New offer from Amazon books

The Cellist, my latest novel is now on offer from Amazon for a limited period.  The Kindle version of The Cellist is currently just £4.99 (UK) and $6.66 (USA).

Cellist Mia Ashton has finally achieved her dream.  Performing to ever increasing audiences, her popularity as a top class musician escalates rapidly.  With this comes the pressure of faultless performances and Mia finds herself having to learn ever more complicated pieces.  With the help and support of her friends, she copes well with her new found fame, but there is a darker side to her popularity.

A lifetime of hard work and expectation soon turns into a nightmare leaving Mia with no choice but to question her future as a professional musician.    

Perhaps the cost of fame is too high.

Don't miss out on this special offer, go to Amazon now and download your copy before its too late.

Happy Christmas and Happy Reading 

Offers ending soon

Both The Witness and The Gordian Knot offers are coming to an  end.

The Witness is currently just £0.99 (UK) $1.32 (USA) and The Gordian Knot, £2.99 (UK) and $4.00 (USA)  These books return to their original price in just under fifteen hours.

A psychological thriller

Book two in The Torc Trilogy

To get your Kindle download go to Amazon right now.  

Don't miss out on these bargain prices.

Happy reading.

Offer coming to an end

Help push this book up the Amazon best seller charts by downloading your copy today.

The second book in The Torc Trilogy, The Gordian Knot is on offer as a Kindle download from Amazon for just £0.99 (UK) and $1.32 (USA) 

WARNING, this offer has just 6 hours left to run before the book returns to its original price.

Reader reviews

This is the second book I have read in this well-written trilogy and it is as enthralling as the first. It has elements of World War II, paganism, mythology, history and much more.

The Belgae torc exerts its spell again and we are warned of murderous happenings to come. Orlagh and Jerry are together, finding that the torc still has power, pulling them in.

I was plunged straight into the story and in no time I was taking an interest in Turkey – I wanted to go there and to see what was being described. Then chapter by chapter I am myself drawn into this fascinating, gripping tale, so much so, that I very nearly missed my station – I’d become so engrossed on the train.

An epic adventure that should not be missed.

Don't miss out on this special offer, download your copy today.

Happy Reading

The Witness a psychological thriller

How far would you go to help a friend, would you risk your life?

That is exactly what Josie had to do in order to thwart a homicidal maniac. 

Amazon review

I wanted to read this novel as soon as I saw the title, cover and read the introduction. That was well over a year ago and I am so glad that I have finally gotten around to reading it. As soon as I started to read the first chapter I knew right away that it would live up to the expectations formed in my mind. And now that I have finished reading it, I still hold the same view.

The characters are well developed and either likable or (in the case of Mr Mac the villain), utterly deplorable.

I commend Kevin Marsh - he did an exceptional job of developing the character of Mr Mac. I fully believe that Mr Mac is a homicidal madman, hell bent on creating mayhem, suffering and death, without rhyme or reason. His antics are frighteningly real and as I read the novel, my psyche was at times overcome by palpable fear.

I recommend this novel as a good read for those who enjoy psychological thrillers and possibly even to lovers of horror.

The Witness is currently priced at just £0.99 (UK) for the Kindle download and $1.32(US). 
This offer is for a limited period only so be sure to log on and pick up a bargain.

The Torc Trilogy

The first two books in The Torc Trilogy are on offer as a Kindle download from Amazon.

The Belgae Torc, first book in the series, is currently FREE with the second book, The Gordian Knot at just £0.99 (UK) and $1.32 (US)


The Belgae Torc

The Belgae Torc begins in the Iron Age where a magnificent torc is wrought from white gold.  This symbol of power and wealth reaches out down the ages and affects the lives of everyone who comes into contact with it, sometimes with deadly consequences.

Dr Orlagh Gairne, a prominent archaeologist, is sent to assist Jack Harrington and his salvage team who have located the torc on a ship laden with Nazi treasure.  The ship now lies on the bottom of the Atlantic just off the coast of Portugal.  Little does Orlagh realise how the torc, and those who covet its power will change hers and the lives of her colleagues.

The Gordian Knot

Authors note

It is normal practice to finish a book with everything tidied up neatly leaving the readers satisfied.  I thought I did this at the end of The Belgae Torc, but I soon realised that there was far more to say regarding this story and the lives of my characters.  

