A Man Lay Dead in Winter is the first mystery I ever turned my hand to, which is presented warts and all, with its proto Jonty and Orlando. You can find it with some other random mysteries here.
Don’t forget RJ’s advent calendar with its chances to win goodies and The Rainbow Advent Calendar with new stories every day. Lovely to see my old mucker Jay Mountney pop up yesterday!
Just a reminder about two things and notification of another.
Advent calendars go live today. You’ll find this one at RJ’s site: I can’t say when I’ll pop up, but there are prizes on offer every day. Lots of fab authors.
Then there’s one full of stories, which will be linked courtesy of Alex Jane. Again, I can’t say when my tale will appear until the day of the event. Again, loads of cracking authors taking part.
And last, but by no means least, I’ll be reminding people via my blog of the numerous free stories, Christmas themed and otherwise, that I have lurking about. Today, I’m flagging up one of my earliest freebies, My True Love Sent to Me, for which I still have a special affection. Jonty and Orlando getting grumpy with each other and then making up again – that’s something I do like.
Happy reading!
Charlie
I’m not talking about the ones with religious/seasonal images or chocolates or toiletries or cheese (I kid you not) behind the doors. I’m talking about other sorts of freebies – like stories under the rainbow umbrella, or giveaways or competitions. I’m taking part in two this year, bearing surprises. Of course, I can’t tell you what days I’ll pop up from behind the virtual door but there are so many good eggs taking part that you’ll have fun every day.
You’ll find this one at RJ’s site:
and this one will be linked here, courtesy of Alex Jane.
Smashing review over at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. “Charlie Cochrane being fabulous as always.” I try me best…
Autumn already? How did that happen…
News
I’ve been doing a lot of signing up for stuff, like two Advent calendars, one of which I’m doing a free story for. Then in the new year I’ll be doing an online panel at Portsmouth Bookfest and a real life one at Mystery Fest. Dates and details soon.
Don’t forget, there’s not much time to bid for the Children in Read auction. I’m happy to send a signed copy of Lock, Stock and Peril to the highest bidder, wherever they live in the world.
The Case of the Undiscovered Corpse – my Cambridge Fellows/Alasdair and Toby crossover – is out in ebook and paperback in all markets.
Alasdair Hamilton and Toby Bowe are the darlings of post-war British cinema, playing Holmes and Watson onscreen and off. When they’re called on to portray their fellow amateur detectives—Orlando Coppersmith and Jonty Stewart—not only do they find distinct challenges in depicting real people, they also become embroiled in solving a century-old murder.
How did a body lie undiscovered so long in the Stewart family vaults, who’s been covering up the murder ever since and why was the victim killed in the first place?
And now…tah dah! To celebrate this latest adventure for the Cambridge Fellows, I’ve got a freebie story just for you lovely lot. “We Don’t Know That it is Murder” features our two lads – and Dr Panesar – on the trail of a killer.
“Damned inconsiderate to get yourself murdered in the third week of Easter term.”
“We don’t know that it is murder, Coleman.” Jonty Stewart stared out of the Senior Common Room window at the activity in the court below. The undergraduate’s body had been taken away fifteen minutes previously but still clusters of students huddled there, regrouping after they’d been dispersed by the porters earlier. “It could be a student rag gone horribly wrong.”
“Nonsense. He was pushed. Marshall was pushed.” Coleman drained his sherry, thumped the glass down and stomped out of the room.
“Perhaps they’re used to this sort of thing in Oxford.” Dr Panesar’s dulcet tones sounded at Jonty’s side.
“It could well be. Professor Coppersmith appears to be in his element there. Deaths and rumours of deaths, he tells me.”
Read more here.
Charlie
Been a busy few weeks chez Cochrane. Flu jabs, exploring local airfields and – best of all – a concert at Romsey Abbey featuring the Treorchy Male Choir. Blimey, these lads can belt out a tune. If you ever get a chance to see a genuine Welsh choir, then grab it with both hands.
