con ustedes: Carmen Amato.

El Misterio Personal de Carmen Amato

Recientemente les pregunté a los lectores en kindleboards.com qué elementos les parecían los más importantes en una buena novela de misterio. Sus opciones eran:

Personajes complejos e imperfectos (por ejemplo John Rebus, Harry Hole)
Argumentos enrevesados que adquieren más importancia que el desarrollo de los personajes.
Un entorno poco usual. (por ej. la serie Arkady Renko que tiene lugar en Rusia)
Sentido del humor (por ej. los libros de Stephanie plum)
Auténtica información forense (como en los libros de Patricia Cornwell)

La discusión digital fue animada. La mayoría de los que respondieron votaron por A y B. Los lectores quieren ver personajes intrigantes y argumentos que les dejen preguntándose qué pasará después. Muchos opinaron que los dos elementos debería ir juntos en lugar de predominar el uno sobre el otro.

Como escritora de novelas de misterio no puedo estar más de acuerdo. Estos dos conceptos centrales son los que generan y animan mi serie de misterio protagonizada por Emilia Cruz, la primera y única mujer detective en la policía de Acapulco. Inspirándome en mis experiencias propias cuando viví en México y América Central, la serie presenta la guerra contra las drogas de México y la corrupción oficial teniendo como telón de fondo la rica herencia cultural del país.

La serie fue lanzada el pasado Agosto con la exclusiva novela corta MADE IN ACAPULCO (HECHO EN ACAPULCO) y continúa con la novela de misterio CLIFF DIVER (SALTADOR DE ACANTILADO) que estará a la venta en Kindle y en papel a partir del 30 de Enero. El siguiente libro en la serie es HAT DANCE (EL BAILE DEL SOMBRERO), y su lanzamiento está previsto para el verano del 2013.

Aquí está lo que la serie de Emilia Cruz tiene preparado, no sólo para los fans de kindleboard.com sino para todos los amantes del misterio.

La protagonista

La serie es tan cruda y llena de acción como los titulares que nos llegan de México hoy pero también como le país, Emilia Cruz es a la vez dura de pelar y tierna. Una nativa de Acapulco que tuvo que crecer demasiado deprisa, ha sido policía por casi 12 años y detective por dos, una mujer en un equipo que no la quería y aún siguen intentando romperla. Pero Emilia no tiene miedo de defenderse y conseguir lo que se merece. Es una mentirosa convincente, pensadora rápida, investigadora determinada y una dura experta en kickboxing.

Y se siente sola.

Personajes secundarios interesantes

Emilia no sabe cómo manejar al gringo Kurt Rucker, el gerente de un hotel de lujo en Acapulco. Un ex-soldado, tiene la confianza y el liderazgo que ella admira. Un triatleta, se mantiene sereno en situaciones de alta tensión y sabe lo que quiere. Pero ¿está preparada Emilia para una relación?

El primer caso importante de Emilia atraerá la atención de Víctor Obregón Sosa, le Jefe del Sindicato de Policía del Estado de Guerrero, y la ambiciosa alcaldesa de Acapulco Carlota Mendoza Pérez. Cada uno tiene una peligrosa agenda personal y el poder de ayudar o herir a Emilia.

Como estímulo añadido a la lista de personajes, hay una puerta giratoria en el equipo y un teniente diferente estará a cargo en cada libro.

Argumentos enrevesados

Está el Acapulco que conocen los turistas, la extensión de la más hermosa bahía del mundo, la majestad del Pacífico azul claro, noches a luz de vela en la playa, y rascacielos de lujo. También está el Acapulco que es un premio por el que luchan los carteles de drogas- la ciudad que es hogar de prostitutas y ladrones, las calles donde la vida es barata y la pobreza es tan dominante como la brisa marina. Estas dos versiones de Acapulco figurarán en los libros, cada una desgarrando a la otra y obligando a Emilia a sobrevivir entre las dos. Ninguna investigación será fácil, ningún crimen será simple.

