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In Robert Chandler’s Rosary Road, DI David Ross finds ghosts of his past returning when a woman’s body is found in the location where his girlfriend died ten years earlier. A colleague suggests Kezia Leemight be either the killer or the victim. Despite being under investigation for murder, DI Ross finds himself attracted to Kezia, a reluctant loner with ‘paranormal’ abilities, and enlists her as his unofficial assistant.
Whilst this is Robert Chandler’s debut novel, the author’s wordsmithing and storytelling skills (having won severalnational short story awards, as a playwright and developer of a murder-mystery game) shine through.
Rosary Road
Fast-paced and with a likeable, albeit slightly damaged, protagonist in the form of DI Ross, it is the introduction of Kezia, with her gypsy background and ‘paranormal’ powers, that sets this whodunnit apart from the standard police procedural fare.
Offering multiple points of view (with the Inspector’s colleagues believing Kezia might be the killer), the decision to set the novel in the author’s adopted Norfolk further adds to theauthenticity of this multi-layered read.
An accomplished novel that’s hard to put down, Rosary Road is proof this author has found his niche.
Synopsis
Kezia Lee, a young woman of gypsy stock, operates on the wrong side of the law to help her “psychic consultant” mother snare clients. But it’s Kezia who possesses paranormal powers, albeit ones she can’t control or understand. Detective Inspector David Ross has no life outside the police.
He’s haunted by the memory of the murder of a former girlfriend and frustrated by the bureaucracy and politics of his profession. Like Kezia, he’s given up any hope of a meaningful relationship.
When a prostitute is found murdered in a Norwich Park, Kezia becomes a suspect, although soon all the evidence points to a wounded ex-serviceman. Only Ross doubts the accused man’s guilt, and he’s not going to be allowed to investigate further.
Ross recognises Kezia’s abilities and recruits her to help him. But soon it’s clear that the motive may lie in the dark secrets of powerful and dangerous men, and Ross fears he’s sent a woman with whom he’s fallen in love on what could be a fatal mission.
About Robert Chandler
“I must mention the city of Norwich, rightfully named City of Stories. Its history and character provided much of the inspiration for the Kezia Lee mysteries.”
Robert Chandler was born in Glasgow, but now finds himself in Norfolk after a career in IT security that took him to every inhabited continent.
Winner of several national short story competitions, Robert has also seen his short play performed by a local theatre, written a script for a ghost-themed dinner evening held at Norwich’s Guildhall, and developed a murder mystery game for Black Shuck Gin. Writing as Iain Andrews, his non-fiction work, ‘Thomas Bilney, The Norwich Martyr’, is available through online booksellers.
Find Rosary Road now:
Published by Hobart Books, Rosary Road is available in paperback (£9.99) from all booksellers and online retailers including Amazon(https://amzn.to/3JwckSH), where it also available in Kindle format (£4.99https://amzn.to/3rQ7ud9)
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