Cherringham: Dead in the Water An exclusive extract

Dead in the Water is the first full-length novel set in the sleepy English village of Cherringham, featuring the unlikely sleuthing duo Sarah Edwards, an English web designer, and Jack Brennan, American ex-cop. The last episode, A Death in the Family, saw Jack rush back to the US to be with his family, leaving Sarah behind…

On the night of the school prom, popular teacher Josh Owens is found dead in the Thames in a drug-related accident. At first, it seems to be another sign that Cherringham High is spiralling out of control but the new head isn’t so sure, and quietly calls in local sleuth Sarah Edwards. Sarah is initially reluctant to take on the case, especially without Jack. But with the possibility of serious drug dealing at her daughter’s school, she feels compelled to get involved. However, it quickly becomes clear that there is more to Josh’s death than meets the eye, and that Sarah’s own life could be in danger. Solving crimes just isn’t the same without Jack…

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“That your lot, Maddie?” said Billy Leeper, sliding two pints of lager across the bar, shouting to be

heard over the music and noisy crowd.

Maddie looked down at the tray of drinks she’d just ordered.

A big round – and now she realised she’d forgotten to order her own drink.

“Sorry, Billy – one more glass of white wine, please. Any old thing will do – long as it’s nice and

cold!”

She watched the barkeeper disappear down to the other end of the bar, then looked around.

The Ploughman’s was as packed as she’d ever seen it. Cherringham’s favourite local pub – not as posh as the Angel farther up on the High Street, but still the go-to place for any village event.

And tonight, there was more than just the usual Friday night crowd.

A mob of her fellow teachers had come down after the prom for a well-deserved pint, and some of the now-departing pupils were happy to drink with them. She recognised a few of the boys and girls in their smart suits and gowns, knocking back drinks as if they did it every weekend.

Well, she thought, they probably do.

“Here you go,” said Billy, adding a glass of white wine to the tray. “On the tab?”

“Thanks, Billy.”

She picked up the tray and turned to go.

“They’re all eighteen, I’m assuming?” said Billy, nodding towards the students dotted around the

pub.

“Oh, I’m sure they are,” said Maddie, not at all sure, but moving off quickly towards the tables at

the rear of the pub.

On the way, she passed a crowded table by the dartboard and spotted a few of the lower sixth formers, standing with pints and bottles in their hands. Now, this lot definitely weren’t eighteen.

Should she say something?

She could see Callum Brady in the group. And Liam Norris and Jake Pawson.

The Usual Suspects, as they were known up at the school.

In T-shirts and jeans, looking aggressive even just standing there and drinking.

And liable to cause trouble if she told Billy they were underage.

They certainly did plenty of that at school.

Sooner they were gone… the better.

Jake caught her eye – and the whole group stopped talking and turned to look at her.

The look – a challenge.

As if to say: go on then; just try to get us thrown out.

If you got the balls.

She turned away and carried on walking with her tray of drinks to the back of the pub.

Dammit, she thought, what kind of coward am I?

But when she got to the back room of the pub, she put the encounter with the dartboard crowd to the back of her mind.

In the time she’d been gone, her group had grown even bigger. Someone had shoved three tables together. Now there must be nearly twenty – teachers and students both – all laughing, joking, telling stories. All glad the year was over: summer, university, the future… beckoning.

She lowered the tray onto the nearest table and everybody cheered and grabbed their drinks.

She picked up her white wine and waved to Tim sitting at the middle of the table, talking to one of

his star English pupils – or at least, listening to his tipsy rambling.

He gave her a long-suffering smile and mouthed “sorry”.

The boy had taken her seat. She smiled back and mouthed back – “no problem”.

“Here you go, Maddie,” came a voice from the end of the table.

She turned around – it was Josh Owen. A teacher the kids definitely adored.

A free seat next to him.

Should she?

With a quick glance at Tim, she skirted a group of locals, hemmed in by students, and threaded

her way round to the other end of the large table.

