#NewRelease KILLING CHRISTMAS (Mike Nash #4) by Bill Kitson #KillingChristmas @joffebooks

Hope you had a lovely weekend. Here’s a book which might make the perfect early Christmas gift for crime lovers! It’s not cozy at all, but it’s certainly gripping and full of twists.

KILLING CHRISTMAS by Bill Kitson only 99p for launch!
UK  99p – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B081576DHY 
USA  99c –  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081576DHY 
AUS  99c – https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B081576DHY 
CAN  99c – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B081576DHY 

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “ALTERED EGOS”

Detective Mike Nash thought that moving back to Yorkshire from London would give him a quieter life. Little did he know . . .

DETECTIVE MIKE NASH IS GOING TO HAVE A VERY UNMERRY CHRISTMAS.

In an ordinary terraced house, a family die. Poisoned by carbon monoxide.

Then comes a suspicious house fire, with more bodies at the charred scene.

A drug addict is murdered in the most bizarre medieval manner.

And a scientist’s daughter disappears.

THERE’S A KILLER ON THE LOOSE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

DI Mike Nash follows the leads of these disparate crimes. One very dangerous person seems intent on revenge.

CAN HE STOP A SERIAL KILLER BEFORE ANYONE ELSE PAYS THE ULTIMATE PRICE?

MIKE NASH
A highly talented detective, he was a rising star in the Metropolitan Police. Following a particularly gruesome case involving a sadistic serial killer, Nash turns down the chance of promotion and heads back to his native county of Yorkshire. He hopes that returning to his roots will bring peace of mind. However, although the pace of life seems gentler, the crimes prove no less horrific. His skills are tested to the limit by a series of violent crimes that threaten to ruin his plans for a more relaxed lifestyle. Nor is his secret ambition to settle down made any easier by his one weakness, a seemingly unquenchable thirst for female company. That is, until . . .?

LOCATION
The books are set in a fictional rural North Yorkshire with a scattering of market towns, many small villages and countryside that changes from high moorland with dramatic crags, mountain tarns and sparse vegetation, to the gentler, lush agricultural land lower down the valley that is bisected by the river Helm. The town of Helmsdale is where Mike Nash and his team are based, in a sub-division of their headquarters in the larger town of Netherdale. Further to the west is Bishopton, also part of the hub our detectives cover.

DI MIKE NASH SERIES
Book 1: WHAT LIES BENEATH
Book 2: VANISH WITHOUT TRACE
Book 3: PLAYING WITH FIRE
Book 4: KILLING CHRISTMAS

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Blog Tour – THESE LITTLE LIES by Gretta Mulrooney – #bookreview #crimefiction @joffebooks

Today I am sharing with you my review of THESE LITTLE LIES by Gretta Mulrooney. This is the first in a new series featuring Detective Siv Drummond. I hope you enjoy reading my thoughts.

These Little Lies

An addictive crime thriller with a twist you won’t see coming

Available from AMAZON

INTRODUCING THE NEW SERIES BY BEST-SELLING, CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED AUTHOR GRETTA MULROONEY.

DETECTIVE INSPECTOR SIV DRUMMOND IS LOOKING FOR A FRESH START. WHAT SHE GETS IS TWO DEAD BODIES.

It’s Detective Inspector Siv Drummond’s first day back on the job, joining a new team in a new town. This fresh start isn’t going to be easy. Still mourning the death of her husband, she must push aside her grief to focus on her first case.

Lauren Visser and Matis Rimas are found stabbed to death in the idyllic woodland by the River Bere. Their mutilated bodies lie within feet of each other. A photograph of an unknown girl sits on Lauren’s chest.

She was an activist and wild swimmer. He was fishing illegally.

WHAT IS THEIR CONNECTION?

Siv and her team start ruling out suspects, but no one tells the truth when everyone has something to hide.

What will be dredged up by the investigation?

CAN DI SIV DRUMMOND FIGHT THE CURRENT OF LIES OR WILL SHE BE SWEPT AWAY?

Elegantly written, THESE LITTLE LIES is a masterclass in slow-burning suspense that will keep you turning the pages into the early hours.

Perfect for fans of Robert Galbraith, Tana French, Liane Moriarty, Rachel Cain or Ruth Rendell.

My Review

A new series from one of my favourite authors is always exciting.

Siv Drummond – her husband and soul mate has died in an accident leaving her bereft and broken.  She moves to Berminster to try to move on with her life.  A new home, a new area, new colleagues, boss and everything that goes with it is a big challenge for someone who is lost but Siv is basically strong and is determined to find her way.

She is paired with Ali an overweight diabetic but one with a big heart and compassionate nature he is just what Siv needs.  Someone she can instinctively trust and rely on even if they need to get to know each other.

The story begins with a polish man finding the body of a young woman while doing a little early morning fishing.  The discovery costs him his life and there we have it, Siv Drummond thrown in the deep end with 2 dead bodies no motive and no clues.  The only clue is a photo left on the woman’s body the photo is a young child but nobody knows who she is.

This is a complex story with many false leads and unexpected twists as the team slowly unravel the clues and lies.  It appears everyone is hiding something but is that something relevant to the case?

A very intriguing story with characters who develop well.  I am looking forward to reading more in this new series.