News
The Case of the Undiscovered Corpse – my Cambridge Fellows/Alasdair and Toby crossover – is out now in paperback and will be in ebook as soon as the publisher gets some strange compatibility issues under control. I’ll send out a mail flash when that’s sorted.
Alasdair Hamilton and Toby Bowe are the darlings of post-war British cinema, playing Holmes and Watson onscreen and off. When they’re called on to portray their fellow amateur detectives—Orlando Coppersmith and Jonty Stewart—not only do they find distinct challenges in depicting real people, they also become embroiled in solving a century-old murder.
How did a body lie undiscovered so long in the Stewart family vaults, who’s been covering up the murder ever since and why was the victim killed in the first place?
Don’t forget, my lot for the Children in Read auction is live. I’m happy to send a signed copy of Lock, Stock and Peril to the highest bidder, wherever they live in the world, so why not to support a cause that’s close to my heart. Only about six weeks left to get a bid in.
And now…I’m super delighted to say I’ve got a guest today, Dawn MacKinnon, who comes bearing her brand spanking release, Mr. Mustachio is Falsely Accused. It’s a mystery, with a cat – I mean, what’s not to love?
Sam Jones has left the force. Going forward, the only mysteries he’ll solve will be fictional ones as he pursues his dream of becoming an author. But he’s barely moved into Chez Celine, a former mansion repurposed as an artist collective, before two unfortunate discoveries demand his attention. One is the dead body of his new apartment’s previous occupant, found stuffed in a trunk. The other is an award-winning vase, found shattered on a storeroom floor.
The list of murder suspects is endless. Everyone hated Amelie. But when it comes to the broken vase, the perpetrator seems obvious. It must be Sam’s unlikely landlord—an unusually intelligent cat named Mr. Mustachio.
Sam has never made friends easily, but as he gets to know Mr. Mustachio’s human representative, Algernon, his feelings move beyond friendship. But Algernon seems to know more than an innocent man should. To find the true culprit, and perhaps true love, Sam must prove that both Algernon and Mr. Mustachio have been falsely accused.
Charlie
Apologies for the longer than usual gap between newsletters – I was going to send one out a fortnight ago but events in the UK meant it would have been inappropriate. Even if I’d been in the mood to send one. Please raise a glass to Her Majesty’s amazing life if you haven’t already done so.
News
Three bits of big news!
First of all, my lot for the Children in Read auction is live. I’m happy to send a signed copy of Lock, Stock and Peril to the highest bidder, wherever they live in the world, so why not put in a bid to support a cause that’s close to my heart.
Next there’s another one of those smashing themed events, this time featuring gay romances all of which have performers in, including my double-header, In the Spotlight. And, as usual with these things, it’s time limited so head over and make a note of the books while you can.
All That Jazz
Francis Yardley may be the high kicking star of an all-male version of Chicago, but bitter, and on the booze after the breakdown of a relationship, he thinks that the chance for true love has passed him by. A handsome, shy rugby player called Tommy seems to be the answer to his problems, but Tommy doesn’t like the lipstick and lace. Can they find a way forward and is there still a chance for happiness “nowadays”?
If Music Be
Rick Cowley finds himself taking up am-dram once more, thinking it’ll help him get over the death of his partner. He’d never anticipated it would mean an encounter with an old flame and the sort of emotional complications the Bard would have revelled in. Still, old Will had the right word for every situation, didn’t he?
Third, but by no means least, a reminder that Love in Every season has been relaunched with that smashing new cover.
Four seasons, four stories, one connection – finding love.
Two men who hate Valentine’s Day discover they might have been wrong.
A Paralympic swimmer gets an unusual incentive to win gold.
Love and lust flourish under desert skies, but nature’s cruel.
Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night gets a new twist.
Excerpt:
Next morning, Jamie was first into the training room, stifling yawn after yawn.
Not his best night’s sleep. There’d been a phone call from work—problems on the plant that he needed to be aware of—that had spawned both a handful of further communications and waking at four in the morning worrying that he’d be called in today and not get to see Alex again.
Alex.
He’d been the other root cause of sleeplessness. The book. The wink. A dozen little things Jamie had noticed through the day that might mean something and might equally be nothing more than a mare’s nest constructed around his wishful thinking.
