Antiques in the Attic - Part 1

This is the first book in the South Downs Murder Mysteries. Unlike the Cleo books it is written in third person and involves police procedural. Hope you enjoy it - and, of course, buy a copy. It is not only available on Kindle but also in paperback (from Amazon).

"Did you get them?"

"Nah."

"You know where they are?"

"Er…"

"Well?"

"It's like this, mate, 'e didn't tell us nuffin'."

"You said he would."

"Well 'e didn't."

"You'd better try again."

"Bit difficult."

"Why?"

"Better you don't know at the mo, but I got n'idea where they are."

_______________________

Not another wet and dreary day, Sarah groaned as she drew the curtains and viewed the bedraggled garden.

And she should be feeling happy.  The divorce was over, she was free and Kevin was paying her maintenance.  And so he should, she and her friends agreed, some pointing out that he was lucky they didn't have any children.

But at least I'd have some company and something useful to do, she mournfully mused as she went downstairs to get breakfast.  Should she have it in the kitchen or take it back to bed?  It was Sunday, the shopping done, the house clean and no chance of gardening.  Bed, she decided, gathering up from the front door the heavy bundle that made up the Sunday paper and putting it on the stairs - it was too heavy to throw up to the landing.

Whilst waiting for the coffee to drip her thoughts turned to Kevin and his reaction when she had told him a few months ago that she wanted a divorce.

____________

"But why?" he whined, a sorrowful look in his sky blue eyes.  Eyes that she had once thought were beautiful.  "We're doing alright.  We're both working, have this nice house and a car.  And money in savings."

"What else do we have?" she asked, glaring across the table at him."We work, we come home, eat, watch telly and go to bed.  We never do anything else."

"But when we've got enough money saved we can start a family.  We always said that."

"Kevin, that was six years ago and I can't remember when we last made love," she expostulated.  Looking at his mean mouth and cold blue eyes she wondered now what she had ever seen in him. 

He turned away awkwardly and cleared his throat.  Why on earth did this married man in his thirties always get embarrassed when sex was mentioned, she wondered.

(Oh yes, her closest friend and confidante, Zelda, had a theory or two.  One was that Kev was impotent and the other that he was a latent homosexual.  But then Zel always had theories about people.)

"Look, er, well," Kevin began as he looked out of the window at the garden, "I can move into one of the other bedrooms.  Yes, that's what I'll do," he added more decisively as he turned to look at her.

"Kev, I don't think that is going to solve our problems."

"But we get on okay and are good friends."

"Is that what we are?  Good friends?"

"Of course."

She shook her head, her loose long brown hair swinging in a way he used to like.  Or, at least, had said that he did.  "You really don't get it, do you?"

"Get what?"

"I'm bored.  B-O-R-E-D."

He looked puzzled.  "How can you be bored?  I'm here every evening and weekends."

"Kevin Stewart I would like to do things other than a boring office job, come home and cook a meal, wash up, then sit and watch television programmes in which I have absolutely no interest whatsoever."

"But you read," he whined.  "Perhaps that's why you're bored."

"Grrr.  Reading is the only thing that keeps me sane.  I'm sick of doing a boring job, housework, cooking and cleaning up," she reiterated.  "You don't do anything about the house to help."

"But I'm working all week."

She had slammed out of the room.

__________________________

I must get a new toaster, she reflected as she buttered the almost singed bread.

Carefully carrying mug and plate she went to the stairs, realised the newspaper was too bulky to fit under her arm so went on upstairs without it.  She'd read it later.

The rain was still pouring down.  Obviously this was turning into a typical English summer.  Sarah sighed and returned to her book.  Might as well have a longer lie-in.  Now she was on her own she could please herself.  No more whining and whingeing from he who should be obeyed.  She put down her book.  "I can change my job and get a career," she told the walls.  Why had she only just thought of that?  Probably because she'd had too much else on her mind, she ruefully reflected.

The telephone interrupted her contemplation of a future career.  "Hello."

