Category Archives: Reading Between the Lines

The Mainstay by Richard Robinson #THEMAINSTAY

I’m welcoming Richard Robinson back to Celtic Connexions with his third novel in his Topaz series – The Mainstay.

mainstay

Mainstay

Blurb

Witness to Murder. A City on Edge. A Mastermind Hiding in Plain Sight.

When university student Sam Jacobs witnesses the murder of a Unionist MP in Ballycastle, he becomes more than a bystander — he becomes a target. Drawn into a web of politics, crime, and sectarian violence, Sam’s world unravels as powerful forces close in to silence him.

Chief Inspector Orla Massey calls on the covert Topaz team to investigate, but corruption in the RUC, political interference, and the ghosts of her own past push her to the brink. Meanwhile, MI5’s Jones, Jenny Richmond, and Declan McNally face a growing threat from an elusive mastermind known only as The Big Man. Power, politics, and betrayal collide as they race to unmask him before he strikes again.

From the terror of a Belfast safe house to a hanging aboard a luxury yacht, from a brutal execution to the underworld of global crime syndicates, The Mainstay is a gripping, heart-breaking and razor-sharp whodunnit where no one can be trusted.
And as the body count rises, one question remains:

Who is The Big Man? And how do you catch a man who doesn’t exist?

Buy Links

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mainstay-Topaz-Files-Book-3-ebook/dp/B0DXPV47YC

Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/thetopazfiles

Extract

As they turned to face him, guns aloft, Jones unleashed one of the grenades from the haversack in the Rascal. It landed a few metres in front of the pair and rolled into the water. As the grenade detonated, the pressure from the explosion created a blast so high that the two gunmen were immediately blown off their feet and deep into the bushes next to the trees. They were accompanied by a few of the ducks and a torrent of dirty green water and sludge from the top of the navigation. It was total carnage.

What happened next almost took place in slow-motion. Jones hadn’t appreciated that such an underwater explosion would transmit pressure with greater intensity over a longer distance. So, as he rounded the path leading to the open lock gate and sped the MZ as fast as possible over the gap in the gates, he grit his teeth.

This was shit or bust, he knew that. He’d either fail and fall headfirst into the navigation or triumphantly make the leap and land on the other side. Greeting Wendy and Sam like some heroic modern-day Evel Knievel.

Instead, a last minute third option arrived, he was hit by the undercurrent of the grenade explosion and was blown off his bike headfirst into the large hedge at the front of the building. He’d made the leap over the navigation, but only thanks to a little help from a watery detonation.

About the Author

Mainstay

Richard lives in East Anglia with his wife and two daughters. He is a trained journalist and spent his early years freelancing or in agency positions across the UK, including a stint in Northern Ireland in the mid-1990s. He then transferred to the third sector, working in charities focusing on issues as diverse as international development (in India and Bangladesh), air ambulance operations, music and the creative industries, mental health and homelessness. He also acted as Chief Executive of the Olympic Park charity during London 2012.

He is currently the CEO of Hourglass, the UK’s only charity focused on ending the abuse and neglect of older people, a job he applied for after a family experience of neglect.

Richard wrote his first novel in the early 2000s but this has yet to see the light of day. Instead, he started with a new idea in 2020 and Topaz was born. He has written two more in the Topaz Files series, Wild Flowers and The Mainstay, which are expected to be published in 2024.

He is also happily in the dugout for Boxford Rovers F.C. on a Saturday, a committed cratedigger (vinyl collector) and can occasionally be seen in the stands at Loftus Road and Windsor Park.

WEBSITE: https://www.thetopazfiles.com/

Twitter/X: @TheTopazFiles

Instagram: at @r_we_r

Email: Richard at thewash_house@live.co.uk

Hunter’s Rules by Val Penny #HUNTERSRULES

It’s my pleasure to feature Hunter’s Rules, book six in Val Penny’s Hunter Wilson series, set in Edinburgh.

Hunter's Rules

Let’s have a look at the fantastic cover!

Hunter's Rules

Blurb

A bloody scene brings Hunter and Meera’s romantic plans to an abrupt end. 

A young woman attacked in a hotel lift has life changing injuries. Her wounds match those inflicted on two women who were murdered.

When Hunter is identified as a suspect in the case, he must establish his innocence to lead his team and solve this bloodcurdling crime.

Is the same person responsible for all three crimes?
Will the girl in the lift finally identify who is targeting these young women ?

Hunter will stop at nothing until he catches the unhinged killer.

My Review

Each book in this series has improved upon the previous one. This one, in my mind, is the best of them. The fact that it’s set in Edinburgh certainly helps. I love that city.

I’ve loved the characters from the beginning, and each time I pick up a book featuring them, it feels like I’m sitting down with old friends and having a catch-up.

Val creates an excellent page-turning read. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series!

Buy Link for Hunter’s Rules

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D7ZPBJDX

About the Author

Hunter's RulesVal Penny has an Llb degree from the University of Edinburgh and her MSc from Napier University. She has had many jobs including hairdresser, waitress, banker, azalea farmer and lecturer but has not yet achieved either of her childhood dreams of being a ballerina or owning a candy store.

Until those dreams come true, she has turned her hand to writing poetry, short stories, nonfiction books, and novels. Her novels are published by SpellBound Books Ltd.

Val is an American author living in SW Scotland. She has two adult daughters of whom she is justly proud and lives with her husband and their cat.

