“Nightsafe” – Released 29th March 2023

It has been a long time coming, but Book Two in the Mark Lander Chronicles is finally released.

I had come up with the idea of a crime novel seen through the eyes of a journalist many years ago – in the early 1990s to be precise. It took me a while to formulate a plan, but finally wrote the first draft of “Out of the Darkness” in 1992. At the time however, having never written anything too big before – all I had written prior to this was either poems or short children’s stories – I wasn’t confident enough to show it to anyone. I therefore placed the hand written manuscript into a drawer and forgot about it.

What that first story had done, though, was open up the possibilities of writing on a ‘larger’ scale, which is precisely what I did.

As for, “Out of the Darkness”, it remained untouched until around 2017. By then, I had written several other novels, as well as a non-fiction history book: “Smithy’s War” (available on Smashwords and Barnes & Noble as an e-Book), and believed it was time to blow the dust off my crime novel. Re-working on it for several months, until I felt it was presentable enough to submit to a publisher.

Fortunately, Luminosity Publishing saw its potential and offered me a contract for it. “Out of the Darkness” was released as an e-book and in paperback in May 2018.

I had left the ending wide open, as I strongly believed there was room for a sequel. At the time, I wasn’t sure how the story would continue, although I did have a bit of an idea; so, I made some provisions for it, by taking photographs around Sydney of various landmarks of interest which might help.

As it turned out, the photos I took of railway platforms indicating the “Nightsafe Area” were to prove crucial for the sequel. I am so pleased that Mark Lander and his best friend, Jim Sanders, a detective in the New South Wales police force, are back, and tracking down (pardon the pun) a vicious killer on Sydney’s railway network.

I will just say, that as far as Mark Lander is concerned, his story does not end with book two, having commenced a plan for book three. I have already dropped a couple of hints at what it’s about within the pages of “Nightsafe”, I’ll leave it to you to guess what they are. Meanwhile though, I have a lot of research to do before I can get stuck into writing it, as I’m determined to make sure neither Mark or Jim have it too easy in finding the murderer in the next step of their journey.

I haven’t decided whether there will be any further adventures for Mark Lander after the third book. I may just choose not to push my luck and keep it as a trilogy.

For now though, I hope my readers will enjoy “Nightsafe”, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support of my writings.

RLB – Tomewriter

Book Review: “Dawnlands” by Philippa Gregory

Once again, the kingdom is in turmoil. Charles II has died without an heir, and his younger, Catholic brother, James has succeeded him to the throne with his wife, Mary of Modena. Although the queen has provided him with many children, none, save two (much later), have survived. Disappointed in not being able to secure an heir, the king turns his attentions to his mistress, much to his wife’s distress.

Of all the queen’s ladies-in-waiting, her favourite is the Italian-born, Lady Livia Avery, a woman who one loves to hate!

As readers to this delicious series, we are first introduced to the immensely beautiful Livia in the prequel of this story: “Dark Tides” (reviewed: 03/08/21). She arrives at Southwark with a babe-in-arms (Matteo) to the Reekie Wharf claiming to be the widow of Alinor’s son, Rob – a doctor by profession – who allegedly drowned in Venice.

At this stage, I shan’t delve too deeply into this as it is far too profound, and would just say, that if you haven’t previously read “Tidelands” (reviewed: 18/07/21) and “Dark Tides”, I would urge you to do so before tackling “Dawnlands”.

To bring you up to speed in relation to this third novel in the “Fairmile” series, Rob was never legally married to Livia, and is far from dead. He is very much alive, and residing at Hatton Gardens with his wife Julia and teenage daughter, Hester.

Livia’s son, Matteo, but referred to as Matthew by both Alinor and her daughter Alys, who raised him as their own, after Livia as good as abandoned him into their care, as she pursued her own ambitions, has grown up as a fine young man and apprenticed to be a lawyer at Lincoln Inns.

As for Livia, her advancement was only made possible by her tricking and marrying Sir James Avery.

James, however, has only ever loved one woman, and it isn’t his wife; it is Alinor (read Tidelands), and, as such, has ensured with his lawyers that neither Livia, nor her son, is to inherit his property.

