Prologue or Chapter One?

            The village was in darkness, just a string of pearl like roadside lamps leading the way through a single narrow street.  Slowing the car to the speed limit the road ahead was dark and wet from an earlier shower.  In the hills above the village, he had driven through a deluge that flooded the road but here the weather had been kinder. 

            Daniel had spent a few nights staying at a hilltop hotel, which offered breathtaking views across the Derbyshire countryside.  A favourite haunt for artists, they seemed to fill the place leaving just a few rooms for Daniel and his business colleagues.  The hotel itself was pleasant enough but Daniel was not happy about the treatment he and the other guests had received.  The staff although very young lacked what he would have expected from a luxury hotel.  Senior staff members were not much better, in fact he had witnessed one of the receptionists being very rude to one of the elderly artists and Daniel himself had suffered curt comments from a manager.  It was then that he decided that once home he would make a complaint to the head office of the chain who owned the hotel.  He was not supposed to check out until the following morning but he was missing Clara and wanted to return home as soon as possible so he made the decision to drive through the night.   

            Following the gentle curve in the road, he pushed the gear stick forward slowing the car even more.  His sat nav told him that once on the motorway the journey time would be just under four hours.  He doubted that, closer to five he thought, but at least at this time of night there was less traffic to contend with.

            As he approached the last house in the village, his eyes flicked to the darkened space to his left.  This was a water meadow and open fields.  Here a river ran through the valley, he imagined the view on a summer’s day.  Suddenly movement caught his eye and before he had time to react, a car shot out of a small side turning in front of him.  It bounced across a narrow pathway completely out of control before disappearing into the darkness.  Braking hard, Daniel brought his car to a stop and threw open the driver’s side door.  Climbing out he stood in the road hardly able to believe what had just happened, then running to the spot where the car had left the road, he peered into the darkness.  He could see very little but there was a vague shape against the denseness of the shadows.  Moving forward he soon discovered the car resting on its roof.  The headlights were out so searching his pocket he found his mobile phone and turning on the torch directed the beam into the car.  Air bags had deployed but were now deflated, the limp material filling the space where the driver should have been.

            “Hello,” he called out and reaching for the handle pulled open the door.

            It was a small sports car, just two seats but luckily, it had a hard top.  A soft top car would have collapsed completely crushing the driver.  Leaning in he found the driver squashed into the foot well.

            “Are you hurt?” leaning in further he reached out.

            Strands of dark hair covered the face that peered back at him and playing the light over the interior, he realised that he was looking at a woman.  She groaned.

            “We need to get you out,” he said shuffling further into the car.

            Grasping her by the hand she responded by wriggling out from the cramped space.

            “Can you stand?”

            “Yes I think so, help me please.”  Holding onto him, she pulled herself from the wreckage.

Daniel supported her gently and she groaned again as she collapsed against him.  He could feel her heart racing, her body trembling then he caught the aroma of expensive perfume.  They stood like this for several moments before he suggested they move.  Lights from his car were a welcome beacon in the darkness of the street.  The last roadside lamp was a hundred yards away, its beam failing to reach them.

            “You are hurt,” Daniel said as he helped her into the passenger seat.  “I should call for an ambulance.”

            “No please.”  Alarm filled her face.

            “At least let me take you to the nearest hospital.”

            “There is no need, please do not concern yourself, it’s only my pride that is injured.”

            He doubted that, but doing as she asked he climbed into the driver’s seat.

            “My name is Daniel.”

            “I’m Sophia,” she replied and laying her head back against the rest closed her eyes.

            “Where would you like me to take you?  We should call someone to take care of your car.”

            “No please, tell no one.  Will you take me with you?”

            Looking at her, he frowned.  “Surely someone will be worried about you.”

            “There is no one.”  Pain masked her face but she hid it well then she opened her eyes.  “Will you take me with you?  I will explain everything later.”

            “Is there anything that you would like me to fetch from your car?”

            “No, I have everything that I need.”

