FOOTSTEPS ON THE SHORE a DI Andy Horton crime novel. 'A great read for mystery lovers.'

Read an extract of Art Marvik mystery, thriller, Dangerous Cargo, by Pauline Rowson

Dangerous Cargo is set during the month of March.

If you haven't already read Dangerous Cargo, the second in the Art Marvik mystery series, then this might tempt you. Below is an extract of that all important first page but before that the blurb on the back of the cover. Hope it intrigues and tantalizes you.

'A pulse-pounding adventure, delivering more than enough action to keep adrenaline junkies reading.' Booklist

In his second mission for the National Intelligence Marine Squad, former commando Art Marvik finds himself on the trail of a 50-year-old mystery. As he begins to uncover a trail of deceit, corruption and murder that spans over half a century, Marvik must confront a ruthless killer who will stop at nothing to make sure that the sins of the past stay in the past.

Dangerous Cargo is available in paperback, e book, on Amazon Kindle and as an audio book.

Dangerous Cargo

Chapter One

Friday

Marvik surveyed the road in the drizzling dusk of the chill March evening. There were two cars parked in front of the bank of trees and shrubs that rose to his left. Nobody was sitting in them and there was no traffic on the narrow road leading up from the small Dorset coastal town of Swanage towards the lifeboat station. No signs of life either in the houses on his right but as he turned and made for the lifeboat station he caught the deep throb of a motorbike in the distance. It gradually faded. Nothing wrong in that except a motorbike had passed him twice as he’d walked through the town. The registration number had been obscured by mud and even though Marvik hadn’t been able to see the rider’s face because of the tinted visor he knew it was the same motorbike by the rider’s clothes and his build; it was also the same make, a powerful Honda. Maybe the rider was just cruising. Maybe he was looking for somewhere. Or maybe he was looking for someone. Him.

He turned on to the tarmacked track by the lifeboat station and made towards the shallow shore where his tender lay. His thoughts slipped back to the great echoing church on the eastern outskirts of the town where he had that day attended the funeral of a man he didn’t know. There had been only five mourners and a clearly embarrassed vicar who’d had to relay the life of Bradley Pulford to his remaining relatives, except there was no life to relay. Pulford had appeared in Swanage in July 1989 and had vanished from it in January 1991, or rather that was when he had been reported missing. During that time he’d worked as a fisherman on Matthew and Adam Killbeck’s boat, had got involved with Matthew’s niece, Stacey, and had left behind a son, Jensen.

Nothing was known about Bradley Pulford before 1989 or after 1991, or rather the Bradley Pulford who had been cremated that afternoon because, according to Detective Chief Superintendent Philip Crowder of the National Intelligence Marine Squad, Bradley Pulford had died in 1959. So why had someone taken his identity? It was a question that Marvik and his former marine colleague, Shaun Strathen, had been detailed to find the answers to.

Also available for  loan in libraries in the UK, Commonwealth and the USA.

Where to buy

Pauline Rowson's books USA

Pauline Rowson's books UK

From your local bookshop

DI Andy Horton crime novel, FOOTSTEPS ON THE SHORE, a great read for mystery lovers

Friday the thirteenth - Horton's Harley in vandalized, a decomposed corpse is washed up in Portsmouth Harbour, a convicted killer out on licence is missing... Horton is under pressure to get results, but things are about to get much worse for the beleaguered detective …

 'Procedural fans who haven’t already read Rowson should be encouraged to do so in the strongest possible terms.' Booklist 

"Started reading Footsteps on the Shore by Pauline Rowson last night. Just finished it. I highly recommend this author. Her style reminded me of Peter Robinson, Graham Hurley and John Harvey at their best." Reader

Available in paperback, as an e book on Amazon Kindle and as an audio book on Audible  

 

Read an extract 

DEAD PASSAGE, A DI Andy Horton crime novel, "A detective novel in the tradition of Rankin and Harvey."

