The Witness

The Witness a psychological thriller available from Amazon on Kindle for just £2.16 or $2.60

How far would you go to help your friends?

Would you risk your life?

The Witness, a fast-paced psychological thriller that takes you from one end of the country to the other

The Witness

Landscape artist Josie MacDonald is coming to the end of her stay in Scotland.  Whilst out on a painting trip early one morning she witnesses a horrific murder. 

Mr Mac, the deranged killer, is aware that she has seen him at work and sets out to kill her but Josie manages to escape by plunging desperately into the North Sea. 

Mr Mac, convinced that she has perished, discovers a few days later that she has survived and sets out to track her down.  He follows her to London where he subjects her to terrible psychological torment as one by one her friends are drawn into the nightmare.

Josie returns to Scotland in order to discover the truth where her worst fears are realised.  With time running out and a killer on the loose she must survive long enough to bring their horrifying ordeal to an end.

Testimonials

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 goodread for those who enjoy psychological thrillers and possibly even to lovers of horror.

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.

Cutting the Gordian Knot (The Final Solution)

Cutting the Gordian Knot (The Final Solution) is available from Amazon on Kindle at just £1.99 or $2.42

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?   

Authors note

In Greek mythology, King Gordius of Phrygia tied a knot that defied all who tried to untie it.  An oracle prophesised that anyone who could undo this Gordian Knot would rule Asia.  Alexander the Great simply cut the knot with one stroke of his sword, hence the saying ‘to cut the Gordian Knot’, meaning to solve a difficult problem by a simple, bold and effective action.

When I began writing The Gordian Knot, I already had an idea for the title of the final book.  Cutting the Gordian Knot became my working title which I thought very apt because of the intractable problems facing my characters.

This final book is the story that concludes everything.  Like Alexander the Great, my characters will have to solve all the problems by a simple, bold and effective action.

I was a little worried that this title would be too close to that of the previous book so I decided on a change and it became Cutting the Gordian Knot (the final solution)

With book one, The Belgae Torc, I tried to establish a sense of history that would remain throughout the trilogy.  The mysterious torc and the powers surrounding it is a reminder of just how significant symbols like this once were.  I used this novel to establish the main characters and to get a feeling for their individual personalities.  I also set in motion a relationship between Orlagh and Jerry that would develop through each novel.

Book two, The Gordian Knot continues with the historical references but I wanted to bring these closer to home.  By introducing Harald and Freya, a direct connection could be made between the events of 1940s Germany and the Phoenix Legion.  I wanted to do this using the human element; this was also the first step in drawing many of the characters together.  We are all influenced in some way by our pasts and history has a habit of repeating itself.

Kevin Marsh

April 2016

The Gordian Knot

The Gordian Knot, second book in The Torc Trilogy is now available from Amazon on Kindle at just £1.99 or $1.73

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?

Testimonials

A terrific sequel to the Belgae Torc which I also thoroughly enjoyed. Orlagh and Jerry are back, this time as a solidified item and once again they become embroiled in danger when the call of the Torc attracts them back into harm's way. Although the story travels back and forth in time (one of its many strengths and enjoyments), the action never stops or wavers. Spanning from Russia to Ireland and many countries in between, there are many players involved in wishing to secure the iconic item despite its seemingly unharness-able horrendous power. Although it helps to have read the first story in the series, this one can be read as a stand-alone without any loss to its logic or power to entertain.

This is the third novel by Kevin Marsh that I have read and thoroughly enjoyed. Now, I love Celtic history mainly involving Ireland and Britain and have read numerous novels headed under the theme of ‘Time Travel’ (yikes) but when it comes to The Gordian Knot he has continued the plot by involving a World War II storyline with a Germanic Paganism subtext! Don’t worry, you don’t have to know very much about the history of the war so don’t let this throw you off in any way! Simply, there is so much adventure, espionage, spy tactics, juxtaposed against a present day storyline and Celtic mythology the reader will not be able to stop reading!