The Gordian Knot, continues the adventure with the torc remaining central to the plot.  The ending of this novel is by no means as clear cut as the first book. I left parts of it open, not so much as a cliff hanger, but with intrigue that spills over into the third and final part of the trilogy.  

Some of my characters had a difficult time in The Gordian Knot, but in the final book the plot becomes even darker...  

Coming soon, an Amazon Kindle offer on Cutting the Gordian Knot, the Final Solution.

These offers are for a limited period only, so don't delay, log onto Amazon and download your copies of The Belgae Torc and The Gordian Knot.

Happy Reading!

The Gordian Knot - another kindle bargain.

The Gordian Knot, the second book in the Torc Trilogy is priced at just £0.99 (UK) or $1.32 (US) on an Amazon countdown deal.  The kindle download will be available for the next two days, so do not delay, download your copy today. 

Synopsis

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?

Kindle bargain

My psychological thriller The Witness is now available from Amazon, (Kindle download) at just £0.99 (UK) and $1.32 (US).

This is a countdown offer so to avoid missing out, down load your copy today.

Synopsis

Josie MacDonald, a landscape artist is visiting her aunt Molly who lives in the peaceful village of Garmouth in Morayshire.  On a painting trip early one morning she is witness to a horrific murder.

Forced to flee the psychopathic killer she has to bear the brunt of psychological torment and anguish as one by one her friends are drawn into the nightmare.

She must return to the scene of crime in order to discover the truth.  With time running out and a killer on the loose, she has to prevent her abducted friends from becoming victims whilst surviving long enough to bring their terrible ordeal to an end.

Characters from this book appear in The Cellist which is a stand alone novel, but it might be a good idea to read The Witness first.

Signed copies

Signed copies of my latest novel The Cellist can be purchased from my website:- www.kevinmarshnovels.co.uk  

Synopsis

Mia Ashton, a hard working young cellist has always dreamt of playing to large audiences.  With a series of classical concerts designed to help boost her career and the support of an agent, her desire to become a top class musician is finally within her reach, but then tragedy strikes.

One of her colleagues is found dead soon after performing with Mia and this sets off a chain reaction that threatens to destroy everything that she has worked for.  Living in the shadow of a serial killer stirs memories from her past, pushing her ever closer to breaking point. 

Will Mia find the strength to carry on or will the killer put an end to her dreams?

Perhaps the price of fame is too great.

Order your signed copy today for just £9.99 postage included (UK Only)

Free download

Great news, The Belgae Torc will be free as a Kindle download for the next five days.

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

More information can be found on my website:-www.kevinmarshnovels.co.uk 

Synopsis

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

Luaine Mac Lanis, the metal smith responsible for its creation, is commanded by an old friend to make a magnificent Torc.  He knows nothing of the curse surrounding the strange metal or the circumstances of its arrival in Britain, because of this he will pay the ultimate price.

The Torc brings death to those who wear it and when the King of the Belgae tribe collapses and dies whilst delivering an important ceremony, his people cannot rest until the Gods have been appeased.  The only way to lift the curse is to offer the Torc to the Gods, a horrific human sacrifice in which the creator of the piece must die.

Part Two – Two thousand years later the Torc is listed on the inventory of a sunken ship. 

The Hudson Bay, a cargo ship lying on the seabed off the coast of Portugal, is laden with Nazi gold and treasures stolen during World War Two.

Dr Orlagh Gairne, a leading archaeologist working for the National Museum of Ireland, is sent to investigate.  She is instructed 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 museum, but the operation is not as straightforward as expected.  The survey ship they are working on is attacked and sunk by terrorists who are also seeking the treasure.  During a daring escape from their stricken vessel Orlagh and Roz Stacey, one of the ships engineers, are kidnapped and held hostage by the terrorists.  The women are taken on a journey across Portugal, Spain and on towards the coast of Africa.

With Jack and his team in pursuit, the story reaches its climax on two small remote islands from where the terrorists plan to launch an attack on the Western world.  Two sinister weapons, Gog and Magog, named after biblical giants, remain concealed in their silos.  Jack is aware of the imminent attack but has no idea that it could escalate into a global catastrophe on an unimaginable scale.

Time is running out and he must discover the location of the kidnapped women whilst uncovering the full extent of the terrorists’ plot.  Aided by his team of mercenaries and an historical expert, they unearth a wave of hatred spreading across Europe.