            Daniel hesitated uncertain about what to do next.  What would the consequences be if he did as she asked?  Clearly, he had to do something, he could hardly throw her out into the night.  He told her where he was going and she simply nodded her head then closing her eyes again, she sighed.

            Daniel drove slowly away leaving an overturned sports car in a field on the edge of a village somewhere in Derbyshire.  

I woke up the other morning with this running through my head so I wrote it down.  It could be the beginning of a new thriller so perhaps I should develop it a bit further see where it goes, but first something for you to think about.

1. Who is Sophie?

2. Who/what is she running away from?

3. Has Daniel done the right thing or should he take her to a hospital or police station?

4. What would you do in the same circumstances?

I'm considering the same questions so this might just turn into a full blown novel.

             

 

Fly a Spitfire simulator

Spitfire Simulator

The Spitfire simulator at Manston Museum in Kent is a fantastic way to experience life in the cockpit of this iconic aircraft.

I arrived for my pre-flight briefing and became familiar with the controls before starting the Merlin engine and trundling off along the runway.

I took off from Biggin Hill and flew out over London heading for the Shard which soon appeared on the horizon.  Climbing to 2000 feet I made a right turn around the Shard heading for the Serpentine and passing over Buckingham Palace then out over the estuary where I did a couple of 'Victory rolls'.  Climbing to 10,000 feet I did a couple of loops experiencing the effects of stall as the airspeed over the wings struggled to keep the aircraft aloft.  It was all so realistic with the graphics through the screen perfectly clear.  Swooping down through wispy cloud over the Isle of Grain I was supposed to fly beneath the QEII bridge but I had too much height so missed the opportunity.  Heading along the coast towards Whitstable and Herne Bay I made a sharp right turn before lining up on Manston airport where I made a bumpy landing.

The flight lasted for a good half hour leaving me breathless and wanting more.

A few hours in this machine and I feel certain I could fly it solo without the guidance of my brilliant instructor.

This experience is a must for budding Spitfire pilots and those simply interested in flying.

 

The complete works, (so far)!

These include books from The Torc Trilogy.

Book 1; The Belgae Torc

Book 2; The Gordian Knot

Book 3; Cutting the Gordian Knot (The Final Solution)

The Torc Trilogy follows the adventures of Dr Orlagh Gairne, archaeologist at The National Museum of Ireland as she searches for a lost torc.  Once it has been found she  struggles to deal with its ancient powers. The Torc has a chequered history stretching back to the Iron Age.  Many people throughout history have tried to possess it and harness its powers often with tragic consequences.  

The thrillers begin with The Witness; a psychological thriller which sees Josie MacDonald, a landscape artist striving to outwit a serial killer who haunts not only her life but the lives of her friends.  

The Cellist; my second thriller focuses more on the police investigation into the mysterious deaths of musicians.  DI Terry Ashton and his partner DS Isobel Woods work tirelessly to track down the killer before he strikes again.  Mia Ashton, Terry's daughter, a rising star in the classical music world attracts the attention of the killer.  Can her father and the might of the Metropolitan Police Force keep her safe or is it too late?  

The Photographer; focuses more on the lives of the victims and sees DS Woods investigating a case of abduction and murder.  

Characters, places and references from all three books appear across the range and although I have tried to write each book as a standalone novel it would be advantageous to have read them in order.

Further books in this 'series' are expected with Woods involved in another case later this year.  

My books are available on both Kindle and as paperbacks from Amazon and all good online book sellers such as Waterstones and Barnes and Noble.

Happy Reading!

Short story in progress

Another short story or will it morph into something more?

 

I have been working these last four weeks, helping out at my previous employer who is particularly busy and short staffed at the moment.

This unfortunately has had a detrimental on my completing the novel that I have been writing these past few months.  Its almost finished and as you can imagine has reached a critical stage where the plot comes together and the twists and turns become relevant.  I have made loads of notes and prompts throughout the writing process but now feel that I need to read through the manuscript before continuing to the finale.  I'm back to work next week so this will have to wait until I have more time and can focus on this critical part of the writing process.