"Hope you're sitting down," Zelda responded .

Sarah chuckled, "I'm still in bed and thinking about finding a career."

"Hold that thought.  I haven't got much time.  Gotta go to the grandparents' for lunch.  Have you got the radio on?"

"No, I'm just enjoying the silence."

"So you won't have heard."

"Heard what?"

"First of all, what car does Kev drive?"

"Not sure but I think Milly said he'd bought a Ford Focus."  Milly being Kevin's mother with whom Sarah had a good relationship.

"Oh dear."

"Why?  What's happened?"

"According to the local news a man has been found dead in his car on the Downs not far from Findon.  It’s a Ford Focus."

"Do you know how many men drive a Focus?"

"Not a lot.  It's supposed to be recognised as a woman's car," Zelda responded dryly, "but I've seen a lot of men driving them.  But what if he's committed suicide…."

"Not Kev.  First off, he hasn't the guts and, secondly, he loves himself too much."

"But his Dad died of cancer."

"So what does that have to do with anything?  They didn't particularly get on.  Too much alike," Sarah added dryly.

"Yeah, but he might have thought he had cancer and what with the divorce and then his Mum not taking him in….."

"Nope.  He might have been upset about losing his housekeeper but he'll hope to soon find a replacement.  What he doesn't realise is that there aren't that many gullible women out there."

"Especially when it comes to a divorced man."

"Exactly, but I’m sure he's got his sob story worked out."

"Whatever.  By the way, why wouldn't his Mum have him back?  Seen sense?"

"She has a gentleman friend."

"Good for her."

"Yes.  He looks after her and takes her dancing.  And he's persuaded her to go on a cruise with him."

"Oh, wow.  You always liked her didn't you?"

"We get on really well.  She was dead chuffed when I told her I was getting a divorce.  Told me it was the best thing I could do as the Stewart men weren't known for changing their attitudes."

"Bet Kev didn't like it when she refused to let him move in."

"I'm sure.  Plus it must have been a shock to find out about George.  I hadn't told him."

Zelda laughed.  "I would have loved to have seen his face when he found out."

"Me too.  Apparently, when he turned up on her doorstep with his laden car, George opened the door."

"Well played!"

"I thought so.  It was a good idea because then Kevin couldn't bully his way in.  Had to go to a hotel."

"Did he tell you this?"

"Of course not.  Milly told me.  He told me he wouldn't stay with her until that man had gone.  What he doesn't know is that George doesn't live there."

They laughed then Zelda remembered she was in a hurry and they rang off.

Sarah was destined not to have a longer lie in as, no sooner had she picked up her book again, than the front door bell pealed.  She got out of bed to look out of the window.  A strange car.


e-book:https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00C2Q655O 
Paperback: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1520418167

Homicide in Hampshire, Part 1.

Welcome to the opening paragraphs of the first Cleo Marjoribanks book, 'Homicide in Hampshire'. I love the art of creation and especially enjoy writing about Cleo. Mind you, after five books, I think it is a case of Cleo telling me what to write!

I hope you enjoy this snippet enough to buy the book - either on Kindle or paperback (via Amazon). And don't forget to give it a great review! For that you will always be a friend.

I snatched up the phone in the pool room (using me skirt to hold it, of course.  No point in reading mystery novels and doing it all wrong), all the while staring at the thing in the pool.  It had to be Janet Spencer.  It was wearing her dress.  And there was red in the water.  I knew she was dead and, while talking to the police, I wondered how I was so sure she was dead.  I know I should have jumped into the pool to get her out and begin resuscitation but…  The thought of what I might see made me gaga, so I scarpered, at least as best me high-heels would let me!  (As I can’t swim, it probably wouldn’t have been a good idea anyway.)

I shot off straight down the hall, grabbed handbag and keys from the table near the door then scrabbled with the door locks.  Why are they always a problem when you’re in a hurry?  At last I was out in the night air and could take deep breaths. 

