Fans of the DI Frank Lyle Mystery Series will know by now that I have scrapped plans for the original 6th novel in the series Dead on Arrival.
The reasons for this are
1) There are already several crime novels and TV crime series with dead immigrants found in freight trucks central to the plot.
2) As an Indie author you NEED to rise above the norm especially right now when we struggle for every sale as it is.
3) It was not going anywhere. I broke off to write Old Sins Cast Long Shadows and when that was complete I was able to do more. I have material I can use with regard to the continuing back story. .
The new 6th novel In Harm’s Way is taking shape. I am hoping to have it ready to release in time for Christmas 2015 ready to hopefully catch all the new ebook readers given as gifts.
This is the provisional blurb for In Harm’s Way
Dr Paul Fielding appeared to be a pillar of Ashbeck Society. His good works and generosity make him an unlikely candidate for murder.
But it doesn’t take long for DI Lyle & his team to find a crack in Fielding’s impeccable reputation; a crack that links to a past case which had a profound effect on Ashbeck society. But both of the main perpetrators linked to this glimpse into the past are now dead.
As DI Lyle and his team investigate they unearth shocking truths that someone has literally killed to keep hidden.
I don’t have a cover yet, it’s early days.
As intended with Dead on Arrival the back story will still feature DS Fox’s return to work from sick leave and Almira Desai finding new love. Will DS Fox finally find justice for his rape at the hands of Aidan O’Malley? Technically in 1993, when In Harm’s Way is set one man still could not formally accuse another of rape. The offence is still Buggery, but I use the term rape because buggered or buggery is such a crass word which I will only use in the context of police interview room scenes. The victims no doubt feel like they were raped after all; even if the legal system does not recognise it as such. Aidan O’Malley’s preferred victims are gay men, but don’t forget that straight men can be raped or sexually violated too. Personally I believe that Aidan’s sole redeeming feature is that he does at least do his victims the courtesy of using a condom, since this is a time when people constantly blamed the gay community for HIV/AIDS, conveniently forgetting that it can also be contracted from sharing infected drug injecting equipment and transfusions of infected blood in the days before donors were properly screened.
Here is a brief excerpt from in Harm’s Way told from DS Fox’s POV.
DC Mahon went to interview the receptionist, as she was much better at speaking to female witnesses and not purely on account of her own sexual preferences.
I took Dr Witney into the staff rest room.
“So tell me what happened this morning.” I said.
“I came in early as I had a mountain of paperwork to clear before surgery started,” He was looking right at me but twisting his hands in his lap. I didn’t read anything into this as most people showed signs of nerves when being questioned by the police.
“And Barbara was already here?”
“Yes, she usually is. She offered me coffee and said she’d bring it to my consulting room but I never got there. I saw light shining under Paul, Dr Fielding’s door, and decided to investigate. Dr Fielding does work late on occasion as he’s out a lot doing community work. He’s the on call GP for various schools and for the St Luke’s Cathedral homeless outreach program. I didn’t see him yesterday as I was at a clinical conference at Ashbeck University, on the subject of Massive Haemothorax if you’re interested.”
I shivered, memory’s hand digging her nails into my shoulder.
“I nearly died from one last year as it happens,” I said, “I was caught up in a pub bombing and if it hadn’t been for two of my colleagues I’m sure I would not be here now. It’s my first day back off sick leave as it happens.”
I waited for him to digest this information before asking my next question.
“So was Dr Fielding popular?”
“Yes, people seemed to like him, especially the female patients. He was a confirmed bachelor though. And before you ask, there weren’t any disgruntled husbands or boyfriends hanging around as far as I know. Far be it for me to tell you how to do your job, Detective, but I suggest you look further afield at his community work.”
“Well, I can deal with St Luke’s because Canon Rice helped us out on a previous investigation.” I said.
“Does this mean that the surgery will have to remain closed until you lot have finished?” He asked.
“I’ll need to check with DI Lyle, but I see you have a large building so you could temporarily relocate to the other side as the corridor where Dr Fielding’s room is will need to be sealed until we’ve finished. “
Just then DI Lyle walked in.
“Guv, Dr Witney wonders if the surgery will have to close until SOCO are finished.” I said.
“No, just relocate to another part of the building. We haven’t spoken to the press office yet, but for now it might pay if you told patients that that corridor is being redecorated. The last thing we need is city wide panic.”
”I’ll get it organised,” Dr Witney said, “if we’re done for now.”
“Yes, that’s fine but we may need to speak to you again.” I said.
Dr Witney went off.
“Dr Fielding did some work for St Luke’s homeless outreach,” I told DI Lyle, “He also had a bit of a thing for the ladies despite, or perhaps because, he was a bachelor. Dr Witney suggested we look further into that, as you know the victim is often the key to the murder.”
Just then we heard someone clearing their throat.
“I just remembered something else, DS Fox. Paul was the late Jeremiah Carnegie’s family doctor.”