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Be prepared to laugh, cry, shrink with fear as you listen for those bumps in the night, and fly away into outer space as you travel through the wormholes of your own mind. This collection of twenty-six stories is the second rollercoaster ride which Neal invites you to take with him.  ‘Short Stories Volume Two’ will fill that coffee break or evening by the fire. There’s romance, crime, horror, science fiction, and just a hint of the paranormal among the twenty-six tales which he has spun for you.  …Find out more… visit book page About the author: Neal James has been writing since 2008 when his first novel. ‘A Ticket to Tewkesbury’, was released. Since that time eight more books have followed, and ‘Short Stories Volume Two’ is his tenth work to be published in as many years.  He has appeared in both the national and local press, and has also been a regular at branches of Waterstones and local reading groups and libraries in his home counties of Derbyshire and Nottingham

We encourage everybody to buy, borrow from the libraries, read, comment and vote for the authors/book. The public have until 15 May 2016 to vote.  The People's Book Prize entry links:   Fierce Thunder - Fiction Category The 3 authors with the most votes in the category will become finalists and will compete again from 16 May 2016 to 12 July 2016 from the special Finalists Page.  The winners will be announced at The People’s Book Prize 7th  Award Ceremony on 12th July 2016 to be broadcast by SKY NEWS. Courtney and Jacquelyn Silberberg are the author of Fierce Thunder . We wish Courtney and Jacquelyn Silberberg the very best with this event.

"Imagine, for a moment, Thomas Hardy writing crime, and you have a close approximation to Julius Falconer’s descriptive talents in ‘The Waif’. Ally that to a style reminiscent of Edgar Wallace in ‘The Four Just Men’, and you have all of the necessary ingredients for a fascinating detective story. Now throw in, for good measure, ‘Bradshaw’s Guide’, and you are off on a journey filled with wonderful scenery as we traverse Europe in search of a miscreant so cunning, that DI Moat seems foiled at each and every turn. ‘The Waif’ sets Moat and his assistant, DS Stockwell, a seemingly unsolvable mystery going back three centuries, and culminating in what appears, on the face of it, to be a simple case of murder. Falconer’s depth of knowledge of the environs, not just of Yorkshire, but also of several European locales, reveals a commitment to a level of research essential for a good detective thriller. Moat’s almost ‘Poirot’ characterization, and his invitations to ‘you dear reader’

Here is another gripping page-turner from a master storyteller. The chapters simply roll by, as you follow ace sleuth, Detective Inspector Wickfield and Sergeant Hewitt, through a myriad of possible theories about a fatality: each one having to be diligently considered, before filing, and moving on to the next. The story breaks with the sudden death of the Bishop of Worcester in 1966. His body being found in his official castle study, with the doors and windows locked from the inside. It could have been a perfectly straightforward accident and to another, less efficient and inexperienced officer, it might have been, but Wickfield is immediately suspicious; something doesn’t smell right. Looking around the room he sees things that others might have missed, and like a dog with a bone he gnaws and nags away at the problem, leaving no stone unturned until he’s interviewed everyone with the slightest connection to the high churchman. In a few short days following the death, and toge

Having now had the pleasure of reading several of the ‘Wickfield’ chronicles, I find the stories just keep getting better and better. What I want to know is, how does the author do it? The writing makes for effortless reading and seems to cover all aspects of human nature. In The Bones of Murder , the police have to delve quite deeply into the seamier side of life, in order to get at the truth of family conflicts, disappearances and possibly murders, which happened decades ago. The bodies of three people; are dug up by the Hothersall’s: new house owners, as they prepare for renovating projects, and the skeletal remains, show distinct signs of murder. This is clearly one for Worcestershire C.I.D’s, finest: Detective Inspector Wickfield and his trusty assistant, Sergeant Spooner. Apart from the fact that this is a baffling cold case, presenting many difficulties, not least that the murderer may be long dead, the reader is let in on a personal conflict, between Inspector Wickfiel

Here is another baffling and highly enjoyable, Inspector Wickfield case. The Worcestershire C.I.D detective again has Sergeant Spooner’s able assistance. However he needs nothing short of a crystal ball to get to the bottom of this strange affair. Fortunately, when he’s tested his brain to its utmost, and run himself ragged into the bargain, with very few positive results, Wickfield is not too proud to talk things over with Beth, his inspirational and long-suffering spouse. He calls her his muse. She is one step removed from the investigation and thus able to zone in on a piece of information he may have treated too lightly or simply overlooked. The story revolves around the apparent suicide of a male teacher in a private girls’ school. It seems the coroner’s verdict of suicide would put an end to speculation. But question marks arise when a local man comes forward with new information to cast disturbing light on the death. Nothing is quite as it seems and involves the detecti