For instance, some of my favorite chapters involved Orlagh’s past issues with the Druids, being haunted by Goddesses and a certain love story that plays out with Jerry Knowles. The Gordian Knot is a true historic adventurous tale that I hope everyone will seek out and enjoy.

There is a lot going on from chapter to chapter, a lot of history during various eras supported by a brilliant cast of characters. The sense of place is presented so succinctly that you would swear you were standing right there in the room! Hopefully, readers will not get overwhelmed with all the action, blood and guts. There is romance, friendship and humor beautifully written within these pages. The author has done his research and his passion for history comes across clearly.

My hope is that everyone gives The Gordian Knot a chance and buys it for themselves. I promise it is a beautiful and engaging read. However, take note that there is a prequel of sorts called, The Belgae Torc. So, if you want an introduction to Orlagh, Jerry, and The Celts, why not check out The Belgae Torc as well!

The Belgae Torc

 The Belgae Torc, (first book in The Torc Trilogy), is now available from Amazon on Kindle at just £1.99 or $2.49

The Belgae Torc is an action adventure novel that begins in the Iron age with a torc made of white gold.  Not merely a symbol of wealth, it has the power to dominate all those who wear it.

In the 1920s the torc is unearthed by a team of archaeologists on what is thought to be the site of an ancient ritualistic killing.  Even though it has lain buried for 2000 years the torc has lost none of its resplendence or symbolic status.  Coveted by those who see it the torc enters a private collection and is lost to public scrutiny, but years later it turns up on the inventory of a sunken ship.  Archaeologist Orlagh Gairne from the National Museum of Ireland is sent to assist a team of marine salvage experts to identify items of historical importance including the torc.

Here begins an adventure that spans three books and changes the lives of all those involved.

Testimonials

The Belgae Torc is at its heart an adventure story. However, it’s a lot more than that. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the story moved from the ancient past into the present and the historical realism gave the impression that the tale might be based on a true story.

There are loads of well-developed characters although at times I found it hard to keep a track of who’s who. The book definitely deserves to be given decent chunks of reading time… it’s not a story to be read in small slices (I read it on holiday and it was the perfect book for long sessions lying in the sun).

While I enjoyed the historical parts of the adventure, I became much more gripped when it moved to the modern times. That’s when the adventure really took off and I thought Orlagh the archaeologist was a super character (maybe that’s something to do with my Irish blood).

Kevin Marsh has a great turn of phrase at times (e.g. ‘A mixture of strong brew and bravado was a deadly catalyst.’) I found myself stopping every so often to reread a phrase I’d particularly enjoyed.

I can happily recommend The Belgae Torc, particularly to anyone who enjoys a bit history and a lot of adventure.

I happen to love Celtic history whether it be Irish, English, Welsh, French and even Italian Celtic history of The Gauls. So, when I read The Belgae Torc, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. Author, Kevin Marsh writes with detailed beauty and clarity about the many characters and history you'll find here. The story was engaging, and I found myself wanting to do some research about this 'Belgae Torc'. If you enjoy historical stories that are intriguing and dramatic with a well written plot and even humor, then I encourage you to give The Belgae Torc a try. I would recommend it to all my friends who enjoy Celtic history.

Editing day

Today I have three thousand words to edit and type up.  Yesterday I did the same bringing the total word count of my work in progress to 39,349.  I am aiming for 120,000 words so about a third of the way through.

As some of you know, I like to hand write the first two drafts.  A rough draft goes into my notebook then I re-write onto recycled computer paper before typing.  This gives me the opportunity to change and enhance my work, effectively editing it twice before it gets typed.  Of course the editing does not end here, the red pen is out again and again and again.  

What ever you are doing this weekend, stay cool and have a good one. 

Writing day

Writing this afternoon, chapter sixteen on the way.

Handwriting first and second draft as I like to do. Typing comes later.  Will need a new pen soon as this one has almost run out!

Weekend toy

I've had this little car for six years now.  It's such great fun and one of the best cars I've owned.

Mazda MX5 British Racing Green

This photo was taken just before I had the boot lid and quarter panels re-sprayed.

Not bad for a 19 year old car.