La salsa especial

Una serie de misterio a menudo tiene un algo extra si hay un hilo conductor que sólo se resuelve en el último libro y la serie de Emilia Cruz no es una excepción. A lo largo de la serie, Emilia mantiene una lista de las mujeres que han desaparecido en Acapulco y siempre está intentando averiguar qué les ha pasado. Son las perdidas y veremos qué éxito tiene.

¡Disfruten el siguiente fragmento y les veremos en Acapulco!

El saltador se estiró completamente y se impelió. Su espalda se arqueó y sus brazos se abrieron y parecía un crucifijo mientras volaba sobre las rocas. Sus brazos se levantaron por encima de su cabeza y sus manos se unieron justo antes de impactar con el agua. La espuma del salpicón se disparó hacia el cielo y él desapareció en las profundidades mientras la muchedumbre en la plaza se exclamaba y aplaudía.

El saltador apareció fuera del agua más allá de las rocas y la muchedumbre aplaudió de nuevo. Pasaron varios minutos antes de que el siguiente saltador subiera la minúscula plataforma en la cima del acantilado. Era mayor con un bañador negro y un torso pesado, y parecía menos atlético que el primer saltador. Cuando le giró de espaldas al océano la muchedumbre murmuró excitada.

“Tiene valor,” dijo Kurt. El dorso de su mano rozó contra la suya.

El saltador se lanzó hacia atrás de la superficie del acantilado y se giró en el aire. Al rotar su cuerpo cerca del acantilado la gente dio un grito de asombro, pero entró limpiamente en el océano, el agua explotando a su alrededor. El aplauso fue enorme.

Mientras se ponía el sol, contemplaron a los otros hombres escalando laboriosamente el acantilado para alcanzar la pequeña plataforma natural, estirarse y flexibilizar sus músculos, y lanzarse sin tocar las rocas al lugar perfecto en el océano al fondo.

“Esa soy yo,” dijo Emilia cuando el saltador más joven en un bañador rojo se preparó de nuevo en la plataforma. El sol poniente estaba teñido de sangre detrás de él confundiéndose con su bañador haciéndolo parecer desnudo y despellejado.

“¿Qué quieres decir?” le preguntó Kurt. Su mano se giró y un dedo acarició el pulgar y el índice de Emilia.

“Esa soy yo.” La mano de Emilia se giró por si sola y jugó gentilmente con la de Kurt. Él la estaba mirando a ella, no a los saltadores del acantilado y Emilia se oyó balbucear nerviosamente “Lanzándome de un acantilado, sin estar preparada. Sin saber si me voy a golpear contra las rocas y hacerme añico o no.”

Emilia miró como el joven saltador mecía sus brazos y volvía la cabeza de un lado al otro y se preguntó si lo estaba haciendo por la muchedumbre o era una forma de aliviar el miedo. Encogió los hombros hacia adelante, y luego los echó hacia atrás. Dobló las rodillas y los músculos de sus muslos se contrajeron y entonces se propulsó en el aire. Por un momento su silueta se marcó a contraluz de la espectacular puesta de sol y entonces se encogió en una voltereta. La gente ahogó un grito cuando su cuerpo rotó y su cabello pareció besar la superficie del acantilado. Entonces se estiró, esforzándose en cubrir la distancia, y completó una curva perfecta que le propulsó dentro del agua como a una flecha disparada con un arco y Emilia sintió el esfuerzo y el dolor y el asalto del agua fría.

Acapulco Vacations (orbitz.com)
Drugwar Dilemma: Fighting to Improve Security AND Boost Tourism in Acapulco, Mexico (forbes.com)

*********************************************************************

Y antes de dejarles un par de cosas.

Primero recordarles la fantástica entrevista que me ha hecho Eduardo Perellón, por si no la han leído todavía. Y no se olviden de echarle un vistazo a sus otras entrevistas y sus obras mientras le visitan.

