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Play Dead, by Anne Penketh

 

I am absolutely thrilled to have added a new author to my bookshelf! I didn’t find out until the end that this was actually the third in the series of DI Sam Clayton books. It works perfectly as a standalone but now I am intrigued as to what I missed (off to hunt for them…)
A woman is discovered murdered, impaled by her cello. Other members of the orchestra are targeted and an accidental death in the recent past is revealed to be murder too.
Musical politics are at the centre of the case that Clayton and his team need to investigate. There is also a personal worry as Clayton’s girlfriend is in the choir associated with the orchestra…
Play Dead was an excellent police procedural novel. The police team is at the heart of the book and their investigation takes place before our eyes. There is humour and banter as you would expect from a team and this gives a degree of realism without the hierarchical tensions that are often rife in police books.
The police characters are well developed and author Anne Penketh has made Clayton is particularly easy to like. The suspects are all acting suspiciously so I had no idea who was responsible for the murders. All of the investigation loose ends are tied up by the end of the book whcih I personally find more satisfying than open ended novels.
There is plenty of scope for more books as Clayton’s personal life has unfinished threads and Norwich is a big place, lots of potential crimes!

Play Dead (Detective Sam Clayton #3) by Anne Penketh

 

A SLEEPY ENGLISH CITY IS ROCKED BY A SERIES OF MURDERS TARGETING MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL ORCHESTRA.
WHO IS KILLING OFF MUSICIANS WITH THEIR OWN INSTRUMENTS?
Detective Inspector Sam Clayton is called in to investigate three victims with ties to the Norfolk Festival Orchestra.
Musician Kristina Manning is impaled by her cello spike.
The disgraced conductor is found with his head stuffed into a piano. He’s on the brink of death.
A trumpeter dies, poisoned by his mouthpiece.
Will Clayton’s new girlfriend, Melissa, a singer in the NFO, be next on the murderer’s list?
Is there a serial killer with a musical edge on the loose? And what does the disappearance of former orchestra member Lauren Garner have to do with it?
A MYSTERY WITH A STUNNING TWIST AND A RACE AGAINST TIME TO STOP A MURDER SPREE
PLAY DEAD is the third in a new series of page-turning crime thrillers set in an atmospheric part of Norfolk. Perfect for fans of LJ Ross, Mel Sherratt, Colin Dexter, or Ruth Rendell.
What readers are saying about ANNE PENKETH
“Five out of five stars!” Michelle K
“I had a hard job putting this one down as it had me fully engaged and wanting more.” Dawn J
“This book was brilliant from start to finish, it was totally gripping from the first page. I read this book in one sitting, it was so good I didn’t want to put it down.” Lynn G
“Great book to read on holiday with a satisfyingly twisting storyline.” CH
A real page turner.” Barb D
“It had many twists which kept me guessing. I would never have worked out the ending.” Shamiela A
Riveting read.” Penny B
“Sam Clayton is not your average hard-boiled detective. He has problems of his own as he sets out to find a serial killer.” Meg B
THE TEAM
Detective Inspector Sam Clayton leads the investigation into the North Norfolk murders, joined the police straight from school as a beat bobby in Manchester before rising through the ranks of the CID. He was transferred to Norwich after being promoted to DI following a high-profile case investigated by Lancashire Constabulary.
Detective Sergeant Julie Everett is an intuitive officer who was promoted to detective sergeant from her home town of Ipswich where she had a background in child protection. She is discreet about her personal life among colleagues, particularly about the tragedy which haunts her. She has to deal with a high-pressure job while raising her child who moved with her to Norwich.
ALSO BY ANNE PENKETH
THE DI SAM CLAYTON SERIES
Book 1: MURDER ON THE MARSH
Book 2: THE BAD SISTER
Book 3: PLAY DEAD

 