MEET THE DETECTIVE
Detective Inspector Siv Drummond is widowed following a tragic accident involving her husband. With everything in London reminding her of the past, she moves from a high-profile squad with the Met to a new job as DI in her old home town — sleepy, seaside Berminster. She’s still grieving and lonely, but she’s a fighter and she’s smart, which earns her the respect of her colleagues DS Ali Carlin and DC Patrick Hill, and the grudging approval of her DCI, who wants his protégé to get her job.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THESE LITTLE LIES
‘I loved this first in the DI Siv Drummond series, may there be many more to follow. I couldn’t put the book down, but tried to read slowly…didn’t want it to end. It’s great having a book that you can’t wait to get back into.’ – Hannelore C.

‘I thoroughly enjoyed These Little Lies which is a good procedural with several twists and a well concealed motive and perpetrator.’ – Elaine T.

‘Enjoyed it immensely – read it in one day, ignoring all else.’ – Aileen G.

‘The first in the series can often be a difficult thing… you’ve got to set up the scenes and the characters. This one did it well.’ – Louise T.

PREVIOUS PRAISE FOR GRETTA MULROONEY
‘A pleasure to read.’ – The Independent

‘A beautifully written book, a magnificent read.’ – Big Issue

‘A memorable tale with a shocking denouement.’ – Time Out

‘A psychological tale echoing Barbara Vine.’ – The Bookseller

‘I had plenty of guesses, all of them wrong so the novel held my attention throughout. The pacing is excellent.’ – E. Tomasso

‘The book moves along at a steady pace and gains momentum as it progresses. There are many twists and turns along the way as the reader is caught up in the intrigue and suspense towards a real jaw dropping shocker of an ending nobody will see coming.’ BOOKS n ALL

‘A thoroughly enjoyable read and extremely well thought out. Had me puzzled as an avid crime reader.’ Carole

‘A fascinating read with many twists and turns that keeps you guessing to the end. A must read.’ Greta H.

Gretta Mulrooney author bio

I was born and educated in London, of Irish parents. I studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Ulster, Magee college in Derry. I have worked in education and social care.

I started writing in my thirties and I published four books for children and teenagers with Poolbeg Press, Dublin; A Can of Worms, A Nest of Vipers, A Den of Thieves and I Love You-Te Quiero. These books are available on Amazon.

I have published five literary fiction novels.

Araby and Marble Heart were published by Harper Collins to critical acclaim. They have been translated into Dutch and Spanish.  These books are available on Amazon. They are being reissued in May 2016 by Fourth Estate as Kindle and paperbacks.

Fire and Ice, Out of The Blue and The Apple of Her Eye were published by Robert Hale. These books are available on Amazon.

Out of The Blue was published by Joffe Books as an e book and paperback in February 2016 and is available on Amazon.

Lost Child was published by Joffe Books as an e book and paperback in March 2016 and is available on Amazon. (This was previously published as Fire and Ice by Robert Hale.)

Coming of Age was published by Joffe Books as a e book and paperback in April 2016 and is available on Amazon. (This was previously published as The Apple of Her Eye by Robert Hale.)

I have always been an avid reader of crime fiction and psychological thrillers. I have started a series of crime novels featuring charismatic private detective Tyrone Swift.

The Lady Vanished was published as an e book and paperback by Joffe Books in December 2015 and is available on Amazon.

Blood Secrets, the second novel featuring private detective Tyrone Swift, was published as e book and paperback in spring 2016 and is available on Amazon.

Two Lovers, Six Deaths, the third Tyrone Swift novel, was published as an e book and paperback in December 2016 by Joffe Books and is available on Amazon.

Watching You, the fourth Tyrone Swift novel, was published as an e book and paperback in June 2017 by Joffe Books and is available on Amazon.

Low Lake, the fifth Tyrone Swift novel, was published as an e book and paperback in March 2018 by Joffe Books and is available on Amazon.

Bound By Lies is a boxset trilogy of the first three  novels in the Tyrone Swift series. It was published as an e book and paperback in June 2017 by Joffe Books and is available on Amazon.

LINKS

Website:  http://www.grettamulrooney.com

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/gmulrooneyauthor

Amazon Author page:   http://www.amazon.co.uk

Goodreads:   http://www.goodreads.com

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Game of Crones by Jay Raven #Horror #shortstories #BookReview @jayravenauthor

Game of Crones

Available from AMAZON

Forget Happily Ever After – the most delicious fairy tales end in darkness and despair!

Welcome to a world of cruelty, hexes and treachery, where malicious magic rules and you are but a single necromancer’s spell away from eternal terror.

From malevolent medieval magicians  to Wild West witches, this spellbinding volume by a master of the macabre is packed with frightening fables guaranteed to send a supernatural chill down your spine.

