Hello again.
I was asked to donate signed copies of Murder in the New Forest to a charity for them to sell to raise funds.
BRAVEHOUND provides assistance dogs to veterans from all three branches of the armed forces, who live with the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or have other mental health needs, they carry the invisible wounds of war.
For many people animals play a very important part in their lives and it is a pleasure to help such a good cause.
I have been continuing my research for Book 4 by travelling around the area in which it is set and enjoying the wonderful landscape of the New Forest.
It is so heartwarming to see the newborn foals, pony and donkey, and the antics they get up to.
As is often the case with these exercises, we ended up in a pub for our lunch. Sampling the menu is, of course, research!
Here is a picture of some of the four-legged visitors who happened upon the place for a lunch break at the same time as us.
Killer in the New Forest is Book 3 in the DI MacLean crime series. He is back along with the rest of the team to solve the murder of a man in Godshill, near Fordingbridge.
Killer in the New Forest is currently being edited and should be published later this summer. Keep an eye on my website for updates on the release date. When the front cover design is complete, I will add that too.
Here is the first page of Killer in the New Forest to whet your appetite.
Chapter One
A stack of boxes, logoed with the name of a removal firm, formed an untidy pyramid in the centre of Callum’s sitting room. He referenced a sheet of paper, comparing the information on it with the black marker pen number on every box.
He had a few days off for the move so was in no real hurry to tackle the unpacking. He placed the list on top of the boxes and paused to admire the view. His new home’s floor-to-ceiling sliding doors looked out across the open heath of the New Forest. The heather rolled away into the distance, fold after fold of ancient landscape that faded to a grey streak on the far horizon. The January sun was trying its best to stay awake, but the stars were already high in the sky and a thin moon had risen, pressing down to overwhelm the light, turning the windows into mirrors. They reflected the image of a tall man whose long, dark hair fell over his shoulders. Callum turned away abruptly when his mobile began to vibrate across the kitchen work surface.
‘Sorry, sir. I know you’re supposed to be on leave. It’s Daisy.’
‘Problems?’ Sergeant Donaldson wouldn’t call him unless it was important.
’Fraid so. I was at a meeting in Godshill Village Hall this evening about this summer’s gymkhana.’
He could tell she was moving around, there were voices in the background, the guttural growl of some slow-moving traffic and the crisp crunch of gravel beneath her feet.
‘It’s just ended. The car park’s packed and everyone is keen to get home or over to the pub. Someone’s been run over.’
Callum glanced around the kitchen to locate his car keys and tried to remember where Godshill village hall was situated.
‘There’s something not quite right about it all,’ Daisy said ‘I think you need to see it, Callum. Martha’s on her way. The man is dead.’
….
Godshill Village Hall car park was lit by a bright, motion-sensor light set high on the top of a pole. Additional police lights cast strong beams from the opposite direction, and the resulting shadows of people resembled giant spiders crawling around in the cold.
Callum walked across the gravel towards the action, his outgoing breath hovering ahead of him, visible in the crisp air. Somewhere close by a dog was barking, a relentless and noisy objection to the …..
We have had some lovely weather down here, just right for laying in the hammock at the weekend with a good book – provided you can get to the hammock before it commandeered!
Enjoy your reading.
Very nice to meet you both at the Christmas Market at Fordingbridge today.
Your books are so good and detailed with a gripping plot and local theme.
My favourite so far has been Book 1. “Murder in the New Forest.”
Thank you for signing my copies of your books. I look forward to reading Book 4 in the New Year 2026.
Hi Donald,
It was great to meet you and have a chat on Friday – and you and your wife get extra Brownie points for braving the atrocious weather. It got worse throughout the day and by the end of the afternoon we had our own moat across the doorway and a waterfall over our heads.
It was still a very successful day, meeting lots of people and having a chat with them.
Book four is coming along well. Currently I am reorganising the information and clues to stop all the sleuths among my readers from working out who the killer is until the last reveal – well that’s the plan, anyway.
We have one more event at Creekmoor next Saturday, but I hope that the weather at Fordingbridge will remain unchallenged as the worst we come up against.
Have a great Christmas and New Year,
best wishes carol cole