Livia, however, is far too unscrupulous to let such a matter of inheritance not go unchallenged; so, when the royal family are threatened by a seemingly impending uprising, she persuades the easily manipulated young queen to flee the country, and to do so, recruits her son to ensure a ship for their escape. The ship being owned by Alys’ husband, Captain Shore. However, when the rebellion fails, Matthew is rewarded by the queen (at Livia’s suggestion) with an estate in Sussex.

The rebellion in question is a challenge by the king’s own bastard son, the Duke of Monmouth, currently in exile in Holland, and supposedly under the protection of James II’s son-in-law, William of Orange.

This aside, Ned Ferryman, Alinor’s brother, who had left England to begin anew in America following the English Civil War under Oliver Cromwell, is returning to his homeland to join the new rebellion.

Whilst in Boston awaiting departure on the busy quays, where goods, as well as slaves, destined for the Sugar Islands are being loaded, one of the Indian slaves speaks to Ned in the language of the Pokanoket People whom he knew only too well. Negotiating with the trader, Ned acquires the lad, who he names ‘Rowan’ and takes him to London.

“Dawnlands” is a story of gain and loss; love and betrayal; as well as war and peace. There is so much crammed into its pages that it is enough to make your head spin! I therefore shall say no more about it as I have no wish to spoil it for you.

In her afterword, Philippa Gregory says it took her three years to write the story, and I can truly believe it. The bibliography alone is most impressive, and I can well appreciate the amount of research conducted in making this story come alive.

As with her two previous stories in the “Fairmile” series, “Dawnlands” was a book I just couldn’t put down, finishing it in less than four days, as I found myself picking it up at every opportunity.

Needless to say, I never wanted it to end. . ., but, as with every tale, it did; and all I can hope for is that Philippa will treat us with yet another episode in this wonderful family saga.

5 Stars goes without saying.

RLB – Tomewriter

Book Review: “The Bullet That Missed” by Richard Osman

The first time I had read anything by Richard Osman was his novel “The Thursday Murder Club”, and it was only because my sister had recommended it. I remember finding it immensely amusing, and was glad that I had read it. The sequel, “The Man Who Died Twice” (Reviewed: 22/03/22) was equally entertaining, and I couldn’t wait for the next story in the series.

“The Bullet That Missed” was, by far, (at least in my opinion) the funniest of the three, which had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion (I dread to think what my neighbours were thinking upon hearing my outbursts).

The Thursday Murder Club comprises of four old aged pensioners: Elizabeth, a one-time agent of the secret services; Joyce, a widow and retired nurse. Ron, a retired union leader, and Ibrahim a one-time psychiatrist. They all live in the same seniors’ residential complex, and meet up once a week to solve cold cases which the police have given up on.

In “The Bullet That Missed” the unsolved ‘murder’ was that of Bethany Waites, a reporter and co-host of celebrity Mike Waghorn on the TV news show South East Tonight. The file indicated that Bethany Waites’ car had been seen by CCTV driving off a cliff near Dover, in southern England. The body is never found, so determining the cause of death: whether murder or suicide, is impossible to establish.

As Joyce is a great fan of Mike Waghorn, she persuades the others of the club to investigate this particular case – of course, her ulterior motive is for a chance to meet Mike Waghorn face-to-face.

All four characters are amusing in their own right, but Joyce – especially when she shares her diary entries with you – is the funniest, particularly in the way she dotes on Alan – her dog :o)

As with the previous books, the gang team up with two police officers, Chris and Donna (Chris just happens to be dating Donna’s mum), to help them unravel this intriguing mystery.

There are the usual existing support characters, as well as several new ones who interact throughout the story, each playing their part in this wonderful ‘who-done-it’.

“The Bullet That Missed” was highly enjoyable and entertaining, which of course, I will strongly recommend should you be in need of a good laugh!

It goes without saying that I give this story 5 Stars; and the nice thing is, Richard Osman isn’t finished with The Thursday Murder Club, as he is promising yet another adventure.

Thanks Richard – my sister and I can’t wait to read the next story; but please don’t stop with book 4…. Keep them coming!

RLB – Tomewriter