A Snippet from the Upcoming Devonshire Crime Thriller, Lawful Duty

Apr 16, 2024 | Bonus Content, Members Only

Lawful Duty – The new crime novel set in Devon

Set in the 1990s, this book features a much younger Tim Spiller, the detective from the Devonshire Mysteries.

I hope this snippet will whet your appetite.

Preorder Lawful Duty now to read it as soon as it launches on 26 April, 2024

or buy direct and read it now at: mcamplingbooks.com – my official store

Find it on all retailers at: books2read.com/lawfulduty

Excerpt From Chapter 2

1992

With an effort, Lynsey opened her eyes. The blindfold was tight, the fabric pressing hard against her skin, its edges digging into her cheeks and forehead. It flattened her nose and made breathing difficult, so she opened her mouth and gasped for air.

Lynsey tried to free her arms, but the ropes had left her wrists and ankles raw, and struggling only made the pain worse. She was tied to some kind of bed, and she could hardly move a muscle.

She thought of calling for help, but she’d tried that before, and he’d pushed her down and threatened to cut her throat. His voice had been little more than a whisper: a low, guttural growl intended to frighten her. Lynsey had tried not to react, but it hadn’t been easy. The man’s sinister, soft voice had sent a shudder of revulsion through her whole body. She’d been tempted to provoke him, to make him shout and yell. Anything would’ve been better than his insidious whispers. But she hadn’t dared. She’d heard the anticipation in his voice. He hadn’t been making idle threats; he wanted to cut her throat.

Lynsey almost wept, but she’d run out of tears some time ago. She had to make herself strong and focus on surviving. It was the only way she was going to come out of this alive.

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A Snippet from the Upcoming Devonshire Detective Novel

Feb 9, 2024 | Bonus Content, Members Only

The new crime series set in Devon is on its way.

Set in the 1990s, this isn’t an adventure for Dan and Alan since the duo would’ve been far too young to go chasing criminals. But this book will give a starring role to a character from the Devonshire Mysteries.

Tim Spiller, the world-weary detective inspector you’ve met before, is a fresh-faced detective constable starting his first job in CID. He’s done his time in uniform, but he’s ready to do some detective work, and he’s moved to Exeter to take up a post. Tim is young and full of zeal, and he’s only been married to his wife Sheila for a year.

He’s keen to impress, but how will he get on with his first case?

This is a crime novel of the kind often called a police procedural, and it’s a shade darker than the Devonshire Mysteries. The villains tend to be nasty pieces of work. There are violent crimes, although I’m not interested in going overboard with blood and gore, so I don’t think it will keep anybody up at night (unless they’re eagerly turning the pages to see what happens next). Fans of Ian Rankin or Anne Cleeves will, I hope, find something to enjoy in this book.

If you’ve read my work, there are elements that you’ll recognise. There’s a little wry humour in almost everything I write, and I’m always very interested in characters I create.  The story takes place over a few days, and I think it’s fairly pacy. I’ve found it quite quick to redraft, mainly because I’ve enjoyed racing through the chapters, and that’s a good sign.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this snippet which is an early draft. I will be looking for beta readers soon, and the book will be edited after that.

I’m not revealing the title just yet, but that will come soon.

At this point in the story, Spiller has arrived early for his first day, and the only other person in the CID office is Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Boyce. Spiller is somewhat in awe of his new boss. They’ve exchanged a few words over a mug of tea, but DCS Boyce is quite a reserved and formal officer, so the pair quickly run out of things to say. It’s about time the other detectives show up, so let’s dive in!

Excerpt From Chapter 1

1992

The door opened, and both men breathed easier as a besuited man strode into the room.

The new arrival greeted Boyce, then acknowledged Spiller with a nod. “You must be my new DC. Tim Spiller, am I right?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Tim was here early, raring to go,” Boyce said. To Spiller, he added, “This is Detective Superintendent John Chisholm. He’ll set you on the straight and narrow. You’ll be seeing more of him than you will of me, although…” Boyce looked from Chisholm to Spiller. “I’ll be keeping an eye on you, Tim. I’m not going to hold your hand; if you need that, you’re in the wrong job. But I can see your potential, and I’ll be having a chat with you now and then, just to see how you’re doing.”

“Thank you, sir. I appreciate that.”

Boyce nodded. “Gentlemen, I’ll leave you to it.” He took a sip of his tea and then marched across the room, disappearing into a corner office and closing the door firmly.

Chisholm strolled over to his own large desk at the far end of the room, then he shrugged out of his jacket, hanging it on the back of his chair.