"This book has all the juicy ingredients that make a good story: an historic death of a politician, a daughter who urgently wants to speak to the inspector, as she has ‘something to reveal’ about her father’s death, and also a few interesting characters that keep you guessing about who’s telling the truth…and who has something to hide." BH Living Magazine

Available in paperback, as an e book on Amazon Kindle

 Read an extract 

 

Back into the valley again - Hamble Valley that is for crime author Pauline Rowson

I entertained members of Hamble Valley U3A on 12 March 2019 with tales of my fictional sleuths, the enigmatic DI Andy Horton who features in fourteen novels and undercover investigator, former Royal Marine Commando, Art Marvik who currently appears in three mystery thriller novels.

It was a repeat performance for me as I had given a talk to Hamble Valley U3A before, that time on a hot July day in 2013. On this occasion it was howling a gale and pouring with rain.  Since my previous talk I've had nine further crime novels published, taking  me up to nineteen in total.

Hamble Valley U3A an enraptured audience for Pauline Rowson

I talked about the locations along the south coast of England that have inspired my crime novels and how I develop these ideas into fast-paced plots.

Hamble Valley U3A Pauline Rowson explaining how she plots her novels

The Inspector Andy Horton police procedural series is set in Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight while the Art Marvik mystery thrillers along the south coast including the Jurassic coast of Dorset and the Downs of East Sussex, Beachy Head and Cuckmere Haven. I'm also the  author of two standalone thrillers, In Cold Daylight and In For The Kill and two murder mystery plays.

An Inspector Andy Horton crime novel

Dead Passage is number fourteen in the Inspector Andy Horton crime series, available in paperback, as an ebook, on Amazon Kindle and also on loan from libraries.

A mysterious telephone call sends Horton on a complex and twisted investigation into the death of a local politician twelve years ago and uncovers a trail of lies, secrets and revenge with roots deep in the past.

"A detective novel in the tradition of Ian Rankin and John Harvey." Mystery People Magazine

Hamble Valley U3A Pauline Rowson Book Signing

Following my talk there was a lively question and answer session and a book signing.

An Art Marvik mystery thriller by Pauline Rowson

 Marvik faces a desperate battle to save others from a ruthless assassin who will stop at nothing in order to protect the secret of the Mary Jo’s last voyage from ever being exposed.

 "Plenty of action, I didn't want to put the book down. A good read for mystery/ thriller fans." Net Galley

Lost Voyage, the third in the Art Marvik mystery thriller series. Aavailable in paperback, as an e book and on Kindle.

Dangerous Cargo, Art Marvik has a deadly mission to complete in this mystery thriller by Pauline Rowson

In his second mission for the National Intelligence Marine Squad, former marine commando Art Marvik finds himself on the trail of a 50-year-old mystery, his task to catch a ruthless killer whose murders span over half a century.

 'Delivering more than enough action to keep adrenaline junkies reading.' Booklist

Watch the book trailer for DANGEROUS CARGO and the others in the Art Marvik mystery thriller series.



LEAVE A BOOK REVIEW ON AMAZON

If you've enjoyed reading my crime novels please do tell others, we'd also love for you to leave a short review or rating on Amazon as it all helps to introduce the novels to new readers.

Where to buy

Pauline Rowson's books USA

Pauline Rowson's books UK

From your local bookshop

Also available as an ebook and on Amazon Kindle, Kobo and for loan from UK, USA, Irish and Commonwealth libraries

Crime author Pauline Rowson as you've never seen her before!

No, not this picture, you've seen ones like this before,  so you'll have to read on and scroll down to find out what I mean, but here's the background to it.

I was a keynote speaker at a creative event in Portsmouth in January 2019, which brought together individuals from the world of art, literature, photography, film, design and more from all over the city of Portsmouth. It was an interesting and informative event with plenty of chances to network with other creative people.

I talked to the audience about how locations inspire me and how they help me create the plot lines for my crime novels. I also spoke about what inspired me to become an author. The latter the discovery of a small local library in my home town of Portsmouth - the Alderman Lacy Library - at the age of eight which gave me a life long passion for reading and for writing.