You can follow Val at these links

Website – https://www.valpenny.com

Amazon Author Page – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Val-Penny/e/B07C4725TK

Author Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/valerie.penny.739

Author Twitter Page – @valeriepenny

Author Instagram Pagehttps://www.instagram.com/valerieepenny/

Val Penny brings us Hunter’s Christmas and other stories

#HUNTERSCHRISTMASANDOTHERSTORIES

I’m thrilled to be part of this blog tour of short stories penned by Val Penny. New and old characters are found between the pages. The first story, Hunter’s Christmas, is a tie-in to her DI Hunter Crime Series.
Val Penny

 

Val Penny

Blurb

DI Hunter Wilson is looking forward to spending a holiday in India with his girlfriend Dr Meera Sharma, away from the cold, wet winter of Edinburgh. He looks to share his happiness with others when he is attacked by Santa Claus, he says.

His team swing into action to catch his attackers but then receive information about an elf found dead in a car park and a car stolen by Mrs Claus.

Are the crimes by these Christmas characters connected?

Can Hunter’s team restore peace and good will to Christmas?

Hunter’s Christmas and Other Stories includes tales about DI Hunter Wilson and DS Jane Renwick along with those about new and different characters in this gripping collection of short stories especially for crime fiction readers.

My Review


I found this collection of short stories most entertaining. I admit I was partial to the stories with characters from Val’s DI Hunter Wilson series, and its spin-off series featuring Jane Renwick and Rachael.

I loved the tie-in with Hunter’s Christmas to the sixth book in the series, Hunter’s Rules. Not sure if that classifies as a spoiler or not, but you can read the short story without having read the book or vice versa with no compromise.

Entertaining shorts. Just what a body needs after the Christmas holidays.

Book Links

amazon.co.uk

About Val Penny

Val Penny

Val Penny is an American author living in SW Scotland. She has two adult daughters of whom she is justly proud and lives with her husband and two cats.

She has a Llb from Edinburgh University and her MSc from Napier University. She has had many jobs including hairdresser, waitress, banker, azalea farmer and lecturer.

However she has not yet achieved either of her childhood dreams of being a ballerina or owning a candy store. Until those dreams come true, she has turned her hand to writing poetry, short stories and novels. Her crime novels, The DI Hunter Wilson and Jane Renwick Thrillers, are published by SpellBound Books.

Author Links

Website – www.valpenny.com

Amazon Author Page – www.amazon.co.uk/Val-Penny/e/B07C4725TK

Author Facebook Page – www.facebook.com/valerie.penny.739

Author Twitter Page –  @valeriepenny

Author Instagram Page – www.instagram.com/valerieepenny/

I Made it Out by Avishai El #IMADEITOUT

Avishai

Avishai

BLURB

“I Made It Out” details the raw, uncut, and honest life events of Avishai El. She is 32 years old and decided to write this book to help other people who are going through situations that they feel as though they can’t get out of. She affirms that you can get out of any situation and provides historical context in which she used her mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual capacities to face challenges head on. In order to maintain peace, one has to go through things in life to get there. She has gone through ups and downs. All readers from all walks of life will be able to relate to her shared experiences. On days where you feel low in life and on days where you feel high on life, opening this book and reading it will provide you with the tools you need to succeed no matter what. Some of the imagery is explicit to paint a visual picture for the reader.

If she could get through it you can. You can make it out.

AMAZON LINK TO BUY

https://www.amazon.com/I-Made-Out-Avishai-El-ebook/dp/B09JN5T7C2

BARNES AND NOBLE LINK TO BUY

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/i-made-it-out-avishai-el/1140373886

ABOUT AVISHAI

Avishai

Avishai El is an international best-selling author of the Power of Why Book Series.  She is an international, professional speaker, and host of the most blunt holistic health podcast, Avi Unfiltered.  She is a Spiritual Medium and Holistic Health Coach who empowers people to fulfil their purpose and destiny on this planet.  Teaching others the holistic lifestyle utilising nutrition, lifestyle, and spiritual methods is her passion.  Avishai has worked with women all over the world and has helped them lose weight, change their mental health for the better, develop businesses, and reverse several diseases.  She has won an award for educating hundreds of people on the benefits of essential oils.  Hospitals have entrusted her to be on hospital papers as a holistic nurse for cancer patients.  People come to her when they are in a health crisis and Avishai has saved lives using holistic therapies.  As an avid vegan she heavily promotes the plant-based, vegan lifestyle.  The planet and Human Rights mean everything to her as she affirms everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  She comes from ancient ancestry and is currently in the process of learning her native languages: Latin, Moorish Latin (Modern Day Spanish), Chaldean (Modern Day Hebrew), Arabic, and Amharic.  Astrology and medical research on an array of topics geek her out, and is something she thoroughly enjoys studying.  Black, white, and grey are her go-to colours and the minimalistic lifestyle brings her so much peace.  She is multitalented and when she’s not writing, speaking, coaching clients, or running her many businesses, she is doing some form of interior design, graphic design, honing in on her innate makeup skills, randomly playing violin, singing, doing comedy, and so much more.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

www.instagram.com/avishaiel/

www.twitter.com/avishaiel/

www.facebook.com/avishaiel/

www.pinterest.com/avishaiel7

www.youtube.com/avishaiel

www.linkedin.com/avishaiel/