However, the itch to write needs to be scratched so I began to write a short story yesterday.  Having introduced the characters and laid down the foundations for the plot I now feel that it could develop into a novella or perhaps something longer.  Only time will tell and of course the cajoling characters who are constantly making their thoughts known.  

Their thoughts or my thoughts?

Happy reading and stay safe.

A thriller, the plot continues...

 The Photographer my latest thriller.

‘Suddenly he was there beside her.  She could sense him, his shadow a spirit come to claim her soul, Blinking rapidly in an attempt to clear her vision she believed that if she could make eye contact with him she could appeal to his conscience – but she was mistaken. He was no longer there…’

            Professional photographer Matthew Cunningham returns home from a successful assignment in Paris and upon realising the loss of his camera case, he panics, not only does it contain expensive photographic equipment, but also hundreds of stored images. 

           Several days later, his girlfriend Libby Ellis receives an anonymous package containing both photographs of the models Matt works with and also herself. 

After a meeting, Libby fails to return home and Detective Sergeant Isobel Woods begins investigating her disappearance.  Struggling with internal politics and a boss intent on discrediting her, she is told to solve the case as quickly as possible.  However, events take an unexpected turn.

           Gradually women connected to Matt are drawn into the nightmare and DS Woods suspects his involvement.  Co-operating with the police while secretly negotiating with the abductor, Matt risks incriminating himself and is left with no option but to gamble with the lives of those closest to him.

This book continues the adventures of DS Isobel Woods and other characters from my previous thrillers The Witness and The Cellist.

Available from Amazon on kindle or as a paperback from all good on-line book stores including Waterstones and Barnes and Noble.

Happy Reading!

The Final Solution.

 Cutting the Gordian Knot (The Final Solution) is now available from Amazon at just 99p or $1.37 as a Kindle download.

Two months after their disastrous holiday, Orlagh and Jerry are at home in Ireland recovering from their terrifying ordeal. The Belgae Torc is at last on display at the National Museum and Orlagh is under increasing pressure to divide her time between her work at the museum and heading up an archaeological dig in County Meath. She is convinced that an ancient battle between Iron Age tribes took place here and is determined to prove her theory, but as archaeologists begin to unearth the truth, they are faced with some unexpected surprises.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, Jack Harrington is making discoveries of his own and finds himself juggling personal and professional commitments.  His organisation is still recovering from recent events in the Mediterranean and is loathed to be drawn into another deadly conflict, but like it or not, there are unresolved issues that cannot be avoided.

The Phoenix Legion is about to implement the final phase of its master plan and this time Schiffer is convinced that nothing can stop him from realising his goal.

With the past merging with the present, the elements of a deadly conclusion are finally coming together. Will history repeat itself or can another worldwide catastrophe be avoided?  

The final book in The Torc Trilogy, Cutting the Gordian Knot brings this epic adventure to an end.

This offer is for a limited period only so don't miss out, download your copy today by visiting Amazon Books.

Happy Reading!

The Gordian Knot

 

The Gordian Knot the second book in The Torc Trilogy is currently on offer from Amazon as a Kindle download.  At just £0.99 or $1.37, this is for a limited period only.

The Gordian Knot, second book in The Torc Trilogy begins twelve months after the traumatic adventure that almost cost Orlagh her life.  

The Aegean coast in the Mediterranean is a fitting location for an archaeologist to spend a few weeks enjoying the ancient sites of Anatolia.  Orlagh and her partner Jerry were looking forward to relaxing in the sun, enjoy each other’s company and do ordinary things for a while, but fate is about to intervene. 

The Belgae Torc, Jack Harrington and The Phoenix Legion are far from her thoughts but as these elements are drawn inexplicably together, Orlagh once again finds herself in the middle of another terrifying nightmare.     

The Gordian Knot, a special offer.

The Gordian Knot second book in The Torc Trilogy is now on offer from Amazon at just £0.99 or $0.99 as a kindle download.

The Belgae Torc is included in this offer for just a few more hours so don't delay, take advantage of this fabulous offer and download your copies today.

