Sneaky Peek: Owen Mullen's Deadly Harm
So, a few days ago we saw the cover reveal for Owen Mullen's new novel Deadly Harm on Sharon Bairden's fantastic blog Chapter In My Life.
Now, it gives me great pleaure to offer a sneaky peek of the much anticipated, Deadly Harm, the sequel to In Harm's Way, on The Crime Warp.
Owen is a fantastic and very versatile writer with many books behind him and it was with great excitement that I read this extract - jealous that I got a sneaky peek of the sneaky peek? Well you should be because it promises a thrilling read.
Here's the blurb:
It’s been five years since Mackenzie Darroch was abducted and held captive in a derelict house.
She thought she'd found her way out of the darkness. She was wrong.
When she witnesses a car crash and saves the driver’s life, it sets in motion a chain of events that will alter both their futures.
The two women get involved in a high profile police case and draw the attention of a ruthless reporter. Gina Calvi is convinced Mackenzie is not what she appears and is prepared to do anything to prove it.
Meanwhile, across the city, Kirsty McBride, a young single mother, is persuaded to leave a violent relationship. Her partner, Malkie Boyle a Glasgow hardman, is due to be released from prison. Once back on the street and bent on revenge, Boyle is determined to find the people responsible for stealing his family from him.
A little bit about Owen
Owen Mullen is a McIlvanney Crime Book Of The Year shortlisted author and best selling author. Owen graduated from Strathclyde University, moved to London and worked as a rock musician, session singer and songwriter, and had a hit record in Japan with a band he refuses to name; he still loves to perform on occasion. His passion for travel has taken him on many adventures from the Amazon and Africa to the colourful continent of India and Nepal. A gregarious recluse, hea nad his wife, Christine, split their time between Glasgow and their home in the Greek Islands where Owen writes.
Sneaky Peek
Extract
They’d come close to
death. Mackenzie helped the stranger into the passenger seat, found her mobile
and picked it up. ‘I’m calling the police.’
The reaction was
unexpected and impassioned. ‘No! No! Not the police. Please don’t bring them
into it.’
‘We don’t have a
choice.’ Mackenzie pointed to the burning carcass. ‘We have to report it. You
should get to a hospital.’
‘I’m all right. I just
need to get away.’
‘How can you be sure?
There could be internal bleeding.’
‘I’m okay.’
‘That’s your decision,
but we have to phone the police.’
Light from the flames
lent the rapture of a martyr to the woman’s features. Until she spoke and the
illusion shattered. Her voice was empty, no salvation in it. ‘Then you might as
well have left me where I was.’
Her certainty shocked
Mackenzie.
‘What do you mean? I
don’t understand.’
‘If he finds where I
am, he’ll kill me. He’s already tried.’
She lifted her head and
turned so Mackenzie could see the blackened half-closed eye, the purple
swellings and cuts on her cheek, and the yellow gouges flecked with red on her
throat. She’d assumed the injuries had come from the collision with the tree.
They hadn’t.
‘Who tried?’
‘My husband.’
‘Why?’
‘Because he’s crazy.’
‘Is this the first
time?’
The woman laughed and
didn’t answer.
‘Did you report him?’
‘What good would that
do? He’d deny it and things would be even worse.’
‘Why didn’t you leave
him?’
The question wasn’t
worth answering. ‘Just drive, will you? Drop me off wherever you like, doesn’t
matter where.’
Reluctantly, Mackenzie
started the engine. ‘You still need somebody to look at you. With the shock
you’ve had you can’t–’
‘Listen,’ the voice was
weak but insistent, ‘right now my priority is to get away as fast and as far as
I can.’
Mackenzie dropped into
first gear. In the mirror, fanned by the wind, the blaze had burned so quickly
the fire was already dying. They’d been lucky. Another few minutes and it
would’ve had them.
‘I should thank you.’
‘No need.’
‘You saved my life.’
‘Anybody would’ve done
the same.’
‘Wish you hadn’t
bothered.’
Mackenzie heard the
defeat and identified with it. ‘Been in a few bad places myself. If I learned
one thing it’s that nothing’s so bad it can’t be sorted.’
‘My bag! Where’s my
bag?’
‘I didn’t see a bag.
Was there anything important in it?’
‘Only everything I
have.’
Mackenzie didn’t know
what to say; another blow to an already shattered woman. The passenger stared
into the night and Mackenzie decided against mentioning the hospital again.
They drove in silence, past a sign with directions to Kirkintilloch and Lenzie.
‘What’s your name?’
‘I appreciate what you
did for me back there, but in a couple of miles I’m getting out and you’ll
never see me again, so why ask?’
‘Tell me your name.’
‘What difference will
telling you my name make?’
‘No difference. Tell me
anyway.’
‘…Caitlin.’
‘You don’t want to talk
about it, I understand.’
Caitlin shot a glance
at Mackenzie. ‘There’s nothing to say. I’m a lousy judge of men.’ She winced
and touched her chest. ‘I made a mistake and I’m paying for it.’
‘Join the club.
Compared to me you’re playing in the second division.’
The confession took the
other woman by surprise. ‘You don’t seem the type.’
‘And what type is that,
exactly?’
‘The type who makes one
stupid decision after another.’
The flicker of a smile
appeared and disappeared at the corners of Mackenzie’s mouth. ‘Oh, I qualify,
believe me. You’re in better company than you realise.’ She sensed an opening.
‘Seriously, my advice would be to get checked out by a doctor and call the police.
Today rather than tomorrow.’
Fear and desolation
poured off her. ‘I can’t. I just can’t.’
‘I can offer you a bed
for the night if it’s any use. Unless you have other plans.’
‘I’ll take it.’
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