“I could say I saved it for you, but that would be lying,” said Josh.

“Well, you certainly know how to flatter a girl. So, how did you like your first Cherringham prom?”

“Good fun, hmm?” said Josh. “I had some great students in that year – sorry to see them go. Nice kids.”

“If only they were all nice.”

“Goes with the territory.”

Maddie took a sip of her wine.

“You talk to the new head?”

“Not tonight,” said Josh quietly. “Not the right time.”

“But you are applying for the deputy job?”

“You bet. There’s a lot needs changing – and from what I’ve heard so far, I like her plans.”

“I just hope I’m part of them,” said Maddie.

“You will be – if I’ve got anything to do with it.”

She laughed.

“Hark at you, deputy head, sir, hiring and firing already.”

“You bet. Mind how you behave, Ms. Brookes.”

“Always…” she said, laughing.

She liked teasing Josh, playing with him. He had a sparkle, as if he really enjoyed life.

Unlike…

She couldn’t help but look down the table at Tim, still involved in a long, deep conversation.

Her boyfriend.

How she hated that word. God, she was nearly thirty.

Maybe I should start calling him my partner? But do I even want that?

Fiancé?

Though not official yet…

Someone brought another tray of drinks over and everyone starting grabbing their refreshed pints and glasses.

As she stared – Tim looked over at her.

He smiled.

She smiled back.

And had a thought… what if Tim wasn’t here?

***

Then the seat next to Tim – empty.

With a nod from Tim, she sailed away from Josh.

“There you are!” Tim said. “I was just saying that I want to do some real camping trips this summer! Get some good long walks in. Proper treks – you know?”

She nodded. She noticed Tim looking at her.

“How does that sound to you?”

A smile. “Yes. Shake off the school year. Sounds great…”

Tim smiled at that, then turned back to the group.

Out of the corner of her eye she was aware of Josh getting up from the other end of the table.

He looked – for a moment – confused. She watched him head into the front bar and thought… Strange…

But then she too got lost in the excited talk of summer plans, the precious time away from kids

and school…

The first full length Cherringham novella, Dead in the Water by Matthew Costello and Neil Richards is published 10^th October by Bastei Entertainment, price £6.49 in eBook

The latest episode, Cherringham: A Death in the Family is free until 17^th October: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cherringham-Death-Family-Cosy-Crime-ebook/dp/B0191RZEXU

Louise Beech on Seven crime novels I wish I’d written – and why.

When my publisher told me I’d written a psychological thriller with my second book, The Mountain in my Shoe, I was surprised but very proud. I wasn’t sure I knew anything about such things. And now many people have asked me what crime novels I’ve liked, and I’ve tended to say that I don’t really read crime. Until I realised, when looking at my bookshelves and Kindle, that I do. Quite a lot of it. And the only reason I didn’t know is that I’m very genre-unaware. That is, I read for the story. I’ll read any category in the world if the story is there. If the beautiful writing and engaging characters are there. And in the following seven novels, all were present; while each had a different thing I love in my psychological thrillers…

The Murder Wall  by Maria Hannah

A strong lead character

This novel stood out for me because of the strong lead character – DCI Kate Daniels. She’s complex; both direct yet private, a risk-taker yet a woman who wants to help others, confident yet insecure, torn between career and love. I adore character-led stories and Kate truly leads this book. Much seems to be made in reviews of her being a lesbian - and the central lesbian relationship - but for me this is incidental. Mari Hannah writes exquisitely, and Kate is a character I’d be proud to have created.

Kind of Cruel by Sophie Hannah 

Masterly twists and turns

I first discovered Sophie Hannah four years ago when I read Kind of Cruel. The title intrigued me; the double meaning and play on words. These words are something Amber Hewerdine comes out with under hypnosis, words that mean nothing yet are somehow familiar. As a result of saying them aloud, she is then arrested. I was utterly hooked, with no clue how Hannah would resolve the mystery. And so I devoured the other books in the Spilling series, each one more addictive then the previous, each hook more bizarre and seemingly impossible. But Kind of Cruel was my first, and another I wish I could have come up with.