With the past weaving tightly with the present, Jack uncovers a deadly plan for world domination.  He foils the terrorists by preventing the weapons from destroying their targets but he fails to capture the ringleaders who manage to escape, taking the Belgae Torc with them.

Log onto Amazon and get your free copy today.

Books in a series

My first attempt at writing a psychological thriller was The Witness.
This book was completely different to my previous book The Belgae Torc, which is an action adventure novel with loads of history weaved into a modern day tale.  (The Belgae Torc is the first book in The Torc Trilogy).

Josie MacDonald, the main character in The Witness, experiences a terrible ordeal at the hands of a mad man called Mr Mac.  

Both of these characters and places are mentioned in my latest novel The Cellist which is not a sequel, but book two in a series that overlap.  
It is my intention to write five books in this series, linking them together giving the reader a little more information about the characters each time they appear.

Mia Ashton, from The Cellist, is a professional musician setting out on her career when she and her colleagues are haunted by a homicidal murderer.  

The next book in the series is at the planning stage.  It will be called The Photographer and will include both Josie MacDonald and Mia Ashton.

The Witness synopsis:- 

Josie MacDonald, a landscape artist is visiting her aunt Molly who lives in the peaceful village of Garmouth in Morayshire.  On a painting trip early one morning she is witness to a horrific murder.

Forced to flee the psychopathic killer she has to bear the brunt of psychological torment and anguish as one by one her friends are drawn into the nightmare.

She must return to the scene of crime in order to discover the truth.  With time running out and a killer on the loose, she has to prevent her abducted friends from becoming victims whilst surviving long enough to bring their terrible ordeal to an end.

 The Cellist synopsis:-

Mia Ashton, a hard working young cellist has always dreamt of playing to large audiences.  With a series of classical concerts designed to help boost her career and the support of an agent, her desire to become a top class musician is finally within her reach, but then tragedy strikes.

One of her colleagues is found dead soon after performing with Mia and this sets off a chain reaction that threatens to destroy everything that she has worked for.  Living in the shadow of a serial killer stirs memories from her past, pushing her ever closer to breaking point.

Will Mia find the strength to carry on or will the killer put an end to her dreams?

Perhaps the price of fame is too great.

My books are available from Amazon as a paperback and on Kindle

            

How it all began

I am often asked about my books, the first question being; “You write books, what are they about?”  Next, I’m asked about where I get my inspiration from and how I got into writing, so here are some brief details.

I began writing my first novel, The Belgae Torc towards the end of 2010.  At the time, I was heavily into painting, exhibiting my work with a local art society.  I enjoyed painting and was working hard on developing a reasonable style.  I liked to paint portraits, experimenting by making up faces based on photographs, but what I really wanted to do was to write.  I already had a basic plot for an action adventure novel and was keen to put words down on paper.  I like to read historical novels and knew that history would play a big role in my work, but I didn’t appreciate just how much research I would have to do.

The Belgae Torc is the first book in what has become known as The Torc Trilogy.
I did not set out to write a trilogy, but soon after The Belgae Torc was published in 2012, I began advertising in a magazine and for some reason the editor thought it was the first of three books.

I discussed this with my publisher who agreed that the characters were strong enough to be developed further.  Orlagh Gairne, Jerry Knowles and Jack Harrington  would have another adventure, so I began planning the next book which was going to be called The Gordian Knot.  There was just one small problem, I had already started work on The Witness and was well into it by this stage. 

The Witness is a very different story to The Belgae Torc, so much so that I considered publishing under a different name.  I was now writing in two very different genres and although a refreshing challenge and a test of my writing ability, it could prove to be confusing where my readers are concerned.  I decided to publish under my own name as I could foresee problems with marketing and promoting.  

Original artwork for the book cover.  500mm X 500mm box canvas painted in acrylic.
This is how I saw Josie MacDonald, the main character in The Witness.

The Witness was published in 2013 just over a year after The Belgae Torc and now I set out in earnest to write the sequel that my readers were waiting for.  

It would be another year before The Gordian Knot was finished and as I worked, I began to put in hooks and leave story lines unfinished in preparation for the final book.  The tale begins about twelve months after the conclusion of The Belgae Torc and with a fast moving plot things soon began to develop.  Some new characters emerged with others fading into the background and I had fun with the narrative.  The Gordian Knot was published in the summer of 2014.