Anne Penketh – Author Bio
I’m a Lancashire lass but for most of my career, I’ve been a foreign correspondent. I’ve reported from all over the world on some of the most cataclysmic events of our time, including the Egyptian revolution and the collapse of the Berlin wall.
While in London I was diplomatic editor of The Independent, but these days I’m based in Paris and concentrating on fiction writing. The third in a series of crime novels featuring Detective Inspector Sam Clayton, Play Dead, is out now. My first novel, Food Fight, was published in 2015.
I’ve reported from Paris mainly for The Independent and The Guardian, but I also contributed to France24 television and Monocle radio.  As a freelancer, I’ve written for The New Zealand Herald and The National (Abu Dhabi), as well as the LA Times, the New York Times, the Radio Times, the Oldie, Monocle magazine, Quartz, and Spark News.
Between 2009 and 2012, I headed the Washington office of the British American Security Information Council (BASIC), a trans-Atlantic NGO focused on nuclear disarmament.
During my ten-year stint on The Independent I was one of the few journalists to report from Iran, North Korea and Saudi Arabia.
Earlier, I was a staff foreign correspondent with the French news agency, AFP, which posted me to Moscow during the incredible Gorbachev years. I also reported for AFP from France, and New York where I covered the United Nations.
I started my journalistic career in Canada, arriving with two suitcases to seek my fortune in Montreal, from where I reported for British newspapers before getting a job on the Montreal Gazette.
Before that, I was a postgraduate student at University College London whose French department nurtured my lifelong love of French literature and culture.
LINKS
Website:  www.annepenketh.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anne.penketh.9

 


Her Deadly Rose, by Carolyn Arnold

Her Deadly Rose book cover
A figure skater is found dead in her dressing room after a gala. Detective Amanda Steele was in the audience so is first on the scene. The deceased is the niece of a friend which gives an extra incentive for them to catch the killer. A handwritten message shows the murder was personal…
Her Deadly Rose is the 12th book in the Detective Amanda Steele series of crime thrillers set in America. There are no spoilers about previous cases but Amanda’s personal life and relationships have developed over the series.
Michaela Glover was a skater with a bright future. But that is abruptly ended when she is killed backstage with a cunning killer using her peanut allergy to murder her. Amanda and her partner Trent begin to look for motive and face a variety of suspects.
Amanda has issues in her private life to contend with as well as the murder investigation. She has a romantic tension with her partner while her boyfriend is talking about wanting a baby. Meanwhile the trauma of her past and that of her adopted daughter are also prominent in her mind.
The book begins with a prologue from the killer’s perspective so we are instantly drawn into the narrative. The style of writing is easy to read and the chapters are reasonably short to push the plot and the investigation onwards. I was kept guessing as so many characters seemed to have a potential grudge and have to be eliminated through tireless and dedicated police work.
Her Deadly Rose is an enjoyable crime thriller with a strong female lead.
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MEDIA PACK
Book: HER DEADLY ROSE 
Author: Carolyn Arnold 
Pub Day: OCT 18th 2024
Buy Link(s): https://geni.us/B0D6YXTM4Ysocial
About the Book: 
The girl’s lifeless body lies next to a scattered bouquet of crimson roses, the petals around her head like tiny pools of blood. Gripped in her hand is the note that came with the flowers, sent by someone who wanted her dead.
When champion figure skater Michaela Glover returns to her hometown of Woodbridge for a special performance, Detective Amanda Steele is part of the cheering crowds. But when Michaela is discovered dead in her dressing room after the show, Amanda is the first to investigate the shocking scene.
There is no sign of foul play, and the room is overflowing with flowers from Michaela’s adoring fans. But Amanda’s heart stops at the sight of a few roses tied with black ribbon and a note that reads “You’ll be sorry”. And when forensic tests reveal the ribbon was laced in something Michaela was deathly allergic to, Amanda is certain this is cold-blooded murder.
Desperate for a lead, Amanda dives into Michaela’s life to find out who could possibly want this sweet girl dead. She soon discovers that despite having a glittering future ahead of her, Michaela had a troubled past, and was surrounded by people jealous of her success.
When someone close to Michaela is discovered brutally murdered, Amanda is terrified there could be yet more innocent victims to follow. Can she uncover the twisted killer’s identity before they strike again?
A completely gripping crime thriller that will have you racing through the pages! Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Rachel Caine.
Author Bio
To keep current on author news, sign up for Carolyn Arnold’s newsletter at http://dld.bz/jBtNt
CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy mysteries, police procedurals, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™.
Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.
She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.
Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolynArnold/
X: https://twitter.com/Carolyn_Arnold
Website: https://carolynarnold.net/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/authorcarolynarnold/
Bookouture Email Sign Up: https://www.bookouture.com/carolyn-arnold