Scenic Worcestershire appears to have more than its fair share of evildoers and wicked murderers! In this gripping and extremely baffling case for Police Inspector Stan Wickfield, the author pits him against a highly cunning adversary. We have stepped back in time to early 1968, to the sudden, violent death of Fr Wilfred, parish priest of The Sacred Heart Catholic Church. It occurs, just as the church itself is undergoing a disquieting period of change. A lot of preconceived religious practice is being challenged by a wave of new thinking and the detective uncovers several suspects in his quest for the truth of this sudden death: was it murder or suicide? With Sergeant Spooner assisting him, Stan Wickfield (considered to be the best brains on the force) methodically works his way through the lives and possible motives of each of the suspects: often taking two steps backwards for every step gained and thus giving the reader a glimpse of the workings of the Catholic Church and th

An Anthology of Christmas Murders - Terror, Tinsel and Turkey Editor Jeremy Moiser Murder comes in all shapes and sizes. It also comes at inconvenient times. Christmas, for example. Season of goodwill, peace to all men (and women too, of course), homely jollity round the turkey and mince-pies. A time of family reunion and celebration, of good cheer, recollection and renewal. And of unexpected death. Lock the doors. Draw the curtains. Settle down in your armchair and enjoy ten stories by masters of the genre. Georgian England. 1960s and 1980s England. Twenty-first-century Africa, Canada, the USA. Murder by meat-hook, piano-wire, scarf, knife, hammer, golf-club, bullet, syringe …  And naturally all the classic motives: blackmail, revenge, disappointment, greed, anger, a perverted sense of duty ... Murders committed on impulse and murders carefully planned. A catalogue of weakness, hatred and villainy. It’s all here, at your elbow. And there’s more! Humour, intrig

This seemingly unfathomable case tests Worcestershire’s finest: Detective Inspector Stan Wickfield, and his appointed assistant: Sergeant Hewitt, to the limit. Author Julius Falconer takes a back seat and graciously allows the inspector, freedom to tell the story in his own inimitable fashion, (a bit like Conan Doyle letting Sherlock Holmes off the leash.) I must confess, I do enjoy the policeman’s own, man of the people style. With Wickfield, what you see is what you get. He is a no-nonsense, detective who knows how to call a spade a spade. However, I think Julius ought to be aware; there are occasional hints for the reader, that Wickfield could have his own literary aspirations.  In The Longdon Murders, an old couple are found dead in their daughter’s, Worcestershire-village cottage, both slumped over a table and poisoned by a contaminated bottle of wine. Their daughter is nowhere to be seen. Then shortly after, a young man’s body is discovered in a London bed-sit. He’s been

This is a fascinating Inspector Wickfield murder mystery. By this time the Police detective has much more experience under his belt. He is called upon to use his undoubted skills and thus provide the answer to another Worcestershire riddle. His co-partner in this tale is Sergeant Spooner and together they set about the enormous task of bringing the perpetrator/s to justice. This case would be tricky enough, if it wasn’t for the fact that, as their work progresses, it becomes abundantly clear, a recent murder has definite links to a very cold crime, of some twenty years earlier. It seems shocking to me, that amongst the glories of Worcestershire apples and pears, there could be some very odd fruit, lurking under the stairs! However this tale soon gets under your own skin, so to speak, and the book becomes another un-put-down-able, labour of love.

For me, one of the main attractions of the: Who done it ; is to pit my wits against the criminal investigators and attempt to anticipate who the perpetrator is, before they do. Author Julius Falconer allows Police Inspector Stan Wickfield to tell the story in his own way, warts and all, even to the point of interacting directly with the reader, right through the story. I find this very appealing, especially as the inspector is not some soulless, over-promoted wonder-boy, but a conscientious thief-taker who expresses his own self-doubts and is not frightened or ashamed to seek advice from his sergeant. As we proceed through the book, I get the impression we are all in it together, almost as if we were trying to interpret the clues to a complicated crossword puzzle. We understand the policeman’s frustrations, as he encounters each dead end and has to rethink his strategy. Some crime, novelists work on a totally different level, with convoluted sentences and padded chapters, which

Rippercide By Peter Hodgson His perverted desire is to become the world’s most infamous serial killer. He is a psychopath, emulating killers like Jack the Ripper. A popular seaside resort becomes his stalking ground. The terror intensifies as the bodies of young women are discovered mutilated. While police officials follow traditional lines of enquiry in their search for a forensically aware serial killer, Sheridan and Becky grapple with obscure clues. Piece by piece the clues begin to make sense.    As detectives eventually close in on their prime suspect, Becky follows her intuition in an attempt to solve the mystery of the killer’s identity. And the nightmare begins... .. Find out more

Jack the Ripper - Through the Mists of Time The Review* "Through the Mists of Time is an overview of the Ripper case written with the intention of clearing away the accretion of myth and fantasy that has obscured the facts, and it achieves this purpose admirably, Hodgson's enthusiasm and objectivity shining through . . . In Chapter 8 Hodgson takes account of some of the latest candidates to be the Ripper, such as Carl Feigenbaum, Robert Mann and Patricia Cornwell's advocacy of Walter Sickert. Information about Thomas Cutbush, gleaned from the Broadmoor files, is in the last chapter, and the chapter 'Jack in Films' briefly discusses From Hell. The number of illustrations has been increased and Stuart Hodgson, the author's son, evidently a talented artist, has produced some drawings of the victims. The hairstyles, particularly Kelly's, look a little too modern to me, but they are interesting pencil portraits of Nichols, Chapman, Eddowes and Kell

