Today on the blog we welcome author Julie Haiselden, with a second extract from her new book ‘Reasonable Doubt?‘, which was published on 15th April 2019. You can have a read of the first one here. I hope you enjoy it. Post contains affiliate links.

In 2015, my debut novel, Long Shadows was published. My second offering is a Victorian thriller, Evil Echoes and my third, a contemporary soon-to-be-published sequel to Long Shadows, although all three books stand alone.

In a past life, I used to tread the boards and shout the odd stage direction. Currently, I work as a church verger and when I’m not writing, reviewing or blogging, I give talks to local groups and am a volunteer room guide for the National Trust. I am blessed with a marvellous home life as a wife, mother and grandmother.

Extract

Just as Lizzie Lockwood was pulling her first pint, a petite fair haired woman checked the directions as she set off on the final part of her journey north. She had been to the Lake District before but until recently had never heard of her destination, let alone visited it. Blenthorne was; “an idyllic Lake District retreat about half an hour’s drive from Keswick, perfect as a base for walking or relaxing”, if the area guidebook was to be believed. For her, it wasn’t so much the place as one of the residents she was keen to see.

She checked her appearance in the mirror in the ladies’ lavatory at the motorway service station and was satisfied with what she saw. She combed her neatly bobbed hair and reapplied her subtle lipstick.

She had reached a crossroads in her life; back from abroad with no money or job. Then an idea struck her; why not look up an old acquaintance who was now apparently residing in a place called Blenthorne? Thank heavens for social media or she might never have tracked him down.

She filled the convertible’s tank as she contemplated her reception. She did think about phoning ahead but didn’t want to be fobbed off. She decided the element of surprise would play in her favour. After all, what could he say once she was standing on his doorstep? Unfortunately she didn’t have his actual address but she was sure he wouldn’t be too hard to find in a modest village.

Another hour and she would be there and would find out if her host was as accommodating in the fells of Cumbria as she herself had been on the coast of Devon. She climbed back into her vehicle and put her foot on the accelerator.

One rural village; so many secrets…

Blenthorne nestles in a quiet corner of Cumbria and is home to local entrepreneur, Lizzie Lockwood. Lizzie has returned to the home she loves after an unpleasant hiatus. She is determined to put the past behind her as she concentrates on her thriving business interests and a fledgling relationship.

Her happy bubble is soon burst by the arrival of tainted newcomer, Helen Anderson who is intent on inveigling herself into Lizzie’s life. Hot on her heels is investigative journalist, Percival Lynton Whitaker. As he garners gossip for his impending ‘Reasonable Doubt?’ exposé on Helen, a chance encounter takes him back to a macabre event from yesteryear. Has he inadvertently stumbled across someone who was implicated in a notorious unsolved multiple murder?

Lizzie is far from pleased that the journalist’s focus appears to have shifted. As events play out, she starts to wonder how well she knows her community. Maybe Helen is the least of her worries? Is it possible that among her friends or neighbours lurks a murderer? For all its tranquil appearance, is Blenthorne harbouring a child-killer?

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