I’m delighted to impart some rattling good news to those fans of The Wisstingham Mysteries who are awaiting the publication of book 4. According to Nigel, the author, (not a bad chap, you know) the draft of the manuscript has now been completed and it’s reached the editing stage. With a fair wind, he’s hopeful that the novel will be published some time in June this year.

I managed to sneak a peek at the document and it’s looking to be a real corker! Reluctant though the fellow was, Nigel eventually agreed that I could let you have sight of an extract of it. Called it a ‘teaser’ he did. Not what I remember a ‘teaser’ to be, in my younger days, but there you are!

As I think I previously mentioned, this is a new adventure featuring us, the principal characters, some of which will take place in the beautiful setting of Tolon in Greece. Amanda and Sebastian find themselves pitted against some rather unscrupulous characters, while abroad. Meanwhile, on the home front, there’s more dastardly skulduggery, murder and some ghostly happenings afoot on the Estate and beyond. That’s aside of the other problems I find myself involved in. Although our good friend DCI Stone has some reinforcements drafted in, even he has not a few head-scratching moments ahead of him. How it will pan out remains to be seen.

Anyway, here’s the author’s ‘teaser’.

The squall had blown up from nowhere.  Below the lake’s turbulent waters and churning waves, a gentler world bore witness to the outcome of the afternoon’s event.  For a brief moment the two limp hands seemed to wave, the arms slowly moving in unison as the body, drifted face down, borne by the underwater currents. The whole movement seemed like a slow motion ballet.  Then, with another surge, the body drifted sideways, fading away through the murky waters.

   Some distance away, with practised, powerful strokes, a lone figure cut through the waves as he swam for the shore.  His was not a fear of drowning, rather of discovery of his deeds and their grim sequel.

I’ll be letting you know how things progress. In the meantime, very best wishes to you all.

Selwyn Fitzgerald – Commander.