Amongst the haunting historical horror stories, you’ll meet:

  • A half-crazed girl locked up in a high security mental hospital by those accusing her of causing a devastating earthquake.
  • An impoverished French noblewoman who’ll stop at nothing to marry  her daughter to a wealthy prince – even if it means dabbling with a dangerous love potion.
  • The hated public executioner Pandora whose fabled box has already killed 55 men – without leaving  a trace of violence on their bodies.
  • Wily witch Merta who uses all her wits and trickery to turn the tables on the corrupt Mayor who wants her burnt alive at the stake.
  • A faery mage without conscience or pity with the perfect plan to make Mankind turn on itself  – and all it takes is one innocent baby.
  • A drought-stricken frontier town that seeks magical help from the local Indian tribe to make it rain, but learns it comes at a terrible cost. 
  • The doubt-ridden King, plagued by nightmares of his death, who consults an enchantress to learn the most of hidden of secrets: just when the Grim Reaper will claim him.
  • A Mid Western widow who is convinced her homesteading husband is still alive, held hostage by a sorceress.

If you’re thrilled by exciting dark fantasy tales, with cunning twists, edge-of -the seat tension and unexpected shivers, you’ll love Game of Crones. Pick it up today. If you dare…

My Review

I am growing to love the Jay Raven books he has a way of making horror different and in a way amusing. 

This is a collection of short stories each one totally different but very  good.  I am not usually a fan of short stories I like something I can really get into but I did really enjoy reading these each story is different but they all made for very good reading.

I wont say much about the stories as I don’t want to spoil it for anyone but they are well worth reading if you are looking for something you can pick up to snatch a quick read over lunch or on the bus these will fit the purpose perfectly.

I am really looking forward to more from Jay

What the Bloggers thought:

Donna’s Book Blog

I love the author’s ability to bring his stories to life and he creates some fantastic characters. Link to post

Debbie Hipster

Some of the characters had me howling with their cunning Wiley ways, I wish I knew some of them!! Crones are the wise ones, it pays to listen carefully to them. Link to post

Shalini’s Books & Reviews

The last line of each story left me bewitched. What a wicked mind this author had!!  Link to post

Loopy Laura

Obviously some stories I enjoyed more than others but the range of plots and characters made for fascinating reading from the very first page.  Link to post

Jessica Belmont

Jay Raven’s ability to world build, character build, pull the reader in and keep them invested such a short stories is a true testament to his writing abilities. Link to post

Black Books Blog

All of the short stories are brilliantly written with lots of atmosphere and twisty ending which I never saw coming. Link to post

Susan Wallace

I really enjoyed this book. It was different. I liked the different stories. Although I didn’t have a favourite I still enjoyed them. Read in one sitting. Link to post

Jay Raven – author bio

Dark fantasy author Jay Raven blames a misspent childhood watching Hammer Horror films for his lifelong obsession with history, woodland, horse-drawn carriages and visiting castles – preferably during the hours of daylight! All of which might explain why he now lives in a creepy old house perched atop a steep hill on the edge of a 500 acre forest teeming with bats.

A writer for 23 years, Birmingham-based Jay was a journalist before leaving behind the clamour of headlines and deadlines to chase his dream of capturing monsters and releasing them into the world of fiction. During that time his work has been widely published in horror and fantasy anthologies on both sides of the Atlantic.

As well as reinventing traditional Gothic horror for a modern audience, he writes alterative history urban fantasies – usually with supernatural themes. He loves to cross genres and bring unexpected elements  – if not elementals – to the party.

He has two regrets in life – that he hasn’t had a chance to visit Transylvania yet, and that his house isn’t haunted. But long suffering wife Liz has threatened to do something about the latter…

Links

Twitter: @jayravenauthor

Website: www.jayraven.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iain.pattison.1

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NEW gripping thriller RISKY MISSION by DAN LATUS BARGAIN LAUNCH PRICE only 99p/99c #NewRelease #CrimeFiction @joffebooks

RISKY MISSION by DAN LATUS

LAUNCH PRICE only 99p/99c

UK 99p:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07ZWJ1GGV
US 99c:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZWJ1GGV
CA 99c:  https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07ZWJ1GGV
AU 99c:  https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07ZWJ1GGV

THE FIRST IN A NAIL-BITING THRILLER SERIES BY DAN LATUS

‘A good plot with lots of twists & turns. Look forward to more of Mr Latus’ work.’ Sandra M.

Frank Doy, contract security specialist, is flat broke. Then beautiful and mysterious Vlasta George shows up at his door. She’ll give him good money to take her to a secret location in Europe, no questions asked.

WHAT COULD GO WRONG?

The woman’s husband is a murderous Teesside gangster. She is running away to start a life without him, taking her two young kids and a million pounds with her.

HE WANTS HER BACK. DEAD OR ALIVE.

But there is someone even more dangerous — someone from the past — who also has an interest in the money. Before long, two of Vlasta’s circle are found dead.

Doy finds himself in a frantic chase across Europe, travelling into unknown territory, battling an enemy he doesn’t understand, for vendettas he is not involved with.

Will he be able to protect his client — and make it out alive?

MEET FRANK DOY, a quick-thinking, fast-talking security consultant turned private detective. He has a talent for finding himself in the seediest corners of the most dangerous cities in Europe. He doesn’t go looking for trouble. He lives in a converted miner’s cottage on an isolated stretch of the Cleveland coast. But he never backs down from a fight and he never turns away those who are desperate. So trouble finds him.

‘Dan Latus’s style is trimmed, hard and fast. There isn’t a paragraph or word in there that doesn’t belong, so the story really rips along.’ Jack R.

