Death's Cold Hand, J.E. Mayhew [book club recommendations .txt] 📗
- Author: J.E. Mayhew
Book online «Death's Cold Hand, J.E. Mayhew [book club recommendations .txt] 📗». Author J.E. Mayhew
“True,” Ian said.
“Prepare your hearts for Death’s cold hand,” Blake muttered. “That’s Blake, my namesake. A War Song to Englishmen. Nobody prepares to end up like Terry, though, do they?”
“No,” Ian said, staring into the distance. “And what about Laura Vexley?”
Blake shook his head. “God only knows, Ian. I can’t decide if she’s gone back to her old ways for good or is up to something else. Either way, I can’t go anywhere near.”
“Best way, mate. Stay clear of that whole business.”
“I wish I could, Ian, but I think it’s going to come looking for me whether I like it or not, someday.” He looked down at Serafina. “Still, you seem much better… Jeez!” And to demonstrate her agreement, Serafina sank her sharp fangs into Blake’s hand.
The End
Author’s Note
My father joined the RAF in 1938 at the tender age of 18. Like many young men of his age at that time, he was patriotic and had no love for the Nazi regime that had taken power in Germany. He could see the writing on the wall and believed that war was inevitable. But his own father had died from wounds received in the Great War and he always told me that he wanted to be a trained soldier rather than a conscript.
To hear him talk, you’d be forgiven for thinking that my dad’s war was a comedy of errors. He’d tell stories of the various cockups that had blighted his service; the time the USAF filled the only plane to take him home with salt water instead of aviation fuel, getting drunk in Cyprus and falling off a donkey, breaking his ankle, ditching an Avro Anson in the Mersey and finding out that the emergency dinghy had no paddle, being sent to Iceland with full tropical kit. I could go on but I suspect that my dad talked about these things rather than his other experiences.
I can remember only two occasions when he spoke about the horrors he’d seen. Once he told me about travelling up through Italy and described the rotting bodies of fallen soldiers. Another time, he described the RAF’s policy of designating aircrew with what we would now call PTSD as Lacking Moral Fibre. He and his mates thought it was a disgrace. Needless to say, Remembrance Day was always observed in our household.
That last story resonated with me and I still think we, as a public, don’t always recognise the traumatised and brain-injured amongst our veterans. I don’t know what it must be like to be caught in violent conflict. I can imagine but I don’t suppose it comes anywhere near the real thing.
About the Author
Jon Mayhew lives on the Wirral with his family and has done all his life. A teacher for many years, he enjoys traditional music and plays regularly in ceilidh bands and sessions. Jon is also an award-winning author. His dark children’s books are published by Bloomsbury.
Find out more at www.jemayhew.blogspot.com
Find JE Mayhew on Facebook and twitter.
To keep in touch with Jon and get news about upcoming publications, what he had for dinner last night, and how his dogs and chickens are faring go to https://dl.bookfunnel.com/gs5oc6n68k There a free prequel novella waiting for you there, too…
Order No Time for Sorrow, book 7 in the continuing adventures of DCI Will Blake and his team. http://mybook.to/NoTimeForSorrow
Also by JE Mayhew:
http://mybook.to/PoisontreeBlake
http://mybook.to/FearsomeSymm
http://mybook.to/Bonesofdead
http://mybook.to/CrueltyHumanHeart
http://mybook.to/Allthelies
http://mybook.to/DeathsColdHand
Get a free DCI Will Blake prequel on Bookfunnel:
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/gs5oc6n68k
Waiting for the next DCI Blake? Why not try DCI Boyd?
Silent Tide
A sinking boat is spotted a few miles off the south coast. Waiting onboard, is a grisly discovery. DCI Bill Boyd - recently relocated from London to Hastings - is now with the East Sussex CID and his first case is that of a local business man and his new young wife, missing in the English Channel. All that remains of them is a grisly discovery aboard their half-submerged yacht and a digital trail that could put Boyd and his daughter, Emma, in danger.
Book 2 – Old Bones, New Bones
Table of Contents
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Author’s Note
About the Author
Also by JE Mayhew:
Waiting for the next DCI Blake? Why not try DCI Boyd?
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