“First things first, Tim,” Chisholm said. “Milk and two, and leave the bag in. I can’t stand weak tea in the mornings.” He sat down and frowned at Spiller. “When you’re ready, in your own time.”

“Sorry, sir. I’ll get right on it.” As quickly as he could, Spiller made a mug of tea. He’d kept a keen eye on Boyce earlier, so he found everything he needed without difficulty. But when he splashed milk on the counter, he searched in vain for something to mop it up.

“Leave it,” Chisholm called out. “You can get a paper towel from the loo later. Bring my tea over, will you? I’ve got a tongue like the bottom of a budgie cage.”

Mumbling an apology, Spiller hurried over to Chisholm’s desk. He felt the colour rising to his cheeks, but Chisholm didn’t seem to notice. He was rifling through the stacks of cardboard folders cluttering his desk.

“Pull up a pew,” Chisholm said. “Any one will do, but that purple one is good.”

Spiller hesitated. The only purple chair in the office was noticeably newer and smarter than the others, its upholstery pristine.

“Go on,” Chisholm went on. “I haven’t got all day.”

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Another Snippet from the New Devonshire Mystery – A Must-Have Murder

Dec 16, 2023 | Bonus Content, Members Only

The new Devonshire Mystery, A Must-Have Murder, is currently available to pre-order.

The next adventure for Dan and Alan is finally here, so as it makes its way into the world, here’s another snippet to give you a flavour of the book.

A Must-Have Murder – Snippet 2

If you’d like to see an excerpt from the previous chapter, the first snippet is here.

Note: At this point in the story, Dan and Alan have arrived at the house of a potential client, Zadie Barrington, where they were met by Zadie’s assistant, Natalya. Natalya was a favourite with early readers of the book. From Ukraine, Natalya is decidedly feisty, and I hope you enjoy meeting her.

Excerpt From Chapter 2

“Zadie is in her studio. Upstairs is much better, it has been…” Natalya gestured impatiently at the uncarpeted staircase.

“Renovated?” Alan suggested, and Natalya nodded gratefully.

“Yes. Renovated. Exactly.” Natalya sighed and her expression softened. “Forgive me, gentlemen. It has been a hard day, but please, come up, and everything will be explained. Do not stand on the fifth stair. It isn’t safe. The man was supposed to fix it, but…” she shrugged.

“We’ll mind our step,” Alan said with a smile.

Natalya gazed at him. “You’re making a joke.”

“Sort of,” Alan admitted. “Sorry.”

“No need to apologise. Follow me.”

Dan and Alan did as they were told, making their way up the stairs in silence. The fifth tread was badly split, and Dan stepped over it with exaggerated care. When he reached the landing, Dan said, “I see what you mean about that step. It can be hard to find good tradespeople. We met your decorator outside. How are you finding him? Is he reliable?”

Natalya grunted in disapproval. “Very slow, I think. He drinks tea instead of working. I tell him this, but he doesn’t listen.” Natalya drew a long breath, flaring her nostrils, then she added, “You should know that Zadie does not like to be kept waiting. She has a livestream at four, and we must fix her hair and make-up before then. She cannot be late. Do you understand?”

“Yes. We’ll be as quick as we can,” Dan replied. “We also have a schedule to keep.”

“Okay,” Natalya intoned. “Follow me.”

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A Snippet of the upcoming Devonshire Mystery

Oct 12, 2023 | Bonus Content, Members Only

Well, it’s taken me a long time to get the next Devonshire Mystery ready.

It’s been a long road, and it’s a long book. Very long.

Today, I’m sharing the first part of chapter 1. This is just between us, so you’ll need to be a member of the site and logged in to read it in full.

The woodland pictured is one of my own photos, taken on a local walk, and I think it gives you an idea of the setting for this chapter.

I hope it gives you a flavour of Dan and Alan’s next adventure, and maybe it will whet your appetite.

A Must-Have Murder – A Snippet

Chapter 1

Alan ran through the forest, his thigh muscles cramping, sweat slicking his back, his chest, his scalp. The crisp air of early spring did nothing to cool him, and his breath rasped in his throat, every exhalation a low moan of pain. But he couldn’t stop to get his breath back, couldn’t slow down.

Ahead, a shadowy figure raced into the distance, sometimes vanishing in the shadows or hidden by a curve in the trail. He was getting away, and Alan couldn’t allow that. He had to catch him.

Alan threw back his head and gasped for air, pouring everything he had into a headlong dash. Arms pumping, feet pounding the dirt, he urged his tortured body onward. I can do it, he thought. I’m gaining on him.