‘The more I read the more I enjoyed it. Good plot and characters with some twists and turns.’ Atabarac

‘What I greatly appreciated was this writer’s ability to get me feeling that I was witness, not merely an audience.’ C. W. A.

‘More like this please, publishers.’ Rob M.

FRANK DOY SERIES
Book 1: RISKY MISSION
Book 2: OUT OF THE NIGHT
Book 3: A DEATH AT SOUTH GARE

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Blog Tour Wrap Up – SILENT CRIMES (Detective Sophie Allen #8) by Michael Hambling #bookreview #crimefiction #detective #policeprocedural @joffebooks

Michael, Joffe Books and I would like to say a very big THANK YOU to all the wonderful bloggers, reviewers, readers and supporters who helped with the launch of SILENT CRIMES. Your help at such a busy time of year is very much appreciated xx

What the reviewers and bloggers thought

Loopy Laura

Silent Crimes is a very enjoyable police investigation novel. I liked the range of detective characters and now want to read the rest of the books in the series to see how their personalities, relationships and careers have progressed up until this case. Read more here

The Word is Out

The plot is clever and the suspects all have multiple sides to them. With lots of turns in the story it was hard to decide who was guilty and who was innocent almost right up to the exciting and surprising end. Read more here

Linda Strong Book Reviews

This is well written with twists and turns and secrets that have been hiding in the shadows for many years. The characters are finely drawn, warts and all.  Read more here

Joanna Larum’s Reviews

A very enjoyable read which I would recommend to all lovers of detective fiction. Read more here

Black Books Blog

Throughout the book I thought I had a handle on things and knew where they were heading, but then something would happen to make me change my mind. Read more here

Ginger Book Geek

Sue Wallace Site

Silent Crimes

Detective Sophie Allen #8

Available from AMAZON

a totally captivating crime mystery

Looking for a gripping mystery by a best-selling author? Full of twists and turns, this crime thriller will keep you turning the pages until the satisfying conclusion.

AN INTRICATE MYSTERY FULL OF BURIED SECRETS

Detective Sophie Allen’s daughter discovers the body of a reclusive tramp in remote woodland in Dorset. He’s been dead for a week.

Sophie and her team try to piece together something about his life, but progress is slow.

NO ONE IS QUITE WHAT THEY SEEM.

Then a hidden package is discovered near his rudimentary shelter. The police also find out that someone has been in the area asking about the tramp recently. A picture begins to emerge.

He was an important member of a commune that had a three-year existence on a farm on the Quantock Hills in Somerset more than decade earlier.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE COMMUNE AND WHY ARE PEOPLE STILL DYING BECAUSE OF IT?

Discover the truth in this captivating crime mystery.

SILENT CRIMES is book eight of a new series of crime thrillers featuring Sophie Allen, head of the Violent Crime Unit in Dorset.

THE DETECTIVES
DCI Sophie Allen is Dorset’s acknowledged expert on murder and violent crime. She is 42 as the series starts, and lives with her husband and younger daughter in Wareham. Her elder daughter is studying in London. Sophie has a law degree and a master’s in criminal psychology. Her brilliant mind conceals some dark secrets from her past.

DS Barry Marsh is based at Swanage police station. He’s quiet, methodical and dedicated, the perfect foil for Sophie’s hidden fragility.

THE SETTING
Dorset. A beautiful English county which includes a stunning section of the coastline, but whose beauty belies darkness beneath the surface.

DISCOVER YOUR NEXT FAVOURITE MYSTERY SERIES NOW

My Review

This is book 8 in the bestselling Detective Sophie Allen series but does work well as stand alone.

Sophie’s daughter, Jade, has been keeping an eye on a tramp and his dog.  When she finds his dead body and injured dog she has plenty of questions to answer but also questions that she needs answering.  Paul was a gentle amiable man so why would someone kill him?  Also, why is he living as a tramp when he is wealthy?  Not only does she need the answers but so does her mum and the rest of the team.

When the clues lead back to 12 years ago and a young woman who disappeared the team are travelling the country trying to track down members of a commune that disbanded all those years ago.

In addition there is Trent, convicted of murder and out on parole he is set to make the people who contributed to his being convicted to pay. 

As the team unravell the clues they uncover a pandora’s box of secrets and wrongdoings but there are even bigger shocks in store.

This is an intriguing read that keeps the pages turning as the reader follows the team in their quest to find the people responsible.

If you like detective books this is one you will really love as the story gets into the nitty gritty of detective work along with the false leads and lies that make their job so difficult.

What readers are saying about MICHAEL HAMBLING

“Very well written and highly recommended.” Viv

“An utterly compelling book from Michael Hambling.” Ron

“The characters were a diverse, mixed bag of well-developed, realistic personalities.” Nicki

“This book is a must read.” Barbara

“This was a good book, I love Sophie as a character.” Hannelore

THE DCI SOPHIE ALLEN BOOKS
Book 1: DARK CRIMES
Book 2: DEADLY CRIMES
Book 3: SECRET CRIMES
Book 4: BURIED CRIMES
Book 5: TWISTED CRIMES
Book 6: EVIL CRIMES
Book 7: SHADOW CRIMES
Book 8: SILENT CRIMES

Michael Hambling author bio

Like many writers, I have been a keen reader all of my life. I remember one day as a nine year old in the summer holidays, when I visited the local library four times in one day because a child’s ticket only allowed one book out at a time! I can even remember the plot of one book, a story about a boy taking up fly-fishing, read while sitting outside in a sunny back garden in Bristol.