In Her Wake by Amanda Jennings 

Emotional resonance

With Jennings, you get ‘the feels’. She has an extraordinary way of touching you while terrifying you. (I just read that sentence again and it does sound rather creepy, which is perfect for a piece like this!) I’m not sure what her trick is, but I sure wish I’d written In Her Wake. In the novel, Bella is on a personal journey to discover her own identity, and the shocking crime that happened twenty-five years earlier. Because Jennings gets you under the skin of her characters, you care for Bella, you care what happens, and so you personally feel every shock discovery, which makes this book truly a thriller on all levels.

Exclusion Zone by JM Hewitt

A strong sense of place

I don’t think I’ve ever read a book with such a strong sense of place as this one. Set in Pripyat, Chernobyl, it follows the disappearance of a teenager, Afia, during 1986 and the famous reactor explosion. Hewitt deftly uses the backdrop - the horrific fallout, the dying land, and the freakishly altered creatures - to create an added sense of dread. I learned a great deal from this novel about the importance of the where as much as the who and the how.

Stasi Child by David Young

Era is everything

In Stasi Child, David Young has captured not a long-gone time, for 1975 really isn’t that far in the past, but certainly a very different time. By setting this incredible thriller during the Cold War in East Berlin, Young cleverly brings into play all the restrictions of the time, the strict regime, the power of the Stasi. This lends a dark, claustrophobic, big brother is watching kind of feel, and makes it one of my favourite crime novels of the year.

A Suitable Lie by Michael J Malone

Close to home is just as chilling

While far-flung lands and eras gone by make for fantastic fiction, so too do places quite close to home. And in A Suitable Lie - which is perhaps what people are now calling Domestic Noir - the setting is an everyday marriage, in the modern world. The difference is that there are dark secrets within this marriage, ones you might not expect. Malone cleverly manipulates your emotions, but with truth. The bare and honest prose grabs you roughly by the collar and doesn’t let you go until the final sentence. Another top read of 2016 for me.

  

Before It’s Too Late by Jane Isaac

Time running out

Tension is key in a good crime novel. And what better cause of anxiety than someone being abducted, while detectives search desperately for the truth, and for their whereabouts. In Before It’s Too Late, Isaac does it all. There’s the sharp writing, the relentless pace, the shocking twists, and above all - for me anyway - the sublime characters. An abductee we really care about, and an interesting detective, means this great novel is the whole package. 

The Mountain in My Shoe by Louise Beech is out now and published by Orenda Books (£8.99)

A missing boy. A missing book. A missing husband. A woman who must find them all to find herself. On the night Bernadette finally has the courage to tell her domineering husband that she’s leaving, he doesn’t come home. Neither does Conor, the little boy she’s befriended for the past five years. Also missing is his lifebook, the only thing that holds the answers. With the help of Conor’s foster mum, Bernadette must face her own past, her husband’s secrets and a future she never dared imagine in order to find them all.

You can find more information about Louise Beech on her website. You can follow Louise Beech on Twitter @LouiseWriter.

Harlan Coben’s Home

The Shots team were delighted to meet up with Harlan Coben during Bouchercon 2016, held in New Orleans. The event was attended by close to 2,000 advocates of the Crime, Mystery and Thriller Genre and Chaired by the Bestselling writer Heather Graham, and Connie Perry.

Harlan was one of the guests of Honour for this year’s World Crime and Mystery Convention, and lead the Mardi Gras style Opening Ceremonies, which we recorded below.

One of the many highlights of the event was Michael Connelly Interview with Harlan Coben, which was standing room only and which we present for Shots Readers below in four segments

Harlan Coben interviewed by Michael Connelly Part I

Harlan Coben interviewed by Michael Connelly Part 2

Harlan Coben interviewed by Michael Connelly Part 3

Harlan Coben interviewed by Michael Connelly Part 4

Harlan Coben is a firm favourite writer of many Shots Readers, so we were delighted to get an early read of his latest Myron Bolitar Novel “Home”, after a five year gap and out in Hardcover.