Bible John - Closure | Fiction: Crime / suspense by Andrew Malloy  

Monk Fryston Author Julius Falconer's 14th crime detective novel featured in the local press, where the novel was set. 'The Alkan Murder', is set at Scarthingwell Hall, a large country house outside of Tadcaster, where the murder occurs. ...A resoundingly engaging detective murder mystery in the finest British traditions: suave, sophisticated and sharp. Newspaper cut out   The Alkan Murder is available in eBook. The Alkan Murder - Kobo ePub The Alkan Murder - Tesco PDF and ePub eBooks The Alkan Murder - Amazon Kindle The Alkan Murder - Google Play The Alkan Murder - Apple iBook

By Neal James   "The body, or what remained of it, had been found by a dog walker out for an early morning stroll. He had parked his car close to Derbyshire’s Mapperley Reservoir in Shipley Country Park, and let his Jack Russell terrier out of the back of the vehicle, watching her disappear on one of her customary forages around Shipley Lane. Having seen the dog stop abruptly, sniffing the air, ears erect, he was surprised when she vanished into the trees to the right, instead of following their customary course left, and up to the wooded area encompassing the remains of what had been the Miller-Mundy estate. “Where’s the body?” DS Fletcher crushed the stub of the cigarette beneath his shoe after the disapproving look from one of the park rangers..." Read entire story   A published collection of short stories by Neal James titled 'Short Stories - Volume One' is available in the following eBook formats:   Short Stories - Volume One - Kobo ePub   Sh

Over a century ago a series of shocking mutilation murders took place in a squalid, overcrowded district of Victorian London. Five women fell victim to a man driven by rage and violent fantasy. The newspapers of the day gave him a chilling nickname, a name that evokes images of gas-lit foggy streets and a top-hatted sinister figure carrying a Gladstone bag. From the outset, the murderer attained almost mythical status merely by virtue of his name and his uncanny ability to avoid detection. The legend of Jack the Ripper was born. Watch Book Trailer   Peter Hodgson is the author of two books: 'Critical Murder' and 'Jack the Ripper - Through the Mists of Time'

A book trailer for Fred Maddox's novels. The Novels Deadlier Than The Male - Peter Milton promised himself he would never again live in poverty, as he had done as a child. That promise became an obsession, so great, he robs and cheats to get his way, and it looked like he would succeed but is in for the shock of his life. A Fantastic read. More... A Genuine Fake - A gripping tale of greed and deception with a tightly-woven, deft and thought-provoking plot, centred on the antique business. An obsession for revenge and for money creates a twist in this superb tale. Click the link below to read more. An Absolutely Cracking Read! More... JOSS - A superbly written fantasy fiction novel with beautifully crafted characters. More... Watch Book Trailer The novels are available in popular eBook formats such as ePub, PDF and Kindle (Mobi). ePub - Kobo Deadlier Than The Male A Genuine Fake JOSS Amazon Kindle Deadlier Than The Male A Genuine Fake JOSS PDF - Tesco e

Neal James will be signing copies of his four published books. Date: Saturday, 22 September 2012 Time: 10.30am Address: Waterstone's Derby St. Peters, 78-80 St Peter's Street, Derby DE1 1SR Further details: Tel: 0843 290 8273 E-mail: manager@derby.waterstones.com Site: http://www.waterstones.com If you are unable to attend an event. Waterstone's can often reserve signed copies. Please contact the host shop for details. Neal James is the author of four books: 'A Ticket to Tewkesbury' , 'Short Stories - Volume One' , 'Two Little Dicky Birds' and 'Threads of Deceit' . These novels are available on Amazon Kindle and Google Play. Soon to be released on Kobo. We wish Neal James the very best with this events.

The Alkan Murder By  Julius Falconer A notably intriguing murder mystery–will you identify the murderer before the detectives do? Another crime novel from the inimitable Julius Falconer, written in the finest British traditions: suave, sophisticated and sharp. The wealthy and reclusive Harry Quirke, misanthropist and student of the piano works of Alkan, is stabbed to death in his country house outside Tadcaster. Only one of the obvious suspects seems to have much of a motive: his alibi is shaky, it is true, but there is no proof of his involvement. DI Moat and his assistant DS Stockwell follow one false lead after another in an exasperating investigation that seems to be getting nowhere: a gypsy caravan, an old murder in Kansas, the hurried will of a dying man, a golf-course green and an unfinished catalogue of Alkan’s works – none of it seems to make sense. Finally, the murderer makes the smallest of slips, and the penny drops - but it’s a close thing! Find out more “Res