A Dead Herring, by Helen Golden


A Dead Herring book cover

Lady Bea is at the royal family’s Scottish castle for a winter shooting party. Nowhere near the awful Detective Fitzwilliam. Or so she thinks…until a murder takes place among the guests and the only officer available is her nemesis…
A Dead Herring is the fourth book in the Right Royal cosy murder mystery series. I have previously reviewed the earlier books in the series: Spruced Up For Murder, For Richer For Deader, and Not Mushroom For Death.
Ben Rhodes has made plenty of enemies and has had to hire a bodyguard. But surely he is safe at a royal residence… NOPE! Ben is found dead in the bath as the royal family are snowed in on their estate. Luckily (or unluckily, judging by Bea’s response!) DCI Fitzwilliam is staying with friends on the estate and is able to visit the main house to try to track down the killer.
There is plenty of tension between Bea and Fitzwilliam as usual. They rub each other up the wrong way and take offence when none is meant. In contrast to this is the loving relationship between Perry and Simon who both have marriage on their minds. Daisy the dog continues to have a prominent role in finding clues and getting help for those in danger.
I love this series of books. There is a wonderful light hearted tone to the writing as well as humour in the dialogue. Once again there are several suspects to investigate with plenty of red herrings along the way. Bea finally finds out the truth about her brother’s work as well as extra information about her late husband. I did manage to guess the killer but this did not spoil my enjoyment of the book at all.
A Dead Herring is a hugely enjoyable cosy murder mystery from a brilliant series.

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A Dead Herring
BREAKING NEWS Urshall United FC Owner Dies at Drew Castle
 Details are sketchy at this stage, but it is believed businessman Ben Rhodes (38) was found dead in his bathroom at the king’s Scottish home by his twin brother Max, where the pair were guests at a shooting party hosted by Lord Frederick Astley (39), brother of Lady Beatrice (36). The cause of Mr Rhodes’ death is not known, but he started receiving death threats from football fans after his controversial takeover of the club and had recently employed his own personal security.
How unlucky can a girl get? Is fate playing a cruel trick on her for boorish Detective Chief Inspector Richard Fitzwilliam to be the only person who can get to the snowed-in castle to investigate Ben Rhodes’s death? And with no other external resources available to him, he now needs her, her smart dog, and her best friends’ help to catch the killer. Can they put their issues behind them and work together to find the murderer before the weather improves and the perpetrator is free to leave?
Another page-turning cozy British whodunnit with a hint of humour from author Helen Golden.
Purchase Link – https://books2read.com/u/3GWBZ8

Author Bio –
Hello. I’m Helen Golden. I write British contemporary cozy whodunnits with a hint of humour. I live in small village in Lincolnshire in the UK with my husband, my step-daughter, her two cats, our two dogs, sometimes my step-son, and our tortoise.
Previusly, I worked in senior management, but after my recent job came to a natural end I had the opportunity to follow my dreams and start writing. It’s very early in my life as an author, but so far I’m loving it.
It’s crazy busy at our house, so when I’m writing I retreat to our caravan (an impulsive lockdown purchase) which is mostly parked on our drive. When I really need total peace and quiet, I take it to a lovely site about 15 minutes away and hide there until my family runs out of food or clean clothes

Social Media Links –
Insta: www.instragram.com/helengolden_author
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helengoldenauthor
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@helengoldenauthor