As part of the event the organisers asked artist, Steve Acheson, to draw caricatures of the speakers - myself, and three other speakers, along with Councillor Steve Pitt who introduced the event.

What's a caricature?

The Cambridge English Dictionary has this to say on the subject: "(the art of making) a drawing or written or spoken description of someone that usually makes them look silly by making part of their appearance or character more noticeable than it really is."

So here I am in the raw! I think I look rather like a headmistress in my caricature, what do you think?

Pauline Rowson with her caricature

And here is a picture of all the keynote speakers with their caricatures. From left to right: Mark Graham, James Sharpe, Pauline Rowson, Counsellor Steve Pitt, Professor Trevor Keeble. Click on the images to enlarge them.

Keynote speakers at Creative Portsmouth with their caricatures

The DI Andy Horton crime novels are set in Portsmouth and the surrounding area. There are fourteen in the series featuring the rugged and flawed Portsmouth detective, Inspector Andy Horton with DEAD PASSAGE the most recently published in October 2018. There are also three in the mystery series featuring Art Marvik, the former Royal Marine Commando now an undercover investigator for the UK's National Intelligence Marine Squad (NIMS) and two standalone thrillers, the award winning, In Cold Daylight and In For the Kill.

Miss You London Book Fair with crime author Pauline Rowson

Miss you London Book Fair 2019 but I'll be back. Here is a brief glimpse of only a portion of the years I've been going to the London Book Fair.

DEAD PASSAGE (14) is now in paperback, e book on Amazon Kindle and Kobo and you can also reserve a copy at your local library.

A mysterious telephone call sends DI Andy Horton on a complex and twisted investigation into the death of a local politician twelve years ago and uncovers a trail of lies, secrets and revenge with roots deep in the past.

"This book has all the juicy ingredients that make a good story: an historic death of a politician, a daughter who urgently wants to speak to the inspector, as she has ‘something to reveal’ about her father’s death, and also a few interesting characters that keep you guessing about who’s telling the truth…and who has something to hide." BH Living Magazine

Where to buy

Pauline Rowson's books at The Book Depository (free worldwide delivery)

Pauline Rowson's books USA

Pauline Rowson's books UK

From your local bookshop

Also available as an ebook and on Amazon Kindle, Kobo and for loan from UK,
USA, Irish and Commonwealth libraries

A KILLING COAST a DI ANDY HORTON crime novel, 'A surprising conclusion and a satisfying read.'

Dead Passage, DI Andy Horton mystery 14, now on Kindle, Kobo and in paperback, read an extract

DEADLY WATERS, a DI Andy Horton crime novel, an appealing hero

A woman found brutally murdered on the Mulberry in Langstone Harbour. A note on the body "Have you forgotten ME?" Horton has only a week to find a killer...

"Rowson adds an appealing hero to the British Police Procedural ranks." Kirkus Reviews 

Available in paperback, as an e book on Amazon Kindle and as an audio book on Audible 

Read an extract 

DI Andy Horton featured in 'Portsmouth A Literary and Pictorial Tour'

I was delighted to meet up with Portsmouth author Matt Wingett at the recent Portsmouth Creative Event where he presented me with a copy of his well researched and entertaining book, 'Portsmouth - A Literary and Pictorial Tour'.  I was even more delighted to find that extracts from the DI Andy Horton crime novels are featured in it linking to the various locations around the city of Portsmouth and its history and literary connections.

Pauline Rowson and Matt Wingett

In this entertaining book my rugged and flawed detective, Inspector Andy Horton rubs shoulders with some of the greats  in literature who all have Portsmouth connections: Charles Dickens, Beatrix Potter, P. G Wodehouse, H. G. Wells, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and more...

In this book, among other interesting facts, you will find out:

• Which Portsmouth woman wrote America's first ever best seller - I'll give you a clue, she has the same surname as me 'Rowson'!
• What H. G. Wells hated about Portsmouth
• Where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle first set foot in Southsea  

You'll also see where DI Andy Horton's investigations take him in DEATH LIES BENEATH, and THE SUFFOCATING SEA and read extracts.