Sometimes we forget what a tremendous thriller writer Harlan Coben is; as we take it as read, that his annual releases will hit the NY Times and London Times Top Ten. So it was a delight to sample his latest offering, and one featuring his investigator Myron Bolitar, and Windsor Horne  Lockwood, III [aka "Win"] – for this is one of the most riveting and thought provoking thrillers of 2016.

As ever, Coben comes up with a premise that is as intriguing as it is provocative to launch this tale. Two young boys from wealthy families vanish, in what appears as an abduction-ransom that went horribly wrong. With quiet desperation, the families have waited to learn what happened to their two boys; that is, until Myron Bolitar is contacted by Win, who believes to have tracked one of the boys, Patrick Moore in London. The other of the missing boys, Rhys Baldwin is connected to Win, as he is a child of one of Win’s cousins, Brooke. However the discovery of Patrick does not shed light on the mystery of their disappearance, or the whereabouts of Rhys, instead it raises more questions as to what actually happened a decade back.  

Read the full Shots Review Here

And Harlan’s standalone thriller Fool Me Once is out in Paperback

The master of the domestic thriller returns, with a startling novel that evokes memories of his breakout novel ‘Tell No One’ with a narrative that is as elegant as it is engaging. The theme of War on the Fabric of Family relationships is explored, as if torn from the headlines that detail our military operations in the Middle-East; and like PTSD, what is revealed is far from pretty.

We follow the tragic life of Maya Stern, retired US Military helicopter pilot and her family; though you have to follow the plot closely for the clues to the mystery are hidden in plain view. Stern, coupled with the demons of her past [from her military service] is now transformed into what we term Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder [PTSD].

With her infant daughter Lily, Maya has to cope with her husband Joe’s funeral. Tragedy seems striated into Maya’s life as not only has she to cope with the senseless killing of Joe, but earlier her Sister Claire was also murdered in what appeared as a home invasion gone awry, and there's the mystery surrounding her husband Joe's late brother and the wealthy and powerful family Maya married into.

So to support herself and daughter she works as a Flight-Instructor, and has a Nanny-Cam, to keep watch on Lily and the child-minder while she’s working; but when she sees what appears as her dead husband on the video-feed from the Camera, she starts to question her sanity, her reality, and that of her family.

Maya soon becomes paranoid and she trusts no one, especially her late Husband’s wealthy family, nor her late Sister’s husband, nor the police, nor Lily’s Nanny, and then not even herself.

Read the full Shots Review Here

Shots have discounted Hardcover copies of Harlan’s HOME available from our bookstore HERE and Paperback copies of FOOL ME ONCE available HERE

More Information available from www.harlancoben.com

Shots Magazine would like to thank Selina Walker of Penguin Random House UK and Harlan Coben for help with this feature and the early read of “Home”.

Deep Down Dead by Steph Broadbribb - Teaser Quote

As part of the countdown to the publication of Deep Down Dead in October here is a teaser quote to whet your appetite!!

I see the blood. Watch it gush from her chest, crimson spreading across the pink fabric of her shirt, pooling on the ground beneath. There’s so much, too much, it’s impossible to stop the flow. I have to try though, and I try real hard. Press my fists against the wound. She’s lying on her back, pale face turned skywards, eyes unfocused. I think that I’m crying, but all I can hear is that sound, the wheezing, gurgling. She’s trying to talk, and failing. Trying to breathe. Failing. 

A single mother who is also a bounty holder? What's not to like? A tense, action packed thriller this debut novel Deep Down Dead by Steph Broadbribb is shaping up to be one of the most talked about books in 2017.

More information about Steph Broadribb can be found on her publishers website. You can also follow Steph on Twitter @crimethrillgirl.