It would be two years before the final book in The Torc Trilogy was finished.  Cutting the Gordian Knot (The Final Solution) begins directly after the conclusion of The Gordian Knot with my characters still exhausted from their previous adventure.  I wanted to keep this story closer to home.  Orlagh and Jerry had travelled extensively in the previous books so this time I decided to leave them in Ireland with Orlagh going about her daily work as an archaeologist at the National Museum of Ireland.  Jack Harrington on the other hand would bear the brunt of the action, but no more will be said about character or plot.

Again, I managed to use my own artwork for the cover design.  This time a pen and ink drawing of standing stones.  I did this drawing some years previously when exploring another style using different materials.

Original artwork for Cutting the Gordian Knot.
A3 cartridge paper with pen and ink and colouring pencil.

My latest book The Cellist was published on 1^st November 2017 and is the second book in a series that began with The Witness.  It is not a sequel, but does contain characters and places from The Witness.  The Cellist is a thriller and in many ways not as horrific as The Witness, but just as intense.  I managed to include a range of issues in order to spice up the plot and had great fun working with the characters.  Some writers rely on their characters to dictate the plot and this true with some of mine, but I did insist on keeping control of the story line although I’m sure that if my characters were real some of them would question that.

There will of course be more books in this series, I am planning five in total the next one being The Photographer.   Characters from both The Witness and The Cellist will appear in this book, but first I must write another adventure story featuring Orlagh, Jerry, Dr Pam Rose and of course Jack Harrington and his gang.

The Torc Trilogy

                                                                                                                  

          My books can be purchased from Amazon as a paperback and also on Kindle.

Alternatively go to my website and follow the link.

www.kevinmarshnovels.co.uk 

                                     

  

                             

Books have arrived

My books arrived from the printer this morning.

These boxes represent 12 months of research, planning and writing.

It's great to see them at last and no longer an image on a computer screen.

The first book out of the box is always reserved for a friend.  This is a tradition we have always observed.

The Cellist is available to purchase from Amazon as a paperback or kindle download from November 1st.

Happy reading! 

My new book The Cellist can be purchased direct from me via my website. I will sign and post your book out to you.

Simply go to my website and click on the HOME PAGE, buy books should appear. Click on that and go to paypal or pay by card, leave instructions regarding signing then wait for the postie to arrive. 10% of books purchased this way will go to charity:- Fan Dance-Scope Brighton.  
(UK Only)

www.kevinmarshnovels.co.uk

The Witness a psychological thriller

The Witness is the first of a series of books where places and characters overlap.  The books in this series are not designed as sequels, but it would be a good idea to read them in order.  This will avoid spoilers and also give you a greater understanding of the characters and their situations.

Synopsis

Josie MacDonald, a landscape artist is visiting her aunt Molly who lives in the peaceful village of Garmouth in Morayshire.  On a painting trip early one morning she is witness to a horrific murder.

Forced to flee the psychopathic killer she has to bear the brunt of psychological torment and anguish as one by one her friends are drawn into the nightmare.

She must return to the scene of crime in order to discover the truth.  With time running out and a killer on the loose, she has to prevent her abducted friends from becoming victims whilst surviving long enough to bring their terrible ordeal to an end.

A taster of my reviews

 I love a book that starts into the action from page one and doesn't let up until the final page and this is one of those books. The lead character, Josie is a landscape painter and who'd have thought that there could be any trouble resulting from that? Sometimes trouble has a habit of finding people that weren't looking for it and unfortunately for Josie, she has attracted the attentions of a killer and like a dog with the proverbial bone, he will hound her from one end of the UK to the other and back again, as many times as it takes for as long as it takes until he snags her. We are with her all of the way, which is edge of the seat stuff and the author doesn't cheat by making a bad guy's actions appear to be anything other than bad, no matter what his childhood was like.

I thoroughly enjoyed 'The Witness' by Kevin Marsh. It is such a well written and engrossing story. It starts off dramatically and does not let you down as the story progresses. As you get to know the characters, I found them 'all' likeable! I know, even the killer known as 'Mr. Mac' is written with such realistic psychological insight, that I couldn't hate him. I didn't pity him either, which is a true credit to the writing of the author. Instead, I wanted to find out what made him tick and why he targeted Josie. Of course, the reader knows most of the why or at least we think we do!

This is a real page-turner. I had to keep reading to find out what would happen! Highly recommended.