Happy Reading!

The Gordian Knot

Twelve months has passed since the traumatic events that almost claimed her life and Dr Orlagh Gairne is looking forward to a well-earned holiday.  With her partner, Jerry, they jet off for the Aegean coast where they plan to make the most of the Mediterranean sun and visit the ancient sites of Anatolia.

The Phoenix Legion, still reeling from a humiliating defeat, have re-grouped and are now planning the next phase of their quest.  They are in possession of the Belgae Torc, but this is not enough to ensure total power so they must rely on the druids and their connection with the spirit world.

Whilst searching for treasure in the Sea of Azov, Jack Harrington and his team make an unexpected discovery and with the past merging with the present are unable to avoid being drawn in to another deadly battle.

The Belgae Torc, Jack Harrington and The Phoenix Legion are far from her thoughts, but as Orlagh enjoys her holiday with the man she loves, these forces come together.  Will she manage to avoid another conflict or will she become a victim of circumstances that are beyond her control?

 

The Belgae Torc

The Belgae Torc, the first book in The Torc Trilogy is currently on offer from Amazon as a Kindle download.  At just £0.99 or $0.99 this has been set for just a limited period only.

 

The Belgae Torc is the first book in The Torc Trilogy. 

The story of the Belgae Torc begins in the Iron Age and the first 10% of book one is dedicated to describing the beginning of this epic journey.

Don’t be put off by the first part of this book because part two brings you up to date with Orlagh and the modern day characters.

Some readers may think that the book is all about the Iron Age, but it's not.  The rest of the book is a modern day story with links to recent history.

The other books in The Torc Trilogy are:- The Gordian Knot and Cutting the Gordian Knot (The Final Solution).

Happy reading!

 

Special Offer

My Action Adventure novel

The Belgae Torc

available exclusively from Amazon on Kindle at just £0.99 or $0.99  

 

The Belgae Torc

 England 50 BC - A Celtic symbol of power and wealth, a Torc wrought from white gold, a trophy for a king.

 Luain Mac Lanis, warrior turned metal smith, is commissioned to make a magnificent Torc, but he knows nothing of the curse surrounding the strange metal.  The only way to lift the curse is to offer the Torc to the Gods in a sacrificial ceremony.

 

Two thousand years later the Torc is listed on the inventory of a sunken ship.  Dr Orlagh Gairne, a leading archaeologist, is sent to work with Jack Harrington and his crew of salvage experts.  It’s Orlagh’s job to identify the Torc and ensure its safe delivery to the National Museum, but the operation is not as straightforward as expected.  Aided by his team of mercenaries and an historical expert, Jack unearths a wave of hatred spreading across Europe.  With the past weaving tightly with the present, they must infiltrate the terrorists’ lair in order to prevent a worldwide catastrophe.

The Belgae Torc is the first book in The Torc Trilogy and is on offer for a limited period only.  The second book, The Gordian Knot will be on offer soon so don't miss this chance to pick up book 1 before its too late.  

Happy Reading!

 

 

A short story

 Note:-  I have posted this short story before but this version has been edited and 'tidied up'.  I do hope you enjoy reading it and please leave me your comments.

An Edwardian Lady

 

The traffic was moving slowly through the village, why her father had chosen to leave the motorway she could never understand.  He always told her it was because her mother liked to see the little villages and country lanes along the way, but she realised that was not entirely true.  Perhaps it was his way of prolonging the last few hours of their holiday.

It had been stifling sitting in the back of her parents’ car, she could still remember the hot breeze coming in through the open windows.  It was then that something happened that would change her life completely. 

They passed a large pair of ornate iron gates that stood open at the side of the road and strangely, she knew that something was wrong.  People were walking along the driveway but it was private, the gates should have been closed and worst of all where the house had once stood there was nothing.  As the car moved on, she saw a sign that told her the gardens were open from March until October.

Thoughts filled her head, snatches of conversation, echoes from the past or was it merely a romantic notion of how things used to be?  For the rest of the journey Jane felt somehow disconnected from reality, she could not begin to understand what had happened to her during those few seconds, but of one thing she was certain, she would never forget it.

