![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
The answer to that and other questions is over at my Elm Books interview. Better still, Undeath and the Detective (including my short story, Secrets) is among the books on offer this month at Smashwords.
This time in the Mystery People e-zine. "At its core, the book is about a dark and serious crime, the result of a warped and malicious personality. Nevertheless, Jonty and Orlando emerge with both their moral values and their records as detectives intact. It is an excellent read." Will ink here when the whole review appears on the mystery people site.
And don't forget that you can be in with a chance of winning a heap of books from Elm, by commenting on this here blog post!.
And don't forget that you can be in with a chance of winning a heap of books from Elm, by commenting on this here blog post!.
Want to win Undeath and the Detective?
Nov. 1st, 2013 09:21 pmAnd a bundle of other Elm books? Come and comment on my ghost-post at Long and Short Reviews. You have to be in it to win it.
So how did I spend Halloween?
Nov. 1st, 2013 11:27 amAm delighted to be the guest of Jess Faraday answering a variety of questions such as five random facts about me and how we celebrated Halloween. I worked with Jess for the Undeath and the Detective anthology, where my story concerns a ship, a ghost (or two), a murder, a relationship which must remain hidden, and several red herrings.
New release: Undeath and the Detective
Oct. 31st, 2013 10:22 amEditor Jess Faraday brings you nine spooky mysteries from Helen Angove, Leonhard August, Emily Baird, H. Tucker Cobey, Charlie Cochrane, Lynne Finger, Mark Hague, Gay Toltl Kinman, and Angelia Sparrow. Here you'll find zombies, extraterrestrials, vampires, shape shifters, and more than a few ghosts. Travel from 19th c. England to the present and future, on a package tour led by your favorite Elm Books authors!
In print from Elm Books. E-version available at Smashwords ($.99) SALE!!! Through November 3 only!! Coupon code: ZK88P
Excerpt from Secrets, which is set on board the frigate Hecuba, in the time of the Napoleonic wars. (And because I wrote it, it's got two ship's officers having to hide their relationship.) The appearance of a sea monster has heralded a series of alarming events, not least the revelation that two of the ship’s crew have been seeing ghosts. Things are about to get even worse...
“Are you saying...”? The captain’s question was interrupted by the arrival of the lieutenant of marines, with two of his men in tow. “Yes, Henman?”
If everyone who’d heard Thompson’s story of the admiral had turned pale, then Henman’s face out-ashened them all.
“Could you come with us to the hold, sir? Now. It’s important.”
“I will.” Hopkins passed a hand over his brow. “Mr. Douglas, can you make sure Thompson gets a hot meal inside him? Ask my steward to rouse out the last of the chicken broth. That’ll settle him down for a reasonable night’s sleep.”
The looks on the faces of the rest of the midshipmen indicated Thompson might be the only one of them in that happy position. What if this White Admiral, whoever he was, might want to have a word in season with them?
“Mr. Paget?” Hopkins motioned for his first officer to join him as they followed the marines along the deck and down the nearest ladder. “What is it I’m being taken to see?” he asked, once they were out of earshot of the crew.
“A dead man. The surgeon’s with him, but he’s beyond even Mr. Cowan’s care. Here.” Henman pointed, as they reached the hold. Two marines were standing watch, holding a lantern, while Cowan bent over a twisted body.
“Who is it?” Hopkins asked.
“Ponting,” Cowan said, easing himself up off his haunches. “The side of his head’s been stoved in. With this, I suspect.” He pointed to a blood smeared belaying pin, which Paget—gingerly—picked up and held at arm’s length.
If everyone who’d heard Thompson’s story of the admiral had turned pale, then Henman’s face out-ashened them all.
“Could you come with us to the hold, sir? Now. It’s important.”
“I will.” Hopkins passed a hand over his brow. “Mr. Douglas, can you make sure Thompson gets a hot meal inside him? Ask my steward to rouse out the last of the chicken broth. That’ll settle him down for a reasonable night’s sleep.”
The looks on the faces of the rest of the midshipmen indicated Thompson might be the only one of them in that happy position. What if this White Admiral, whoever he was, might want to have a word in season with them?
“Mr. Paget?” Hopkins motioned for his first officer to join him as they followed the marines along the deck and down the nearest ladder. “What is it I’m being taken to see?” he asked, once they were out of earshot of the crew.
“A dead man. The surgeon’s with him, but he’s beyond even Mr. Cowan’s care. Here.” Henman pointed, as they reached the hold. Two marines were standing watch, holding a lantern, while Cowan bent over a twisted body.
“Who is it?” Hopkins asked.
“Ponting,” Cowan said, easing himself up off his haunches. “The side of his head’s been stoved in. With this, I suspect.” He pointed to a blood smeared belaying pin, which Paget—gingerly—picked up and held at arm’s length.