Aquí les dejo el enlace:

http://eduardoperellon.blogspot.com.es/2013/01/olga-nunez-miret.html

¡Muchísimas gracias Eduardo! ¡Eres muy grande!

La semana que viene les puedo dar la gran noticia de que descansarán de mí ya que tendré dos invitados. A los dos los he conocido a través de Twitter y ahora los considero amigos. Uno es un escritor de ciencia ficción muy especial y se me siguen en Twitter le habrán visto por ahí ya que nos reímos mucho con nuestra otra amiga Olivia. Jon nos viene a visitar el viernes. El martes, si la technología me acompaña (y es mucho “si”) les traeré algo muy diferente a lo que están acostumbrados. No les doy todos los detalles, por si acaso, pero…hay música de por medio.

Y por supuesto, no les puedo dejar sin recordarles mi libro en español (también disponible en inglés) El hombre que nunca existió.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009TWEGC8

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009TWEGC8

http://www.amazon.co.es/dp/B009TWEGC8

Gracias por su seguimiento y sigan leyendo!

Tags detective, drogas, kickboxing, novelas de misterio, salto del acantilado

Guest author post

Guest author Carmen Amato

Post author By olganm
Post date January 18, 2013

I’m bringing you as today’s guest author another writer I met through Twitter, who has been kind enough to agree to talk to us not only about her current novels and the coming ones in the Emilia Cruz series, but also provides an insight into readers’ interests when looking at mystery novels. What are the most important elements of a mystery novel? Carmen decided to ask her readers. I leave you with Carmen Amato.

Carmen Amato’s Personal Mystery

I recently asked readers on kindleboards.com which elements they found most important to a good mystery novel. Their choices were:

A. Flawed and complex characters (i.e John Rebus, Harry Hole)

B. Twisted plots that take precedence over character development

C. An unusual setting (i.e the Arkady Renko series set in Russia)

D. Sense of humor (i.e. the Stephanie plum books)

E. Authentic forensic information (i.e. books by Patricia Cornwell)

The digital discussion was lively. The overwhelming majority of respondents voted for A and B. Readers want to see intriguing characters and plots that leave them wondering what will come next. Many felt that the two went together rather than having one predominate.

As a mystery writer I couldn’t agree more. Those two central concepts drive my mystery series featuring Emilia Cruz, the first and only female detective on the Acapulco police force. Drawing on my own experiences living in Mexico and Central America, the series takes on Mexico’s drug war and official corruption against the backdrop of the country’s rich cultural heritage.

The series launched last August with the Kindle exclusive novella MADE IN ACAPULCO and continues with the full-length mystery novel CLIFF DIVER which will be released to Kindle and in print on 30 January. The next book in the series is HAT DANCE, scheduled for release in summer 2013.

Here’s what the Emilia Cruz series has in store not only for kindleboard.com fans but for all mystery lovers:

The Main Character

The series is as raw and action-filled as the headlines coming out of Mexico today but just like the country, Emilia Cruz is both resilient and warm-hearted. An Acapulco native who had to grow up too fast, she’s been a cop for nearly 12 years and a detective for two; a woman in a squadroom that didn’t want her and is still seeking to break her. But Emilia isn’t afraid to defend herself and get what she’s rightfully earned. She’s a good liar, a fast thinker, a determined investigator and a mean kickboxer.

And she’s lonely.

Interesting Secondary Characters

Emilia doesn’t know how to handle gringo Kurt Rucker, the manager of a luxury hotel in Acapulco. A former soldier, he has the confidence and leadership qualities she admires. A triathlete, he’s calm under pressure and knows what he wants. But is Emilia ready for a relationship?

Her first high profile case will bring Emilia to the attention of Victor Obregon Sosa, the head of the police union for the state of Guerrero, and Acapulco’s ambitious mayor Carlota Mendoza Perez. Each has a dangerous personal agenda and the power to both help or hurt Emilia.

As an added fillip to the character line-up, there’s a revolving door in the detective squadroom and a different lieutenant will be in charge in each book.