Twenty years later and Jane was no longer a little girl, but still she dreamt of returning to the gardens that she had seen so long ago.  In her dreams, she was part of the family who lived in the magnificent house.  She had grown up there with her brothers and sisters and when she became of age, she had courted eligible young men, which became her favourite pastime. 

In her teens, the urge to return to the place she called home had become almost unbearable and each night, as she lay down to sleep, her dreams would come to claim her.  As time went on it became increasingly difficult to wake up, she could hardly shake off the sensations that seemed so real, it made her feel sad to think that she was actually living in the wrong time.

Sally was her best friend, they had known each other forever.  Jane had told her all about her dreams and they had discussed their thoughts and feelings on the subject of past lives.  Sally had agreed to accompany Jane to the place she called home.

“We’ll leave the car in the village car park.”  The sound of Sally’s voice brought her back to reality. 

Sally knew this was a big deal for Jane, it was one of the things her friend wanted most and she was always going to be there to support her.

Walking back along the pavement they soon came to the entrance of the garden.  Huge iron gates stood open and a man in a little wooden hut welcomed them with a smile.

“Here are your tickets, a leaflet about the park and a map.  Follow the driveway up to where the house once stood and start from there.”

Jane hardly needed a guide it was all far too familiar.  She could hardly count the times the carriage had turned in off the road, the horse’s hooves kicking up turf as they swept towards the front of the house.

“Come on,” Sally said linking arms, “let’s go see your ancestral home.”

Jane had described this place on many occasions and Sally had a clear picture of how things would be.

“My father was Edward May-Johnson and he made his fortune importing silk from the Far East.”  It was as if Jane was reading from a script.

Sally knew this already, Jane had told her before besides, it was all written down in the leaflet.

Memories flashed through Jane’s head at an alarming rate, just like images projected onto a wall from a magic lantern.  Although she knew the house was gone it was still a shock to see miniature box hedging used to mark its footprint on the ground ahead of them.

“There used to be stone steps with a balustrade leading up to a double fronted door.”  Jane whispered.

Glancing at the leaflet Sally could see that this was true, but it proved nothing.  Jane had probably seen it when the man in the hut had given it to them.  Almost as if sensing her friend’s doubts, Jane continued. 

“In the hallway that leads to the kitchen at the back of the house is the entrance to a cellar.  There used to be a door under the servants staircase.”

Leading the way, Jane walked along the little pathway between the hedges.  The parquet and tiled flooring had been replaced by gravel, which crunched under foot, this upset her even more, she had loved the polished floors that ran throughout the house.  When they reached the place where the kitchen had once been they discovered a flagstone, which covered the entrance to the cellar.  There was nothing in the leaflet to explain this but on the grass nearby was an information board, it told the story of the underground storerooms that ran beneath the house.

“Are you okay?” Sally asked as she reached out for Jane’s arm.  “You look as if you have just seen a ghost.”

“I think that I probably have,” Jane smiled weakly.

Sally shuddered and glanced around.

“You did believe me when I told you about my dreams.” 

“Of course, when you were a Victorian girl.”

“The year was 1912,” Jane told her.  “Edwardian not Victorian, the Queen had been dead for eleven years.”  This was the first time that she had acknowledged the year, until now it didn’t seem to matter.

“This is the place,” she whispered, “this is where I used to live.”

Slowly they returned to where the front of the house once stood and stepping over the miniature hedge, they found themselves in a space labelled ‘Sitting Room’.

“This is wrong,” Jane looked around her with a frown.  “This was my father’s study, this is where he did his work when he was at home.  My bedroom is directly above, I used to call it the silk room.”

They were silent for a while, both lost in their own thoughts.  Sally could remember Jane talking about her bedroom, she had once described the silk wall coverings, the huge bed and the silk shot carpets on the floor.  It had all sounded so grand. 

“Do you realise that until now I never had a name.”  Jane looked at her friend before going on.  “In my dreams I’m always known as Emily, I had no idea what my surname was.”

