Sneaky Peek: Poetic Justice by RC Bridgestock. This is the prequel to the DI Dylan series and not to be missed!

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When Detective Jack Dylan heads home to his wife after a residential course, he has no idea that an extraordinary succession of events is about to turn his life upside down. A vicious, unprovoked personal attack is just the start. The discovery of his wife’s death in a road accident also reveals her affair, and his step-daughter is being expelled from university for drug use. Professionally, two teenagers have gone missing and one is soon found dead. An ordinary man might break under the strain, but Dylan is no ordinary man. He knows that his survival depends on him carrying-on regardless, burying himself in his work, relieved by the distraction of newcomer to the admin department, Jennifer Jones. His determination to pursue the criminal elements behind the events – both personal and professional – is to be his salvation, and his relationship with Jen, his ‘Guardian Angel’, will turn out to be the mainstay of his future, both within the Force and at home. Life may have changed, but nothing will stand in the way of Dylan’s determination to seek justice.

Author Bio

R.C. Bridgestock is the name that husband and wife co-authors Robert (Bob) and Carol Bridgestock write under. Between them they have nearly 50 years of police experience, offering an authentic edge to their stories. The writing duo created the character DI Jack Dylan, a down-to-earth detective, written with warmth and humour. The ninth book in the series will be published by The Dome Press in 2019, along with their backlist. A further crime series is presently being scripted by the pair, which has a strong Yorkshire female character - Charley Mann - at the helm. Bob was a highly commended career detective of 30 years, retiring at the rank of Detective Superintendent. During his last three years, he took charge of 26 murders, 23 major incidents, over 50 suspicious deaths and numerous sexual assaults. He was also a trained hostage negotiator with suicide interventions, kidnap, terrorism and extortion. As a Detective Inspector he spent three years at the internationally acclaimed West Yorkshire Police Force Training School where he taught Detectives from all over the world in the whole spectrum of investigative skills and the law. On promotion to Detective Superintendent, Bob was seconded to a protracted enquiry investigating alleged police corruption in another force. He worked on the Yorkshire Ripper and Sarah Harper murder, and received praise from Crown Court Judges and Chief Constables alike for outstanding work at all ranks, including winning the much-coveted Dennis Hoban Trophy. As a police civilian supervisor, Carol also received a Chief Constable’s commendation for outstanding work. The couple are the storyline consultants / police procedural on BAFTA-winning BBC1 police drama Happy Valley and series 3 of ITV’s Scott and Bailey, and are presently working with Scott Free Production scriptwriters on two commissioned TV drama series. Carol started and chaired the Wight Fair Writers’ Circle in 2008, along with Bob, where she created an annual charitable community writing competition to inspire others of all ages. This event has raised over £10,000 for Island charities. The couple pride themselves on being up-to-date on past and present day UK police procedures, and as a result, Bob is regularly sought by UK television, radio and national and local newspapers for comment on developing major crime incidents etc. They have also taken part in BBC Radio 4 (Steve) PUNT P.I. Together they can regularly be seen as speakers at a variety of events in the literary world and work with colleges in schools in providing writing seminars and workshops, and they also work with International TV / Film make-up artist Pamela Clare, to help inspire her students at the White Rose Colleges. Eight annual R.C. Bridgestock trophies are annually awarded to students. Carol and Bob are also patrons and ambassadors for several charities. 

 Social Media Twitter: @RCBridgestock Website: www.rcbridgestock.com Facebook: @rcbridgestockauthor Instagram: @rcbridgestockauthor

Sneaky Peek

As the train chugged slowly out of the station the half-empty carriage clattered over uneven tracks and battered points. Dylan took in the graffiti and wondered what kind of person would risk their lives to display their art. The industrial buildings, once a hive of activity, would now seem so dull and lifeless otherwise. Gradually the train picked up speed and the world whizzed past his window. He hardly noticed the time pass as the gentle rocking lulled him into a state of relaxation. He reflected, in a dreamlike state, on the hostage negotiators course at Hendon Police College. It had been by far the most intensive in his police service. There had been very little respite from the round-the-clock scenarios and constant, continual pressure. He knew the role of a negotiator required a high level of self-control: to be able to remain calm even under immense pressure, possess extraordinary interpersonal skills, be able to use active listening, and be able to work well within a team.  He had to admit to feeling a little bit terrified of holding someone’s last moments in his hands when they were at their most vulnerable.

In the past two weeks he had worked alongside strangers, some of whom had very limited command of the English language and little knowledge of life in the UK. Negotiation, he had learnt, was not on the agenda everywhere. Should hostages be taken, in some countries the approach was to lay siege wherever they were held, while they planned an armed assault in which, hopefully, only the kidnappers were killed. The course had, no doubt, given the police officers from those countries food for thought. Dylan was pretty certain he had been kept going by adrenalin in the last couple of days; his energy levels were truly drained.

It was nice to sit quiet, still, and not be expected to talk continuously. Passing the course meant he would immediately be an ‘on call’ negotiator, back in the Yorkshire force, for serious life-threatening incidents including kidnap, extortion, terrorism and suicide; the latter being undoubtably the most common. ‘And, what do you get for it?’ He heard Kay’s angry voice in his ear. It startled him. He opened his eyes and sat up. Looking to the seat next to him, he half expected her to be there. He turned and looked through the window and instinctively lifted his face up to the rays from the sun, that had emerged from between two clouds. ‘Nothing,’ he answered in his head. He imagined her scoffing, ‘So, you choose to spend time your time away from me for no extra money?’ He saw himself nodding at her, in the kitchen of their salubrious home, his eyes still resting on his newspaper. ‘I’m doing it because I think I can make a difference.’ Kay’s wrinkled nose lifted her glasses. ‘Who do you think you are? God?’