Charlie Cochrane - Mysteries with a dash of slash, romances with just a pinch of spice

Lovely write up of the Lindenshaw books at Padme's Library.

And a cool zebra from the Zany Zebra trail in Southampton. This one was decorated by a local school for children with special needs. I love his leg braces and boots!



 

And very nice it looks, too.

I love the series description:

Adam Matthews's life changed when Inspector Robin Bright walked into his classroom to investigate a murder.

Now it seems like all the television series are right: the leafy villages of England do indeed conceal a hotbed of crime, murder, and intrigue. Lindenshaw is proving the point.

Detective work might be Robin's job, but Adam somehow keeps getting involved—even though being a teacher is hardly the best training for solving crimes. Then again, Campbell, Adam's irrepressible Newfoundland dog, seems to have a nose for figuring things out, so how hard can it be?

Delighted to find Best Corpse for the Job was a runner up at the Rainbow awards. Congratulations to all those who won/were placed in the categories, especially my dear old pals jl_merrow and jaylewistaylor.



Have a tree or three, as made by the wonderful granddad volunteers at the school.

Actually, the last time I bought chips they were an arm and a leg, so let's say cheap as penny chews. Almost.

Part of Riptide's paperback blowout sale.

In November, The Best Corpse for the Job - my first ever contemporary romantic mystery - got let loose.

When the grandfather clock—another heirloom—struck the seventh chime, the doorbell sounded and the race for the door began, Campbell winning by a paw’s breadth.
“Let me open the door, you stupid thing,” Adam said, pushing the hound’s bulk aside.
“I hope you’re not calling me a stupid thing. I could have you up for insulting a police officer.” Robin, standing smiling on the doorstep, seemed relaxed, although the suit and tie spoke of business as usual. Had he practiced that smile, to try to put witnesses at ease? If so, did he realise the unnerving effect he was bound to have on some of them? Or—wishful thinking—was that smile for Adam alone?
“If you’re going to arrest me for that, then let me lob in some proper insults en route to the station.” Adam ushered his guest into the lounge. The kitchen was cosy, but the pile of washing-up wouldn’t create any sort of good impression. “Have you eaten?”
“I’m fine. I grabbed some chips on the way back to my desk.”
“So I can’t tempt you with a bowl of chilli? Homemade. As a special treat, you can eat it in here on a tray. If you’re allowed to. Duty and all that.” Adam bit his lip. Shut up.
“No, like I said, I’m fine. I could murder a cup of tea, though.”
“Your wish is my command.” Adam decided to study his shoes, wishing he didn’t keep sticking them in his own gob. “Your part of the deal is keeping Campbell out from under my feet.”
“Best bargain I’ve had in ages,” Robin said, visibly relaxing. The dog seemed happy with the arrangement too, resting his head on their visitor’s knee.
When Adam returned with coffee for himself and Robin’s steaming mug of tea, Campbell had settled at Robin’s feet, eyes closed, and it looked like the policeman wasn’t far behind. His tie was still knotted—just—but the top shirt button had been undone. “You look all in.”
“I feel all in. Thanks.” Robin took the tray. “Always the same with murder enquiries, unless you get the big break early on. Lots of legwork and very little to show for it.” He blew on the tea, then took a swig. “This is great.”
“Glad to hear it.” Police business appeared to have been put on the back burner for the moment. Conversation turned on Campbell’s occasional disgusting habits, the provenance of the Welsh dresser in the kitchen, and the watercolours on the wall. Anything and everything except murder. It was like a first date, finding things to talk about while you sussed out whether there was going to be a second one. The disappearance of the last bit of tea put an end to that, though.
“I need some inside gen, and I’m not sure I trust anyone else to give me it. Like getting the gen from a stableboy in the run-up to the Grand National.”
“Ask away,” Adam replied, trying not to show how delighted he was at Robin’s remark.
“I’m trying to work out the likelihood of something.” Robin put his mug on a table, taking evident care not to wake the dog who’d long succumbed to slumber, and got out his notebook. “Would any of the runners for the Great Lindenshaw St. Crispin’s Headteacher Handicap go so far as nobbling their rivals? Just so the recruitment race got rerun?”
“Have you been putting the Duncans in the frame? No”—Adam put up his hands—“I’m not psychic. Our mutual friend Oliver Narraway was in school this morning and told us all how he’d tipped you the wink about them. In short, I don’t think so, although that’s no guarantee.” It didn’t seem much of an answer, but it was his best shot at an honest one. How the hell did he know what made people kill? That was Robin’s job.

And one of them is a 5 heart review at MM Good book reviews. "Banter, sexual tension, fighting moral dilemma of drawing the line between “chatting” and cop/witness. Definitely a win for those who love mystery, wit, with budding romance possibilities." You can also find out what I think is the sexiest thing in men (if you know me well, you can guess).

Am also at Crystal's many reviewers answering some tricky questions like what my typical day involves and how long it takes me to write a book.

Make sure you're in the draw for the prize - you can do that at any of the blog tour stops.

"Yeah, I think it would be fair to save I loved this book. Hell, I think it would be fair to say I bloody adored it. It is just so bloody English."

Read the rest at Love Bytes while I sit here grinning.

I'm all over the place like a rash again. I think I need to lie down like the chap on the cover!

I'm also at Creative Deeds discussing some of the weird dreams I've had. Of which the straight John Barrowman might be the weirdest.

More in a minute.

I'm chatting about the advantages (and disadvantages!) of writing what you know, over at The Blogger Girls.

There's a missing scene from "The Best Corpse for the Job" at Prism Book Alliance. What Adam would have liked to do with Robin.

You can enter the giveaway at either place.

And there's a nice 4 star review at Prism Book Alliance. "Highly recommended for anyone who likes a story that keeps them guessing, and a plot to make them think."

Over at Love Byte Reviews.

I'm discussing my habit of taking funny, or out of the ordinary, occurrences I encounter and using them in my books. Got any examples you'd like to share? There's a rafflecopter giveaway to enter, too.