 


Dead Drift, by A.J. Hill

Dead Drift book cover Retired detective Jack Lunn discovers a body floating in the river when he goes fishing. The murder case is quickly closed but Jack has doubts about the lead officer (who just happens to be in a relationship with Jack’s ex wife). He is convinced that the police have the wrong man and is determined to find out the truth for himself…
Dead Drift is the first book in a new series to feature Jack Lunn. He is a detective who was forced to retire on medical grounds but his mind works as fast as ever. Jack frequently quotes philosophers and wordsmiths, and even Yoda from Star Wars!
The murder victim is a cantankerous old lady who had disputes with family and others in the local community. Jack identifies several suspects but the officer in charge of the case just won’t listen to him. Luckily Jack has friends in the police force who take his concerns seriously and ensure a thorough investigation.
There are several personal strands to the plot as well. Jack is in a relationship with Sarah but she isn’t happy about his involvement in the cases especially as he drags her daughter into it. Meanwhile Jack’s ex lives with Geoff Cooke who is leading the murder investigation and sees Jack’s input as threatening.
Jack is trying to set up a fishing tackle business and this slows the pace of the book but adds a realism. He is a great lead character and has strong personal and professional relationships because he gets on with a whole range of people, except Cooke!
Dead Drift was a very enjoyable introduction to a new crime and police thriller series. I Iook forward to seeing what happens to Jack next (bit of a cliffhanger ending!)
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Buy Links
Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Drift-gripping-thriller-Introducing-ebook/dp/B09PYXBQVM
Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Drift-gripping-thriller-Introducing-ebook/dp/B09PYXBQVM
Dead Drift book blurb
Former Detective Inspector Jack Lunn is enjoying the quiet life.
Twenty years on from being medically retired from the job with Hampshire Police, he’s earned his quiet routine of long walks in the New Forest.
However, Jack’s peace is shattered when he discovers the body of a friend and local landowner while on a fishing trip.
Drawn into the investigation, he comes face to face with an old colleague, and the police investigation machine he thought he had left behind.
As family secrets are exposed and a reporter takes an interest, Jack and his partner’s eldest daughter Gemma, a former military intelligence officer set to work to uncover who killed his friend.
As the body count rises, can they both unravel the mystery before it’s too late, or will Jack’s life be sacrificed as just so much dead drift…?
author AJ Hill
Author Bio
Born in West London, the middle of three boys, Andy won a scholarship to Lord Wandsworth College. He represented the school at most sports and also played rugby for Hampshire at Under 18 level.
After university, working life began with H. M. Customs & Excise, mostly on Mobile Task Force Units and Rummage Crews out of Southampton. He then moved to the Police as a beat bobby in Dorset.
He now works in property and lives in the South Downs, West Sussex. Often found at crime writing festivals and an avid reader, Andy regularly files reviews with the renowned crime fiction eZine Shotsmag.
You can see Andy chatting about writing and Dead Drift with renowned crime writing interviewer, Jacky Gramosi Collins (Dr Noir) for Noir At The Bar – Edinburgh via the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1yjeTDVD5c
Follow him at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whillandy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andy28dec/


A Deception Most Deadly, by Genevieve Essig

A Deception Most Deadly book cover

 

Cassie Gynne heads to Florida in 1883 following the death of her father. She meets her aunt in jail after an eventful arrival but this is just the beginning for the unconventional pair! Her aunt’s enemy is dicsovered dead at the bottom of a tower and Cassie is sure it is murder but regrets pressing for an investigation when her aunt becomes the prime suspect…
A Deception Most Deadly is an historical cosy murder mystery set in America in the 1880s.
Cassie and her aunt Flora are thoroughly modern women. Both are feisty and independent with a healthy splash of the eccentric as well. They find themselves embroiled in a murder investigation and Flore is quickly accused of being the prime suspect. Cassie begins her own search to clear her aunt’s name and uncovers awhole host of secrets and lies.
I found the pace of the plot varied with some patches where little happened, and others where the twists and turns occurred relentlessly fast. I was kept guessing as to the culprit and motive until the very end.
The tone of the book is gently humorous, witty rather than laugh out loud funny. However, there are some wonderful turns of phrase that the author uses that made me smile. There is an emotional side to the book as well as Cassie is dealing with her grief for her late father as well as having entanglements of the heart, but will she choose the right man…?
A Deception Most Deadly is quite a quirky book in terms of the style of writing as well as the lead characters.
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A Deception Most Deadly: An utterly addictive historical cozy murder mystery (A Cassie Gwynne Mystery Book 1) by Genevieve Essig
About the book
 