The Witness - a thrilling book that grips you from the start. You really get to know and feel for the characters, and can't wait to find out what happens next. A totally different read to The Belgae Torc, although I was just as engrossed in that! Couldn't put this book down, loved it. Well done Kevin - Look forward to the next one!!

 The Witness is currently presented as a paperback and kindle.

The price for a paperback from Amazon is £6.99 or $9.99.

Kindle prices are £2.16 or $2.84

The Cellist release date

Good news!

My new book The Cellist will be available from Amazon in both paperback and Kindle format from 1^st November.

Look out for it to appear on Amazon and order your copy.

                Mia Ashton, a hard working young cellist has always dreamt of playing to large audiences.  With a series of classical concerts designed to help boost her career and the support of an agent, her desire to become a top class musician is finally within her reach, but then tragedy strikes.

One of her colleagues is found dead soon after performing with Mia and this sets off a chain reaction that threatens to destroy everything that she has worked for.  Living in the shadow of a serial killer stirs memories from her past, pushing her ever closer to breaking point. 

Will Mia find the strength to carry on or will the killer put an end to her dreams?

Perhaps the price of fame is too great.

Happy Reading

The Belgae Torc

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 the book is dedicated to events that describe the beginning of an epic journey.

Don’t be put off by this because the plot soon develops and you are brought up to date with Orlagh and the modern day characters.

Synopsis:-

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.

  ISBN 978-01-908341-82-2

The Belgae Torc from Amazon:-

 Kindle £1.99 Paperback £9.99

 Kindle $2.57 Paperback $14.99

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

See my website for further information.  www.kevinmarshnovels.co.uk 

The Cellist, how it all began.

A quick review of how The Cellist became the next story in my 'Thriller' series.

The Cellist began life as a modern day/historical novel.  I completed a few chapters several years ago before setting it aside to write The Gordian Knot, the second book in The Torc Trilogy.  It was always my intention to return to this novel and complete it so with that in mind I wrote notes on how the plot was to develop and made up comprehensive character profiles.

When I eventually picked up the file and began to familiarise myself with the story I discovered that other ideas were beginning to develop.  It’s true that certain characters appear as real people in the mind of their creator and often drive the plot, sometimes with alarming consequences.  I’ve had characters in previous books end up in some strange and rather unexpected situations leaving me to come up with a solution to get them out of it.  Anyway, out went the historical element along with some of the principle characters from that part of the story.  Most of the modern day characters remained.  Mia underwent a surname change don’t ask me why, it was probably something to with the plot lurching in a completely different direction.  Who am I to question the Principle character?

The Cellist was always going to be linked with The Witness, I see it as book two in a series of stories that share characters and places.  Although not a sequel, The Cellist does seem to answer some of the questions left open at the end of The Witness.  It would be an advantage to have read The Witness before tackling this book as you will have a greater understanding of where previous characters and events fit.

Many interesting subjects have been explored in The Cellist and I had fun researching certain aspects of the plot before weaving a story around my findings.  It was never my intention to alienate specific groups of society so hopefully I have dealt with issues sympathetically.

I’m planning to write further thrillers that link these books together so some of my characters will appear again.

The Cellist update

The PDF version of The Cellist has just arrived by e-mail from my publisher.  All I need to do now is read it (again), and iron out any problems caused by the PDF process.  Once that is done the book will finally be ready for publication.

I want to share with you some pictures of the writing process, how the book was created.

I prefer to write the story by hand first in notebooks.  Once the first draft is done, I then re-write by hand before typing.  This is the begining of the editing process.

The two manuscripts that you can see are the second typed draft and the copy for the proof readers.

This is the first typed draft, heavily red penned and edited.  The book is edited at least three times before the proof reader gets to read it.  Then further edits and corrections are made before it is ready for the publisher.  Once it has gone through the PDF process I still manage to find and correct the odd error or typo, even then some still seem to find their way into the finished product.

This little notebook is most important, I usually carry it with me when writing the book.  It contains ideas, thoughts and research notes many of which did not get into the book.

I use black BIC pens to write my stories, red BIC pens for editing.  I usually get through about ten pens per book.

I prefer to use these pens because a) they are cheap and can be bought in boxes of 50 and b) they are the best quality cheap pens I can find.

One of the many, next stop the re-cycling bin.

The Cellist is due out later in October as a paperback and on Kindle from Amazon.  It can also be ordered from good bookshops.  

More details to follow.