“Why would you need to know?” Sally replied.  “Dreams are intimate experiences, names and places don’t seem to matter.  Its feelings and emotions that count.”

“True,” Jane nodded, “but it’s odd being faced by the cold facts.  This place,” she looked around her, “feels so real to me, but it’s all so strangely remote.  Everything and everyone has gone and I feel so alone.”

Sally hugged Jane tightly and thought her heart was about to break.  Not only did Jane look so sad but Sally also felt an overwhelming sensation that she was about to lose her friend forever.  Pushing these unwelcome thoughts away, she listened quietly as Jane told her all about the house and those who had lived in it.  They wandered about the gardens and Jane spoke about picnics and games that she used to play as a child.  Memories came flooding back at an alarming rate and by the end of the afternoon she was quite exhausted.

“It’s getting so much harder to wake up when I dream about this place,” Jane said.  “I’m sure that one day soon I just won’t come back.”

Sally glanced at her and swallowed noisily.

“You make it all sound so idyllic, Emily was such a fortunate woman.  Have you ever wondered what happened to her?”

“No, I’ve not really wanted to know.  It would be strange to discover that she had living descendants that I could never get to know, but I hope she lived a long and happy life.”

Sally nodded her head in understanding.

“You should keep a diary, write it all down.  Next time you have a dream make sure that you do it.” 

Three months later Jane disappeared.  The police investigation dragged on for many weeks and Sally was questioned relentlessly about her friend’s life and movements.  Eventually the search lost momentum and was called off, only Sally knew the truth.

Two years later on her thirtieth birthday a package arrived from an office in London.  A lawyer by the name of Simon Delaney delivered it in person, he demanded proof of identity before handing it over.   

As soon as she was alone, Sally opened a covering letter that accompanied the package.  It was hand written and dated August 1913.

My dear friend Sally,

I have been here for just over a year now and I did just as you said, I started to keep a diary, it’s more of a journal actually but it will answer all your questions.  It tells of my life in Edwardian England, of course it’s all history to you now, but to me it’s real, as real as life can be.

You can I’m sure discover more about my adventure if you tried hard enough, but this is a small window on a dream that became a reality...

It was signed Emily May-Johnson (nee Jane Robins).

 

©2019 Kevin Marsh

 

Get yourself a signed copy.

My thrillers are available as signed copies at just £9.99 inc postage (UK only)

Simply private message me or email on kevinmarshnovels@gmail.com and I will post you a copy.

Happy Reading!

A group of Thrillers

My current thrillers include The Witness, The Cellist and The Photographer.  I am writing two more, one already complete and waiting to be published later this year with the fifth being written at the moment.

Although one of my main characters is a detective, she is not the main focus.  In fact she didn't appear in The Witness, that book focused mainly on the antagonist Mr Mac.

It was not my intention to write a series of crime novels that closely follows the detectives and the police investigation.  I try to highlight the plight of the other characters including the antagonist.  This raises some very uncomfortable situations as we delve into the world of criminals.  It amazes me just how cruel we can be to each other and this often involves unspeakable violence towards women.  

Having said that, each book sees the development of various characters and we are sometimes reminded of who came before.  Josie MacDonald for example from The Witness is often referred to and sometimes makes a cameo appearance.

Mia Ashton and her father Terry from The Cellist and places like White Lace and Promises, a bridal shop, appear time and time again.

Raymond Duval and his 'Restaurant for Lovers' is another favourite.  I like to slip him and his restaurant into the plot from time to time 

Its important to keep these characters and places alive because their input can be invaluable especially when driving the plot forward.  It also adds continuity as favourite characters make an appearance.  

I've had positive comments from readers who are delighted by this.   I also think that if you have created strong and interesting characters then why not exploit them.  

All of my books are available as paperbacks and on Kindle from Amazon.  Paperbacks can also be sourced from online bookshops such as Waterstones and Barnes and Noble or pop into high street book shops and order a copy.

For more information about my books visit my website:- www.kevinmarshnovels.co.uk