I live in the west-country, in the beautiful cathedral city of Salisbury, although I set my novels in the neighbouring county of Dorset. We own a lovely flat in the small Dorset coastal town of Swanage, and spend a lot of time there, walking the famous Jurassic Coast world heritage site.. The early novels in the series are based on the Isle of Purbeck, one of the UK’s most beautiful coastal regions. But the rest of the county of Dorset does get a look in, and there are scenes set in other locations in the central south of England.

I write because I constantly create scenes, people, imaginary conversations and unusual situations in my head. I have always done so, ever since I was a child. Using the richness of the English language to set down these creations in words is a great joy. Maybe by the time I’ve edited a passage for the umpteenth time it’s beginning to lose some of its sparkle for me, but I do believe in reshaping and polishing until it’s as good as I can make it. It then becomes something about which I can feel some justifiable pride.

Who are my own favourite writers? Hilary Mantel, of course. Not just the the recent Thomas Cromwell novels, but the brilliant and sly characterisation of Beyond Black.
Doris Lessing has written some startlingly original stories over many years. I’m also a great fan of David Mitchell. He shows great creativity in all of his novels.
Philip Pullman has written many books of startling originality, full of imaginative ideas. Not just the Lara series, but the earlier Sally Lockhart novels. One of my sons bought me La Belle Sauvage (volume one of the Book of Dust trilogy) for Christmas. I loved it, so much so that I’ve already re-read it a month later, something very rare for me. Wonderful stuff.
Another author I’ve come to admire greatly is Charity Norman. She writes about families in crisis situations and how the problem is partly resolved. I came to her books with “The New Woman”, a novel that probes the problems created by gender variance. Her other novels are equally good. Her writing style is outstanding.
I’ve recently read “The Lovely Bones” by Alice Sebold and was bowled over by it. So much emotional punch and so well written. I’ll be packing her other novels to read on my forthcoming holiday.

In crime fiction I like Val McDiarmid’s work, Kate Atkinson’s Jackson Brodie novels and the books of Mo Hayder. I also enjoy Colin Dexter’s Morse and Ian Rankin’s Rebus novels.

I cannot compete with these greats, so I aim for something different. I hope that I have succeeded to some extent.

LINKS

Website:  http://www.michaelhambling.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelhambling.author

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A frank canvas: From the art world to the top of the Kindle charts – The Bookseller 26th October 2018 @joffebooks #TeamJoffeBooks

Today I would like to share with you an article in The Bookseller featuring my favourite publisher: JOFFE BOOKS. https://www.thebookseller.com/insight/frank-canvas-art-world-top-kindle-charts-882176

An observer of the Kindle charts over the past few years will have noticed that there is one UK independent publisher consistently competing toe to toe with conglomerates and Amazon’s own publishing divisions at the top of the bestseller lists: Joffe Books.

At this writing, the East London-based digital crime fiction specialist has three books in the Kindle Top 50—led by Joy Ellis’ The Stolen Boys in 14th—which is one better than all of Penguin Random House, two better than Bonnier Books, and within spitting distance of Pan Macmillan and HarperCollins (five entries apiece).

Not bad for a company which is probably nimbler than even the most agile of its fellow indie publishers—a recent office move “was done in an Uber”, says founder Jasper Joffe. The artist-turned-publisher employs freelancers to help on various parts of the business, including agent Lorella Belli to handle foreign rights sales, but he is the only full-timer. Joffe says: “I try to resist saying we’re a small publisher—we’ve had revenue of £3m [since launch in 2014] to the beginning of 2018, which I think is pretty good. But our size is why we can be successful, because everything is integrated. The editing, the design, the blurb on the cover is all me, which all links to the marketing. I set up the Facebook ads, so I know whether the tagline is generating the right cost per click; I know if the cover is appealing to people at the thumbnail level. Other publishers probably have the same data, but often by the time they get it the book is dead. So we are able to react real time.”

The model has been working. All told, Joffe Books has shifted nearly five million units worldwide since launch, 2.2 million of which have been sold in 2018. It’s also notched up more than a billion page reads on the Kindle Unlimited subscription service. The last 15 titles it has published have all hit the Kindle UK top 100, and in August 2018 Ellis’ e-book sales passed 1.5 million units.

The last five of Ellis’ Lincolnshire-based police procedural novels have topped the UK Kindle charts. Not bad considering the 71-year-old Ellis turned her hand to writing only after retiring from a long career as a florist—and she was knocked back by 12 traditional publishers before finding a home at Joffe. Its other stars include Helen H Durrant, who has shifted around 700,000 copies of her Calladine & Bayliss and DI Greco series, and Faith Martin, author of the 16-title strong DI Hillary Greene oeuvre.

The DI Greene titles were previously traditionally published, as was Roy Lewis, an author whose 40-book backlist Joffe recently acquired. He saw a digital opportunity for both authors as “first of all they are great writers”. But he suggests “[the traditional publishers] screwed up all the marketing. They seemed to publish a book, slap a cover on it and then publish another one regardless of whether it sold. I guess they didn’t have the ability to be reactive to the market.”