The trail was rougher here, the path littered with loose stones and fragments from broken branches. Alan scanned the ground as he ran, but the dappled shadows made it hard to see, and the sweat from his brow stung the corners of his eyes. He blinked, lifted a hand to wipe his eyes, and that was all it took.

In mid-step his left foot caught on something, and he almost fell, but he spread his arms and twisted his body, keeping his balance. His momentum carried him forward, but his next stride was clumsy, and his right foot hit the ground at an awkward angle. A jab of pain jolted through his calf. He ran on, but each time his right foot met the trail, the pain in his calf intensified as if the muscles were being torn apart.

“Oh hell!” Alan had no choice but to stagger to a halt, wincing with every step. He pressed his hand against the nearest tree trunk, and took the weight from his right leg, staring down at it, half expecting to see the signs of some terrible injury.

There were footsteps on the trail, growing closer, slowing as they approached, and Alan looked up to see the man he’d tried so hard to catch. This was it: the moment he’d been dreading. He’d failed, and now he’d pay the price.

A Second Snippet of the new Devonshire Mystery

May 27, 2022 | Bonus Content, Members Only

A second snippet from the upcoming Devonshire Mystery, Accomplice to Murder.

Another little piece from Chapter 1 of the next Devonshire Mystery. If you haven’t seen the first one, it’s here.

Please note that getting to read these sneak peeks in full is a privilege for members of the site. Membership is free and easy to set up, and there are no strings attached.

In this excerpt, we’ll begin to see that despite the glossy setting of Dan’s new job, all is not quite as it seems.

Well, it is a mystery, after all.

This is an advance snippet, so it’s still a work in progress and probably contains errors and typos. There will be changes and corrections over the coming days, and I hope to share more as I tackle the rewrites.

Accomplice to Murder

Sample from Chapter 1

Footsteps ringing out on the polished granite floor snapped Dan out of his reverie, and he looked up to see a besuited man heading toward him. Dan hadn’t heard the lift arrive, and he noticed that the glass door at one side of the lobby was still swinging shut. He took the stairs, Dan thought. A young man in a hurry.

“Dan,” the man called out as he strode across the lobby. “Good morning.”

“Morning.” Dan pulled back his shoulders, hoping he looked more relaxed than he felt as he stepped forward to meet the new arrival. They shook hands, and the man’s grip was firm.

“I’m Joseph Clayton,” the man said. “But call me Joe. We like to keep things friendly around here.” Slim and fresh-faced, Joe exuded self-confidence and energy. His smile was genuine, and there was something about Joe’s manner that made Dan like him right away.

A Snippet of the new Devonshire Mystery

May 11, 2022 | Bonus Content, Members Only

At long last, I can say more about the upcoming Devonshire Mystery.

Today, I’m sharing the first part of chapter 1. This is just between us, so you’ll need to be a member of the site and logged in to read it.

The photo on this post is from the location in which the scene is set, so I hope it helps to give the flavour.

To read the snippet in full, please join the site – it’s free, easy and fun to do.

This is an advance snippet, so it’s still a work in progress and probably contains errors and typos. There will be changes and corrections over the coming days, and I hope to share more as I tackle the rewrites.

Accomplice to Murder

Sample from Chapter 1

Dan Corrigan adjusted his tie without breaking his stride as he advanced on his destination. Tucked away discreetly behind Exeter Cathedral, Southernhay West was stirring into the type of early morning life found in cities all over the world. Smartly dressed people climbed from their cars and bustled toward their places of work. Vans and taxis vied to be the first away from the traffic lights, and colourfully clad cyclists pedalled past, their backpacks bulging. No doubt they’d be carrying a change of clothes for the office, a pair of smart shoes and a laptop too. Dan had his own small backpack slung over his shoulder, although in his case, the situation was reversed. He’d brought his sports kit in case he fancied a run after work, and he felt a certain kinship with his fellow travellers. With every stride, every urgent turn of the pedals, they proclaimed a sense of purpose. They weren’t here for the shops or the scenery; they were here to work.

A bus trundled by, belching exhaust fumes, and Dan smiled. This was more like it. A sense of energy and purpose buzzed all around him. Everyone was going somewhere, and none of them wanted to be late.

That includes me, Dan thought. But I’ve got plenty of time. Dan had been in Exeter for quite a while already, although his appointment wasn’t for another half an hour. He’d parked down by the quay, and he’d spent the time walking through the city, limbering up. And while he’d pounded the streets, he’d felt his senses becoming heightened, his mind growing sharper.