Twisted Plots

There’s the Acapulco that tourists know; the sweep of the most beautiful bay in the world, the majesty of the clear blue Pacific, candlelit nights on the beach, and luxury hi-rises. There’s also the Acapulco that is a prize to be fought over by drug cartels–the city that is home to hookers and thieves, the streets where life is cheap and poverty is as pervasive as the wind off the ocean. Both of these versions of Acapulco will feature in the books, each clawing at the other and forcing Emilia to survive between them. No investigation will be easy, no crime will be simple.

The Special Sauce

A mystery series often has an extra bite if there is a continuing thread resolved only in the last book and the Emilia Cruz series is no exception. Throughout the series, Emilia keeps a log of women who have gone missing in Acapulco and she is always trying to find out what happened to them. They are las perdidas—the lost—and we’ll see how successful she can be.

Enjoy the following excerpt and we’ll see you in Acapulco!

The diver stretched to his full extension then pushed off. His back arched and his arms went wide and he looked like a crucifix as he sailed over the rocks. His arms rose over his head and his hands came together right before he impacted with the water. A spume of froth shot skywards and he disappeared into the depths as the crowd on the plaza gasped and applauded.

The diver popped out of the water beyond the rocks and the crowd applauded again. It took a few minutes before the next diver climbed onto the tiny platform on the cliff face. He was older, with a black suit and a heavy torso, and a less athletic look than the first diver. When he carefully turned his back to the ocean the crowd murmured excitedly.

“He’s got guts,” Kurt said. The back of his hand brushed against hers.

The diver launched backwards off the cliff face and twisted in the air. As his body rotated close to the cliff the crowd gasped, but he made a clean entry into the ocean, the water rippling out around him. The applause was wild.

As the sun set, they watched the other men laboriously climb up the cliff face to the small natural platform, stretch and limber their muscles, and dive past the rocks to the perfect spot in the ocean far below.

“That’s me,” Emilia said as the youngest diver in the red suit stood poised on the platform again. The sinking sun was blood-streaked behind him, blotting out his swimsuit so that he looked naked and raw.

“What do you mean?” Kurt asked. His hand turned and a finger stroked the inside of Emilia’s thumb and forefinger.

“That’s me.” Emilia’s hand turned of its own accord and gently played with Kurt’s. He was looking at her, not at the cliff divers, and Emilia heard herself babble nervously. “Going off a cliff, not ready for it. Not knowing if I’m going to hit the rocks and be smashed to pieces or not.”

Emilia watched as the young diver swung his arms and rolled his neck and she wondered if he was doing it for the crowd’s benefit or if it was a release for his fear. He hunched his shoulders forward, then pulled them back. His knees bent and his thigh muscles rippled and then he launched himself into the air. For a moment he was silhouetted against the spectacular sunset and then he curled himself into a somersault. The crowd gasped in unison as his body rotated and his hair seemed to kiss the cliff face. Then he stretched out, straining for distance, and completed a soaring arc that plunged him into the water like an arrow shot from a bow and Emilia felt the strain and the pain and the rush of cold water.

Thank you very much for reading and thanks to Carmen for the mouthwatering excerpt from her novel and also for her insights into her creative methods.

*********************************************************************

I have two announcements. You’ll be pleased to hear that I have two guests in my blog next week. My Friday guest is an author and dear Twitter friend and we’ve plenty of laughs in the last few months. I had to bring him here. My guest Tuesday is an artist whom I also met through Twitter, but he does not write books…Hopefully if technology doesn’t fail me this would be quite a different post to my usual ones as it will involve….music!

Before I forget…You must recall my post about blog of the Year 2012. Lovely Jenna Brooks has returned the favour and given me another star. Now, I’m not promising you it will be here because as I was telling you technology isn’t my strong point. But just in case I don’t manage…now I have 2 stars!

And of course I had to leave you with a reminder of my offerings.

‘The Man Who Never Was’