Painted love
When he was trying to decide where to go to university, Joffe was torn between his two big passions—a rather unusual mix: art and business. Even more unusual was that his mother pushed him towards art. “She said to me, ‘You can always go back to university and be a lawyer or do economics’, but you can never go back to being an artist’.”

He did his undergraduate at the Ruskin School of Art in Oxford and a masters at the Royal College of Art, graduating from the latter in 1999. For the succeeding 15 years or so, he made his living as a painter. If you are a contemporary art fan you will undoubtedly have heard of Joffe—his 2008 pastel of Heinrich Himmler was acquired, controversially, by Charles Saatchi; he founded the Free Art Fair with other artists, including Bob and Roberta Smith; and he was the subject of much press in 2009 when he ran an exhibition in which he sold all his belongings after being dumped by his girlfriend. Though “painting is still a passion”, he became jaded by the art scene. His switch over to publishing was “organic”, he says. “I published
a novel traditionally [2006’s Water] so I knew how the process worked, and a couple of friends and I had self-published some books. I enjoyed it, and started to advertise for authors. The company started from there. There seemed to be a lot of good authors who didn’t quite know how to self-publish, and we could help them.”

Joffe Books first hit the market during the agency model period, when many of the big publishers were refraining from pricing e-books low. Joffe says: “The market is changing a bit… During our first growth period it was useful that we were selling books more cheaply than [the conglomerates]. But now you see Penguin selling for 99p, HarperCollins, Hachette too. So we’re now on a reasonably level playing field.” So is he worried the big boys are becoming more aggressive? “Not really. I know we can compete. And we can pivot and react fast to the market, maybe in ways they can’t. Honestly, if they cut the price of all their e-books to 29p, they could drive us out of business. But I don’t think they’re going to do that.”

Joffe Books does publish titles in print on demand, but digital is the main format. “The authors like p.o.d., Amazon likes it—as it wants as many formats per book as possible—and I like to see the book in my hands,” Joffe says. “But it is only about 1% of revenue.”

As a mainly digital publisher, then, he has absolutely no truck for the notion the e-book market is stuttering. “If you really look at the overall data, it shows that the e-book market is growing,” Joffe argues. “These reports that say the digital market is dying never show data from indie publishers and authors—and they don’t show any Kindle Unlimited [KU] data. We’ve had a billion page reads on KU, and that’s growing. I just don’t understand the glee with which an e-book slowdown seems to be reported. It’s as if some publishers and the media are happy to kill off a part of the market that is still flourishing.”

Joffe Books is flourishing, certainly, with the business doubling its turnover every year. Is that likely to continue? “Well, it’s fun to be ambitious,” Joffe laughs. “We’ve reached a point… going from 2.8 million units sold by the end of this year to 5.6 million is going to be tougher.” One way to boost that is to crack the US market, “which we really haven’t as much as we’d have liked. The US crime market is different to the UK’s. We’re a mostly British list and American readers respond better to home-grown writers, but we are going to try to expand there.”

He has no immediate plans to increase the team either, though he may cast around for “one more person a bit like myself”. But any growth will be about the talent. Joffe says: “Part of our success is that we’ve cut out all the bits you don’t need any more in modern publishing. But ultimately it all comes down to the pipeline of good authors.”

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ABSOLUTION by Adam Croft #bookreview #politicalthriller #crimefiction @adamcroft

Absolution

by Adam Croft

Available from AMAZON

Could you betray your government to save your country?

Sam Barker works in IT at the Home Office. All he wants is to get his work done and enjoy a quiet existence. But when he’s caught up in a terrorist attack on the London Underground, his life is turned upside down.

As he lies recovering in his hospital bed, a shadowy figure visits him and tells Sam not only is he a key witness to the attack, but he has unique access to information which could blow open a huge conspiracy and bring down the British government.

Will Sam risk everything he knows and loves to save his country?

My Review

It is just another day at the office for Sam.  His biggest problem is that he has forgotten to buy Lucy a birthday present so he diverts to Westminster underground station to buy her some flowers.  A cruel stroke of fate places him in the station at the same time as a bomb goes off.  Life will never be the same for many people but most of all for Sam.

Sam is a conscientious young man, he accidentally got his girlfriend pregnant when he was young but stood up to the plate and supported them both and now has a healthy, albeit long distance, relationship with both Benji and his mum.  He suffers from anxiety and likes his routines and keeping his life nicely organised.  The bombing affected him badly apart from the physical injuries he saw his pregnant friend die.  Jason visits him in hospital and from there onwards Sam is placed well outside his comfort zone.  Despite the doubts about the offer that is made he knows that he has to do the right thing even if it costs him his sanity.

As the story unfolds we learn of corruption, organisations that don’t exist and organisations that are so secret very few know of their existence.  The possibilities and threats are endless.

This is a very intriguing book that kept me engrossed all the way through as I willed Sam on in his mission.  It is a political thriller so very different from my usual books but a very interesting and thought provoking read.

Another great book from a very talented author.  I am very much hoping there will be a sequel.