And don’t ask me why I was in the pool room when I’d just come home.  If you walk indoors and see lights on that shouldn’t be on what would you do?  No, not what I should have done – panicked.  I went to investigate.  Course it wasn’t until later that I realised I’d been stupid.

It felt like I was standing outside for ages before I heard the cops arrive.  Blue light flashing and siren moaning, just like a sick cow.

The car pulled up in front where I was leaning against the wall by the open front door.

One of the coppers eased his bulk from the car “Constable Brown,” was the terse introduction.  “Are you alright, madam?  Are you Mrs. Marj-or-ibanks?”

“Pronounced Marchbanks,” I corrected automatically.  “I think I’m alright.  Yeah, I called.”  I moved away from the wall and pointed into the house.  “Down there, all the way to the end is the pool room.  She’s in the pool.”

He went in, at the same time indicating to the other – younger - man who was also now out of the car, to stay with me.  Did they think that if they left me there alone I might get into their car and escape?

.............................

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005LO72BA  -  Kindle

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/152017098X - Paperback.

Antiques in the Attic

5* rated 'Antiques in the Attic', the first of the South Downs Murder Mysteries, is now available in paperback.

Obviously, it is set in the South Downs and begins with the death of Sarah's former husband. After the police have notified her she remembers to go and check in the attic to make sure he took all of his things. And discovers some antique silver. This subsequently disappears, but as she lives on her own, who took it? Who entered her house?

Lots of police procedural in this and, of course, lots of mysterious people.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1520418167

Love or Duty by Roberta Grieve

Set just before and during the Second World War this book conveys the way in which various people viewed what was happening. The atmosphere in a seaside town during the war is particularly poignant dealing as it does with the way in which the local community came to together to help the injured and the evacuated children.

Woven in with this is the story of a young woman torn between duty to her family and the desire to get away and live a life of her own. Duty wins despite her falling in love with someone she doesn't know loves her and being manipulated into a loveless marriage. As with all good romances it ends well. 

Available on Kindle.

DIRTY DEEDS IN DOWNDENE

Whoopee! The second book in the Cleo Marjoribanks Murder Mysteries, 'Dirty Deeds in Downdene' is now available in PAPERBACK! Find out how this irrepressible lady gets mixed up in murder and the local golf course.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1520418264

Readers reviews:

'.....great plot lines and scene setting. Anyone fond of this genre of crime books will love it.'

'Once I started reading Dirty Deeds in Downdene I fell in love with Cleo.'

'Small village mystery with many people who could be the culprit. Easy read, funny characters who have good chemistry.'

..........

In case you missed it, the first book 'Homicide in Hampshire' is also available in paperback from Amazon.

Enjoy reading these books and I would really appreciate some good reviews from you. 

The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson

Or - More Notes from a Small Island.

Whether or not you have read Notes from a Small Island, this latest offering from Bill Bryson will have you chuckling, laughing or saying 'I've always thought that!'. His take on English life and mannerisms (to say nothing of Authority or Them) are insightful and amusing. His Bryson Line starts at Bognor Regis and finishes on Cape Wrath and stops in between and his descriptive writing is beautiful. This is definitely a book for the shelf to be read again and again and again. 

Definitely a 5* book. No, better than that 10*.

Now go out and buy it for a great read.

'Who Are The JCs?'

Just to let you know that I have - at last - published the latest book in the South Down Murder Mysteries.

In this story DI Sinclair, DC James and the rest of the team have a boring start to trying to find out who exactly their latest victim, James Chester, is. They do locate a safety deposit box with a couple of documents in but nothing that really helps.

Alongside this are stories about some rich gentlemen who befriend old ladies cruising on their own. The men's initials are JC. As no-one has lodged a complaint with the police there isn't a lot they can do except log it on a file.

Then a bank manager is murdered.

Want to know all about it? It is currently available on Kindle.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MY6H35S

All three books in the South Downs series will eventually be issued on Amazon in paperback form.