Tuesday 23 September 2014

Juliet B. Madison Does it Again!







Once again Juliet B. Madison has written a book which you won't be able to put down.
Best Served Cold is the fifth novel in the DI Frank Lyle Mystery Series.

The book is much darker than the previous novels in the series since it deals with the issues of paedophilia, hate crime and revenge. It also contains M/M sex scenes and is generally unsuitable for readers below the age of 18.

The story begins with the discovery of the apparent suicide of Ashbeck City Councillor, and former Mayor, George Driscoll by his loyal secretary, Shirley Kingston. However investigation leads to a much darker state of affairs. The more astute reader and DI Lyle Mystery series follower will remember Mayor Driscoll’s infamous New Year’s Eve dinner party towards the end of the second novel Heir to Misfortune. It is constantly referred to thereafter as the night that no one who was there will ever forget. While on that subject, although reading Heir to Misfortune is not essential for following the events of Best Served Cold it will help with the contextualisation of events. You can get your copy of Heir to Misfortune from http://bookShow.me/B00EQBAKC2

Here is the blurb for Best Served Cold

DI Lyle is about to get a glimpse into the murky world of political activism and hate crime; the murder of a prominent city councillor is just the tip of the iceberg.
The city of Ashbeck is on high alert when news breaks that convicted triple murderer and paedophile Bob Kenyon has escaped from custody.
Can DI Lyle and his team get to the bottom of this murky mess before another atrocity occurs?

Here is what Juliet herself says about the book:

As well as the murder investigation and hate crime the book raises the old nature versus nurture debate.
Are criminals born or shaped through the circumstances of their lives and misfortunes and those of the people whom they love? Hold onto whatever opinion you may have for now as, by the last page, your convictions may have become further cemented or changed completely.
The book also follows the back story of the series to date and the personal circumstances of the characters involved. It offers the latest stage in the love story between James Lyle & DS Thomas Fox as well as what goes on in DI Lyle’s home.
Most people know that the character of DI Lyle is based on roles played by British actor Robert Bathurst, as well as my own idea of what a CID detective SHOULD be. I have never made a secret of this fact. DI Lyle also resembles Bathurst physically so I offered a fellow Bathurst fan, Ruth Barlow, a cameo role as a CSI. It occurred to me while writing the book that my head CSI, Jim Cox, has never had a holiday during the series so I put Ruth in his place and made her just as good at the job.
As a huge fan of the UK TV crime drama series A Touch of Frost I could not resist setting this book around the time the first ever episode was screened or making reference to it in that Jayseera videos it for Frank because he’s out.  1992 was of course long before the days of DVD recorders, Sky Plus boxes and other TV recorders, as well as ITV player and catch-up TV, so we make a retro-trip back into the days of VHS,
Incidentally the phrase Revenge is a dish best served cold, from which I took the book’s title, is actually “Revenge is a dish best served in Cold blood” although it is not known for sure from whose lips the phrase originated.
I am extremely proud of this book and look forward to seeing how well it is received by the unsuspecting public. It deals with dark themes and follows lonely, often twisted, paths to a somewhat gruesome climax, which poses another question. Is murder ever morally justified? You may have your own ideas about that, but prepare for them to be challenged as the story draws to its close.

Juliet is also working on a DI Frank Lyle novella.  A Murder-Free Christmas will be available from Mid-December.

Here is an excerpt from the first chapter of Best Served Cold

I went up in the lift and was met by DS Fox.
“Is it grim?” I asked him.
“He looks like his eyes are bulging out of his head,” Fox replied.
“Nothing less than you would expect from a hanging then.” I replied.
“DC Mahon’s working her magic with Shirley Kingston,” Fox added.
DC Paula Mahon was exceptionally good with the friends and families of the deceased in most cases. She had just the right mix of compassion and suspicion, for we knew that not everyone who found a body was innocent of the death.
I followed DS Fox into the office.
Dr Bradley had taken Driscoll down and laid him on a plastic sheet. Two SOCOS were cleaning up the broken china and bagging it. Others were dusting for prints.
My friend, Jim Cox, did not seem to be present. Sensing my confusion a young woman approached me.
“DI Lyle, I’m acting head of SOCO, Ruth Barlow. Jim’s on holiday at the moment.”
 “Have you found anything?”
“The smashed china happened when Mrs Kingston brought in tea and came upon the body, but there were two cups already here each with about an inch of cold scummy coffee so we’ve taken those for prints. There was a note pinned to the body,”
A young SOCO handed me a clear folder with the note that Shirley had found.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked.
“You’re the detective,” Ruth replied.
“I had a feeling you’d say that,” I said.
I noticed that the team were going through the desk drawers and papers so decided to leave them to it. Mrs Shirley Kingston should be able to confirm whether or not it was Driscoll’s handwriting.
“He’s been dead about nine hours, DI Lyle,” Bradley informed me in response to my standard question, “His corneas are clouded and rigor is advancing although he hasn’t quite reached the total rigidity stage. The hyoid is fractured, but to be honest there are finger marks on his throat,” he indicated reddish purple bruises with white impressions.
“Are you saying what I think you are, Doc?” DS Fox asked, “Only one does pick up things simply by being the Coroner’s nephew, no matter how many scenes I attend.”
“What are you thinking, DS Fox?” Bradley’s brow furrowed in a frown.
“I don’t think ex-Mayor Driscoll committed suicide, Doc. I think he was strangled and then strung up to make it look like suicide. I only hope I’m wrong.”
“So do I,” I said, “He was a good bloke, no one deserves this.”
Bradley shook his head sadly and looked at me.
“I’m afraid that DS Fox is correct, DI Lyle. Councillor Driscoll was almost certainly murdered.”