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Blog Tour Wrap Up – VENOM (DS Smith #9) by Stewart Giles #newrelease #crimefiction #detective @stewartgiles

Thank you to all the absolutely wonderful Bloggers, readers and supporters who helped with the launch of VENOM your help is very much appreciated — THANK YOU Stewart and Jill xx

What the readers and bloggers thought:

Black Books Blog

The tension towards the end of the book is immense and, unlike most books, the drama doesn’t finish until the very last page with people being in danger all the way through the last couple of chapters. As with all of Stewart’s other books this one will keep you hooked and the action never lets up. The ending was shocking and Stewart has put Jason Smith through more things in this book than ever before.  Read more here

Sassy Redhead Book Reviews

I loved this story and the characters are always so great to read. I enjoy the way that the characters work together to get the results needed to solve the case. The depth the detectives will go to get results is always interesting to me. I enjoy a good sleuth story and this one did not disappoint. I thought I had the criminal sorted out but then I second guessed myself only to find out that I was spot on. Read more here

Linda Strong Book Reviews

Kudos to the author who came up with a unique killer with a distinctive way to kill. Once started, I couldn’t put it down for long. There are surprising twists and turns, lots of action and plenty of suspense. Read more here

Joanna Larum’s Reviews

I always enjoy Stewart’s books but this one has scaled heights which he has never reached before. It was page-turningly brilliant and left me so dreadfully disappointed when I had finished it. I wanted more! Immediately! Read more here

The Word is Out

As with previous stories from this author this book is a joy to read and once started I just did not want to put it down. There is heart-warming humour and banter between the main characters which just makes the story even more human and enjoyable, and we get some insight from the killer’s point of view which is also interesting knowing things that Smith does not.   Read more here

Sarah’s Thoughts

So Stewart has nailed it once more. This is the latest Jason Smith book and it is gripping, the only complaint i have is that Jason is the target again (sorry Stewart). But if you want an easy read on an emotional thrilling rollercoaster this is it.

Turn The Page Blog

DS Smith is back…. Absolutely fantastic read, but I advise you not to buy this is you housework as it won’t get done ! I was unable to leave this alone. The blurb says it all… Read more here

On The Shelf Reviews

If you’re not familiar with Stewart Giles’ work, they’re fast paced police procedurals, with a sprinkling of dark humour, plenty of action. Smith is a stubborn Australian, who even though he’s matured a little is still his usual rule bending, stubborn self.  Read more here

Akamatra

This is a fast paced book as Stewart usually writes them. I was gripping my phone (I read it on my kindle app) and trying to refrain from bitting my nails! I loved it!  Read more here

Debbie Hipster

The cases were interesting and highly inventive and pulled on my intrigue the whole way through. And seeing Smith get emotional with this case tugs on heart strings for sure. Read more here

Donna’s Book Blog

I honestly think that this author’s stories are going from strength to strength, he has an additive writing style and I love reading about the characters he has created and can’t wait to see what he releases next – no hesitation with this one – it is 5 stars from me!! Read more here

Mystery Thriller Week

Ginger Book Geek

Sharon Rimmelzwaan

VENOM, Detective Jason Smith book 9

Available from Amazon

From #1 best-selling author: Stewart Giles comes a new addition to the popular Detective Jason Smith series. 

Still recovering from an accident, DS Jason Smith receives a strange phone call: ‘I want to live.’  The number is unknown, and Jason puts it down to a hoax call.  While doing a favour for DCI Chalmers the phone call suddenly begins to make sense and Jason is once again on the trail of a psychopath.

Can Smith stop this maniac before more people die?  Who is it and why does he have Smith’s number?  As the team struggle to find some kind of a lead Jason realises that it may not be his own life in danger this time but he is in danger of losing someone else he cares about.

This is a unique story that has a steadily increasing pace that continues to deliver all the way to the very last page.

THE SETTING
At the confluence of the River Ouse and Foss, York is the traditional county town of the historic county of Yorkshire. York Minster and a variety of cultural and sporting activities make it a popular tourist destination.

THE DETECTIVE
DS Jason Smith is an Australian who was sent to York to live with his Grandmother when his sister disappeared from a beach. He has suffered many losses in his short life and is now a dedicated detective. He is a bit of a loose cannon he has his own way of doing things that doesn’t always mean following orders and procedures.  However, he does get results.

What readers are saying about Venom

‘This author’s style of writing is phenomenal to the end.  He never fails me.  All of his books that I have read have pushed all my buttons.  The only thing I can say I didn’t like was THE END!  NO! I want more of DS Jason Smith.  So looking forward to the next one.’ – Booklover Bev

‘What an amazing book, I read it in one sitting as I couldn’t wait to see what Stewart put Jason Smith through next.’ – Simon @ Black Books Blog

‘WOW! Just when I think that Stewart Giles cannot get any better, he goes ahead and proves me wrong. I absolutely LOVED Venom. The action is tight and fast paced. The tension keeps mounting until you feel that you physically can’t sit still any more. The plot is well thought out, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end.’ – Heather Opperman

BOOKS BY STEWART GILES

DS JASON SMITH SERIES
Book 0.5-Phobia read more here
Book 1-Smith  read more here
Book 2-Boomerang  read more here
Book 3-Ladybird  read more here
Book 4-Occam’s Razor  read more here
Book 5-Harlequin  read more here
Book 6-Selene  read more here
Book 7-Horsemen  read more here
Book 8-Unworthy  read more here
Book 9 – Venom

DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1-The Beekeeper  read more here
Book 2-The Perfect Murder  read more here
Book 3-The Backpacker  read more here

Trotterdown a box set of DC Harriet Taylor books 1-3 read more here

DS JASON SMITH &DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1 – The Enigma  read more here
Book 2 – Dropzone

PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS
Miranda  read more here
Miranda sequel coming soon

Stewart Giles – Author Bio

After reading English at 3 Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live.