Why did romance—especially in its early, budding, “does he fancy me or doesn’t he?” stages—have to make you feel so nauseous? He put his papers on the table and wondered whether he could sneak a cup of coffee before the fun began.
“You look worse than I felt after the dentist.”
Jamie almost jumped out of his chair. How—and why—had Alex sneaked up so quietly?
“Nervous, with it.” Alex grinned.
“Sorry.” Jamie tried to compose himself and not keep looking at the left side of Alex’s face, which seemed a bit swollen. What would that feel like to kiss better? “Problems at work. I keep thinking I’m going to have to go in and sort them out.”
“Oh, that would be a shame. To miss out on the practice interrogations, I mean,” Alex added, just a touch too quickly.
“Yeah. I’d hate to miss today. May be my last chance to practice, before next month,” Jamie said, trying to convey about a dozen different messages in his tone of voice and the look in his eye.
“And there was me thinking you were wondering who’d sent you that mystery Valentine.”
“What mystery Valentine?” What was Alex talking about? Surely the bloke hadn’t somehow managed to sneak a card through Jamie’s door, and he’d missed the bloody thing?
“Hey, I was only joking. Sorry.” Alex looked mortified. “You mustn’t have slept well. I’ll keep my stupid jokes to myself.”
“No, you’re all right. I just need to dose myself up with caffeine, and I’ll stop being an ogre and become my usual miserable self.” That definitely counted as fishing for compliments. He hurried on. “I can’t get out of my head the worry I’ll be called in.”
“Turn your phone off and if anyone from work asks, tell them had no signal. Somebody else can cover, can’t they?” Alex slung down his briefcase and jerked a thumb in the direction of the cafeteria. “Right. That coffee.”
Jamie leaped out of his chair. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Charlie
Newsflash
Delighted to say that Love in Every Season has a spiffing new cover (thanks, Alex Beecroft) as part of its relaunch, timed to be off the back of the Commonwealth Games, with its wealth of para sports.
Four seasons, four stories, one connection – finding love. Two men who hate Valentine’s Day discover they might have been wrong. A Paralympic swimmer gets an unusual incentive to win gold. Love and lust flourish under desert skies, but nature’s cruel. Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night gets a new twist.
The Cochranes are all home safe and sound from holidays on Jersey, which was gorgeous and very inspirational, in a sort of “clear your mind and recharge your batteries” way. Maybe I’ll get some of my works-in-progress actually progressed.
News
This time’s news can be summarised as a big competition, a title reveal for the Cambridge Fellows/Actor lads crossover and a shoutout for a good pal.
Let’s start with a chance for you to win in total 11 x backlist ebooks, 2 x Signed Paperback (International postage), 2 x Audible Audio Codes and $40 in Amazon Gift Cards (or equivalent in your country). Good, isn’t it? All you have to do is agree to join mailing lists and as you’re on mine already, that’s one less to sign up for. You’ll find the event here: link but note that the competition shuts in 11 days.
Now for that crossover story and I can exclusively reveal that it will be called “The Case of the Undiscovered Corpse” which sums the story up completely. And might put you off going into cellars for life.
My old mate Anne Barwell, whom I’ve known almost as long as I’ve been published, has a new release which I’m delighted to share here.
Double Exposure (Pōneke Shadows Book 1)
Vampires and werewolves live long lives. The Sleepless City saga might have ended but the story continues…
Someone is hunting supernaturals.
Vampire Simon Hawthorne and his human partner Ben Leyton’s plans for a peaceful holiday with family are hijacked by the New Zealand Supernatural Council.
Tensions are on the rise in Wellington. Supernatural councillors are disappearing. Werewolves are suspicious of anyone human or vampire. If they don’t work together, their enemy has already won.
And no one with a connection to the supernatural world is safe.
As for my books, a reminder that Lock, Stock and Peril is now out in ebook and print.
Charlie
Their official biographer (me) has never seen it from this angle.
Charlie Cochrane - Mysteries with a dash of slash and much more 