You can order Best Served Cold here:

You can catch up with Juliet B Madison here:

Twitter:   @JulietBMadison https://twitter.com/JulietBMadison

Facebook: There are a number of DI Lyle related pages on Facebook but here is a small selection.




Sunday 14 September 2014

Melissa Smith's Untangle My Heart


Great New Release from Melissa A. Smith... Today!


Untangle My Heart
by Melissa A. Smith
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 14, 2014



Four people, minus two relationships, equals one perfect pair.

When a chance mix up tosses everything into the air, everyone is caught off guard. The only thing you can do then is stand back and wait for things to settle so you can untangle the mess.





Monday 27 January 2014

Barbara Silkstone talks about her very funny book The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three-Quarters.


This is the first book I read by the very witty and exciting writer Barbara Silkstone, and in many ways it is still my favourite, although I love her series about Wendy Darlin. Barbara writes a mixture of comedy and thriller which will keep you on the edge of your chair when you aren't laughing hysterically. Starting today, Monday 27 January, for two days only, Alice is on Countdown Sale, in the UK only, at a greatly reduced figure of 99p instead of its usual price of £3.99. At lunchtime on 28th it moves up to £1.99, then next day it's £3.99 again. So you have a very short window of opportunity to get hold of this book at a ridiculously cheap price. And now I'm going to let Barbara Silkstone talk about her book herself. Take it away, Barbara!


 What can I tell you about The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three-Quarters?
The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three-Quarters is a comedy thriller in the style of Carl Hiaasen, Janet Evanovich, and with touches of Monty Python. The adventure is inspired by the original Alice in Wonderland but with a totally different adult plot. The story takes place in Miami and London. A murder by beheading sends Alice Harte, reluctant real estate broker for thugs, running into the arms of Nigel Channing, a charming British con man.

What, besides Lewis Carroll, was the inspiration for this story?
That’s easy. My Cousin Vinnie and a Fish Called Wanda. Also my great love for John Cleese.

How to you develop and differentiate your characters?
The characters in The Secret Diary just took over the story. From Maris Archer who lives on white wine and laxative biscuits to Algy Green who super-glues his bat wing ears to his head, they took control. I just came along for the ride.

Who do you imagine is your ideal reader?
Anyone who’s ever gotten in over their head, and is bailing as fast as they can. Fans of Carol Hiaasen, Janet Evanovich, or Monty Python. J

What was my journey as a writer?
I’ve been trying to carve out writing time since I was in grade school. I started an underground newspaper in 8th grade. The nuns threatened me with excommunication if I kept it up, so I backed down. Over the years I have been fortunate to meet and be encouraged by the likes of Stephen King and James Michener. It was just a matter of deciding that it was too painful to keep putting off writing until the right time came along. There is no right time. A close friend gave me that finally push and then Kindle came along. The planets aligned.

What is your writing process?
I stew on a story until I can’t bear it any longer and then I go into a writing huddle. I emerge to eat and then return to the keyboard. No one ever warns you about how physically taxing writing can be. Neck, shoulder, hands, and bum… all suffer during the intense birthing period.

What authors most inspire me?
Raymond Chandler, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Sue Monk Kidd, Janet Evanovich.

What book written by someone else do I wish I had written?
The Secret Life of Bees. It is a lovely book. Pure joy even as it makes me cry.

The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland

About the Author

Silkstone’s writing has been described as “perfectly paced and pitched – shades of Janet Evanovich and Carl Hiaasen – without seeming remotely derivative. Fast moving action that shoots from the hip with bullet-proof characterization.”

Blog:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Barbara-Silkstone-Author/156097004489447

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Pinterest:

Barbara Silkstone’s Amazon Author’s page



Book links:

The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland

DE - http://www.amazon.de/dp/B003BIGFSE
CA - http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B003BIGFSE



Wendy and the Lost Boys

DE - http://www.amazon.de/dp/B005FKHKTE
CA - http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B005FKHKTE


LondonBroil

US   http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006IH6LHA
DE - http://www.amazon.de/dp/B006IH6LHA
CA - http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B006IH6LHA


Cairo Caper




Wendy Darlin Tomb Raider Boxed Set

DE - http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00FM1TLMA
CA - http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00FM1TLMA


Zo White and the Seven Morphs
DE - http://www.amazon.de/dp/B008U8NGBE
CA - http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B008U8NGBE


COLD CASE MORPHS   A Comedy Mystery

DE - http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00AZ5PNNO
CA - http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00AZ5PNNO

  Criminally Funny Fables
DE - http://www.amazon.de/dp/B00A7095OA
CA - http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00A7095OA



The Adventures of a Love Investigator
US - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0040SXWBW
DE - http://www.amazon.de/dp/B0040SXWBW
CA - http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0040SXWBW



Blog:

Website:


Facebook:

Twitter:

Pinterest:

Barbara Silkstone’s Amazon Author’s page