In 2014 Ann dropped a rather large speaker on my head and I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months later.

3 years and 8 DS Smith books later, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series – the DC Harriet Taylor Cornwall series.

The Beekeeper was published and soon hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well.

I continued to self-publish the Smith series and Unworthy hit the shelves in 2018 with amazing results.  I therefore made the decision to self-publish The Backpacker which is book 3 in the Detective Harriet Taylor series which was published in July 2018.

After The Backpacker I had an idea for a totally new start to a series – a collaboration between the Smith and Harriet thrillers and The Enigma was born. It brings together the broody, enigmatic Jason Smith and the more level-headed Harriet Taylor.

Miranda is something totally different. A stand-alone psychological thriller, it is a real departure from anything else I’ve written before.

Dropzone, book 2 in the Smith/Harriet series is now available and Venom, book 9 in the Smith series will be released in July 2019. I have plenty more books planned to include, by popular request, a sequel to Miranda.

Links

Website: www.stewartgiles.com

Twitter: @stewartgiles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stewart.giles.33

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1 – DETECTIVE JASON SMITH makeover – 0.5 PHOBIA #CoverReveal

Stewart Giles has given his DETECTIVE JASON SMITH series a makeover with shiny new covers etc. So each day for 10 days I will be revealing the new cover to each book in sequence.

ALSO – each day that book will be reduced to 99p/99c for that day only so if you havent read this series now is your chance to pick up the brand new version for a bargain price.

1PHOBIA NEW2Phobia (5 early Jason Smith cases) by Stewart Giles

Available from AMAZON for just 99p/99c 1st August 2019 only!!

AN ESSENTIAL INTRODUCTION TO THE DETECTIVE JASON SMITH THRILLER SERIES.

Phobia is a series of five Detective Jason Smith cases that he worked on before we met him in the first book ‘Smith’. We are given insights into what moulded him to be the Detective Sergeant we first get a glimpse of in ‘Smith’. As a young detective disillusioned by life, Smith quickly realizes that police work isn’t always cut and dried. Justice is not always black and white; there are many shades of grey in between.

If you like gripping detective stories, then this is a series you won’t want to miss.

THE SETTING

York is a historic walled city in North Yorkshire, England.

At the confluence of the River Ouse and Foss, York is the traditional county town of the historic county of Yorkshire. York Minster and a variety of cultural and sporting activities make it a popular tourist destination.

 

THE DETECTIVES

DS Jason Smith is an Australian who was sent to York to live with his Grandmother when his sister disappeared from a beach.  He has suffered many losses in his short life and is now a dedicated detective.  He is a bit of a loose cannon he has his own way of doing things and that doesn’t always mean following orders and procedures.

DS Thompson is of the same rank as Jason, but he doesn’t have the same support or success.  He and Jason have a love/hate relationship which brings a bit of humour to the series.  Thompson is old school and thinks his age should give him respect and privileges, but life doesn’t work that way for him.

DC Erica Whitton is Jason’s preferred partner they work well together and share a bond.  She isn’t always appreciated by Jason, but they care about each other and that brings a different dimension to the series.

What readers are saying about Phobia

‘I really enjoyed this book, we get to read five stories featuring Jason Smith which set the scene and tell us more about his character before the first full length novel – Smith..’ – Donna Maguire

‘I still can’t understand why Stewart is not better known to fans of crime thrillers, but it’s their loss! Five stars *****.’ –Pat McCulloch

‘– which is just as well as I have already downloaded the next 8 books. I’m liking DS Smith so far and look forward to reading more about this very interesting detective.’ – Dora

‘An unusual and effective way to introduce young policeman Jason Smith to his reading public, and to his induction into CID. A thoroughly entertaining read.’ – Kindle Customer

‘Well written. I really cannot wait to read more about Jason Smith. Now we know his background, let’s read his future’ – Wendy Gail

BOOKS BY STEWART GILES

DS JASON SMITH SERIES

Book 0.5    –       Phobia

Book 1       –       Smith

Book 2       –       Boomerang

Book 3       –       Ladybird

Book 4       –       Occam’s Razor

Book 5       –       Harlequin

Book 6       –       Selene

Book 7       –       Horsemen

Book 8       –       Unworthy

Book 9       –        Venom

 

DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES

Book 1       –       The Beekeeper

Book 2       –       The Perfect Murder

Book 3       –       The Backpacker

DETECTIVE JASON SMITH/HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES

Book 1        –       The Enigma

Book 2        –       Dropzone

STANDALONE THRILLERS

Miranda

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