What I Write

Taunting the Dead is the first book in a series featuring Detective Sergeant Allie Shenton. Although I had my reservations about setting it in my hometown because it contains lots of violent scenes, in the end I felt it was the right decision. I am currently working on a second book.

Taunting the Dead

Statistics tells us that nine out of ten murders are committed by someone the victim knows. So when Steph Ryder is found dead with the back of her head caved in, Detective Sergeant Allie Shenton starts her investigations close to home.

Prime suspect, husband Terry Ryder, a wealthy property developer, known to the police as ‘under the spotlight’, was out of the city and has an alibi at the time of the murder.

Daughter, Kirstie, hates her mother with a passion. They’re always rowing about something or other. And when Steph tells her not to see her boyfriend again, Kirstie does the exact opposite. She won’t have a drunken layabout telling her what to do.

Kirstie’s boyfriend, Lee Kennedy, knows perfectly well that he’s not good enough for Steph’s daughter. Steph’s threatened him loads of times, despite the fact that she’s screwing his father and would do well to stay in his good books. Still, it’s only a short term measure for him, until he gets what he wants.

Phil Kennedy, Terry Ryder’s right hand man, has been watching Terry’s back for years now. As well as managing the seven drug businesses fronted as car washes, he’s also been siphoning money to keep him going as a loan shark on the side.

Steph’s best friend, Carole Morrison, has loved Terry Ryder since she first set eyes on him and knows she’d be a better wife and lover. Carole’s husband, Shaun, was doing fine until he borrowed twenty grand from Phil Kennedy. Phil wants his money back and Shaun doesn’t have it. Maybe he can do a job to wipe out his debt.

Through all their lies as she investigates the murder, Allie is mostly convinced that Terry Ryder isn’t being truthful. Yet her persistent questioning could be down to pent up feelings emerging as she spends more time with him. By using her charms to outwit Terry, she plays a dangerous game. Not only could she lose her job, she could lose her marriage as her obsession with him deepens.

Taunting the Dead is a story full of lies, deceit and betrayal that will leave you wondering just exactly who killed Steph Ryder, right until the very last chapter.

Read an excerpt of Taunting the Dead