Portsmouth A Literary and Pictorial Tour is a fascinating read and not just for those living in the waterfront city but anyone with an interest in people, history and literature.  It cost £12.50 and is available to buy from Amazon

Happy reading.

The DI Andy Horton crime novels

The Art Marvik mystery thrillers

Thrillers by Pauline Rowson

What's on in March for crime author Pauline Rowson

In March I'll be busy working on DI Andy Horton number 15, in which you might (and I only say might) discover the truth behind the disappearance of Andy's mother Jennifer, when he was ten years old.

Also in March I am back by popular demand (so to speak) to talk to members of Hamble Valley U3A. This will be the second time I will have spoken to them about my crime novels and crime writing and I am very delighted to do so.

March is also the month when the second in the Art Marvik mystery series, DANGEROUS CARGO is set so I'll be featuring that on my blogs. DANGEROUS CARGO was released as an unabridged audio book in January and is available on Audible as well as for loan in libraries. It is also published in paperback, as an e book and on Amazon Kindle and on Kobo.

'Rowson’s superhero, Art Marvik, returns in another pulse-pounding adventure. Delivering more than enough action to keep adrenaline junkies reading.' Booklist

 For his second mission with the National Intelligence Marine Squad, (NIMS) Marvik is detailed to attend the funeral of a man who’d officially been declared dead fifty-five years earlier. So who is the imposter and why did he assume the name of a dead man? What’s more, why did he suddenly show up in a Dorset coastal town in 1989, hook up with a local fishing family, and after fathering a child, disappear in 1990?When an innocent woman is killed during the course of the investigation, Marvik realizes that the stakes are much higher than he’d previously thought. As he begins to uncover a trail of deceit, corruption and murder that spans over half a century, Marvik must confront a ruthless killer who will stop at nothing to make sure that the sins of the past stay in the past.

Aside from that I am hoping to put the final touches to my new murder mystery play, Murder at Hillingbrook Halt and will be on location research somewhere around the south coast of England looking for a good place to put a body for a new crime novel!

Dead Passage an Inspector Andy Horton crime novel 

Meanwhile don't forget the latest in the DI Andy Horton series DEAD PASSAGE is now in paperback, e book on Amazon Kindle and Kobo and you can also reserve a copy at your local library.

A mysterious telephone call sends Horton on a complex and twisted investigation into the death of a local politician twelve years ago and uncovers a trail of lies, secrets and revenge with roots deep in the past.

 "This book has all the juicy ingredients that make a good story: an historic death of a politician, a daughter who urgently wants to speak to the inspector, as she has ‘something to reveal’ about her father’s death, and also a few interesting characters that keep you guessing about who’s telling the truth…and who has something to hide." BH Living Magazine

Pauline Rowson will be talking about her crime novels at three Hampshire Libraries

I will be meeting readers and giving a talk about my crime novels and crime writing at  three Hampshire Libraries this spring and summer.  I will be at Andover Library on Thursday 25 April, Fareham Library on Friday17 May and at Totton Library, Southampton on Thursday 20 June at 2pm.

I'll be talking about the secrets of successful crime writing and explaining how I plot, research and write my crime novels set on the South Coast of England.

I have nineteen crime novels, published. Fourteen featuring the rugged and flawed Portsmouth detective, Inspector Andy Horton; three in the mystery series featuring Art Marvik, the former Royal Marine Commando now an undercover investigator for the UK's National Intelligence Marine Squad (NIMS) and two standalone thrillers, the award winning, In Cold Daylight and In For the Kill.

The latest DI Andy Horton crime novel, DEAD PASSAGE, was published in October 2018 in paperback and as an e book, on Amazon Kindle and on Kobo.

An Inspector Andy Horton mystery no. 14 in the series

  Tickets for my talks can be obtained from the library or calling 0300 555 1387.

Hope to see some of you there!