Meet Cassie Gwynne: bookworm, cat lover, reluctant heiress… and determined detective?
Florida, 1883. Cassie Gwynne is looking for a fresh start when she steps off the steamship at Fernandina harbor for the first time. She’s trying hard to be a proper lady, for once. She’s styled her unruly hair, shined her boots, and even purchased a whole new fashionable (or at least fashionably priced) wardrobe. However, she’s certain finding a body is not very ladylike behavior…
While out exploring the beautiful island with her Aunt Flora, Cassie stumbles across the body of Peanut Runkles, town grump and her aunt’s neighbor, lying at the foot of the harbor pilots’ lookout tower. To make matters worse, because Peanut and Flora have been quarreling for years over everything from Flora’s eccentric ideas to her pet pig’s fondness for Peanut’s vegetable patch, Flora is immediately arrested for murder.
Desperate to save the only family she has left, Cassie vows to prove Flora’s innocence and untangle the mystery herself, no matter how much the surly local sheriff disapproves. Cassie’s brilliant mind and nose for a clue lead her on an investigation that takes her all around the island, and even earns her a valiant furry friend in Esy the kitten.
But how does the mysterious ledger Cassie finds hidden in a secret drawer in Peanut’s desk connect to the crime? Cassie is determined to dig up the truth, but can she catch the killer before her time on the island comes to a deadly end?
This warm and witty cozy mystery will transport you to the island city of Fernandina and introduce you to a feisty heroine far before her time! Perfect for fans of Verity Bright, T E Kinsey and Deanna Raybourn.
Buy link
Amazon: https://geni.us/B09M7LM6HSsocial

author Genevieve Essig

About the author: Genevieve Essig
If you think about it, it makes perfect sense I’d eventually try to be a writer. One need only examine my childhood, as any therapist will tell you, and look for the signs: On family vacations my poor mother, already on her last nerve as my father, the Botany Professor, drove us around winding mountain roads with one eye on the ground vegetation, constantly screamed at me to “stop reading and look at the scenery.” I assigned my books call numbers and insisted my friends “check them out” from my “library” (the fines for late returns were steep but, as it turned out, largely unenforceable). I wrote plays about forest fairies and figures from classical mythology and petitioned for special dispensation so I could stage them on the playground during lunch. My favorite school task was diagramming sentences.
So, when, many years later, I scaled back my other work to spend more time writing, no one really should have been surprised. Concerned for my sanity and financial well-being, maybe, but not surprised. And am I ever glad I did. I am truly blessed, and I make an effort every day to remember that.
What else… I’m half-Chinese and Florida-raised, Yale- and UVA- educated, and Chicago…buffed and polished? In any case, I now proudly call New Orleans home, and when I’m not writing or getting lost down research rabbit holes, I spend my time practicing law, shooting pool, performing operas and musicals, ogling old buildings, acting for film and television, futzing with inventions that address highly specific and possibly only-annoying-to-me problems, traveling, ranting at bartenders about the evils of straws, riding horses, and petting strange cats (though, since we’ve recently welcomed home a new kitten friend, Musette, I might need to cut back on that last).
 
Author social media
Instagram: @essigauthor www.instagram.com/essigauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/essigauthor
Twitter: @essigauthor https://twitter.com/essigauthor
Website: https://www.genevieveessig.com