"The Crimson Child grips from the opening and its grasp on the reader only tightens as the strange and baffling case proceeds."
Peter Tonkin, author of Shadow of Treason.
"A tense and atmospheric new thriller from a master of historical fiction."
Steven Veerapen, author of The Abbey Close.
It’s taken me slightly by surprise. But my publisher Sharpe Books have just released my latest book, The Crimson Child. Although it’s the second in my Empire of Shadows series, it can be read as a standalone, so don’t worry if you missed the first one. Alternatively, you can go back and read that too! It’s called Law of Blood.
The Crimson Child is an ebook only at the moment, but the paperback is due to be released at the end of May. These things are decided by my publisher, not me.
By the way, they are both novellas, or short novels. So they are really quick reads. They are also both free on Kindle Unlimited, if you have that.
I’m back in Russia for this one. Here’s a brief blurb:
Spring 1880. St Petersburg. While on an outing with his family in a leafy park, a retired general encounters a mysterious child dressed in red.
The child leads him to a secluded spot. And a violent death.
The shocking crime, committed in broad daylight against a respected member of the establishment, draws the attention of the powers that be, who put pressure on magistrate Pavel Pavlovich Virginsky to solve the case quickly.
But with no witnesses, apart from a drunken fantasist who may or may not have seen the murderer making their escape, Virginsky faces one of the most challenging and bizarre cases of his career.
Then an unexpected confession brings a sudden breakthrough. Or does it? For Virginsky, it’s all a little too convenient.
As he closes in on the murderer, Virginsky uncovers a dark history in which the crimes of the past give rise to further crimes.
And the desire for revenge culminates in a devastating tragedy.
In other words, it’s my usual dark and twisted fare.
I’m really pleased with the way the book turned out. I hope you’ll give it a read and if you do, I hope you enjoy it. Please do leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads if you can. It helps me get in my publisher’s good books!