Blog Tour: Untainted Blood by Liz Mistry

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Day four of the Untainted Blood blog Tour sees The Crime Warp hosting an extract from our very own Liz Mistry's latest book.  Untainted Blood is the third in the gritty Northern Noir DI Gus McGuire books set in Bradford.

In an already volatile city, tensions mount  after a Tory MP in Bradford Central is discredited, leaving the door open for the extreme right-wing candidate Graeme Weston to stand in the resultant by-election. 

However, Graeme Weston is not what he appears to be and with secrets jeopardising his political career, he must tread very carefully.

Meanwhile, a serial killer, delivering his own form of torture,  targets Asian men who lead alternative lifestyles. 

As DI Gus McGuire’s team closes in, the deranged killer begins to unravel and in an unexpected twist the stakes are raised for Gus.

Are the murders linked to the political scandals or is there another motive behind them? 

DI Gus McGuire and his team are back and this might be their toughest case yet. 

Chapter 1

03:30 The Kill Site

“I love frosty mornings like this one. They are so invigorating, energising, full of promise and hope for the future, don’t you think, Tara?” I smile when she nuzzles against my neck, her breath warm on my ear as she blows gently. The other two horses aren’t interested in me and keep their distance. When I run my finger down her long nose she tosses her head this way and that in response, making me laugh out loud. I know

what she’s after. She can smell it, I’m sure. Thrusting my hand into my pocket, I pull out a perfectly formed cube of sweetness. Placing it flat on my palm, I extend it and grin, as in a single lick, she scoops it off and devours it. Her head dips down for more and I take the opportunity to sink my fingers deep into her flowing mane, scratching long and hard, just the way she likes it.

Resting my head against hers, I continue to scratch her, savouring the musky horsey scent that erupts around me. I speak to her as if she is my best friend. For sure, she’s the only one I trust with these secrets.

“Two down and still nobody any the wiser,” I say, laughing as her ears twitch at the sound of my voice. “They’ve found the latest one’s body. Not that it’ll do them any good. Why would it? I’m smarter than them and I’m doing God’s work. The purification of the human race, bit by bit, little by little, that’s my aim.

“If only more people would take up the mantle and join the struggle. We’ve sat back for too long and look what’s happened. They’ve overrun the city. No more. All it took for me to realise what had to be done was the election of their kind to our Parliament. They think they can represent me? No chance.”

I get out another sugar lump and give it to her. Tara sees everything, yet she keeps her own counsel. My secrets are safe with her. I pat her rump, not hard, barely enough to send her away. She doesn’t like the noise. It makes her uneasy, skittish, best if she stays over there, under her tree. It’s funny how she never goes inside the old barn, except to eat her hay. Maybe she’s warm enough with only her rug on. Maybe she prefers being out under the stars. Who knows?

My fingers tingle at the thought of what I’m about to do. I stretch them, loosening them up, ready to create my masterpiece. I have a torch in my pocket, although the night sky is clear and the moon lights my way as I walk back inside the old farmhouse. It’s so cold that I almost wish I’d kept my gloves on when stroking Tara. The shelter from the slight breeze that carries a promise of morning frost with it, is welcome. The prone figure on the floor looks up at me, struggling against the ties. I don’t know why they bother. I really don’t. All they do is hurt themselves even more and make the ties tighten around their wrists. Not that I care. I block out their demeaning pleas and busy myself getting things set up. This one came round quicker than the others and that suits me. The sooner I get this done the sooner I can dump him. Moving with speed I pull on a white overall and a pair of nitrile gloves. No point leaving any trace evidence for the police, is there?